A Monster of the Week actual play podcast

Something is wrong in Pine Forge. Four kids are the only ones who noticed.

Gravity Falls meets Stranger Things meets Twin Peaks. A small logging town in the Blackwood National Park, a missing girl, and the strangest students at Blackwood High.

Start with Episode 1Meet the gang
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The gang

Four unusual high schoolers. One very watchful forest.

Each one readable in silhouette, each one a Monster of the Week playbook.

Dottie Loosecough
Dottie LoosecoughThe Divine. Kind, curious, connected to nature and the unseen. Voice of reason with a cursed branch for a hand.Played by Blaise
Danny Fields
Danny FieldsThe Nerd. Tall, linky, overthinks everything, then solves it. Skateboard, backpack, not a leader and fine with it.Played by Josh
Chad
ChadThe Preppy. Broad shoulders, varsity jacket, cocky. Uneasy ally who always wants to prove he's the best.Played by Robert "Lachiel"
Lucas Santiago
Lucas SantiagoThe Heart. Stocky, relaxed, oversized hoodie, one very wrong arm. Loyal past the point of sense.Played by Paul
Pine Forge at dusk
Pine Forge, Oregon

Quaint on the surface. Keep your eyes open.

A logging town nestled in the heart of the Blackwood National Park. The hill side of town reads wealthy, Blackwood High is the social hub, and the forest is not background. It behaves like a watching presence.

Then local girl Cindy Mulligan disappears.

Start here

Episode 1: The Disappearance of Cindy Mulligan

Meet the gang and see how they deal with the weirdness of Pine Forge. Improvised at the table, produced like a show. Rules: Monster of the Week by Evil Hat, a Powered by the Apocalypse game. In English, an improvised story using dice for randomness.

Izaak Sutherland keeps. Blaise plays Dottie, Josh plays Danny, Paul plays Lucas.

Play episode 1Free MotW mystery
Blackwood High hallwayLucas and Danny in the hallwayDottie and Chad in the forestBiggs the cat, infected

What listeners say

"I fell in love with Strangers of the Pine after the first episode. The unique takes on the playbooks make me want to listen to more and find out more about the world."

Sean O'Dell, producer and GM, Dungeons and Pop

"Strangers in the Pines is a lovingly-produced Monster of the Week foray into a world where Mulder, Scully, or any of the characters from Stranger Things would feel right at home... and has one of the most mellifluous GM voices in AP podcasting."

C. Patrick Neagle, host and GM, The Gothic Podcast

"I started listening to Strangers in the Pines, and I'm in love with the mood and characters you guys created! And the group dynamic works so well!"

Reddit listener
Strangers in the Pines gang tee
Wear the gang

The Pine Forge lineup, on a tee.

Dottie, Danny, Chad and Lucas in the dark pines with the show logo. Heavyweight black Comfort Colors cotton, printed in the USA.

See it in the shop

Armed and Dangerous, a Monster of the Week mystery
Free download

Armed and Dangerous. A Monster of the Week mystery, free.

Waldo, Florida. Population 1,000. A shark attack in the frozen food aisle. That's just the hook. Sci-fi horror comedy, Weird Florida style.

  • 21pages
  • 10locations
  • 19bystanders
  • 4threats

3 to 5 hunters. Countdown, custom moves and a prep sheet included. Written by Paul Parnell.

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