|
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Okay, so we ALL know that the DnD movie was horrible, and it's direct to TV sequel was only marginally better. Yes, I know. But, if Pathfinder were to have a movie (not that it is going to, will ever do so, or could ever reach a large audiance), how would you do it. Here are some ideas I came up with. Note, these are not full scripts, and are not meant to be, just ideas from the top of my head.
First off, I know Paizo loves them some iconics, so all the movie pitches involve the iconics as the main protagonists.
Pitch 1) The Classic.
Characters: Valeros, Ezren, Merisiel, and Kyra
Set up:The characters meet in a tavern and decide to form an adventuring company in Sandpoint. Pretty soon, they stumble upon a plot by an evil Cheliax necromancer and government bigwig to kill all of sandpoint, raise it into an undead army, and annex part of Andoran to prepare for a full scale invasion, and the party is the only group to stop them!
Pros:
-Standard fantasy story about good guys against an evil necromancer allows for a lot of time for character development.
-Characters lean chaotic (2 Chaotic, 2 neutral, no lawful) and lean good (three good, one neutral) so they can quip and be a little edgy without being unlikable jerks
Cons: Really stale fantasy story. Characters chosen don't have great backstories (except for Merisiel and maybe Ezren) so you'd have to work for good/fun/entertaining character dynamics.
Pitch 2) The B team
Characters: Lini, Amiri, Seoni, and Harsk (re-skinned as an Urban Ranger in name only so that he can find traps.)
Set up: The mostly nature-loving group finds themselves embroyaled in a political mess with Kyonen and Druma. An evil land baron is trying to displace the land and destroy it to set pesh plantations or something. The party has to find a way to stop his evil plans.
Pros:
-Non-standard fantasy story. Doesn't revolve around an evil wizard.
-You a far more eclectic mix of heroes, archetypes you don't usually see take center stage in fantasy movies. Plus, the heroes have more interesting backstories and would probably be more interesting to see how they interact with each other.
Cons
-Environmental message movies are very rarely done well.
-A wider audience might have more difficulty connecting with the less-typical team.
-Druma not as Iconic for pathfinder fans as Chelliax.
Pitch 3) The C Team
Characters: Alain, Sajan, Seltyiel, and Damiel (re-skinned as a Trap Breaker so he can disarm traps, if you still want a trap disarmer)
Setup:The team are straight-up sell-swords and mercenaries (with Sajan using the money to fund the search for his sister, of course), but stumble upon something big, such as Cheliax trying to control dracoliches to attack Andoran (or something.) Characters must realize that however much of jerks they are, they can't allow the evil empire to march across the continent razing all in their wake, and begrudgingly try to stop the mad plans.
Pros:
-Blend of standard and non-standard fantasy stories. Not the prototypical boring one, but it is recognizable enough that people won't get lost/be angry that this wasn't what they signed up for.
-All the characters are extremely damaged and have some fascinating back stories, and them going though a redemption arc (except Feiya, who could come to terms with her captivity) could make for a really compelling story.
-Characters are prototypical enough to be recognizable, but with a twist on them so as to make them not boring.
Cons:
-Alain, Damiel, and especially Seltyiel are all EXTREMELY unlikable as written, and we'd have to slog though a LOT of them being insufferable jerks before they get their redemption. Imagine, like, 3 Johnny Storms from those horrible fantastic four movies!
-Redemption stories, while not having quite as bad a track record as environmental stories, can go bad quickly.
Team most definitely the good guys: Seelah, Imrijka, Feiya, and Alahazra (with the Seeker archtype if you want someone to disarm traps)
Setup: The rune lords are on the rise, threatening to damage the balance of good, four different trails to stopping their evil all eventually lead to the same place, and this group teams up to stop the ancient evil from re-asserting itself on the world.
Pros:
-We don't often see Orcs, or 1/2 orcs in a heroic light in fantasy films. Group is iconic enough to be recognizable, but still with a twist on them.
-Allows for a good character study, as we can see that Seelah and Alahazra are both VERY different people but also both lawful good. Allows for some good and interesting character dynamics without the dick-ishness of the C team.
Cons:
-Plot is veering back into the 'seen it' territory before.
-There is no way that a Hollywould film would cast 4 ladies and no men as the protagonists in an action film without crazy stupid over-hyper--sexualized PG-13 style porn (see: Charlie's angels.)
Wait for somebody somewhere to make a pathfinder inspired novel, that then translates to a good screenplay..drop 90% of game mechanics that people (gamers) would find cool to have in the movie..and you may make a passable B grade flick.
Meanwhile I am happy with non game fantasy movies that I can "adapt" to a pathfinder concept. :)
It's very simple.....
Make a fantastic fantasy action film set on Golarion.
Defy expectation, and drop 99% of the game's mechanics (only keep the limited spells known/per day, since it wouldn't be "pathfinder" without it).
From there, hire some A-list actors, get someone like Ridely Scott or whoever did LotR to direct.
???
Profit
.... Hey! I happened to LIKE both D&D movies. Sure, they over-act in the first one, but that's what makes it quite fun. Specially if you look at it not as a film set in Ismyr, but a film of the players and their characters set in an adventure about that whole deal in Ismyr.
Seriously. For using the 3d6 in order method, Snails rolled total crap. Ridley's player watches too much TV and highly enjoys the use of the Big No. The one who plays the elf takes it WAY too seriously. The dwarf is a stereotype, but has been playing Dwarves for years so knows how to make it awesome. Merina (the wizard) has obviously never played a wizard before, and probably hasn't cracked open a fantasy novel in her entire life ("Hackey Sackey Vamoose!"). Damodar and Profion are pretty much any DM playing a BBEG and his Dragon and having way too much fun with it (or, at least, me playing those kinds of characters).
Part of the reason it 'sucked' though, was because while they were making it, D&D was transitioning from AD&D 2nd to 3rd Ed and didn't know how to deal with it. They also happened to have Gary Gygax ON SET for most of production, and back at home base, the rest of TSR was back-stabbing Gary by voting him out of the company, then whoring itself and D&D to WotC. Totally blind-sided Gygax with it....
So... Prevent that from happening, and follow the 'Win' formulae I gave above... a PF movie should be pretty damn good.
Edit: Personally, I'd make a 5-man party (to fit the typical tropes), consisting of Valeros, Ezren, Kyra, Merisiel, and... Whoever the bard was... Then, bring in the rest of the Iconics (all of them, even the alternate classes) as supporting role. Make it a nice, large two and a half to three hour movie (more of those keep popping up lately) concerning, most likely, the Rune Lords and their return. Personally I'd love to see Karzoug and Alaznist, so you've got the two BBEGs against each other (likely destroying half of avistan in the process) with the heroes in the middle.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Have the story be personal, like Azure Bonds, as opposed to save-the-world, like Dragonlance.
Include goblins, giants, dragons, undead.
PCs should have the classic 4 roles filled.
No dumb BBEGs. Only smart or at least competent BBEGs.
Characterization and dialogue should trump stereotypical tropes.
I'd have the entire thing be an old school colored cartoon. Similar in style to how the old lord of the rings cartoon was made. But with of course improved modern touches, and have it resemble the art we have in the rule books.
As for plot, I think I'd have it be about one of the adventure paths. Kingmaker maybe? Could be awesome?
Make one of the AP's into a trilogy say "Rise of the Runelords" or "Wraith of the Righteous" and spare no resources.
Even if they made it as a computer generated movie like "Avatar",as long as it was done well, I would be happy.
The only other thing I would like to see, but probably would not happen is it being for an audience that is 14+ years of age. This way there could be some violence, swearing, etc. which makes for a better movie in my opinion.
| 2 people marked this as a favorite. |
Okay, before I comment on any potential Pathfinder movie, I wanted to point out that there were actually three D&D movies.
- Dungeons and Dragons from 2005 was an absolute abomination. The cartoon from the 80s was better, and it never tried NOT to be cliche and kid-catering.
- Dungeons and Dragons 2: Wrath of the Dragon God wherein Bruce Payne reprises his role as Damodar. Significantly better than the first. Imho the major drawbacks were special effects, and acting. The story was pretty good, and could have been done a LOT better.
- Finally Dungeons and Dragons 3: Book of Vile Darkness which I was surprised to see had only a PG-13 rating because there was some pretty blatant nudity and sexual material in it, but that's a different conversation. Of the three, Vile Darkness was by far the best, though, again, the two major drawbacks were acting and special effects.
Now, if someone were going to make a Pathfinder movie, and make it in such a way as to garner a major box office audience, it would have to be done as a great story/screenplay first and foremost, with actors that have proved their stuff in other serious roles, and a budget on par with the LOTR movies.
As others have mentioned, I, as an avid Pathfinder player, and general lover of fantasy movies, don't really see a need for this sort of thing. I get my kicks from LOTR, Hobbit, and other medieval and fantasy themed movies. Frequently, when I'm watching those movies, I put in the mechanics myself. Sweet arrow to the neck at the end of Robin Hood (the one with Russel Crowe)? Called shot to the neck, at twice the range increment of his composite longbow. Then I start thinking about what level his character has to be in order to even have a chance of pulling off that shot.
So you see, any fantasy/medieval movie can be a "Pathfinder" movie. It's all in the eyes of the beholder. This is where I think the producers, directors, and actors of the three D&D movies failed miserably. They were so consumed with making sure the movie properly displayed its gaming roots, that they forgot to just tell a good story.
Probably with a camera, or even 2 of them, though I might just use my phone too.
I'd put Karl Urban in it and have Native Americans fighting Vikings.
I'd put Karl Urban in it and have Native Americans fighting Vikings.
...beat me to it
|
| 3 people marked this as a favorite. |
I'd pitch a TV series instead about the pathfinder society. I make each episode a seperate adeventure with thinly connected themes throughout the seasons. I would try and rotate actors with maybe a handful of reccuring roles. Plots would vary but I'd probably avoid doing any "world hangs in the balance" epic storylines. An extended pilot set in Absolom to help give the audience an introduction to Pathfinder would work well I think.
I wouldn't do a movie but a four-episode miniseries if live action, or a 24 epsode animated series.
If a miniseries, base the main characters on level 5 heroes up against a level 8/9 threat. If an animated series, start at level five and build towards level 8 facing down threats and a level 10/11 baddie and a few of his minions.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
I wouldn't.
I would hope for 4 main characters, the traditional 4 classes (fighter, cleric, wizard, rogue), and elf/dwarf/human/halfling. Cliched, but cliched for a reason. And just some vanilla dungeoneering with traps, pyromaniac goblins, undead, and maybe an ogre or owlbear.
If we're getting into series, I'd have to say I'd like to see an animated series rather than a live action. Featuring all the iconics, again, but maybe have all of them as recurring support characters since the Iconics have the comic (what are we up to now? Twenty some odd iconics?).
On that note, 24 to 26 episodes, and I'd really enjoy seeing it in a visual style similar to Reign the Conqueror. It just really fit the time frame and feel they were going for, and I personally feel it'd fit well with a Pathfinder series.
That said, why does everyone want to see one based off the adventure paths? That'd just be a ton of spoilers for those of us who haven't been able to play in very many of them. My experience with the APs extends one book into RotRL, two books into Council of Theives, and one book into Crimson Throne, Shattered Star, and Jade Regent. I do NOT want any of the plot of any other APs spoiled for me thanks to some blasted movie or series. I'm sure there are others who feel the same. For that matter, I'd hate to have the rest of the ones I've started but never been able to finish to be spoiled too.
|
Pathfinder is tricky.
I know how I'd do a Dungeons & Dragons movie.
As there's no default "setting" or "story" to D&D there's only one real way to do a solid D&D movie: people being sucked into an epic fantasy world. So you can get the feel of geeky people making pop culture references, pointing out the tropes, and quoting Monty Python while an epic fantasy tale occurs. And explain the world and its tropes to the newcomer at the same times as the audience.
And the hook of "magically entering a fantasy world and becoming a hero" works as an analogue for the game/ hobby.
It worked for the '80s cartoon. So, precedent.
Pathfinder could work the same. You could certainly do a real-world-in-fantasy tale with Golarion. And it's the kind of tale that wouldn't overlap with other stories, as it's not something I can see Paizo doing with an AP, novel, or comic. (But that would kinda be a cool AP hook, wouldn't it?)
But it does feel a little like copying the D&D Cartoon, which the D&D movie could get away with while the Pathfinder movie would have a harder time doing while being seen as original.
Pathfinder also has one world, established characters, and its own stories. I don't think they could easily adapt Rise of the Runelords, althought they could try. It'd make a good trilogy. But then what do you do after? And that makes PF look like that one tale, while a sequel with a very different story would look very different.
Honestly, it might be easier doing Pathfinder as an anthology TV show with different casts and stories each season.
I'd say make it animated and handled by either Dreamworks or Disney. Capture Pathfinder's fun, cinematic vibe. Lots of goblins getting flung off cliffs/squashed (minimal gore, obviously). Nualia would make a pretty good Dreamworks villain—Dreamworks has proven to be the best of the animation studios at making really tragic antagonists.
I think the only way to make a Pathfinder movie work is to avoid looking like a copy of LotR to mainstream audiences, which is tricky (since it basically is). Being animated and for a younger audience would be a big step towards that.
|
|
Pathfinder is tricky.
Not really they have great iconics and setting to work with. Tons of modules, PFS, and APs to use. No more difficult than any other fantasy series.
I know how I'd do a Dungeons & Dragons movie.
As there's no default "setting" or "story" to D&D there's only one real way to do a solid D&D movie: people being sucked into an epic fantasy world. So you can get the feel of geeky people making pop culture references, pointing out the tropes, and quoting Monty Python while an epic fantasy tale occurs. And explain the world and its tropes to the newcomer at the same times as the audience.
And the hook of "magically entering a fantasy world and becoming a hero" works as an analogue for the game/ hobby.
It worked for the '80s cartoon. So, precedent.
Oh FFS, if I never see this trope trotted out again it will be too soon.
Pathfinder could work the same. You could certainly do a real-world-in-fantasy tale with Golarion. And it's the kind of tale that wouldn't overlap with other stories, as it's not something I can see Paizo doing with an AP, novel, or comic. (But that would kinda be a cool AP hook, wouldn't it?)
But it does feel a little like copying the D&D Cartoon, which the D&D movie could get away with while the Pathfinder movie would have a harder time doing while being seen as original.
Pathfinder also has one world, established characters, and its own stories. I don't think they could easily adapt Rise of the Runelords, althought they could try. It'd make a good trilogy. But then what do you do after? And that makes PF look like that one tale, while a sequel with a very different story would look very different.
I agree that the APs wouldnt make very good films. The average AP takes place over months of adventuring and that is hard to translate to a film. Though the trilogy is all the rage these days so if they did choose an AP that would most likely be the format. However, the mini series has seen some success like Pillar of Earth.
Honestly, it might be easier doing Pathfinder as an anthology TV show with different casts and stories each season.
That's what I said.
To best capture the mechanics of the game and the differences between character classes, I'd make it something like this.
|
|
I'd say make it animated and handled by either Dreamworks or Disney. Capture Pathfinder's fun, cinematic vibe. Lots of goblins getting flung off cliffs/squashed (minimal gore, obviously). Nualia would make a pretty good Dreamworks villain—Dreamworks has proven to be the best of the animation studios at making really tragic antagonists.
As unapealing as that sounds to me it might not be a bad idea. Try and capture a family audience so kids want Pathfinder and parents are cool with buying it for them.
I think the only way to make a Pathfinder movie work is to avoid looking like a copy of LotR to mainstream audiences, which is tricky (since it basically is). Being animated and for a younger audience would be a big step towards that.
I think marketing to a younger audience would be a smart money making move for Paizo. I dont agree that its neccesary to differentiate PF from bored of the rings. In my post I mentioned staying away from "the world hangs in the balance and only the party can save it" storylines and there you have another avenue. A series might be a better vehicle too since fantasy is popular right now. unlike cop shows, fantasy isnt trend proof with audiences.
Why not just animate the Pathfinder comic book stories as a TV show?
|
|
Pathfinder is tricky.Not really they have great iconics and setting to work with. Tons of modules, PFS, and APs to use. No more difficult than any other fantasy series.
It's *very* different.
Pathfinder has no singular story, no prime event to tell. Opposed to other fantasy fiction series which just have to be adapted, having a story already told.Golarion was designed to have hundereds of stories, with dozens of unique lands all with their own problems and tales. If they do a Varisian story, that ignores all the other parts of the world. And everyone who loves Galt of Cheliax or Abaslom will find little they recognise in the film. To say nothing of people who use the ruleset for homegames.
The iconics have only really been given the spotlight in the comics and audiodramas. Large numbers of Pathfinder players - those who only comsume RPG products - won't know their names or backstories. They're just faces that pop up again and again.
Even using the iconics, there's no real story there; they have no overt villain, no storyarc or planned character growth. The iconics are presented much like the world: the background is established and is yours to make your own.
RPGs have very, very different storytelling. Novels and movies have to show not tell. RPG campaigns have to involve and not show or tell.
Adapting a module or AP has the same problems as novel adaptations: what people do in the movie will never be as interesting as what your characters did. And stories that are interesting to interact with are not always the best to watch.
The problem with a Pathfinder movie will be very simmilar to the D&D movies: it relies entirely on the script writer and screenwriters to come up with a cool story. The setting books just provide a background, but the writers need to do all the rest of the work. And that's a lot.
Really, a Pathfinder movie would very likely feel like the one GM's campaign outline being written by a second person and run by a third.
|
|
Pathfinder is tricky.Not really they have great iconics and setting to work with. Tons of modules, PFS, and APs to use. No more difficult than any other fantasy series.It's *very* different.
Pathfinder has no singular story, no prime event to tell. Opposed to other fantasy fiction series which just have to be adapted, having a story already told.
Golarion was designed to have hundereds of stories, with dozens of unique lands all with their own problems and tales. If they do a Varisian story, that ignores all the other parts of the world. And everyone who loves Galt of Cheliax or Abaslom will find little they recognise in the film. To say nothing of people who use the ruleset for homegames.The iconics have only really been given the spotlight in the comics and audiodramas. Large numbers of Pathfinder players - those who only comsume RPG products - won't know their names or backstories. They're just faces that pop up again and again.
Even using the iconics, there's no real story there; they have no overt villain, no storyarc or planned character growth. The iconics are presented much like the world: the background is established and is yours to make your own.RPGs have very, very different storytelling. Novels and movies have to show not tell. RPG campaigns have to involve and not show or tell.
Adapting a module or AP has the same problems as novel adaptations: what people do in the movie will never be as interesting as what your characters did. And stories that are interesting to interact with are not always the best to watch.The problem with a Pathfinder movie will be very simmilar to the D&D movies: it relies entirely on the script writer and screenwriters to come up with a cool story. The setting books just provide a background, but the writers need to do all the rest of the work. And that's a lot.
Really, a Pathfinder movie would very likely feel like the one GM's campaign outline being written by a second person and run by a third.
I think you are coming at this too much from a gamer perspective. The reason I think a Pathfinder story has strength is the fact they can make an original story and dont have to worry about a rabid fan base. They have so many places and fluff pieces they can pull from, the options are endless. A PF/D&D story doesnt have to feel like playing the game or follow a typical campaign framework. So if you are trying to convince me that adapting an AP is a bad idea, you already have. Though I think PF fluff is ripe for the plucking for a fantastic fantasy story.
|
|
Brainstorming a bit.
Let's think about the requirements.
A Pathfinder movie would have to involve the world of Golarion, and would likely have to tell a somewhat original story to avoid spoiling APs and modules. Adaptating a participatory activity into a passive one is also tricky.
And the story would also have to be self-contained, otherwise changing directors/writers might make the story harder to follow and limit potential sequels and spin-offs.
The adventure would have to capture some of the feeling of "you becoming a hero" so the main character would likely have to be an everyman thrust into a role of importance. And this would also allow them to explain both the story and the way the world works to the protagonist at the same time as the audience.
To emphasise the strengths of the setting and most familiar elements, the Pathfinder Society should likely play a role, and Varisia is the most likely setting. The story should feel familiar yet be original, so evoking common story elements is a good idea. And the story should show of the world's unique elements.
This means goblins. And likely Runelords.
The basic story kinda writes itself from there.
We've seen two Runelords and know of a third's method of escape. That leaves four unacounted Runelords that might return to menace the world. So one of them might be awakening and it's up to a squad of Pathfinders and one unlikely youth to save the frontier.
I'd say make it animated and handled by either Dreamworks or Disney. Capture Pathfinder's fun, cinematic vibe. Lots of goblins getting flung off cliffs/squashed (minimal gore, obviously). Nualia would make a pretty good Dreamworks villain—Dreamworks has proven to be the best of the animation studios at making really tragic antagonists.As unapealing as that sounds to me it might not be a bad idea. Try and capture a family audience so kids want Pathfinder and parents are cool with buying it for them.
I think the only way to make a Pathfinder movie work is to avoid looking like a copy of LotR to mainstream audiences, which is tricky (since it basically is). Being animated and for a younger audience would be a big step towards that.I think marketing to a younger audience would be a smart money making move for Paizo. I dont agree that its neccesary to differentiate PF from bored of the rings. In my post I mentioned staying away from "the world hangs in the balance and only the party can save it" storylines and there you have another avenue. A series might be a better vehicle too since fantasy is popular right now. unlike cop shows, fantasy isnt trend proof with audiences.
Oh, I totally agree that there are other ways. I just like mine best because I like animation. ;)
Or we could always adapt an existing adventure. Burnt Offerings offers a nice, small-scope story: Goblins gon' burn down a town.
|
|
I'm not sure the feeling of "you becoming a hero" is all that neccesary. I'd much prefer the story begins with some PFS members all ready established. A diverse group of misfit personalities is brought together for a mission. Make it start in Absolom and have the party travel around the inner sea accomplishing their objective(s).
I think we may be butting heads on approach. You sound like you want to make Pathfinder the movie which introduces the game and its iconic features to the audience. I just want to tell a story set in Golarion using the tools PF has laid out for it.
|
Thought about a miniseries or so on RotRL. Since I mainly play pfs, I have grown to hate the main line of characters due to hating them as pregens. What I would due in creating new characters is talk to the fans in what they wanted to see and shape it to the overall story.
But I haven't thought of what to do for a two and a half hour movie.
|
|
I think you are coming at this too much from a gamer perspective. The reason I think a Pathfinder story has strength is the fact they can make an original story and dont have to worry about a rabid fan base. They have so many places and fluff pieces they can pull from, the options are endless. A PF/D&D story doesnt have to feel like playing the game or follow a typical campaign framework. So if you are trying to convince me that adapting an AP is a bad idea, you already have. Though I think PF fluff is ripe for the plucking for a fantastic fantasy story.
If it doesn't feel like playing the game then it's less a Pathfinder movie and more a Golarion movie. Which is like making a D&D movie about Drizzt: cool but not necessarily reflective of the whole fanbase.
From that perspective, Pathfinder is just as setting. Trying to turn a setting into a story doesn't work. That's like handing someone an "A to Z of London" and telling them to write a story set there.
Option paralysis.
There's thousands of great tales that could only be set in London and even more that could take place anywhere just happen to be set in London. But unless the writer has a Londonian story in mind already, they're on their own and might very easily tell a New York story forced into London.
Without a clear framework going in, who knows what you'll get. And once Paizo hands over the rights they have no say.
Movies are planned by producers, the people with the money. They hire writers to write scripts to their specification. So there's no guarantee either the producers or writers will be familiar with the world. Then the directors come alone and try and make their vision of the film, which may or may not have some resemblence to the screenwriter's or producer's.
Even adaptations of books or other properties, when you can point directly at the work and say "this is what the fans are expecting!" do not always work as intended and make liberal changes.
I think the movie should try to represent Pathfinder well. Isn't that why the movie would be made? To draw people to check out the game?
|
|
I think the movie should try to represent Pathfinder well. Isn't that why the movie would be made? To draw people to check out the game?
Potentially. My approach is more subtle though than trying to replicate the generic RPG experience. My approach mimics the typical PFS experience which I think is unique. My idea says Pathfinder is different and this is what the audience should expect from PF. I think making the distinction between PF and other fantasy would be an important element. Also, I could see people really enjoying emulating the movie at their first PFS event. How cool would it be to get a PFS mission set in the mwangi expanse and saying, “Oh yeah I know that place it was in the movie!”
On the other hand, making a movie that serves up fan service to player base won’t reach people outside the fan base. I think it’s equally important to just tell a good story for those who want to enjoy it without feeling like they are missing out on inside knowledge or preconceived tropes. The RPG player base is tiny in comparison to the movie going public. A film maker should think outside the base to be the most successful.
I'm also against excessive fanservice. The movie should have about as many "inside jokes" as the recent Godzilla, or Avengers. Once you get to The Hobbit I levels, you may be going too far.
Hm. This feels vaguely familiar somehow...
Anyway, I'd adapt an adventure that has:
1) some politics (probably background - implied or briefly explained, but not the main thrust of the film)
2) some social interaction
3) some mystery
4) some skill-based challenges
6) some magic-based challenges
7) some combat
8) probably a rescue
9) probably a magic item
10) maybe some ritual
11) city-wide threat, but not world-wide threat
12) was ensemble (with iconic roles being cast; not necessarily classic races all represented in the party, though)
(What, I think Sons of Gruumsh would make a great movie. Is that so wrong?!?! )
If a one-shot adventure could be adapted for this purpose, that would be ideal for the purpose of showing off Pathfinder.
Regardless, I'd be strongly in favor of setting the film in Golarion, and probably Varisia (or nearby) for the purposes of giving it a setting.
If there were multiple movies or a series, I think that would be better to get anything longer.
I suspect if the (probably unfathomably large) budget and time were given to it, an AP could be crafted into a series of great films akin to the BBC Sherlock, though I doubt that'll come to fruition.
I could certainly see an animate film or films, but I wouldn't want it to be the flagship film project (Kobold Cleaver and I have clashed over this before) as it would tend to alienate fans or new folk or both to walk the fine line of American acceptable and Pathfinder tone and style.
I would certainly like to change that, but I don't feel that attempting to force Pathfinder to be the vehicle of that change would be the best result for either Pathfinder or the desired social perspective shift.
I might take a look through some of the other films and think about those.
When you use a brand to make a movie, you need to focus on the things that are most iconic about the setting described. Not well known, because let's face it, Golarion isn't. The most iconic scene is, naturally, the goblin attack on Sandpoint. Given this, I think it's pretty much something you can't avoid. However, what sets Golarion apart from other settings is the Pathfinder society and the cosmopolitan nature of the world. So, intrigue and politics, ancient ruins and big cities, struggle against the Aspis consortium, internal conflicts between different factions within the Pathfinder society, that would be my recipe. With goblins somewhere.
|
|
The player base that identifies with PF goblins doesnt even measure on the movie going public scale. Movie goers wont give two kobolds if there isn't a single goblin in the movie. This is a good thing the writer doesn't have their hands tied. They can just get to work and make a great PF, PFS, Golarion story.
If the brand is big enough to make a movie from, it is big enough to respect the fans in some small way. Otherwise you'd be getting a movie that didn't have anything to do with Golarion, and then what would the point be?
|
|
Plenty of room in Golarion outside of sandpoint to make a great movie that serves the fans respectfully. Personally, I would like to see a movie that focuses on adventure and not slaughtering irredemable evil races by humans, elves, dorf, halflings, etc. Though I admit a pixar animation kids fare would probably be well suited to gobos.
One of the things I wanted to point out was that my list above almost seems like too much to put into a single film.
I submit that it is not... if properly handled and balanced.
1) some politics (probably background)
2) some social interaction (this is handled within and without normal conversation and dialogue)
3) some mystery (this is part and parcel of the plot)
4) some skill-based challenges (handled within the narrative and normal challenges therein)
6) some magic-based challenges (as above)
7) some combat (as above)
8) probably a rescue (if it's unclear what happened to those being rescued, que the mystery...)
9) probably a magic item (a Macguffin in likelihood - preferably usable by the good guys later; more social in importance than direct magic)
10) maybe some ritual (involving the magic item to unlock its power)
11) city-wide threat, but not world-wide threat (manage expectations and scope - thus, the level is probably not super-high-level larg)
12) was ensemble (with iconic roles being cast; though not necessarily all of the classic races represented in the party)
Here's a basic outline (as represented in the other thread) of how such a thing might flow:
A group of characters that, for <insert reason here> must traverse a confined obstacle course (such as a castle or trapped dungeon) in which they suffer numerous wounds and indignities (ranging from wounds in battle to having to suffer through caltrops or traps), meet new (comprehensibly placed) foes in semi-random situations whom they eliminate with extreme prejudice. In the end, they save a large number of people (such as hostages) and are rewarded for the effort with new comradery (and maybe romance and/or wealth).
One example of "<insert reason here>" could be in order to rescue hostages (the reason they initially go investigating), stop an evil ritual, and prevent a would-be warlord from gathering an army to himself by doing so. All of this lies against a backdrop of backstabbing and subtle politics as other nearby city states or a few petty nobles seeking greater power wish to ally with the warlord (if he succeeds), and punish the heroes for their impertinence - or perhaps kill them to ensure they don't connect the dots to find out that he assisted the warlord.
Another example is to prevent the death of hostages, taken by cruel robbers pretending to be enemies of the state (trying to fake negotiations to free war criminals or something that they don't actually care about) who are after powerful and important treasures.
A third is that an evil wizard has uncovered an artifact that permits "limitless power" and is slowly gathering hordes to his banner to be able to conquer a region. <Said "limitless power" could be as simple as command undead at will; he makes the undead, then binds them to himself.>
More: a castle or town lies under siege, and the source of this siege must be broken by way of a series of careful and subtle strikes and subterfuge; or perhaps a young girl has vanished, and her wealthy father has placed a large reward for her to be returned alive - but, unbeknownst to all, she vanished into a mysterious realm of night beyond the world made of with green glass towers and a large sea, filled with strange creatures (two groups, in fact, each vying for supremacy, and each currently trapped within) just waiting to escape and cause chaos, and the portal is only one-way - in - unless you have the proper key...
... and so on.
Point is, any of these could make for good films, or bad ones.
(One of them has been made into a great film, in fact, though it starred only a single "adventurer" in its own context.)
It all comes down to writing, pacing, acting, and characters... and the budget. It doesn't need to be a tremendous budget, but the film budget does need to be enough to cover the story's needs - otherwise, the story shouldn't be filmed.
|
If the Iconics where used, I wouldn't see it on principle alone. I hate those guys/gals at this point. As far as AP's, I want to say Carrion Crown, but honestly, it probably wouldn't work. Kingmaker? RotR (again, seriously?) no thanks. I don't know really, maybe Council of Thieves. None of them would really work. Aside from I'm just not sure they would make good movies, it would have the same issue that Dragonlance did, just far too much material needed to make a single movie, or even Trilogy.
Crypt of the Everflame might work, and add in a bit of comedy. Or possibly Dragons Demand, Feast of Ravenmoor, or Tears at Bitter Manor. I haven't played the last two, so only going off of what I've heard, but honestly, that would be the way to go. Especially if they play up exploring the nations and factions a bit, probably not go into religion, and keep to a pretty general fantasy (no gunslingers or samurai walking hand in hand with monks hand in hand with knights hand in hand with etc. . .).
|
|
Or how about Serpent's Skull as a basis? Never played or GMed it but it seems interesting enough.
How about bring in one of the Runelords that is greater than Karzoug and making a story line about killing that lord? Paizo could then create a mythic high level module to connect to it so players can play it with their own PCs.
|
|
Serpent's Skull may work. I only know a bit about it, so I couldn't say for sure. Maybe play it up a bit towards Indiana Jones. I agree that the classic four class/roles should be filled <Cleric/Fighter/Rogue/Wizard or Sorcerer>.
Maybe a Aasimar, Human, or Half-Elf Cleric
Human, maybe Half-Orc Fighter (maybe Ranger)
Dwarf Rogue
Gnome Wizard or Halfling Sorcerer
I don't know something like that. I wouldn't want it to be too exotic, but also not to be too much doing the norm (Dwarf Fighter or Cleric).
It might be a bit of an easter egg to have he movie start with another group beginning the quest and quickly dying (the Ionics) and the new "heroes", a random group of Pathfinders brought in just because they happened to be the closest people the Society could find. "Hey you. Yah, you there sweeping up the library. Come here, we have a mission for you."
I don't think any of the APs would translate well into movies. AP's are too long, and what's more they are written so that the main characters are PC's, and thus they lack any sort of central "cast", and that is kind of important for a movie.
I think the best odds would be to do a movie based on a book set in Golarion, probably James Sutter because I think his books have done the best as far as overall sales. Even then I doubt it work very well. The books intentionally avoid any major setting changes, which might hinder any movie that arises from it.
Personally, I would rather see other fantasy (book) properties developed, rather than Pathfinder.
If the Iconics where used, I wouldn't see it on principle alone. I hate those guys/gals at this point.
It might be a bit of an easter egg to have he movie start with another group beginning the quest and quickly dying (the Ionics)
... whyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy...?
I mean, this is a slight derail, but why do you hate "the iconics" as a collective?
|
|
If the Iconics where used, I wouldn't see it on principle alone. I hate those guys/gals at this point.It might be a bit of an easter egg to have he movie start with another group beginning the quest and quickly dying (the Ionics)... whyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy...?
I mean, this is a slight derail, but why do you hate "the iconics" as a collective?
Far too overused, and they are kind of boring.
However, I wasn't suggesting killing them because I don't like them. I was saying it would be funny to have them show up at the start and then removed (maybe they don't get picked instead), and similar to the ongoing joke in PFS, a bunch of random people that don't know each other are thrown together and given a poor mission summary. The idea was to have them show up, (but not as just in the background, like not the party sitting at the table in the inn behind the party), but also not to divert the attention to them.
I could certainly see an animate film or films, but I wouldn't want it to be the flagship film project (Kobold Cleaver and I have clashed over this before) as it would tend to alienate fans or new folk or both to walk the fine line of American acceptable and Pathfinder tone and style.
Incidentally, I've seen more animated murders since then! ;D
Far too overused, and they are kind of boring.
However, I wasn't suggesting killing them because I don't like them. I was saying it would be funny to have them show up at the start and then removed (maybe they don't get picked instead), and similar to the ongoing joke in PFS, a bunch of random people that don't know each other are thrown together and given a poor mission summary. The idea was to have them show up, (but not as just in the background, like not the party sitting at the table in the inn behind the party), but also not to divert the attention to them.
Ah. Gotcha. Works for me - while I don't share your view, I can at least understand it. :)
I could certainly see an animate film or films, but I wouldn't want it to be the flagship film project (Kobold Cleaver and I have clashed over this before) as it would tend to alienate fans or new folk or both to walk the fine line of American acceptable and Pathfinder tone and style.Incidentally, I've seen more animated murders since then! ;D
Haven't we all.
(Just watched Black Widow/Punisher - good night but are there a lot of murders in that one, as it opens with Punisher... well, doing his thing, quickly and efficiently; it's extremely anime-style, though, continuing to block out the aforementioned groups; incidentally, it's a great film to see chaotic good and lawful good in conflict - or at least lawful neutral and chaotic neutral both in service to good. :D)| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
. . . Avengers is a great D&D movie. So is Star Wars. So is the latter half of The Incredibles.
Lord of the Rings is a decent one.
Heck, Clue isn't bad as a D&D movie (for very specific types of games).
The only problem with a D&D movie is that people haven't taken the things that make ensemble movies great and apply those to D&D. They've been trying to make a standard "Fantasy" movie (with a singular protagonist) and bad or vague plots (and mediocre acting, at best).
That is why they haven't worked. It's not that "D&D" can't make a good movie. Just take a moderately comprehensive adventure (probably related to some D&D property or another), have a strong ensemble cast, and you're good to go for "a good D&D movie". . . .
Thank you for linking... It makes me consider why some shows are more enjoyable for me.
I look at some shows, like Firefly and Castle and Bones. I enjoy all the characters, not just by relating to a character or by witnessing character development, but also by seeing the team dynamic. It's less main character and supporting cast and more gang or family. The comradery between characters makes each character matter more.
I'd add, as overdone as it seems to be, as long as you have a lead you can relate to you could make it as weird as you want in spots... which now that I think about it, is already being done this summer/autumn.