INSPIRATIONAL MEDIA

[JJPants]

What TV shows, anime, movies, books, music and video games helped to inspire Abomination Vaults?

As a gamemaster, what media should I consuming to get the tone of the game right?

[Unicore]

I think Otari has a heavy does of Twin Peaks vibe to it, and running the townsfolk like they all might have some secret they are trying to keep out of public scrutiny can be a lot of fun.

[shakeappeal]

The movie (and book) Annihilation.

[Radu the Wanderer]

I like the tv adaptation of The Mist, as well as From, for the menacing atmosphere.

Add for music, quartet no. 7 by Dimitri Shastakovich is my go to for the Gauntlight. And you may not know the name, but you've heard Le Carnaval des Animaux, mvmt. 7 Aquarium by Saint-Sans before, and it fits. Rachmaninov – The Isle of the Dead is another great mood piece

Also check out the themes from Candyman, A Nightmare on Elm Street, and Halloween.

I love instrumentals because I can play it in game and pass the mood onto the players, too!

[guise709]

Radu the Wanderer wrote:

I like the tv adaptation of The Mist, as well as From, for the menacing atmosphere.

Add for music, quartet no. 7 by Dimitri Shastakovich is my go to for the Gauntlight. And you may not know the name, but you've heard Le Carnaval des Animaux, mvmt. 7 Aquarium by Saint-Sans before, and it fits. Rachmaninov – The Isle of the Dead is another great mood piece

Also check out the themes from Candyman, A Nightmare on Elm Street, and Halloween.

I love instrumentals because I can play it in game and pass the mood onto the players, too!

Great recommendations! Thank you!

I would add the Lighthouse (2019) on the list of inspirational media. The soundtrack alone would make a great 'descent' instrumental to play as they delve deeper into the Abomination Vaults.

[James Jacobs]

Some great suggestions here! I particularly like the mention that Otari has Twin Peaks vibes, since a lot of the town (like Sandpoint) was inspired by my real-life hometown.

As for the main evil deity who plays a role in this Adventure Path, my primary source of inspiration for her is Algernon Blackwood's short story, "The Willows," which is one of the creepiest stories about being out in the wilderness I've ever read.

[Ess Austyn]

Can I riff off of James Jacobs' mention of "The Willows" (which is a beautiful and creepy story) by mentioning a novel that riffs off of "The Willows"?

_The Hollow Places_ by T. Kingfisher was not my first thought for a recommendation for Abomination Vaults inspiration (it starts off in present-day NC USA, and has a fair amount of humor), but it actually has some good stuff to check out. There are very creepy scenes featuring Things moving just behind the skin of reality, and what they do to some of the people they find is great nightmare fuel for body horror encounters.

It was inspired by/an homage to "The Willows," and has atmospheric river and swamp scenes. And for bonus points, the Wonder Museum the protagonist runs would fit very well in Otari with just a few small tweaks.