Apr 17, 2023 9:45 pm
This is a thread for questions and general discussion about the game.
Recommendations
Dark Mode: It’s a small thing, but I recommend setting Gamers Plane to dark mode for this game. The default bright white background of the website is ill-suited to the folk horror atmosphere of Holler. Dark, neutral colors are the rule. On my end, I’ll try to use font colors and images that work well for dark mode.
Music: The Appalachian region has a rich history of music that perfectly represents the mood of the game. Appropriate styles include folk music, country music, bluegrass, and old-time music. Common instruments in Appalachian songs are banjos, dulcimers, and fiddles, though even spoons, washboards, and other households items have been known to make an appearance. For music that's evocative of the time period, listen to classic Appalachian performers such as Dock Boggs, Roscoe Halcomb, the Old Regular Baptists, Hobart Smith, Hazel Dickens, and many others. Also check out Appalachian throat singing.
Inspiration
Here are some works that fit the themes or mood of Holler quite well, in my opinion.
Outsiders: A 2016 tv series that aired on WGN. It stars David Morse, Ryan Hurst, and Joe Anderson. Taking place in Kentucky, it revolves around an isolated clan of mountain folk and their contentious interactions with the outside world. The show only lasted for two seasons but gives some good examples of Appalachian culture and dialect.
Old Gods of Appalachia: A horror anthology podcast dealing with fictional stories about Appalachia. The episodes focus on the eldritch evils and madness inhabiting those mountains, and how they intersect with the people living there. The audio dramas are well-written, though admittedly I don't find them particularly scary.
Hillbilly: A comic book series created by Eric Powell (the creator of The Goon) about a blind hillbilly vigilante named Rondel. Armed with the Devil's meat cleaver, he wanders the Appalachian countryside killing witches and monsters. Draws on quite a bit of Appalachian folklore. Good art and fun stories.
Some Basic Considerations
• As Bill and Ted like to say: "Be excellent to each other." In other words, let’s all be civil and respectful to one another. This is a game, and we’re all hopefully here for the same reason - to have fun.
• Try to keep up with the posting rate if you can. If posts become too infrequent, the game can lose momentum. But I understand that life gets in the way, sometimes.
• The residents of Appalachia have historically suffered from a number of negative stereotypes. Although this game will definitely embrace certain tropes and explore some of the region's real world problems, the intention is not to mock Appalachian people or culture. The creator of Holler (who is a native Appalachian and teaches Appalachian literature) intends the game to be an homage to the region. That's my goal, as well. Try for an interesting and complex character rather than a one-dimensional caricature.
Recommendations
Dark Mode: It’s a small thing, but I recommend setting Gamers Plane to dark mode for this game. The default bright white background of the website is ill-suited to the folk horror atmosphere of Holler. Dark, neutral colors are the rule. On my end, I’ll try to use font colors and images that work well for dark mode.
Music: The Appalachian region has a rich history of music that perfectly represents the mood of the game. Appropriate styles include folk music, country music, bluegrass, and old-time music. Common instruments in Appalachian songs are banjos, dulcimers, and fiddles, though even spoons, washboards, and other households items have been known to make an appearance. For music that's evocative of the time period, listen to classic Appalachian performers such as Dock Boggs, Roscoe Halcomb, the Old Regular Baptists, Hobart Smith, Hazel Dickens, and many others. Also check out Appalachian throat singing.
Inspiration
Here are some works that fit the themes or mood of Holler quite well, in my opinion.
Outsiders: A 2016 tv series that aired on WGN. It stars David Morse, Ryan Hurst, and Joe Anderson. Taking place in Kentucky, it revolves around an isolated clan of mountain folk and their contentious interactions with the outside world. The show only lasted for two seasons but gives some good examples of Appalachian culture and dialect.
Old Gods of Appalachia: A horror anthology podcast dealing with fictional stories about Appalachia. The episodes focus on the eldritch evils and madness inhabiting those mountains, and how they intersect with the people living there. The audio dramas are well-written, though admittedly I don't find them particularly scary.
Hillbilly: A comic book series created by Eric Powell (the creator of The Goon) about a blind hillbilly vigilante named Rondel. Armed with the Devil's meat cleaver, he wanders the Appalachian countryside killing witches and monsters. Draws on quite a bit of Appalachian folklore. Good art and fun stories.
Some Basic Considerations
• As Bill and Ted like to say: "Be excellent to each other." In other words, let’s all be civil and respectful to one another. This is a game, and we’re all hopefully here for the same reason - to have fun.
• Try to keep up with the posting rate if you can. If posts become too infrequent, the game can lose momentum. But I understand that life gets in the way, sometimes.
• The residents of Appalachia have historically suffered from a number of negative stereotypes. Although this game will definitely embrace certain tropes and explore some of the region's real world problems, the intention is not to mock Appalachian people or culture. The creator of Holler (who is a native Appalachian and teaches Appalachian literature) intends the game to be an homage to the region. That's my goal, as well. Try for an interesting and complex character rather than a one-dimensional caricature.
