Tabletop Adventure Kingmaker Kickstarted as a Video Game Called Pathfinder: Kingmaker

An independent development studio called Owlcat Games is working on a title that may seem very familiar to tabletop RPG fans. Kingmaker was an adventure path for the D&D-inspired title Pathfinder. Owlcat Games is looking to make this tabletop adventure into a video game via Kickstarter with their title Pathfinder: Kingmaker.

Pathfinder is a game created between D&D 3.5 and 4e. Many people lovingly call it D&D 3.75, as it bridged the time between the two releases. Pathfinder was made by fans of D&D, and as such, it took more liberties in its creativity.

Kingmaker is a specific module used within the Pathfinder ruleset that has rules set in place to help players found and control an entire kingdom. This differs pretty strongly from a typical tabletop adventure that involves travel to many places as opposed to ruling one.

Pathfinder: Kingmaker takes the unique ruleset of Kingmaker and applies it to a video game. The game resembles classics like Baldur's Gate, Fallout, and Arcanum in its isometric view and general gameplay. The game is also heavily based on player choice, making the game play out differently depending on how the player acts. Create a kingdom based on Justice and righteousness or a pit of scum and villainy.

From OwlCat's Kickstarter Page:

Pathfinder: Kingmaker is the first single-player computer RPG based on the acclaimed Pathfinder Roleplaying Game. The game invites players to Golarion, a world rich with history, mystery, and conflict, and gives players the chance to claim part of this world as their own.

Pathfinder has considerable depth, not only in its lore, but also in its game mechanics, and in the freedom it offers you to develop your own unique character. You can customize your character with a wide range of classes and powers including specialized archetypes, powerful arcane and divine spells, choosing from a multitude of class abilities, skills and feats. Pathfinder allows players to create heroes (or villains) that fit both their individual gameplay styles and their personalities.

If the premise alone wasn't enough to sell the idea, one of the developers, Chris Avellone is the narrative designer. Avellone has worked on many games of this genre in the past, including Fallout 2, Fallout New Vegas, Neverwinter Nights 2 and the cult classic, Planescape Torment.

They've been financially backed by investors to create a working prototype, but need Kickstarer funds to complete the game. Their goal is $500,000 with 34 days to go. They're currently at $190,200 with 4,057 backers.

To help fund this project, visit Owlcat Games Kickstarter page here.