I need a soundtrack for a dungeon-crawling adventure with the vibe of a cheesy 1980s fantasy movie

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

I use soundtracks when I DM, both in-person and via Discord. I often just go with ambient sound effect tracks, but for this weekend's Grizzled Adventurers game, I'm thinking something with the vibe of a cheesy 1980s fantasy movie would be the right vibe. (Note I said cheesy: The Princess Bride soundtrack by Mark Knopfler and Labyrinth soundtrack with David Bowie on it are both way too nice for this.)

Anyone got some favorites? It should be both gloriously cheesy but also something we don't want to turn off after five minutes. It can be a real soundtrack or a modern synthwave throwback album.

Thanks!

 

[Twiggly the Gnome]

Anyone got some favorites? It should be both gloriously cheesy but also something we don't want to turn off after five minutes. It can be a real soundtrack or a modern synthwave throwback album.

The first thing that comes to mind is The Alan Parsons Project's Ladyhawke soundtrack.

 

[niklinna]

Might not be cheesy enough for you but

 

[niklinna]

This one is cheesier.

 

[Haplo781]

The Dungeons & Dragons Soundtrack by Midnight Syndicate.

 

[niklinna]

Oh, here we go. (Never saw this film.)


They've got synth, and maybe theremin. Either way, it's rockin' the cheese.

I'm hearing bits the Diablo II soundtrack might have lifted, in there. But probably not?

 

[niklinna]

The Dungeons & Dragons Soundtrack by Midnight Syndicate.

Wow, that is incredibly generic.

 

[Haplo781]

Wow, that is incredibly generic.

Yep - perfect for fading into the background.

 

[Justice and Rule]

Oh, here we go. (Never saw this film.)


They've got synth, and maybe theremin. Either way, it's rockin' the cheese.

I'm hearing bits the Diablo II soundtrack might have lifted, in there. But probably not?

Was coming in here to post that. The entire movie feels like someone's Basic D&D game playing out. Incredibly cheesy, utterly hilarious, worth a watch.

 

[niklinna]

Yep - perfect for fading into the background.

Fair point.

 

[niklinna]

Yes I am wasting my afternoon looking up 80s Sword & Sorcery film soundtracks on youtube.

 

[SaltheartRPG]

Ok, now this may not be the traditional answer but back in the late 80s, I added a soundtrack to all the sessions of one campaign using contemporary music, including many tunes from the Beach Boys Endless Summer....

 

[Haiku Elvis]

Yes I am wasting my afternoon looking up 80s Sword & Sorcery film soundtracks on youtube.

That's not wasting your afternoon, that's winning!

 

[Ringtail]

Can't go wrong with Dragonslayer

 

[Sacrosanct]

If you want 80s cheese, find all the synthesizer music you can find.

 

[The Scythian]

It's not actually cheesy, but the Conan the Barbarian score wears the jeweled crown of '80s fantasy soundtracks upon its troubled brow.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

It's not actually cheesy, but the Conan the Barbarian score wears the jeweled crown of '80s fantasy soundtracks upon its troubled brow.

If I was running Through Sunken Lands, that's definitely the way I'd go. For Grizzled Adventurers, though, I need something a little sillier.

 

[niklinna]

Sci-fi but possibly will work for your game.


(That's Melanie Griffith by the way.)

Basil Poledouris - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Hm, he did Conan the Barbarian!

 

[deganawida]

I use soundtracks when I DM, both in-person and via Discord. I often just go with ambient sound effect tracks, but for this weekend's Grizzled Adventurers game, I'm thinking something with the vibe of a cheesy 1980s fantasy movie would be the right vibe. (Note I said cheesy: The Princess Bride soundtrack by Mark Knopfler and Labyrinth soundtrack with David Bowie on it are both way too nice for this.)

Anyone got some favorites? It should be both gloriously cheesy but also something we don't want to turn off after five minutes. It can be a real soundtrack or a modern synthwave throwback album.

Thanks!

Anything by The Magic Sword. Awesome synthwave, and “Battlefield” from the self-titled album (the first) makes me think of a guy with a magic sword and shield fighting a vast horde.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

Anything by The Magic Sword. Awesome synthwave, and “Battlefield” from the self-titled album (the first) makes me think of a guy with a magic sword and shield fighting a vast horde.

Oh, that's a really good suggestion, too. I got one of their albums a few years ago after they played Blizzcon.