Pine Shallows: An Appendix N

Kickstarter update, and influences galore!

Hi all!

As you might know, Pine Shallows is now on Kickstarter: Good news, we reached the first stretch goal. This means a new adventure will be added: Salvaged Memories, a weird science exploration of the local junkyard written by Willie Sullivan (who also wrote the excellent Midnight Light adventure.

Next stretch goal: more art. Speaking of art. I like to give you some input in what art you’d like to see more off. It was suggested to me that people like maps. Would you like a map of Pine Shallows to be added, or would you rather see some extra locations, scenes from adventures or quirky NPCs? Let me know in the comments!

Appendix N: the influences of Pine Shallows

Pine Shallows has been inspired by a lot of movies, books and games. Curious about which media inspired this game?

If you get the game, these are also great to mine for inspiration for your own adventures in and around Pine Shallows.

Movies

• E.T. (1982)
  Kids having to help an alien, with government agents on their tail? That’s what this game is made for.

• The Goonies (1985)
  One of the main inspirations for Pine Shallows, both for direct elements as the overall themes and vibes. A group of scrappy kids going on an adventure right in their own town, trying to find a hidden pirate treasure, it just feels like a RPG scenario!

• Stand by Me (1986)
  More serious than most of the other fiction in this list, but the themes of friendship and teen adventure are direct influences.

• Honey, I Shrunk the Kids (1989)
  A group of kids needing to stick together while cleaning up the mess from adults together with a generous dash of weird science? Perfect!

• It (1990 mini series & 2017/2019 movies)
  Pine Shallows leans more into humor and adventure then the horror of It, but the character backgrounds, oblivious adults and mysterious hidden history of the town all feel right for Pine Shallows

Series

• Stranger Things
  Like It, this is darker and more scary than I’d expect a Pine Shallows game to be. On the other hand, it has the right elements: kids discovering weird things happening while the adults won’t believe them or are too busy to listen! A mysterious government agency! Strange powers!

• Gravity Falls
  Cryptids, ancient lore and conspiracies combined with humor and hijinks all taking place in a small quirky town. Great fodder for plot ideas!

• Dead End: Paranormal Park
  Weirdness behind the scenes in a theme park? Sign me up! This cartoon features a diverse cast, and great writing.

• Scoobie-Doo
  Classic monster hunting!

Books

• The Legends of Eerie-on-Sea series by Thomas Taylor
  These books are a great inspiration for Pine Shallows. These middle grade novels take place in Eerie-on-Sea, a small coastal town with mysterious orphans, cryptids, ancient languages, and a talking cat. Highly recommended!

• The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place series, especially #5: The Unmapped Sea by Maryrose Wood
  Miss Penelope Lumley becomes the governess of a strange bunch of kids that were found howling in the wild.

• A Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket
  A classic! Secret societies, conspiracies, and so many adults that just won’t listen to the kids.

• Greenglass House by Kate Milford
  A hotel just outside a seaside town, mysterious guests arriving during the off season, add some smugglers, conspiracies and theft, and you have a great mystery!

• Winterhouse by Ben Guterson
  An orphan living with a nasty aunt and uncle receives an invitation to the ominous Winterhouse Hotel. Curses, mysteries and a big library. What’s not to love?

Tabletop Roleplaying Games

• Tunnel Goons by Nate Treme (Highland Paranormal Society)
  Pine Shallows started out as Tunnel Goonies, a Tunnel Goons hack. Tunnel Goons is a great little hackable game.

• Camp Flying Moose for Girls of All Kinds by Alicia Furness
  Cozy, supernatural adventures at camp. A game more people should play!

• Under the Floorboards by Chris Bissette
  The 2d6 resolution is inspired in equal parts by Under the Floorboards by Chris Bissette and various Powered by the Apocalypse games, like Patchwork World by Aaron King.

Any influences you think might hit the spot? Please let me know! I’m always looking for more ideas for this weird, little town!

See ya next time!
Peter