Troll Lord Games

Just wondering if any of you have ever incorporated music into your games?

If not, try getting a hold of the Conan the Barbarian soundtrack or for particularly evil moments the Omen soundtrack works great. We have been using various soundtracks for 20 or so years and wouldn't think of playing without it anymore.

Anyone?

There was a group I used to game with that liked various odd ball stuff like Dr Dementia playing while we adventured. I'm more of a renaisance classics and Jazz fan myself. But hey, whatever works. ^_^
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"We'll go out through the kitchen!" Tanis Half-Elven

Peter Bradley

Hi GT,

I guess I was thinking more in the music helping with the story telling and creating a mood/ atmosphere rather than just background music.

An example would be playing "Anvil of Crom", from Conan the Brbarian for particularly nasty fights.

I just thought I would post this music thing as I have never heard it taked about before on a forum.

Most certainly! Music is an awesome addition to the gaming experience. I often use specific tracks from these soundtracks:

Robinhood, Prince of Thieves

The 13th Warrior

Braveheart

Legacy of Kain series (www.lokmusic.com),

etc.

When big battles come up, I use specific peices from The 13th Warrior and LOK. When there is extensive travelling or wilderness mapping, Braveheart comes out. When there is a particular NPC or reknown or mission for the PCs, Robinhood is my music of choice.

Music can be a very nice addition to the game.

..........................................Omote

FPQ
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http://www.midnightsyndicate.com/

I use music almost all the time.

Aye, I heartily agree. I am a big fan of music in general, listening to whaterver genre suits my needs at that time. Though I don't play any during a game, I do listen to it through out the day as I prepare to play or to get in the mood. Right now, I am listening to John Coltrane, in the cd ready to go is some Chieftains, Neil Young, and Son Volt. Enough to keep me cleaning the house and preparing for my game tonight.

By the by, anybody listne to Blackmoors Night. Ritchie Blackmoores medieval ensemble. Very cool!

Yeah, I've checked out Blackmoor's Night a little bit, but I think that I'd rather listen to actual renaissance music since sometimes that BN stuff gets a little too "euro-rock" in nature for me.

Jungger wrote:
Hi GT,

I guess I was thinking more in the music helping with the story telling and creating a mood/ atmosphere rather than just background music.

I gotcha. But that was pretty much the 'mood' music the last group enjoyed. What that says about that group I shudder to contemplate.
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"We'll go out through the kitchen!" Tanis Half-Elven

Peter Bradley

I totally do! I've used these sound tracks.

Lord of the Rings

Braveheart

Icewindale

Diablo II

D&D Soundtrack

Midnight Syndicate (various CDs)

I've heard the soundtrack for Pirates of the Carribean 2 and I'll be adding that one for sure!

I have master notes of all the songs on my CD's and mark them down as combat or background songs. I play the background songs in normal adventure situations and start the combat songs when initiative is rolled.

Nope, never tried it! Sounds like something to look into though.

Guess we were just too busy killing things and taking their stuff to notice!!

I always have, & it always adds sooooo much. I like good light background music, with stronger music for key moments.

Some of the mentioned soundtracks I'll have to look up. I've used Bravehart, Last of the mohicians, & var classics, Mars, Ride of the Valkorie, etc.
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I use some classical music as background, but I have also gotten some of those mp3's that are available at rpgnow. They have one that's all tavern sounds and others that are ambient background noise and music. I just keep a couple of easily accessible playlists arranged by mood on my iPod with each consisting of a long set of the same thing. Then I just plug it into my portable speakers so that everyone can hear. I like using that method because then I can specifically tailor the music quickly without having to burn cd's or anything.

I used to run the Ship of Horrors Ravenloft module all the time. I always loved when the characters would realize they were in Ravenloft a few days into the ship ride. At that point, I'd play "No One At The Bridge" by Rush off their Caress of Steel album. It was so perfect everytime.

Jeremy Soule. Good and cheap from directsong.com
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dagger4192 wrote:
I used to run the Ship of Horrors Ravenloft module all the time. I always loved when the characters would realize they were in Ravenloft a few days into the ship ride. At that point, I'd play "No One At The Bridge" by Rush off their Caress of Steel album. It was so perfect everytime.

"Riding back through consciousness. Coldness grips my skin..." I am a MEGA Rush fan dude. It's weird, but of all of their "long songs", I still thoroughly enjoy The Fountain of Lamneth. I've got...uh...all of their albums in my itunes, on vinyl (well, those available on vinyl anyway ). Thanks, you've just picked my listening material for the next twenty minutes. 8)

Quote:
but I have also gotten some of those mp3's that are available at rpgnow. They have one that's all tavern sounds and others that are ambient background noise and music.

I've alway wondered if they were worth it. I'll start adding those to my If I was a rich man list... Thanks for the idea!

Quote:
I always loved when the characters would realize they were in Ravenloft a few days into the ship ride. At that point, I'd play "No One At The Bridge"

Oh toooo perfect! I can see the look on their faces! The perfect RPG moment!
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"And so I am become a knight of the Kingdom of Dreams and Shadows!" - Mark Twain

Forgive all spelling errors.

Knight Errant & Humble C&C Society Contributor
C&C Society

I don't often play music during a game, but I often listen to it when I'm trying to write. I find it gets my creative impulses going.

Clannad is a personal favourite, especially the albums "Legend", "Magical Ring" and "Banba". Hell, they're all good albums, from the pure gaelic traditionals like "Crann Ull" to the all-English "Legend" (Robin of Sherwood fans already know this album, of course). Evocative stuff. Another favourite would be the Levellers, whose style ranges from reflective folksy/New Age stuff like "Maid of the River" and "Elation" (got a lovely refrain, that one), to raging battle-anthems like "Battle of the Beanfield, "Liberty" and "Cardboard Box City". They gig like the world's about to end, too.

And of course, as a red-blooded Brit, how could I not love the Irons?
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Orpheus wrote:
"Riding back through consciousness. Coldness grips my skin..." I am a MEGA Rush fan dude. It's weird, but of all of their "long songs", I still thoroughly enjoy The Fountain of Lamneth. I've got...uh...all of their albums in my itunes, on vinyl (well, those available on vinyl anyway ). Thanks, you've just picked my listening material for the next twenty minutes. 8)

Amen, brother! Rush and RPGs go hand in hand for me. I always listen to old Rush albums when writing adventures for my group.

Catweazle wrote:
And of course, as a red-blooded Brit, how could I not love the Irons?

The same goes for anyone who played D&D and listened to metal in the late 80's and early 90's. Their music and album covers were made for D&D fans. Hell they should have put stats for Eddie inside one of those albums.

I always use music. Many of the soundtracks listed and way more. I love Midnight Syndicate. I often rely on the LoTR and Star Wars soundtracks (depending on the game obviously). And hey - I actually make music for gaming too! and sell it on RPGNow as well.

Orpheus wrote:
The same goes for anyone who played D&D and listened to metal in the late 80's and early 90's. Their music and album covers were made for D&D fans. Hell they should have put stats for Eddie inside one of those albums.

Oh man the memories...I saw Maiden twice in concert and still insist to this day, that they were the best in concert that I have ever seen. And if Run to the Hills comes on the radio ...look out, for my voice and I are about to make a fool of ourselves
All this coming from a guy who now prefers folksy stuff....Greg Brown, Neil Young..etc....

Peace

RPGmonk wrote:
Oh man the memories...I saw Maiden twice in concert and still insist to this day, that they were the best in concert that I have ever seen. And if Run to the Hills comes on the radio ...look out, for my voice and I are about to make a fool of ourselves
All this coming from a guy who now prefers folksy stuff....Greg Brown, Neil Young..etc....

Peace

I only got to see them on the Fear of the Dark tour, but it was great! I'm the same as you Monk as far as the music choice goes. I listen to pretty much everything but metal nowadays (I'm diggin' Old Crow Medicine Show and a little Reckless Kelly as I type), but Wasted Years always has a spot in my iPod playlist when I go for a run.