Background music? (Soundtracks)

TracerBullet42

First Post
I love a good soundtrack, and when it's used to supplement some RPG-ing it's even better. I was just wondering what types of music any of you like to use while gaming.

Obviously, the Lord of the Rings soundtracks are a good choice. The Frighteners would be especially good when dealing with undead. Last of the Mohicans has a good outdoorsy feel to it. Fight Club would work well with a modern game. Signs is just creepy. Any other suggestions?
 

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For an epic (note: Not Epic as in Level 21+) feel, try any of the following

Manowar (Hi Angcuru and Blackshirt5! :D )

Rhapsody

Blind Guardian

For a fight/run-away-with-tail-between-legs scene with undead, "Ostego Undead" by Static X.

Final Fantasy soundtracks - almost all of the games, but especially Final Fantasy Tactics for good looping battle music.

That ought to help.

-Craer

Edit: My current character's theme song is "Shi-Kuretta Kuruma SERENADE" from the Hellsing OST. A little odd for D&D, but some of it might be worth it.
 
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Some of those I've used to great effect...

Conan

13th Warrior

Black Aria (by Danzig; trust me, if you can find it, it's worth it)

Frankenstein (the one with Kenneth Branagh)

Bram Stoker's Dracula (except the last song)

Needful Things

From Hell

Dune

Signs

Batman Returns

Also, if you're willing to pick and choose, there are some great pieces on...

Legend

Ravenous

Harry Potter (both)

I'm sure I'm forgetting some, but this is a start...
 


The Fight Club soundtrack is awsome for modern/cyberpunk games... I'd also recommend Orgy, Gravity Kills, Fluke, and any of Paul Oakenfold's Global Underground albums. BT or Orbital's recent retrospective albums, the Matrix Soundtracks (the Reloaded soundtrack is better than the original, especially for gaming, as it includes Juno Reactor remixes of all the symphonic pieces used in the movie), the Hackers soundtracks, and Crystal Method are all great as well.

For Conspiracy/Illuminati games, all of the above work well- and I'd add Prodigy to the list, too. The anarchist vibe of their music is a perfect accompanyment.

Most of the same music that works well for Cyberpunk does nicely for farther-future RPG's as well. Funker Vogt, VNV Nation, and Nine Inch Nails are good for creating a heavier beat for a combat intensive game- and when playing Star Wars, I'd suggest breaking out the movie soundtracks (Episode II and VI are my favorites music-wise, but the others have good tracks as well. Making a mix CD with the choicest tracks off all of them wouldn't be a bad call- even though I found the Episode I soundtrack rather weak, you've gotta get Duel of the Fates and Anakin's Theme in there somewhere...:) )

For Fantasy, Lord of the Rings is an obvious choice, but there are some operatic and symphonic composers that I'd recommend taking a look at too. I often use some CD compilations of music by Richard Wagner and Carl Orff as background for epic-tinged games. For something softer, Enya is quite nice (especially when you're running a combat-light session that involves elves or fey-folk). If a rock soundtrack is what you're looking for, I've used Emperor, Cradle of Filth, and Type O-Negative- but these bands aren't for everybody. If you're running a more surreal game like Planescape or Oathbound, some of the stranger goth-rock and ambient tecno groups, like Einsturzende Neubauten, Aphex Twin, or Loscil are the way to go.

(Can you tell yet that I'm a DJ? :) )

Just my humble opinion, though. Your tastes will vary, but those are my favorites.
 

Ok, I use a lot of stuff.

Carmina Burana (duh)

Final Fantasy 5& 6 soundtrack

LOTR (der)

Wagner

Manowar (duh)

Cradle of Filth (horror man, horror)

ANY Star Wars

Lustmord (another Horror thing)

Ziggy STardust and the Spider from Mars (sci fi)

Current 93 (gothic horror)

Joy Division (same as C93)

Manson

I have a mix CD of various things that I use for modern day, Bee Gees, The TIme, Prince, Jimmy Hendrix, Pet SHop Boys etc... good disk

Jason
 

Conan is very good, so is LoTR. New World Music has some nice CDs (try "Ghosts" from Llewellyn for a creepy mood). My favorite composers are Hans Zimmer (The Rock, Gladiator, ...) and Danny Elfman (Batman, Edward Scissorhands, Sleepy Hollow, ...).
 

Fellowship of the Rings and Two Towers soundtracks

Conan the Barabarian

Braveheart

Baldur's Gate, Baldur's Gate II, Icewind Dale soundtracks

Lewis & Clark: Soundtrack for the PBS Film by Ken Burns

miscelleneous 17th, 18th & 19th century folk music

occasionally, Led Zeppelin or early Rush
 

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