What is an MCP connector? (a guide for players, not programmers)
An MCP connector is how you give your AI assistant extra abilities — like plugging a controller into a console. MCP (Model Context Protocol) is the open standard AI apps use to talk to outside tools. Adding a connector means your AI can do specific new things — roll real dice, save a game, look up rules — instead of just talking about them.
What actually happens when I add one?
You paste a connector address into your AI app's settings (in Claude: Settings → Connectors), sign in once, and approve it. From then on, the AI can call that tool's specific functions during your conversation — and only those. For lorewend, that means functions like "roll 1d20", "buy this item", "save the journal". The guide shows the exact clicks.
Why does a game need one?
Because a language model on its own has no dice, no memory ledger, and no rulebook authority — it writes plausible text. A connector gives it a real engine: random numbers it cannot edit, a database that holds your HP and gold, and validation that rejects illegal moves. The AI stays the storyteller; the connector keeps the score. (More on that in Can ChatGPT run D&D?)
Is it safe?
A connector can only do what its listed functions allow — your AI app shows you the list, and the connector never sees your conversations beyond the tool calls it receives. lorewend's connector touches only your game data (characters, campaigns, journals), which you can export or delete from your account at any time.
Which AI apps support MCP?
Claude (desktop and web) has the smoothest support today; ChatGPT and Gemini support custom connectors as their rollouts continue, and the standard is industry-wide — one connector, many apps. You connect once and every campaign rides the same plug.
Frequently asked
- Do I need to install anything to use an MCP connector?
- For hosted connectors like lorewend, no — you paste an address into your AI app settings and sign in. No downloads, no command line.
- Can a connector read my other chats?
- No. A connector only receives the specific tool calls the AI makes to it (like "roll 1d20") and returns results. Your AI app shows exactly which functions a connector offers before you approve it.