Pathfinder should be a TV show


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Telshad wrote:
I agree with the idea of a cartoon. One that definitely straddles that maturity line, like Symbionic Titan, or Avatar. So you can have late teens to adults watch it. If it does focus on the signature characters I really hope Paizo fights to keep the things they established in the comics(like Kyra and Meri's romance). Though I'd actually prefer to see all new characters.

The romance might be a tall order, but I bet they could at least get away with hinting at it. At worst, they could just avoid contradicting it.

Liberty's Edge

Has anyone hit up Genndy Tartakovsky? Samurai Jack and Clone Wars both seem like styles that would work well with Pathfinder. He did have a Dexter episode where they played D&D.


Funny, I just watched a review about Genndy recently. It was about Hotel Transylvania, though, so not the best sampling. I have kinda been tempted to check out SJ a couple times.

To my understanding, though, Genndy is largely a master of visual storytelling. Pathfinder's style isn't all that visual. Witty banter is the norm!

Also, because otherwise people are going to think I've forgotten what fandom I'm a part of, "blah blah blah DHX should make it their shows/single show I like are/is great" okay, moving on.


A Tartakovsky Pathfinder cartoon series would be awesome.


Aaaww, it'd suck if it was made as a cartoon for kids, compared to being made as a full adult live-action show. Only because I can imagine how completely awesome the adult version would be.

On the other hand, having a kids cartoon would be completely awesome compared to having no PF show at all...

Glass half full/empty I guess :)


Did i say anything about a kids cartoon?

Kobold Cleaver wrote:

Funny, I just watched a review about Genndy recently. It was about Hotel Transylvania, though, so not the best sampling. I have kinda been tempted to check out SJ a couple times.

To my understanding, though, Genndy is largely a master of visual storytelling. Pathfinder's style isn't all that visual. Witty banter is the norm!

Also, because otherwise people are going to think I've forgotten what fandom I'm a part of, "blah blah blah DHX should make it their shows/single show I like are/is great" okay, moving on.

Pathfinder is about witty banter because as with most roleplaying settings its stories so far have been told almost exclusively through text.


I'll chime in for the animation side. I don't think that the High Fantasy elements inherent to the Pathfinder world would transfer cleanly to Live Action.

Sadly most live action High Fantasy/Adventure shows have rather pathetic budgets, so unless it was to be picked up by someone like HBO or Showtime with ludicrously deep pockets and a production budget like Game of Thrones. I would be afraid it would end up looking like Hercules:The Legendary Journeys or Xena:Warrior Princess.

Animation on the other hand...I could see quite a few studios doing this. Anyone remember that short lived series called Cybersix? That would be an interesting style to see used. For a more common example it was the same as was used in the mid to late '90s versions of the animated Batman series.

As far as maturity level goes...the only place I could see airing an animation 100% true to tone of something like say Hook Mountain Massacre would be Adult Swim or perhaps even HBO. Toned down a bit any studio with a prime time animation block might be able to support it.


Dammit I want HMM done right. Preferably the uncut version.


I'm with you Siss. Unfortunately, practical considerations probably preclude it happening.


Feh. So, who would you cast as Mammy Graul?


Lol that's a toughie...


I'm for animation. Even Game of Thrones production levels are mediocre compared to what would be required. IMHO no budget could conceivably contain the awesomeness of a truly great spectacle that would be a fantasy adventure.

Has anyone seen one yet that was any good? I know I haven't, and I have watched loads.

As for the script, that might be doable. I haven't read the PF Comics yet to get a sense of the theme.


Pathfinder is a system of mechanics. You can’t have a TV show about RPG mechanics. In addition, the D&D movies I’ve seen just seem goofy by adding silly names to every spell like “magic missile”.

TV shows that do well have likeable characters and a good plot. Maybe you could take the iconics and make a good show, but honestly it’s not something that I would want to watch. You could make a story based on Rise of the Runelords, but the main thing that makes it interesting for most viewers are the characters themselves.

I definitely think it would need to be animated, to cut down on production costs and allow “larger than life” events to happen (think Rune Giants). Live action (if it wasn’t based on a novel) would be a hard sell anyway, and wouldn’t receive proper funding.


On a related note, I wouldn’t mind seeing YouTube videos or Podcasts about GMs and players talking about their adventure path campaign.

I would want highlights only. And the interviewer would need to keep it interesting and relevant to the audience. GMs could talk about the unusual things that happened, player/game problems they had, and how they were resolved. Players could discuss the highlights of the last several months of playing.

If Paizo created something like this, I would definitely watch it and if they were good I would even pay a little money for it. It could be used by GMs to evaluate which adventure path they'd like to select.


You still need the computer to add FX to Seoni's front, so might as well go animation.


Jason S wrote:
Pathfinder is a system of mechanics.

It's also a campaign setting and an ongoing storyline. Saying Pathfinder has to be all about the mechanics is like saying Game of Thrones has to be all about lots and lots of words on thin paper.

Lantern Lodge

Pathfinder Adventure Path Subscriber
Kobold Cleaver wrote:
Jason S wrote:
Pathfinder is a system of mechanics.
It's also a campaign setting and an ongoing storyline. Saying Pathfinder has to be all about the mechanics is like saying Game of Thrones has to be all about lots and lots of words on thin paper.

That's where a distinction needs to be made- are we talking about making a show based on the mechanics, classes, races and handling of the system or are you talking about making a show set in Golarion? I would think those are two very different things and could lead to entirely different products.

As a product, a Golarion-based cartoon would be the best way to go, the animation would be able to capture the magic and excitement a live action show would be unable to accomplish. HOWEVER, I would agree that it should be aimed towards late teens/adults and should focus on action, story, character and humor, leaving out morality plays of genre television aimed at younger audiences. Problem here is, I can't really think of any action cartoon show produced in north america and aimed at adults. The obvious model here is most anime, something akin to the storytelling level of Full Metal Alchemist or Attack on Titan. But I can't think of any production company making a cartoon that wasn't a total comedy for a mature audience. Could they be the first to do it and total change that market? Maybe, cuz it'd be awesome.

You also, for the sake of it, probably don't want to translate entire Adventure Paths into seasons of a show, that would certainly ruin the mystery and kill sales on that path. Plus you can probably trust good writers to come up with fun plots, adventures and ideas that have been inspired by what's come before without completely replicating it.


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Avatar: The Last Airbender is what I'd want the PF show to be like. Action, story, characters and humor, all perfectly accessible to both kids and adults.
Kids' shows don't all have to be morality plays. And morality plays don't all have to be lame and action-free. If pony can do it, anyone can.

Lantern Lodge

Pathfinder Adventure Path Subscriber

A:tLA is a great example of this, buuut I think at its heart, it's still a kid's show. And that's great, A:tLA is one of my favorite series and I'm really digging on Korra. But my issue is I would hope that a Pathfinder-based series could be a little more mature, a few steps further than Korra. (They've come a long way from 'Did Jet just die?' vs Fraternal Murder/Suicide in Korra) But I know as a fan I would like to see some blood and realistically depicted violence, some romance and sex, something just a little less silly and a little more gritty. Something you'd feel conflicted about letting 12 year old watch essentially.

I'm just a little tired of not seeing real cartoon programming for adults outside of Fox animated sitcoms. There's a whole market of people who grew up watching anime and there's nothing produced this side of the Pacific that can fully take advantage of that gap. It'd be wonderful for Pathfinder to fill the niche.


Honestly, Korra was arguably wussier about death than ATLA right up until that explosion. Regardless, I think the motivation for a PF TV show would be to bring in a younger audience.


Chris Donnangelo wrote:
Arikiel wrote:
There should be four main characters. The traditional gaming group size is four people. There's the fantastic four, four musketeers, four elements, four humors, four teenage mutant ninja turtles, etc. It's all about four. ;)

Facinating discussion on that topic.

But don't forget Power Rangers, and the group of five... Although that could be due to the Eastern distrust of the number 4...

And a baby unicorn...


Usually when someone says they want to make a "D&D movie", they don't make the movie in Forgotten Realms, Greyhawk, or Eberron. It's in a generic fantasy setting using D&D spells, D&D creatures (dragons, beholders, etc), and even D&D classes (explicitly stated! lol). I wanted to talk about that instance of making a "Pathfinder" movie since the thread isn't about making a "Golarion movie". I love how people read one sentence and just leave out the context of the rest of the post.

Like I said, if they wanted to make a Rise of Runelords animated TV show (10-16 episodes per AP?), I think that would work. A movie would be too short.


Jason S wrote:
I love how people read one sentence and just leave out the context of the rest of the post.

I love how people always say this when they actually don't love what they're talking about.

Grand Lodge

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Pathfinder Adventure, Rulebook Subscriber

I think everyone's to focused on making an animated Pathfinder series. If you really want to get lots of viewers and high ratings we need to think outside the box. Now hang on and get ready...

We market a new show called "Sandpoint Shore" and get it up on MTV, they have plenty of time to air since they don't play that much music. We could get to see what really makes the iconic characters so iconic. I would personally cast Snooki as Harsk the Dwarvern Ranger, she's just about the right height.


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RCW wrote:

I think everyone's to focused on making an animated Pathfinder series. If you really want to get lots of viewers and high ratings we need to think outside the box. Now hang on and get ready...

We market a new show called "Sandpoint Shore" and get it up on MTV, they have plenty of time to air since they don't play that much music. We could get to see what really makes the iconic characters so iconic. I would personally cast Snooki as Harsk the Dwarvern Ranger, she's just about the right height.

I...think I may have just died a little inside while reading this...bravo sir.

Grand Lodge

Pathfinder Adventure, Rulebook Subscriber

I'll be here all day!


RCW wrote:

I think everyone's to focused on making an animated Pathfinder series. If you really want to get lots of viewers and high ratings we need to think outside the box. Now hang on and get ready...

We market a new show called "Sandpoint Shore" and get it up on MTV, they have plenty of time to air since they don't play that much music. We could get to see what really makes the iconic characters so iconic. I would personally cast Snooki as Harsk the Dwarvern Ranger, she's just about the right height.

I think you're onto something.


Sissyl wrote:
Feh. So, who would you cast as Mammy Graul?

CGI/muppet voiced by Roseanne.

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