Playing music while playing a RPG

Queranil · Jan 25, 2011

<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves/> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:HyphenationZone>21</w:HyphenationZone> <w

unctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w

oNotPromoteQF/> <w:LidThemeOther>NL</w:LidThemeOther> <w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <w

ontGrowAutofit/> <w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/> <w

ontVertAlignCellWithSp/> <w

ontBreakConstrainedForcedTables/> <w

ontVertAlignInTxbx/> <w:Word11KerningPairs/> <w:CachedColBalance/> </w:Compatibility> <w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> <m:mathPr> <m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/> <m:brkBin m:val="before"/> <m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/> <m:smallFrac m:val="off"/> <m:dispDef/> <m:lMargin m:val="0"/> <m:rMargin m:val="0"/> <m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/> <m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/> <m:intLim m:val="subSup"/> <m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/> </m:mathPr></w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--> I’m curious if you have experience with music while playing a RPG (like D&D or Pathfinder). Do you ever play ambient background music to enhance the game? Would there be a site or company that makes/composes these types of tracks? And if not, would you be willing to buy music tracks that are made to enhance a game or are made specifically for the setting/adventure your are playing?
I’d appreciate any input and or experience.
Thanks!

Ralls · Jan 26, 2011

I do often, and I find it beneficial to set the mood.

To start, I usually pick a theme for the party. A nice, more than likely heroic tune to go on in the background. I ususally use youtube to find the tunes I need, then a youtube looper to keep it going in the background. For the current campain the parties theme tune is this:

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DmuJNsBxgkM]YouTube - Interlude (8-bit) - Attack Attack[/ame]

Then, I often find remixes of the same song that are more upbeat, and/or hold more of a gravity to them. I use the heavier tune for boss battles that are going the right way, or generally when the party is kicking @#!*% . Here's the one I'm using for my current campain:

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vfq9KeShQLE&ob=av2el]YouTube - Attack Attack! - Interlude[/ame]

Then, I find another tune (or variation of the original) to play when the party is in trouble, and/or things arn't going their way. Again, here:

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IbafCRhscuo]YouTube - Interlude (Attack Attack!) - Sunset On the Sound Remix[/ame]

Of course, you're not limited to just a few songs. Theme songs for villians are appropriate, or even songs for a particular area, songs for travelling, exploring, foraging, even ask your players if they'd like a theme song.

Just make sure the sound adds to the game in a subtle way, and doesn't take attention away from the game by drawing it to itself, and most importantly: have fun!

Thunderfoot · Jan 26, 2011

I'm more of a traditionalist when it comes to music

Holtz - The Planet Suite is a good one

I also spend a lot of time perusing ancient music from library files, bagpipe music (not marching tunes but dirges, etc), percussive pieces for battle and the like.

Although this is a personal decision, a lot of folks I know play heavy metal or synth pop, NOT my cup of tea, but, whatever floats your boat.

jonesy · Jan 28, 2011

I think you might find this link helpful. Started in 2006, and still going:

http://www.enworld.org/forum/general-rpg-discussion/174448-game-related-music-threads-links.html

Playing music while playing a RPG

Queranil

First Post

Ralls

First Post

Thunderfoot

Hero

jonesy

A Wicked Kendragon

Similar Threads