Fanfare for the Chosen - An Exalted 3rd Edition Music Suite
jontheman
Game designer
5 out of 5 rating for Fanfare for the Chosen - An Exalted 3rd Edition Music Suite
<style type="text/css"> [MENTION=11683]Page[/MENTION] { margin: 2cm } p { margin-bottom: 0.25cm; direction: ltr; color: #000000; line-height: 120%; orphans: 2; widows: 2 } p.western { font-family: "Liberation Serif", "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; so-language: en-GB } p.cjk { font-family: "Noto Sans CJK SC Regular"; font-size: 12pt; so-language: zh-CN } p.ctl { font-family: "FreeSans"; font-size: 12pt; so-language: hi-IN } </style>‘Fanfarefor the Chosen includes inspiring soundtrack themes for each of theten types of Exalted (Solars, Lunars, Sidereals, Dragon Bloodeds,Abyssals, Exigents, Getiminans, Liminals, Infernals, Alchemicals), toset the tone as you encounter these Exalted in your games or areseeking inspiration for new stories.
Aboutthe composer:
JamesSemple is a composer for media (tv, video games, websites and films)specialising in ultra-realistic digital orchestration. He has createdsoundtracks for the Trail of Cthulhu, 13th Age, Unknown Armies 3rdEdition, Esoterrorists, and now Exalted 3rd Edition RPGs.’
Anepic game for an epic setting requires epic music. In the RPGExalted, players take on the roles of powerful heroes in a world ofentities with the power of gods, and the world will be shaped bytheir wars and whims.
Nowin it’s Third Edition, Exalted is ‘the tale of a forgotten agebefore the seas were bent, when the world was flat and floated atop asea of chaos. This is the tale of a decadent empire raised up on thebones of the fallen Golden Age, whose splendor it faintly echoed butcould not match. This is a tale of primal frontiers, of the restlessdead, of jeweled cities ruled openly by spirits in defiance ofHeaven’s law. This is a tale of glorious heroes blessed by thegods, and of their passions and the wars they waged in the final eraof legends.’
Usingmusic in tabletop RPGs has been around for a long time, and I used touse music from movie soundtracks quite extensively during mysessions. If the game we were playing was licensed and I had asuitable soundtrack that could be identified with the setting then somuch the better. Williams’ ‘Star Wars’ music andGoldsmith/Horner’s ‘Star Trek’ OSTs got a lot of airtime in myhouse.
Nowthere’s no need to match existing music soundtracks to the gameyou’re playing. Now games have their own OSTs, and one of theleading composers in this field right now is James Semple.
JamesSemple has given us ten pieces of music to use in our Exalted games,each one acting as an introduction to a session or a scene. While notdesigned for ongoing play, like background incidental music, they areperfect for the scene-setting introductions that Gms love to do. Withthis music playing in the background as this week’s scenario isintroduced it turns each session into an episode, with the track asthe title music. It helps set the scene, helps set the mood and, mostimportantly, it helps get the players into the adventure.
Nearlya year went into composing, arranging and producing this soundtrackand it shows – the arrangements are of a high standard, with a hugeorchestral roar bellowing out to the most rousing pieces. Theproduction standard is excellent, well produced and is a polishedrecording of a very high quality.
Returnof the Solar Exalted : A huge orchestral piece, this track feelslike the opening credits music to a huge fantasy show. Playing thisas you recap the adventure is a great way to get back into thecampaign. That can be said of any of the following pieces, dependingon the mood you’re trying to invoke. These are the heroes of thegame and deserved a rousing theme.
Riseof the Infernal Exalted : Are you looking for a darker edge tothis weeks adventure? Have the players just arrived at a dangerouslocation, or has a NPC with evil in their heart just walked on stage?This starts dark but still has an edge of urgency to it. The demonsof the world drip with dark character.
Birthof the Liminal Exalted : Although a softer track for thosemoments of relative peace, this piece still has a touch of mysteryand danger, as if it lingers at the edges waiting to pounce. Thisrepresents the wondrous, tragic and doomed creation of theseconstructed golem types, complete with a heartbeat in the bassstarting halfway through the track.
TheAlchemical Exalted – Ex Machina : Touched with an etherealfeel, this music marches like a clock, representing the mechanical,android side. This is almost entirely metal instruments representingthese clockwork Exalts and nods to their almost Eastern Bloc statewith a huge Slavic brass theme.
TheGetimian Exalted – War in Heaven : Quick, fast paced andsteady, almost like riding a horse. This track gives us the passionand drive of these warriors. It’s more heroic than many would haveexpected representing their war against the gods and contrasting darkand light.
Rageof the Lunar Exalted : Deep beating drums and horns lend power tothis track, and gives us an excellent tribal feel to the game.
TheAbyssal Exalted – Death’s Lawgivers : Beginning with apowerful, religious tone and followed by the bell of what sounds likedoom singing, this piece reflects tragedy and sorrow and, in fact, ismy favourite piece.
TheSidereal Exalted – Lesser But Safe : This would suit thosegames with investigation, calculation and confrontation. In fact, itsounds like the opening of a TV detective show and would be perfectfor those games where roleplaying takes the lead.
TheExigents – Power of the Exigence : The newest thing in Exaltedgets it’s own track, and it even starts out unsure showing theirhumble, normal beginnings and then their true power revealing in ahuge wondrous crescendo as the music grows in confidence and power.
Marchof the DragonBlooded : Another piece that starts out soft, withan oriental air to it, but then the drums kick in and the power isrevealed, leading to another huge crescendo.
Althougheach of these are between 1:49 and 2:10 long they make for greatintroduction tracks, and they help capture different atmospheres andgame types. Are you looking to run something epic? Then begin thegame with track 1 Return of the Solar Exalted.Mystery and darkness? That’s Track 3 Birth of the LiminalExalted put to good use. Actionand adventure? Track 5 The Getimian Exalted – War inHeaven would make a greatintro.
Theymay be short but they’re perfect for the game. Yes, you canprobably loop them in the background and that should work out fine,and it’s a shame that they aren’t designed that way as I feelthat a long, ambient background track would go a long way… however,the good news is that such athing is in the works, so I’mlooking forward to that.They are designed as short, punchy deliveries for each of the Exalts.They are designed to be inspiring, to give you that boost before playstarts, or to give you inspiration when designing a game.
Fanfarefor the Chosen is an excellentsoundtrack for one of the most popular roleplaying games on themarket, and the music is suited to the gloriousness and the darknessof the setting. It’s another worthy addition to the RPG soundtrackcollection and anotherexcellent selection of music from James Semple.
Highly recommended.
<style type="text/css"> [MENTION=11683]Page[/MENTION] { margin: 2cm } p { margin-bottom: 0.25cm; direction: ltr; color: #000000; line-height: 120%; orphans: 2; widows: 2 } p.western { font-family: "Liberation Serif", "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; so-language: en-GB } p.cjk { font-family: "Noto Sans CJK SC Regular"; font-size: 12pt; so-language: zh-CN } p.ctl { font-family: "FreeSans"; font-size: 12pt; so-language: hi-IN } </style>‘Fanfarefor the Chosen includes inspiring soundtrack themes for each of theten types of Exalted (Solars, Lunars, Sidereals, Dragon Bloodeds,Abyssals, Exigents, Getiminans, Liminals, Infernals, Alchemicals), toset the tone as you encounter these Exalted in your games or areseeking inspiration for new stories.
Aboutthe composer:
JamesSemple is a composer for media (tv, video games, websites and films)specialising in ultra-realistic digital orchestration. He has createdsoundtracks for the Trail of Cthulhu, 13th Age, Unknown Armies 3rdEdition, Esoterrorists, and now Exalted 3rd Edition RPGs.’
Anepic game for an epic setting requires epic music. In the RPGExalted, players take on the roles of powerful heroes in a world ofentities with the power of gods, and the world will be shaped bytheir wars and whims.
Nowin it’s Third Edition, Exalted is ‘the tale of a forgotten agebefore the seas were bent, when the world was flat and floated atop asea of chaos. This is the tale of a decadent empire raised up on thebones of the fallen Golden Age, whose splendor it faintly echoed butcould not match. This is a tale of primal frontiers, of the restlessdead, of jeweled cities ruled openly by spirits in defiance ofHeaven’s law. This is a tale of glorious heroes blessed by thegods, and of their passions and the wars they waged in the final eraof legends.’
Usingmusic in tabletop RPGs has been around for a long time, and I used touse music from movie soundtracks quite extensively during mysessions. If the game we were playing was licensed and I had asuitable soundtrack that could be identified with the setting then somuch the better. Williams’ ‘Star Wars’ music andGoldsmith/Horner’s ‘Star Trek’ OSTs got a lot of airtime in myhouse.
Nowthere’s no need to match existing music soundtracks to the gameyou’re playing. Now games have their own OSTs, and one of theleading composers in this field right now is James Semple.
JamesSemple has given us ten pieces of music to use in our Exalted games,each one acting as an introduction to a session or a scene. While notdesigned for ongoing play, like background incidental music, they areperfect for the scene-setting introductions that Gms love to do. Withthis music playing in the background as this week’s scenario isintroduced it turns each session into an episode, with the track asthe title music. It helps set the scene, helps set the mood and, mostimportantly, it helps get the players into the adventure.
Nearlya year went into composing, arranging and producing this soundtrackand it shows – the arrangements are of a high standard, with a hugeorchestral roar bellowing out to the most rousing pieces. Theproduction standard is excellent, well produced and is a polishedrecording of a very high quality.
Returnof the Solar Exalted : A huge orchestral piece, this track feelslike the opening credits music to a huge fantasy show. Playing thisas you recap the adventure is a great way to get back into thecampaign. That can be said of any of the following pieces, dependingon the mood you’re trying to invoke. These are the heroes of thegame and deserved a rousing theme.
Riseof the Infernal Exalted : Are you looking for a darker edge tothis weeks adventure? Have the players just arrived at a dangerouslocation, or has a NPC with evil in their heart just walked on stage?This starts dark but still has an edge of urgency to it. The demonsof the world drip with dark character.
Birthof the Liminal Exalted : Although a softer track for thosemoments of relative peace, this piece still has a touch of mysteryand danger, as if it lingers at the edges waiting to pounce. Thisrepresents the wondrous, tragic and doomed creation of theseconstructed golem types, complete with a heartbeat in the bassstarting halfway through the track.
TheAlchemical Exalted – Ex Machina : Touched with an etherealfeel, this music marches like a clock, representing the mechanical,android side. This is almost entirely metal instruments representingthese clockwork Exalts and nods to their almost Eastern Bloc statewith a huge Slavic brass theme.
TheGetimian Exalted – War in Heaven : Quick, fast paced andsteady, almost like riding a horse. This track gives us the passionand drive of these warriors. It’s more heroic than many would haveexpected representing their war against the gods and contrasting darkand light.
Rageof the Lunar Exalted : Deep beating drums and horns lend power tothis track, and gives us an excellent tribal feel to the game.
TheAbyssal Exalted – Death’s Lawgivers : Beginning with apowerful, religious tone and followed by the bell of what sounds likedoom singing, this piece reflects tragedy and sorrow and, in fact, ismy favourite piece.
TheSidereal Exalted – Lesser But Safe : This would suit thosegames with investigation, calculation and confrontation. In fact, itsounds like the opening of a TV detective show and would be perfectfor those games where roleplaying takes the lead.
TheExigents – Power of the Exigence : The newest thing in Exaltedgets it’s own track, and it even starts out unsure showing theirhumble, normal beginnings and then their true power revealing in ahuge wondrous crescendo as the music grows in confidence and power.
Marchof the DragonBlooded : Another piece that starts out soft, withan oriental air to it, but then the drums kick in and the power isrevealed, leading to another huge crescendo.
Althougheach of these are between 1:49 and 2:10 long they make for greatintroduction tracks, and they help capture different atmospheres andgame types. Are you looking to run something epic? Then begin thegame with track 1 Return of the Solar Exalted.Mystery and darkness? That’s Track 3 Birth of the LiminalExalted put to good use. Actionand adventure? Track 5 The Getimian Exalted – War inHeaven would make a greatintro.
Theymay be short but they’re perfect for the game. Yes, you canprobably loop them in the background and that should work out fine,and it’s a shame that they aren’t designed that way as I feelthat a long, ambient background track would go a long way… however,the good news is that such athing is in the works, so I’mlooking forward to that.They are designed as short, punchy deliveries for each of the Exalts.They are designed to be inspiring, to give you that boost before playstarts, or to give you inspiration when designing a game.
Fanfarefor the Chosen is an excellentsoundtrack for one of the most popular roleplaying games on themarket, and the music is suited to the gloriousness and the darknessof the setting. It’s another worthy addition to the RPG soundtrackcollection and anotherexcellent selection of music from James Semple.
Highly recommended.
Similar Threads
