Music and Moodsetting

Piperdog · Post by **Piperdog** » Wed Feb 10, 2010 6:01 pm

Anyone else use music for gaming? I don't mean listen to your favorite rock band while playing, I mean using music for setting the mood of the game. My brother and I have done this for years. We have collected many movie soundtracks for the express purpose, even made mixes for specific modules. You have the eerie background music for the fog filled exploration of the cemetary, the merry medevial music for the tavern, the epic music for the major battles, etc. We find that there is much more immersion for us that way.

Anyone else do this? I know we can't be alone, because I now see soundtracks for rpgs out there, by Midnight Syndicate and others.
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Omote · Post by **Omote** » Wed Feb 10, 2010 6:35 pm

Indeed I do when possible. I think that it can add to the experience of the game. I tend to like to play mixes of darker, gothic music and quick paces battle music. For these types I have gone to use movie soundtracks and video game soundtracks. Since these other mediums follow the pacing and storytelling aspects that are similar to RPGs, these have worked the best.

Some favs for playing during gaming sessions:

*Legacy of Kain / Soulreaver Series (videogame soundtrack)

*The 13th Warrior (film score)

*Select tracks from Record of the Lodoss War series (anime sountrack)

*Robin Hood, Prince of Thieves (film score, Michael Kamen)

~O
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serleran · Post by **serleran** » Wed Feb 10, 2010 6:54 pm

I do not. I find the players will listen to the background rather than the foreground, especially if it is something they like and have not heard for some time, like the soundtrack for Conan or something. It certainly can be fun, but my experiences leave me cold to the thought.
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Secret Skeleton · Post by **Secret Skeleton** » Wed Feb 10, 2010 7:19 pm

Anything Basil Poledouris for me. The soundtrack to Les Miserables is a favorite, as are those of the Conan movies.

Rikitiki · Post by **Rikitiki** » Wed Feb 10, 2010 7:51 pm

Soundtracks - pieces of soundtracks, yes, IF you make sure not to use the major-theme bits (I think). Unless, of course, you specifically want to have your players associate what's happening in the game with what happened in the movie.

Classical pieces - oh, yeah, the more obscure the better -- unless (see above).

My suggestions: I've got a 6-CD collection of Varese-Sarabande 20-yr anniversary soundtrack selections and that gives all kinds of possibilities. Every time you hit your local thift-store (Goodwill, Salvation Army, etc), check the CD rack (I've found good stuff there). Set up and record your local-area classical music radio program, especially if it does a Sunday-soundtrack featurette like ours does.

Here's a trick: you can download one of those 'meditation' CDs onto your computer and then use a computer-sound-application (many can be gotten for free) to tweak it into great RPG-mood 'music'.

Deogolf · Post by **Deogolf** » Wed Feb 10, 2010 8:23 pm

I always found it a bit distracting; so, we never used it.
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Piperdog · Post by **Piperdog** » Wed Feb 10, 2010 8:27 pm

My brother played some stuff from the soundtrack to Beowulf, and it kicked major butt as our pcs entered a major battle. I never saw the movie, so I had nothing to associate it with.

We have never had anyone distracted by music in the background; I think for a couple reasons. One is that players and GMs who share similar tastes in gaming tend to stick together. Our groups are very much into epic story and roleplaying their characters. The second is that I keep the music low, so no one has to talk over it, and it becomes more subliminal.

I have played with and GMd groups who prefer the storyless dungeon crawl; they preferred little talking, next to no narrative, and the game digressed into mind-numbing boredom and repetition for me....but they loved it. Different strokes for different folks right?
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Julian Grimm · Post by **Julian Grimm** » Wed Feb 10, 2010 8:35 pm

I use it for inspiration when writing adventures or designing but never in game.

And Omote, Damn you for getting that damn Soul Reaver song in my head...
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seskis281 · Post by **seskis281** » Wed Feb 10, 2010 8:50 pm

I use music while I'm prepping for a game (getting psyched up).... most currently I use the Conan theme, tho I've listend to Howard Shore's LotR soundtrack, Inama Nushif (from Children of Dune), lots of others.

Don't use it in game, tho a player currently is doing a Class/Half Ranger/Monk, named Runner, who styles himself "Aihrdian Ranger," wants to instill law and order throughout the lands, wears leather coat and big stylized 10-gallon leather hat, and he spent 6+ hours re-recording the theme to Walker, Tex Ranger as a song his character provides to bards to "chronicle his crusade." We definitely stopped and listened to it twice.

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Rikitiki · Post by **Rikitiki** » Wed Feb 10, 2010 9:16 pm

Not 'music' as such, but something that can work well:

Get one of those Halloween CDs that have all the various sound-effects on it...plop it into your CD player...then, when running a game have the CD-remote and a listing of the effects tracks handy...

"You hear voices on the other side of the trees: "What are they?! Look out!!"...and you hear this: ...what do you do?"

Kolorion · Post by **Kolorion** » Wed Feb 10, 2010 10:29 pm

I enjoy the Baldur's Gate I & II soundtrack, the Icewind Dale soundtrack and the Stronghold soundtrack. Great ambient background music.
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Taranthyll · Post by **Taranthyll** » Thu Feb 11, 2010 1:23 am

I make up custom soundtracks for specific adventures and load on my MP3 player. This way I can match songs to specific scenes and encounters. I like the Master and Commander, and Pirates of the Caribbean soundtracks for sea-going adventures; Conan soundtrack is awesome for climactic combat encounters with cultists (and my games always seem to involve these). Shards of Eberron is good background music, as is just about anything by Midnight Syndicate, and I'm also fond of Dead Can Dance.
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Kaiser_Kris · Post by **Kaiser_Kris** » Fri Feb 19, 2010 7:47 am

I prefer not to have any music going, generally speaking, during play. I react very strongly to music for the most part, so it's not a good idea to have anything interesting playing in the background, especially when I'm DMing.

When I'm by myself, planning stuff for adventures though, I crank up the Maiden. Because there's nothing like classic metal to get me in the creative mood, apparently.

Sir Ironside · Post by **Sir Ironside** » Fri Feb 19, 2010 10:03 am

I do not go out of my way to produce a CD that I think will sync to the game at hand. I GM with a wide open sandbox, so that is a tall order. Even if it was possible I still wouldn't do it. This is a hobby, not a job and I want to have fun doing it and if you get all out of joint because I do not make accompanying music you can just get out. I prepare much more than you have to.

Not you as anyone on this board, just a hypothetical player.
I do however, sometimes put on unobtrusive background music that has more of a subliminal nature that does help set the tone and mood.
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TheMetal1 · Post by **TheMetal1** » Fri Feb 19, 2010 5:38 pm

I've used it a few times. Usually I'll throw on Grindcore/death metal during combat to intensify things if I have my laptop with me. Used it to introduce a character I was playing in a D&D/Star Wars cross over. I was playing a Greedo type character and used an MP3 of Greedo talking with Han.

I think it can be helpful, but it's that much more preparation. If it is your Ballywig or you want to try it out. Here's a site that I've come across which sells MP3s of various lengths and moods/genres which might save you a bit of time. They're called Sonic Legends, I've talked a bit about them on our podcast before, and they've been doing some work with Crafty Games making soundtracks for Fantasy Craft/Spycraft. Anyway plenty of samples for you to take a listen to. Here is the link:
http://www.sonic-legends.com/
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S.Baldrick · Post by **S.Baldrick** » Sat Feb 20, 2010 3:25 pm

Sometimes I do. Two weeks ago, when my party had an epic battle with the forces of an enemy that they had been seeking since day 1 of the campaign, I used the soundtrack from Conan the Barbarian. Today, my party is investigating an abandoned manor house that is haunted by a number of spirits so I will be using Gates of Delirium by the Midnight Syndicate.

Incidentally, Gates of Delirium came with the Goodman Games adventure Cage of Delirium which was a horror based adventure. I did not run Cage of Delirium but I did play in it and the music really helped create a very creepy atmosphere.
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Taranthyll · Post by **Taranthyll** » Sun Feb 21, 2010 12:43 am

You can't beat Midnight Syndicate for creepy background music. Another great CD for gaming is Shards of Eberron, which came in the Sharn: City of Towers sourcebook.
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Lord Dynel · Post by **Lord Dynel** » Sun Feb 21, 2010 4:43 am

I've thought of using music in greater quantity for years but have never gotten around to it. I do use rain/weather soundtracks often because my players, over the years, have conveniently forgotten that weather can play a somewhat important role on things (and I forget, too, sometimes that I told them it was raining 20 minutes previous ). I also use music occasionally when the party happen upon a celebration or in a tavern or inn.
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alcyone · Post by **alcyone** » Mon Feb 22, 2010 8:44 pm

I think the D&D Midnight Syndicate CD is actually pretty good for setting the mood for an encounter, as a base for read-aloud text.

I find that any music I play has to be soft enough to barely hear or everyone shouts even more than they already do.

When the group awakes from resting, I like Grieg's "Morning Mood". During chases I find it difficult to resist the inappopriate "Yakety Sax" theme from Benny Hill, or the Keystone Kops "Bag of Rags" theme.

Other than that, I like the World of Warcraft soundtrack and the aforementioned Conan, and just random classical. Nothing with distracting words (except "Let me tell you of the days of HIGH ADVENTURE!", which is always appropriate!")

Piperdog · Post by **Piperdog** » Mon Feb 22, 2010 9:24 pm

Right on guys. I am going to buy the Midnight Syndicate Dungeons and Dragons Soundtrack and maybe a couple creepy ones. I need to grab that darn Beowulf soundtrack from my brother; it just rocks for epic battles.
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DeadReborn · Post by **DeadReborn** » Mon Mar 01, 2010 4:51 pm

The D&D soundtrack is really good. You can usually find Midnight Syndicate CDs pretty easily around halloween. Another one I enjoy is the soundtrack for Bram Stoker's Dracula. Good stuff.

I'm actually working on my own original music for this purpose. I've been playing various instruments since I was twelve and recently got a hold of a recording program. I should be putting the finishing touches on a track this week. I'll post it when I'm done.
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double-c · Post by **double-c** » Mon Mar 01, 2010 6:14 pm

Last summer I ran a session of Dread in pitch darkness, one where the players needed to light matches to safely pull blocks from the jenga tower.
Light attracted the monster.

I ran a Dread session last summer, one where the party split off to search a lost space hulk. I had other party and head down to my basement. I gave them a walkie talkie to keep in contact with the main group.
10 minuets later the other group started screaming into the receiver, and then it went quite, no response.
Just whispers...

S.Baldrick · Post by **S.Baldrick** » Mon Mar 01, 2010 8:10 pm

There are also a number of pieces by Wagner that would also work. I have used Flight of the Valkyrie on more than one occasion over the years.
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Secret Skeleton · Post by **Secret Skeleton** » Mon Mar 01, 2010 8:27 pm

Ride of the Valkyries, you mean?

Carl Orff, Richard Wagner, Basil Pouldoris, Inon Zur, Eli Ishkeri, James Horner, Hitoshi Sakimoto, Jeremy Soule...there are a ton of good names you can hunt down for great ambient game music.

I have found that if you look up the composer for a soundtrack to a film or game you enjoyed you can find a giant body of work that is mostly all suitable for playing in the background.

I really do not have much love for Midnight Syndicate, I bought a bunch of their CD's one year at a Con, and though I do not regret paying for them--its supporting the industry, I rarely use them or have used them.

Video Game soundtracks are usually your best bet. The Jeremy Soule composed Morrowind soundtrack is a good example. Inon Zur's Dragon Age: Origins as well.

Hitoshi Sakimoto's work with Final Fantasy Tactics, Vagrant Story, and Final Fantasy XII are really good middle-ages blood & steel type music for the most part.

S.Baldrick · Post by **S.Baldrick** » Tue Mar 02, 2010 12:44 am

Secret Skeleton wrote:
Ride of the Valkyries, you mean?

Yes. My bad. I actually have that on my iPod so I should have known better.
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CharlieRock · Post by **CharlieRock** » Tue Mar 02, 2010 4:33 pm

I downloaded some soundtracks from different video game RPGs ,like Final Fantasy and stuff.
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DeadReborn · Post by **DeadReborn** » Tue May 04, 2010 12:39 am

It took me a little longer than expected, but here's the little dity I promised:
Under the Banner of Shadow.wma

I'm still trying to get the hang of the recording process, but I think it came out pretty decent. My goal for right now is to put out short, simple tunes that can be easily looped for in game purpose. Eventualy I'd like to put together a CD with extended versions of the songs as well for people who don't use music in their games but use it for inspiration. I would also like, if I could find the time, maybe work with people for campaign specific music (for a small fee of course ). I'm at work on the next tune, but with midterms coming up and the newborn joining us last week I can't put a time frame on it. Anyways, please let me know what you think. I welcome all suggestions.
If for some reason you can't download it from the link (I don't know if they make you open an account) just PM me and I'll shoot your way.
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DeadReborn · Post by **DeadReborn** » Sat May 08, 2010 11:50 pm

Changed the name of the song (the old one sounded like a MST3K movie to me) along with some small changes.

Check it out. The link above you.
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Sir Osis of Liver · Post by **Sir Osis of Liver** » Sun May 09, 2010 1:17 am

Shostakovich 5 (Bernstein recording)

Bruckner 9 (Jochum or Klemperer recordings)

Mozart D minor piano concerto, K. 466 (1st movement, Ashkenazy recording)

Mahler 5 (Solti/CSO live recording)

Mussorgsky Night on the Bald Mountain (Reiner recording)

Mussorgsky Pictures at an Exhibition (Reiner again, same CD as Bald Mtn.)

Saint-Saens Sym. No. 3 (Dutoit recording)

Stravinsky Firebird (Szell)

de Meij Sym. No. 1 "The Lord of the Rings"

Dvorak 9 (Solti or Reiner)

English Renaissance Music (The Canadian Brass...great for bard sequences in the bar)

TLotR soundtrack

Anything Manowar

I sat in a trumpet section several years ago that performed the first movement of the de Meij ("Gandalf"). It's awesome stuff.

Sir Osis of Liver · Post by **Sir Osis of Liver** » Sun May 09, 2010 1:21 am

Actually, if you're looking for a good pastoral setting out in the woods, check out the Solti/Chicago recording of the 3rd movement of Mahler 3.

Mahler is great stuff if you're looking for setting a mood.