The Guild (web series)

Plot

Cyd Sherman, who games as Codex, struggles to limit her time online as a member of the Knights of Good. After Zaboo is offline for 39 hours, he appears at Codex's doorstep, having misunderstood her in-game chats as flirting and become a stalker. Meanwhile, Bladezz is banned from the game for using a macro to spam homophobic slurs in the trade house. Codex uses this as an excuse to have the guild help with Zaboo.

The guild reluctantly meets in person at Cheesybeards, where they learn Vork transferred all their in-game valuables to Bladezz's account as a team-building strategy; kicking Bladezz out would cost them everything. Bladezz slanders the guild by showing inappropriate videos of their characters. Zaboo's overbearing mother arrives, and Zaboo confesses she controls every aspect of his life except the Internet. Codex devises a plan using Zaboo's stalking skills to blackmail Bladezz into returning the gold and equipment.

The guild fights off Zaboo's mother, and Bladezz redeems himself. Codex realizes she has gained Zaboo. Zaboo's mother has Codex evicted, and Codex moves into a new apartment with Zaboo, where she meets Wade, a stunt performer. Codex tries to get Zaboo to move out by telling him he needs to level up, arranging for him to live with Vork and pay rent with in-game gold.

Characters and cast

Codex (Cyd Sherman) is the Priest, a shy, non-confrontational concert violinist and former child prodigy who is unemployed after setting fire to her boyfriend's cello. She is an addicted gamer whose therapist drops her. Codex is portrayed by Felicia Day. Zaboo (Sujan Balakrishnan Goldberg) is the Warlock, a self-described 'HinJew' with a Hindu mother and Jewish father.

He is skilled with computers, having obtained Codex's apartment floor plan through stalking. He often uses '-d' after key words. Zaboo is portrayed by Sandeep Parikh.

Vork (Herman Holden) is the guild leader and Warrior, who manages the guild with rules and logic. He lives frugally on his late grandfather's Social Security checks, steals his neighbor's wifi and shed, and keeps food cold with ice bought using food stamps. He speaks fluent Korean and later claims to know all languages. Vork is portrayed by Jeff Lewis.

In other media

A comic book limited series based on the show was released by Dark Horse Comics. The first issue, a prequel written by Felicia Day and illustrated by Jim Rugg, came out on March 24, 2010. The second issue followed on April 23, 2010, and the third on May 26, 2010. A collected volume was released on November 24, 2010.

A second five-issue series was released in 2011, each focusing on a single character (Vork, Zaboo, Clara, Tinkerballa, and Bladezz) with different artists. The collected volume, The Guild Volume 2, came out on June 27, 2012. An additional single character issue, The Guild: Fawkes, was issued on May 23, 2012, set after season 4.

The cast appeared as their characters in three music videos: '(Do You Wanna Date My) Avatar', 'Game On', and 'I'm the One That's Cool'. The first and third songs are available on the Rock Band Network. In October 2023, Felicia Day revealed she was working on a stage musical adaptation. The first staged reading took place on February 23, 2025, with Day reprising her role as Codex. A second reading occurred at The Other Palace in London from February 10 to 12, 2026, as part of MTFestUK, with a shortened runtime of one hour.

Production notes

The Guild began as a TV pilot idea, but Felicia Day was told it would work better as a web series, so the format and script were changed. The first episode, "Wake-Up Call," debuted on YouTube on July 27, 2007. After three episodes, the production ran out of money, but donations via a PayPal link funded "Cheesybeards" and "Rather Be Raiding." Season one ended on May 15, 2008, with ten episodes and two specials, including a Christmas special. The season one DVD came out on Amazon.com on May 19, 2009.

Season two started filming in August 2008. "Link the Loot" premiered on Xbox Live Marketplace, Zune Marketplace, and MSN Video on November 25, 2008, and the season ended with "Fight!" on February 17, 2009. On November 24, 2008, Microsoft announced an exclusive distribution deal with Day for all twelve season two episodes, which appeared on Xbox 360, Zune, and MSN first, with a four-week delay before the official website. The releases were free, supported by Sprint ads and product placements.

Day kept the IP rights, and Microsoft paid an unspecified upfront license fee. After all season two episodes were out in late February 2009, Day could sign a new nonexclusive deal. The season two DVD, released on Amazon.com on May 19, 2009, included commentary, gag reels, audition footage, and a behind-the-scenes documentary. Season two earned eleven Streamy Award nominations and won three: Best Comedy Web Series, Best Ensemble Cast in a Web Series, and Best Female Actor in a Comedy Web Series for Felicia Day.

Did You Know?

• Felicia Day based The Guild on her personal experience with a World of Warcraft addiction.
• A costume from the series has been accessioned by the National Museum of American History of the Smithsonian Institution.
• Joss Whedon credits The Guild as one of the inspirations for Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog.