Mood music & FR

[cybertalus]

Weren't there some soundtracks released for the Hercules and Xena TV shows? You might check some of those out.

The Silver Marches have a lot of dwarven settlements. If you visit any of those, something like Stomp that is very percussive might be appropriate.

I've only used music once. I had a scene that was pivotal to a monk character, and used a couple of Ravi Shankar chant-ish tracks. It was effective for that scene, but overdone it would've been annoying.

I'd avoid anything extremely recognisable, as it could break the mood rather than enhance it. Playing "Flight of the Valkyries" as the red dragon enters combat might be tempting, but it's also likely to interfere with suspension of disbelief.

 

[DerianCypher]

• Signs

Oh this is perfect.... I never thought about the impact this music would have on my players. I watched (and loved) the movie and I get the chills just listening to the music!!!

edited for tag fixing
guess I can't edit very well

 

[Faraer]

Quoting from "Music of the Forgotten Realms" (Dragon #123):

Most music of the Realms sounds to our ears akin to late Medieval and Renaissance dance airs -- mellow and sprightly, with the melody carried by a horn or harp (or both, interweaving counter-melodies), and rhythm marked by deeper horns or drums.

I don't have a CD of such music to recommend off the top of my heard, I'm afraid, but I know that "Overture to the Sun" from the Clockwork Orange soundtrack (!) was used for a Realms event one Gen Con.

 

[derverdammte]

Quoting from "Music of the Forgotten Realms" (Dragon #123):I don't have a CD of such music to recommend off the top of my heard, I'm afraid, but I know that "Overture to the Sun" from the Clockwork Orange soundtrack (!) was used for a Realms event one Gen Con.

Oh, awesome! I love Wendy (aka Walter) Carlos. I have "Tales from Heaven and Hell" on CD, and I occasionally use it in my games.

 

[Knightcrawler]

We use music all the time in my campaign. Movie soundtrack instrumentals are very good. Specifically these soundtracks are good.

1. Bram Stoker's Dracula
2. Signs
3. Conan the Barbarian
4. Hunt for Red October

I also like using classical at certain times. Usually when were in a quiter session. Unfortunately you actually have to know something about classical music to use it and have it work.

I also favor heavy metal during action periods.

1. Pretty much any Metallica
2. Iron Maiden, specifically Seventh Son of A Seventh Son & Number of the Beast
3. Danzig, older stuff mainly
4. Celtic Frost and Amorphos, but be careful here you might scare your players.

Ask your players for some of their opinions.

 

[Wolfspider]

Might want to check out <a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0000033KM/qid=1030995893/sr=2-1/ref=sr_2_1/002-7827103-6160826" target="_blank">this soundtrack</a>, especially track 13.

 

[StalkingBlue]

I use mostly film soundtracks. Two of my favourites that have not yet been listed:

13th Warrior

Lawrence of Arabia
(especially if you plan on bringing the group into Anauroch)