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The music we play by

Started by SA, October 05, 2006, 02:18:23 AM

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SA

October 05, 2006, 02:18:23 AM Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by Ishmayl
What is the soundtrack to your gaming experience?  Is it classic orchestral?  A crazy rock/bebop fusion?  Soothing instrumental?  Do you have one at all?

I'm asking this as a DM who considers the entire aural experience of gaming as important as anything merely verbal, visual or textual.  For me, the use of musical ambiance plays a large role in the players' immersion in the fictional environment.  My music of choice is as follows:

Anything by Nujabes (popularised by Samurai Champloo) - good travel music, especially through unfamiliar or magical environs, or simply as a way to relax the mood.  I've found that some of his more upbeat and fast-paced tunes can lend a bizarre, disconnected, or absurdist atmosphere to combat.

Akira Yamaoka's Silent Hill contributions - I suppose it kind of goes without saying that if it's in the Silent Hill soundtrack it's a little twisted and no small bit creepy, but Yamaoka has a certain flair for it.  Good for psychological horror, or any situation where you want to weird your players the fuck out.

Anything by Nobuo Uematsu - many folks think Uematsu has never been better than when he composed for the SNES instalments of Final Fantasy, and that may be true.  But for me, his later tunes (especially IX and X) really achieve a great fantasy atmosphere with little to no Medieval connotations.  Ten, especially, has great music for the occasion, and some of the music can be employed specifically for "boss" encounters. (A word of warning, though: do not use the standard battle music; it gets old fast) Even X-2 has something to offer if you're interested in a more hip, modern, jazzy approach.

And a "Nature's Sounds" or "Sounds of the City" compilation is never out of order.

But I digress...

What music do you play by?  What is your gaming soundtrack?

beejazz

#1
October 05, 2006, 03:55:06 AM
Hmmm... all of the above sound like good ideas to lift ASAP...

for something a little unexpected, I'd say Radiohead does some good music. Usually, anything with words is a bad idea, but... I guess mumbling doesn't count. Also, Gustav Holst's Planets are always good. I especially like Saturn. I've had at least one DM who used the Mummy soundtrack. Good times.
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Fatum

#2
October 05, 2006, 10:17:26 AM
I find movie soundtracks to be some of the best things to use during a game for my group. Some of my more favorite would be Dragonheart, First Knight, Interview with a Vampire, Matrix Reloaded (just the orchestral), Star Wars and Star Trek.

I find though with my current Heavy Gear game that Nu Metal (Disturbed, Lacuna Coil, KoRn) tends to give the needed sound for 15 foot mechs thrashing each other.
ââ,¬Å"And when I shall die, take him and cut him out in little stars and he will make the face of heaven so fine. That all the world will be in love with night and pay no worship to the garish sun.ââ,¬Â

- Night Reign: A High Fantasy Dark Gothic Setting

Xathan

#3
October 05, 2006, 11:07:50 AM
Lacuna Coil FTW!

Honestly, though, I've found Midnight Syndicate to be great for games with a more gothic, creepy feel. Soundtracks for video games work as well as movie soundtracks, especially Homeworld (usually for sci-fi) and Warcraft III. Also, some of the classics work wonders too - A well timed moonlight sonata when approaching the vampire's castle is a beautiful thing, and unveiling the demonic overlord of the BBEG is sooo much cooler when done to Beethoven's 5th Symphony, preformed by the Trans-Siberian Orchestra, or to Bach's Toccata and Fugue in D minor.

In modern games, the sky's the limit. My players still talk about the time I had them attend a rave, and increased or decreased the volume of the techno depending on how well they did on listen checks, realistically simulating their ability to hear over the music.
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System Reference Document Copyright 2000-2003, Wizards of the Coast, Inc.; Authors Jonathan Tweet, Monte Cook, Skip Williams, Rich Baker, Andy Collins, David Noonan, Rich Redman, Bruce R. Cordell, based on original material by E. Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson.

Modern System Reference Doument Copyright 2002, Wizards of the Coast, Inc.; Authors Bill Slavicsek, Jeff Grubb, Rich Redman, Charles Ryan, based on material by Jonathan Tweet, Monte Cook, Richard Baker, Peter Adkison, Bruce R. Cordell, John Tynes, Andy Collins, and JD Walker.

Unearthed Arcana Copyright 2004, Wizards of the Coast, Inc.; Andy Collins, Jesse Decker, David Noonan, Rich Redman.

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Fate (Fantastic Adventures in Tabletop Entertainment) Copyright 2003 by Evil Hat Productions, LLC. Authors Robert Donoghue and Fred Hicks.
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Xathan's forum posts at http://www.thecbg.org Copyright 2006-2011, J.A. Raizman.
[/spoiler]

SA

#4
October 05, 2006, 11:13:35 AM
The whole raising/lowering the volume idea is a masterful touch.

And how could I have forgotten Midnight Syndicate?!?

I must be castigated and flagellated for my folly...

Also, I recall once when I had the players encounter a Creature-From-Beyond-the-Stars, and I employed a nigh-imperceptible high pitched whine to get the players on edge.  It worked well - a little too well.  Combined with the dimmed lightining and my musical selection (not to mention my artistic rendering of the beast itself), they ended up being too stressed to finish the encounter!

Which goes to show: too much ambience can be a bad thing.

Captain Obvious

#5
October 05, 2006, 12:31:41 PM
A lot of post rock bands can do pretty well for this.

examples are Sigu ros, mogwai, and especially explosions in the sky.

also, for dramamtic combat,, you can't go wrong with Carl Orff's Carmina Burana (specifically O Fortuna)
[spoiler=My Campaign Settings]
The Age of Kings: My main CS(Comments and Criticism welcomed)
Shadows of the Last Alliance: My PbP game\'s CS (Not much written here yet)
...As it is in Heaven: My newer CS (currently mostly just brainstorming)
Vorsatz: my newest setting.[/spoiler]
[spoiler=Quotes]
\"We cross our bridges when we come to them and burn them behind us, leaving only the memory of smoke and the presumption that once our eyes watered.\" -Samuel Beckett
\"Who am I lady? I\'m your worst nightmare. A pumpkin with a gun!\" -Merv Pumpkinhead
\"This whole Case is like a chocolate jigsaw puzzle: It\'s messy, it sticks to your fingers and you don\'t know whether to fit the peices together or just take a big bite.\" - Jack Leaderboard
"Pig's lips meet my lips,
Pig's Stomach meets my stomach,
A meeting of meats."
- Anonnymous hotdog haiku.[/spoiler]
My Unitarian Jihad Name is Brother Boot Knife of Forgiveness.
Instigator of the Weirdo Invasion! :weirdo:

!turtle Are you a member of the turtle club? You bet your boots I am!

SA

#6
October 05, 2006, 12:37:35 PM
O Fortuna FTW!

Soup Nazi

#7
October 05, 2006, 02:22:38 PM
I stopped using music, when I stopped playing vampire. I find music too distracting these days, (then again I tend to sing along with anything I hear, almost reflexively). If I had a good singling voice this might not be as much of a problem...
The spoon is mightier than the sword

Xathan

#8
October 05, 2006, 02:30:44 PM
QuoteThe whole raising/lowering the volume idea is a masterful touch.

Thanks, I was rather proud of myself. :)

I do tend to avoid anything with words as much as possible, unless it's for a specific use. (IE, the PCs are in a club, or at a concert, or something.) Words are distracting for me as the DM.

O Fortuna is amazing, especially for epic battles. I used the techno remix once for space fighting, it was fun.
AnIndex of My Work

Quote from: Sparkletwist
It's llitul and the brain, llitul and the brain, one is a genius and the other's insane
Proud Receiver of a Golden Dorito
[spoiler=SRD AND OGC AND LEGAL JUNK]UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED IN THE POST, NONE OF THE ABOVE CONTENT IS CONSIDERED OGC, EXCEPT FOR MATERIALS ALREADY MADE OGC BY PRIOR PUBLISHERS
Appendix I: Open Game License Version 1.0a
The following text is the property of Wizards of the Coast, Inc. and is Copyright 2000 Wizards of the Coast, Inc ("Wizards"). All Rights Reserved.
1. Definitions: (a)"Contributors" means the copyright and/or trademark owners who have contributed Open Game Content; (b)"Derivative Material" means copyrighted material including derivative works and translations (including into other computer languages), potation, modification, correction, addition, extension, upgrade, improvement, compilation, abridgment or other form in which an existing work may be recast, transformed or adapted; (c) "Distribute" means to reproduce, license, rent, lease, sell, broadcast, publicly display, transmit or otherwise distribute; (d)"Open Game Content" means the game mechanic and includes the methods, procedures, processes and routines to the extent such content does not embody the Product Identity and is an enhancement over the prior art and any additional content clearly identified as Open Game Content by the Contributor, and means any work covered by this License, including translations and derivative works under copyright law, but specifically excludes Product Identity. (e) "Product Identity" means product and product line names, logos and identifying marks including trade dress; artifacts; creatures characters; stories, storylines, plots, thematic elements, dialogue, incidents, language, artwork, symbols, designs, depictions, likenesses, formats, poses, concepts, themes and graphic, photographic and other visual or audio representations; names and descriptions of characters, spells, enchantments, personalities, teams, personas, likenesses and special abilities; places, locations, environments, creatures, equipment, magical or supernatural abilities or effects, logos, symbols, or graphic designs; and any other trademark or registered trademark clearly identified as Product identity by the owner of the Product Identity, and which specifically excludes the Open Game Content; (f) "Trademark" means the logos, names, mark, sign, motto, designs that are used by a Contributor to identify itself or its products or the associated products contributed to the Open Game License by the Contributor (g) "Use", "Used" or "Using" means to use, Distribute, copy, edit, format, modify, translate and otherwise create Derivative Material of Open Game Content. (h) "You" or "Your" means the licensee in terms of this agreement.
2. The License: This License applies to any Open Game Content that contains a notice indicating that the Open Game Content may only be Used under and in terms of this License. You must affix such a notice to any Open Game Content that you Use. No terms may be added to or subtracted from this License except as described by the License itself. No other terms or conditions may be applied to any Open Game Content distributed using this License.
3. Offer and Acceptance: By Using the Open Game Content You indicate Your acceptance of the terms of this License.
4. Grant and Consideration: In consideration for agreeing to use this License, the Contributors grant You a perpetual, worldwide, royalty-free, non-exclusive license with the exact terms of this License to Use, the Open Game Content.
5. Representation of Authority to Contribute: If You are contributing original material as Open Game Content, You represent that Your Contributions are Your original creation and/or You have sufficient rights to grant the rights conveyed by this License.
6. Notice of License Copyright: You must update the COPYRIGHT NOTICE portion of this License to include the exact text of the COPYRIGHT NOTICE of any Open Game Content You are copying, modifying or distributing, and You must add the title, the copyright date, and the copyright holder's name to the COPYRIGHT NOTICE of any original Open Game Content you Distribute.
7. Use of Product Identity: You agree not to Use any Product Identity, including as an indication as to compatibility, except as expressly licensed in another, independent Agreement with the owner of each element of that Product Identity. You agree not to indicate compatibility or co-adaptability with any Trademark or Registered Trademark in conjunction with a work containing Open Game Content except as expressly licensed in another, independent Agreement with the owner of such Trademark or Registered Trademark. The use of any Product Identity in Open Game Content does not constitute a challenge to the ownership of that Product Identity. The owner of any Product Identity used in Open Game Content shall retain all rights, title and interest in and to that Product Identity.
8. Identification: If you distribute Open Game Content You must clearly indicate which portions of the work that you are distributing are Open Game Content.
9. Updating the License: Wizards or its designated Agents may publish updated versions of this License. You may use any authorized version of this License to copy, modify and distribute any Open Game Content originally distributed under any version of this License.
10 Copy of this License: You MUST include a copy of this License with every copy of the Open Game Content You Distribute.
11. Use of Contributor Credits: You may not market or advertise the Open Game Content using the name of any Contributor unless You have written permission from the Contributor to do so.
12 Inability to Comply: If it is impossible for You to comply with any of the terms of this License with respect to some or all of the Open Game Content due to statute, judicial order, or governmental regulation then You may not Use any Open Game Material so affected.
13 Termination: This License will terminate automatically if You fail to comply with all terms herein and fail to cure such breach within 30 days of becoming aware of the breach. All sublicenses shall survive the termination of this License.
14 Reformation: If any provision of this License is held to be unenforceable, such provision shall be reformed only to the extent necessary to make it enforceable.
15 COPYRIGHT NOTICE
Open Game License v 1.0 Copyright 2000, Wizards of the Coast, Inc.
Fudge 10th Anniversary Edition Copyright 2005, Grey Ghost Press, Inc.; Authors Steffan O'Sullivan and Ann Dupuis, with additional material by Jonathan Benn, Peter Bonney, Deird'Re Brooks, Reimer Behrends, Don Bisdorf, Carl Cravens, Shawn Garbett, Steven Hammond, Ed Heil, Bernard Hsiung, J.M. "Thijs" Krijger, Sedge Lewis, Shawn Lockard, Gordon McCormick, Kent Matthewson, Peter Mikelsons, Robb Neumann, Anthony Roberson, Andy Skinner, William Stoddard, Stephan Szabo, John Ughrin, Alex Weldon, Duke York, Dmitri Zagidulin
System Reference Document Copyright 2000-2003, Wizards of the Coast, Inc.; Authors Jonathan Tweet, Monte Cook, Skip Williams, Rich Baker, Andy Collins, David Noonan, Rich Redman, Bruce R. Cordell, based on original material by E. Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson.

Modern System Reference Doument Copyright 2002, Wizards of the Coast, Inc.; Authors Bill Slavicsek, Jeff Grubb, Rich Redman, Charles Ryan, based on material by Jonathan Tweet, Monte Cook, Richard Baker, Peter Adkison, Bruce R. Cordell, John Tynes, Andy Collins, and JD Walker.

Unearthed Arcana Copyright 2004, Wizards of the Coast, Inc.; Andy Collins, Jesse Decker, David Noonan, Rich Redman.

Mutants and Masterminds Second Edition Copyright 2005, Green Ronin Publishing; Steve Kenson
Fate (Fantastic Adventures in Tabletop Entertainment) Copyright 2003 by Evil Hat Productions, LLC. Authors Robert Donoghue and Fred Hicks.
Spirit of the Century Copyright 2006 by Evil Hat Productions, LLC. Authors Robert Donoghue, Fred Hicks, and Leonard Balsera
Xathan's forum posts at http://www.thecbg.org Copyright 2006-2011, J.A. Raizman.
[/spoiler]

Captain Obvious

#9
October 05, 2006, 04:33:59 PM
Just had a thought.
Since a lot of games around here are pbp, this can make music both harder and in a way easier.

What if for a game (especially an IRC game) the dm set up a internet radio station or podcast that the players listen to.

What do you think?
[spoiler=My Campaign Settings]
The Age of Kings: My main CS(Comments and Criticism welcomed)
Shadows of the Last Alliance: My PbP game\'s CS (Not much written here yet)
...As it is in Heaven: My newer CS (currently mostly just brainstorming)
Vorsatz: my newest setting.[/spoiler]
[spoiler=Quotes]
\"We cross our bridges when we come to them and burn them behind us, leaving only the memory of smoke and the presumption that once our eyes watered.\" -Samuel Beckett
\"Who am I lady? I\'m your worst nightmare. A pumpkin with a gun!\" -Merv Pumpkinhead
\"This whole Case is like a chocolate jigsaw puzzle: It\'s messy, it sticks to your fingers and you don\'t know whether to fit the peices together or just take a big bite.\" - Jack Leaderboard
"Pig's lips meet my lips,
Pig's Stomach meets my stomach,
A meeting of meats."
- Anonnymous hotdog haiku.[/spoiler]
My Unitarian Jihad Name is Brother Boot Knife of Forgiveness.
Instigator of the Weirdo Invasion! :weirdo:

!turtle Are you a member of the turtle club? You bet your boots I am!

SA

#10
October 06, 2006, 02:47:30 AM
I'm not familiar enough with the internet to know if such a function is possible, but if it is, IRC just kicked up a hypothetical notch.

Polycarp

#11
October 06, 2006, 05:09:15 AM
Quote from: Salacious AngelO Fortuna FTW!

Our college choir recently performed the whole Carmina Burana, which I have on CD.  Though I have not actually played D&D in some time, and have never really considered playing music during such sessions, I imagine certain tracks from this would be high on my list.  It jumps quite nicely from the tense (O fortuna, fortune plango vulnera, estuans interius) to the joyful, and then with a few bawdy tavern parts ("I am the bishop of gambling," "drink drink drink drink" and so on) thrown in.
The Clockwork Jungle (wiki | thread)
"The impediment to action advances action. What stands in the way becomes the way." - Marcus Aurelius

SA

#12
October 06, 2006, 06:54:59 AM
Also:

The Gladiator and Pirates of the Carribean soundtracks.

Wrexham3

#13
October 06, 2006, 07:34:48 AM
Any 'Dead Can Dance'.  Ambient music of all kinds, particularly some Brian Eno.  Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan for eastern themed games.  Classical music in general.    

beejazz

#14
October 07, 2006, 10:10:50 PM
There's this fairly recent anime called Welcome to the NHK here: http://www.mrpc.us/fansub.htm
It has an excellent soundtrack, especially when it gets into the whole "conspiracy" monologues.
Beejazz's Homebrew System
 Beejazz's Homebrew Discussion

QuoteI don't believe in it anyway.
What?
England.
Just a conspiracy of cartographers, then?
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