Porn in Golarion?

[Vamptastic]

The answer is apparently yes, at least if this thread is correct:

http://paizo.com/threads/rzs2pt2u?What-unintelligent-monster-likes-porn

So...I've got questions about this. What kind of porn? Is there a porn industry? Is it controversial? Is this something that a Paladin would oppose? Are there movies? Can you make movies magically? Can you take photographs magically? If not, is there movie making or picture taking technology? If not, is it just literature? Are there models at all? If there are, is it considered prostitution, or is it an entirely separate thing? Will there be a Pornstar archetype for Bards? Are there any notable porn authors?

So many questions.

[Are]

The holy text of Calistria ("The Book of Joy") is essentially a version of the Kama Sutra, and might be considered a form of pornography. That may be even more true for the short versions showing only the "choicest bits", as it were.

[Khonger]

There's also the "flip books" that Count Varian Jeggare runs across while researching in another nobleman's library in Prince of Wolves.

[Vamptastic]

Oooh, flip books. I'm sure those are popular.

[Shadowborn]

I suppose you could craft persistent illusions that would serve as an analogy to the modern equivalent. More than likely performers simply engage in erotic performances in theaters and private clubs for the entertainment of audiences. Other than that, you've probably got racy pulp tracts, naughty illustrations, and other such stuff.

[Vamptastic]

It's all very "seedy Victorian", the way I'm picturing it in my head.

[Harark]

I remember a section in ROTR including pornography::

While inside the Foxglove Manor the party(can possibly find) in one room pornography of a female party member that Aldern is obsessed with. Of course it had been drawn by hand.

And furthermore, no doubt there is an industry for it. I mean prostitution is the one of the oldest professions. I'd say it probably just be novels or possibly paintings and drawings(Some of the classic Renaissance works, for example, could have been considered pornographic.)
Although, as for the "Pornstar" archetype... well I believe Paizo is a bit too clean to publish that.

[Vamptastic]

Whoah, that spoiler tag is so creepy. I love it.

[Cpt_kirstov]

You find two entwined succubi statues in many AP volumes.

It shows up in a PFS scenario

tides of twilight spoiler:

In one of the subtiers you can ambush twigblights that are looking at a book of 'nymphs in various states of undress' If I remember correctly

[Son of the Veterinarian]

Found in the nobleman's private offices....

Copies of all Pathfinder Chronicles with illustrations of tribeswomen from the Mwangi Expanse. 75 gold each

Two books on anatomy, with the sections on female elf, human, halfling, and minotaur anatomy marked and well worn. 100 gold each

One apparent copy of the Prophecies of Kalistrade, which really contains salacious poetry, stories, and imagery. 150 gold (to the right buyer.)

One holy text of Callistria, bound to resemble a holy text of Abadar. 150 gold

Four portraits, framed so they can be turned around easily. One side of each shows a conservative image of Kalistrade, Abadar, or members of the nobleman's family. The other side of each is an orgy. 75 gold each

Assorted toys. 175 gold

Three potions of Bear's Endurance. 300 gold each

Two potions of Remove Disease. 750 gold each

[Vamptastic]

The portraits are golden. And the two potions. Thank you for that.

[thistledown]

There's a painting out there of Serenrae in a compromising position with two succubi. There's a faction mission to destroy it.

Possible complication: faithful of Shelyn are not allowed to destroy any work of art unless they make a better one. Considering who owned it, it probably was of high quality...

Out of universe... I know there is a painting of Shelyn, Sarenrae, and Desna being together, that I could definately imagine existing in-universe as well. Possibly owned by the same person.

[Drejk]

Son of the Veterinarian wrote:

Found in the nobleman's private offices....

Copies of all Pathfinder Chronicles with illustrations of tribeswomen from the Mwangi Expanse. 75 gold each

Two books on anatomy, with the sections on female elf, human, halfling, and minotaur anatomy marked and well worn. 100 gold each

One apparent copy of the Prophecies of Kalistrade, which really contains salacious poetry, stories, and imagery. 150 gold (to the right buyer.)

One holy text of Callistria, bound to resemble a holy text of Abadar. 150 gold

Four portraits, framed so they can be turned around easily. One side of each shows a conservative image of Kalistrade, Abadar, or members of the nobleman's family. The other side of each is an orgy. 75 gold each

Assorted toys. 175 gold

Three potions of Bear's Endurance. 300 gold each

Two potions of Remove Disease. 750 gold each

Add partly depleted wand of grease and wand of enlarge person.

[Son of the Veterinarian]

Drejk wrote:

Son of the Veterinarian wrote:

Found in the nobleman's private offices....

Copies of all Pathfinder Chronicles with illustrations of tribeswomen from the Mwangi Expanse. 75 gold each

Two books on anatomy, with the sections on female elf, human, halfling, and minotaur anatomy marked and well worn. 100 gold each

One apparent copy of the Prophecies of Kalistrade, which really contains salacious poetry, stories, and imagery. 150 gold (to the right buyer.)

One holy text of Callistria, bound to resemble a holy text of Abadar. 150 gold

Four portraits, framed so they can be turned around easily. One side of each shows a conservative image of Kalistrade, Abadar, or members of the nobleman's family. The other side of each is an orgy. 75 gold each

Assorted toys. 175 gold

Three potions of Bear's Endurance. 300 gold each

Two potions of Remove Disease. 750 gold each

Add partly depleted wand of grease and wand of enlarge person.

I thought about the wand of enlarge person, but without breaking out the Book of Erotic Fantasy I couldn't think of a way to make it specific to one body part and just went with the potion of bear's endurance. :P

[Drejk]

Son of the Veterinarian wrote:

Drejk wrote:

Son of the Veterinarian wrote:

Found in the nobleman's private offices....

Copies of all Pathfinder Chronicles with illustrations of tribeswomen from the Mwangi Expanse. 75 gold each

Two books on anatomy, with the sections on female elf, human, halfling, and minotaur anatomy marked and well worn. 100 gold each

One apparent copy of the Prophecies of Kalistrade, which really contains salacious poetry, stories, and imagery. 150 gold (to the right buyer.)

One holy text of Callistria, bound to resemble a holy text of Abadar. 150 gold

Four portraits, framed so they can be turned around easily. One side of each shows a conservative image of Kalistrade, Abadar, or members of the nobleman's family. The other side of each is an orgy. 75 gold each

Assorted toys. 175 gold

Three potions of Bear's Endurance. 300 gold each

Two potions of Remove Disease. 750 gold each

Add partly depleted wand of grease and wand of enlarge person.

I thought about the wand of enlarge person, but without breaking out the Book of Erotic Fantasy I couldn't think of a way to make it specific to one body part and just went with the potion of bear's endurance. :P

*shrug* Enlarging whole body enlarges crucial part. The recipient just has to remember that he can't be on top this time...

[NoStrings]

Also useful in the Golarion porn industry:

Allnight:

This treated wafer dissolves into a chalky paste when placed under the tongue and then gives the imbiber a jolt of restless energy. It eliminates the effects of fatigue for the next 8 hours; when the drug’s effect ends, the user is exhausted. Allnight makes its users jittery and unable to focus; they suffer a –2 penalty on all skill checks until its effects wear off.

and

Stolen Light:

School illusion (figment); Level bard 3, sorcerer/wizard 3

CASTING
Casting Time 1 full round
Components V, S, F (a gem worth at least 500 gp)

EFFECT
Range touch
Target transparent gem touched
Duration permanent or 1 minute/level (see text)
Saving Throw Will negates (object); Spell Resistance yes (object)

DESCRIPTION: Kreighton Shaine researched this spell from the fragmentary notes of a Vudrani ascetic recorded in a strange tome, and rumors credit him with no fewer than a dozen permanent stolen light gems hidden in compartments and drawers in his study. Stolen light stores images within a gem. To store an image, as part of casting you must touch a gem worth not less than 500 gp. You trap within the gem an image of everything visible within a 30-foot cone measured from the gem, in a direction of your choice. Alternatively, you can capture a less detailed image of a single object within sight. Once the casting is complete, the gem turns opaque, and the image inside cannot be seen. The stolen image remains within the gem until released or dispelled.

To release an image, you touch a gem holding stolen light as a standard action and speak a command word chosen at the time of casting. For 1 minute per caster level, the image stored within the gem becomes visible. Details can be made out as clearly as they could be perceived at the time of casting. Darkvision is of no use for making out details in a stolen image, though low-light vision or other exceptional visual talents may reveal information the caster did not see. Light sources brighter than bright light are reduced to bright light in the stolen image. Once the image has been released, it cannot again be recovered from the gem.

[Charlie Bell]

Harark wrote:

** spoiler omitted **

there was another one in Ch. 1:

Tsuto had drawn some salacious doodles of Nualia.

But really, if the march of technology has been any indication, about .5 seconds after someone figures out how to cast silent image, someone else will use it to make naked lady pictures.

[Itchy]

There was the "flip-book" drawn by the main character of Winter Witch. His flip books fused into a single thick page which then animated when you opened the book.

[N'wah]

"Porn" has been around pretty much as long as art has. Certainly, with a world like Golarion, options exist to make porn illusions or shadow conjurations, or magically "record" sexual imagery, or implant recorded fantasies into the minds of people like that movie about the chips you put into your brain (too lazy to look it up), or the Feelies (or whatever they're called) from Brave New World. But that all feels like the expensive diversions of the idle rich and super-pervy.

When you get right down to it, I'd see all that as being maybe .05% of the market at best. It's clear from the references that even among the rich, the more "traditional" forms still hold dominance. So I'd expect a lot of sexually-explicit drawings, scrolls, and books being the major players in pornographic material. Mass production and distribution of gems of concupiscence or helms of Tap Dat Ass IV seems financially unfeasible. That's more of a niche market.

And hopefully we'll be highbrow and avoid the obvious "options" that enchantment and conjuration spells provide. Does that exist? Most certainly. It's pretty much explicitly written that Sorshen, Runelord of Lust, did all that and more. But for the sake of not getting this thread banhammered, let's not travel too far down the dark path.

Oh, on the concept of mass-production, the printing press, which exists in Golarion, allows for woodblock printing of naughty-time imagery. So if you need some erotic folio to keep cropping up in your game to make your PCs go WTF, I'd go there for it.

[N'wah]

A magic item that allows a use-activated, pre-programmed permanent image is, like, 132,000 gp. That's a mighty expensive Super-8 loop.

[Andrea1]

Calistrians do distribute Penny Dreadfuls and whatever those small comics/books based on famous people(I forgot the name. Like having Superman and Lois Lane having a go.)

[horngeek]

Drejk wrote:

Son of the Veterinarian wrote:

Found in the nobleman's private offices....

Copies of all Pathfinder Chronicles with illustrations of tribeswomen from the Mwangi Expanse. 75 gold each

Two books on anatomy, with the sections on female elf, human, halfling, and minotaur anatomy marked and well worn. 100 gold each

One apparent copy of the Prophecies of Kalistrade, which really contains salacious poetry, stories, and imagery. 150 gold (to the right buyer.)

One holy text of Callistria, bound to resemble a holy text of Abadar. 150 gold

Four portraits, framed so they can be turned around easily. One side of each shows a conservative image of Kalistrade, Abadar, or members of the nobleman's family. The other side of each is an orgy. 75 gold each

Assorted toys. 175 gold

Three potions of Bear's Endurance. 300 gold each

Two potions of Remove Disease. 750 gold each

Add partly depleted wand of grease and wand of enlarge person.

No wand of web? ;)

[James Jacobs]

I only just skimmed this thread, but yes, there's porn in Golarion.

Not sure if it's been mentioned, but programed image, persistent image, and permanent image all have distinct applications in this endeavor.

[Kajehase]

Andrea1 wrote:

Calistrians do distribute Penny Dreadfuls and whatever those small comics/books based on famous people(I forgot the name. Like having Superman and Lois Lane having a go.)

Tijuana bibles.

[N'wah]

Porn in Golarion? I can't possibly see how that'd happen.

N S F W

[N'wah]

I refuse to touch illusion spells because I'd just selectively rename them to things that even Gary Teter wouldn't approve of.

I know he has a strong stomach. He bought me- and watched me eat- cheese fries.

[Icyshadow]

Humans have always liked sexual things and/or being sexual*. Would anyone be surprised by the fact that there's porn in Golarion?

I'm pretty sure EVERY D&D / Pathfinder world out there has porn. The lack of porn would not make sense, unless everyone was sterile or asexual.

* = With some exceptions

[Drejk]

Icyshadow wrote:

Humans have always liked sexual things and/or being sexual*. Would anyone be surprised by the fact that there's porn in Golarion?

I'm pretty sure EVERY D&D / Pathfinder world out there has porn. The lack of porn would not make sense, unless everyone was sterile or asexual.

* = With some exceptions

Now I envision setting where any images are quickly inhabited by spirits and there exist strong taboo against making depictions of anything except for magical purposes.

[Tacticslion]

N'wah wrote:

I refuse to touch illusion spells

Hohohohoh! I "see" what you did there!

[Alternate One-liners]
... but they'll "touch" you, if you know what I'm saying.
EDIT:There are actually something like three different ways to take this, now that I'm reading it, which is actually really funny itself.
[or]
... good thing you don't have to!
[or]
... it's because I shattered them, isn't it. Your illusions. Of monks with boots of striding. BWAHAHAHAHAHAH!
[or]
... but what about simulacrum?

(The list goes on, really, but I should probably stop now.)

(Yeah, I avoid this thread like the plague before finally realizing that Paizo's policies mean it's probably about as entirely safe as such a topic could be. Interested in world building, I come in, look around, make a number of jokes. Sigh. I suppose my contributions could be worse...)

[Luthorne]

I always figured those Animated Portraits from Ultimate Equipment would be used by those rich enough to afford them (500 gp) for pornographic purposes, though admittedly it does seem somewhat limited since it's of a single person, though imagining a potentially more expensive variant with multiple people interacting doesn't seem like too much of a stretch.

As someone has already noted, Stolen Light being made permanent is a rather more expensive proposition, but certainly more portable (though not, I believe, animated), though you would probably have to be very rich to consider pursuing a collection of these.

[N'wah]

Final Fantasy Tactics: Lion of Elysium, you've seen through my bad pun plot and raised the bar!

[Drejk]

N'wah wrote:

I refuse to touch illusion spells

A scene from one of the Witcher short stories (written down from memory and translated on the fly so the actual text might differ somewhat):

Witcher enters a wizard's tower and finds himself in beautiful garden with apple trees, beautiful naked woman gathering those apples, a table, two armchairs and the wizard sitting on one of them.

Geralt: It's all illusion, isn't it?

Wizard whose name I don't recall: Yes, but it's first class illusion! You can sit on the armchair, you can eat the apple and her you can... <ends the sentence suggestively>

(quite possible that there was also mention of drinking the wine, possibly instead of armchair)

[Tacticslion]

N'wah wrote:

Final Fantasy Tactics: Lion of Elysium, you've seen through my bad pun plot and raised the bar!

NO! You've seen right through me! How could you know where my name came from. HOOOOOOOOOOOOWWWWWWWW?!?

[TritonOne]

I imagine that erotic depictions are commonplace in the nations and cultures throughout Golarion. Probably more Greek and/or Roman in execution by having erotic carvings on everyday items such as oil lamps and erotic paintings on dishes, crockery, pottery, and frescoes (wall paintings). Perhaps statues dedicated to fertility and sexual pleasure before Victorian/Puritan attitudes made such depictions as shameful or offensive. I presume that sexual ethics are very different in Golarion than they are in 21st-century western culture and perhaps activities that we consider taboo are totally acceptable. I think of the Chelaxian Empire as similar to Rome in regards to sexual ethics and cultural taboos. Perhaps it never occurs to anyone on Golarion that these erotic depictions are morbid, degrading, or unhealthy as some of us view pornography today.