SPARK RPG DEVELOPMENT LOG · NOVEMBER 2026
The Star Concord has reached an important decision about artificial intelligence in 2026.
We are going to stop asking it to draw four little stripes and a spiral.
This may sound like a modest achievement for a technology capable of producing dazzling futuristic cities, cinematic lighting and people with remarkably convincing hair. Nevertheless, after repeated field trials, we have concluded that counting to four is currently outside the reliable operational specifications of our artistic department.
The Captain Has Been Demoted Again
Captain Romeo Sapien wears four gold shoulder stripes. Commander Chorus Angelicus wears three. Lieutenants Maddie and Paddy wear two. Our reference sheets explain this in words, diagrams, close-ups and fully illustrated uniforms. We have supplied them repeatedly.
The result? Romeo occasionally arrives with three stripes. Maddie acquires an unsolicited promotion. Apparently the image generator has established its own personnel department, operating without consultation with Fleet Command.
There is a certain magnificence to the situation. The machine can imagine an entire rain-soaked industrial complex orbiting a distant star, but the fourth yellow rectangle is simply too much to ask.
The Sacred Spiral, Recently Redesigned
Then there is the Vitan spiral: a carefully defined symbol with an enclosing circle, a continuous spiral, a central Source and three leaves representing Order, Truth and Love.
We supplied the actual emblem. We explicitly forbade alterations. We explained which leaves belonged where. Yet the generator periodically produced new versions—as though we had asked a committee of enthusiastic squirrels to redesign the flag of the Concord.
One can almost hear the machine: “I improved it for you.” Thank you, artificial intelligence. That was precisely what we requested you not to do.
Introducing Our Revolutionary New Technology: Procreate
Therefore Captain Plum will finish the exact rank markings and chest emblems manually in Procreate on his iPad. We shall let ChatGPT create the dramatic scenes, lighting, expressions and landscapes, then correct the essential details ourselves.
Yes. In the glorious age of artificial intelligence, our final production breakthrough is a human drawing a few stripes and placing a logo where it belongs.
It is ridiculous. It is also practical. Instead of regenerating an otherwise excellent picture twelve times, we’ll repair the small defective areas once. The original approved spiral will remain the original approved spiral. Nobody will be promoted without authorization.
What Other Sparks Can Learn
If you are using AI to create comics or illustrations with recurring characters, do not assume a visual reference guarantees precision. It can help with likeness, costume and atmosphere while still changing a critical symbol or tiny detail. Give the generator the creative work; reserve exact insignia, branding and lettering for a controlled finishing process.
Our project log is public because we are learning together. Other Sparks need not waste an afternoon discovering this particular variety of AI bullshit independently. We have cheerfully conducted the experiment for everyone.
The Vitan lesson? Order means establishing a reliable workflow. Truth means admitting what the technology cannot yet do consistently. Love means caring enough about our characters to keep them recognizable.
The Great Work proceeds. The art will be beautiful. And Romeo will eventually have all four stripes—because someone with an Apple Pencil will personally put them there.
Postscript from Communications: The Pencil’s tip has reportedly been secured with Scotch tape. Fleet Command requests that no one mention this to Apple.
Leave a Reply