I wanted to get a taste of other peoples tastes.
What, in your openion is the best music to play/DM D&D to?
Mine is classical or jazz.

I wanted to get a taste of other peoples tastes.

What, in your openion is the best music to play/DM D&D to?
Mine is classical or jazz.

I think that movie soundtracks are the definite way to go as far as setting the mood. Here are my top 10.

In the spirit of Clockwork Orange, I always wanted to do a big brouhaha fight with Getz/Gilberto's girl from Ipenema and desifinado. Bossa nova vs. ultraviolence. Surreal.

I have a DVD of ripped MP3s, and use some songs from the above as well as from these OSTs
-Pirates of the Caribbean
-Black Hawk Down
-Battlestar Galactica (the new one)
-Metal Gear (game soundtrack)
-Munich
-Jurassic Park
-Apococalypto
-Plus other single tracks from here and there like "Hummel gets the Rockets" from THE ROCK.

I use Winamp, and break my DVD up into playlists that I can start depending on what's going on in the game.

I usually use movie soundtraks, especially the soundtracks from Lord of the Rings and from Star Wars. I also usually also have Queen's 'Another One Bites the Dust', just in case...

That seems like two questions really. I'll go ahead and answer both. As far as what music I like, that's a swath of territory that is mostly modern rock. On the softest end of the spectrum I dig Johnny Cash on the more country side and Ani Difranco and Simon and Garfunkle on my folk end and pretty much all of the 90's female agnst music--the Lilith Fair stuff like Alanis, Sarah MacLaughlin, etc. I also dig the Celtic stuff, like Lorena McKenneth. The middle ground is all the 90's alternative and grunge. Everclear is probably my favorite band from here. On the other extreme I love the hard stuff. I dig Disturbed, Slipknot, Mudvayne--that sort of thing. While Korn and Marylin Manson's fans get a bit cheesy sometimes I haven't ever heard anything of theirs I haven't liked. That's pretty much where my music tastes lie.

Now as for roleplaying music, that's tougher. I find music can really distract, particularly if it's really good and players or GM get sidetracked listening rather than playing. It's also hard with games like D&D because modern music tends to clash. Movie soundtracks are hard too, because they're scored for a rising and falling action that's almost never where the game itself is going. Looped video game music usually works best for me. Lords of the Realms II and Disciples are really good. Planescape Torment, Baldur's Gate, Icewind Dale, all that stuff is really good. Atari's Temple of Elemental Evil is great too. Elder Scrolls has good stuff also.

While I don't much use music while gaming, I've wanted for some time to use Taiko drumming during fight scenes. It would have been particularly nice, I think, for a chase and contested river crossing I ran a year or so ago.

Oh yah, I forgot:
-Gladiator OST
-The Last Temptation of Christ by Peter Gabriel

If you are looking for stuff check out John Williams and Hans Zimmer (Zimmer demonstrates more versatility and has done more movies, Williams is very classical... Star Wars... enough said), their soundtracks are usually unobtrusive but cool.

If players are in a temple sometimes i hit the chanting monks playlist, buddhist/gregorian, doesn't matter.

I also have a tavern list full of folk and country music. My favorite is Baltimore Whores by Gavin Friday.

Oh yah, I forgot:

-Gladiator OST
-The Last Temptation of Christ by Peter Gabriel

If you are looking for stuff check out John Williams and Hans Zimmer (Zimmer demonstrates more versatility and has done more movies, Williams is very classical... Star Wars... enough said), their soundtracks are usually unobtrusive but cool.

If players are in a temple sometimes i hit the chanting monks playlist, buddhist/gregorian, doesn't matter.

I also have a tavern list full of folk and country music. My favorite is Baltimore Whores by Gavin Friday.

Peter is pretty cool.

I wanted to get a taste of other peoples tastes.

What, in your openion is the best music to play/DM D&D to?
Mine is classical or jazz.

Original Film Scores and Video Game OST's...only.

I'd save the metal and jazz (Cowboy Bebop anyone?) for Traveller or d20 Modern/Future.

But jazz for DnD...? I love the genre but in 20+ years I've never had the urge to use that music for a medieval fantasy game. The very idea of an orc with a trombone or a swamp halfling (dixieland) jamboree leaves a strange taste in the mouth...or ears as the case may be... (Not that the music as such would be played 'in the game', by characters-I just can't see that jazz vibe as 'clicking' with the DnD milieu or any of the settings...perhaps a conservative viewpoint but I'm trying to answer your question here...)

In any case, Maestro Trev Oli, what jazz do you listen to for DnD? I'd really like to know, and so too perhaps would others who answered your post...?

Cowboy Bebop! Yes, I love that soundtrack, both for the series and the movie.

The Final Fantasy X soundtrack is quite good as well, I just use it sparingly.

As far as movie soundtracks go, I love to throw in 13th Warrior as well as many mentioned above.

I find that if I have star wars stuff in a playlist I need to edit out any really identifiable themes (main theme, imperial march, etc).

-c

I am also pondering, jazz in D&D? A peculiar choice (or maybe I'm listening to wrong kind of jazz).

When I use music in D&D, it is typically historical music from medieval/renaissance/baroque era. Gets the mood fine but is "ambient" enough not to disturb.

thanks for all the ideas im makeing new cds right now

Here are some soundtracks that I listen to that could be useful...

Atlantis (Disney)
Aeon Flux
Batman Begins
Batman Returns (Cartoon) has some interesting pieces in it
Broken Arrow
Dark Crystal (difficult to find)
Crow (Score)
Dragonheart
Eraser
Final Fantasy various soundtracks (I think I like X and VII-Advent Children the best)
Harry Potter -- Prisoner of Azkaban
Gladiator
Mummy and Mummy Returns
Pirates of the Carribean
Planet of the Apes
Predator and Predator 2
The Rock
Star Trek II
Stargate
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
Tomb Raider (Score)
Waterworld
X-Men

As far as composers, look for Hans Zimmer, Alan Silvestri, James Horner, John Williams, and John Ottman.

Will Trev Oli wrote:

I wanted to get a taste of other peoples tastes.

What, in your openion is the best music to play/DM D&D to?
Mine is classical or jazz.

Original Film Scores and Video Game OST's...only.

I'd save the metal and jazz (Cowboy Bebop anyone?) for Traveller or d20 Modern/Future.

But jazz for DnD...? I love the genre but in 20+ years I've never had the urge to use that music for a medieval fantasy game. The very idea of an orc with a trombone or a swamp halfling (dixieland) jamboree leaves a strange taste in the mouth...or ears as the case may be... (Not that the music as such would be played 'in the game', by characters-I just can't see that jazz vibe as 'clicking' with the DnD milieu or any of the settings...perhaps a conservative viewpoint but I'm trying to answer your question here...)

In any case, Maestro Trev Oli, what jazz do you listen to for DnD? I'd really like to know, and so too perhaps would others who answered your post...?

well maybe not in classic dnd but dnd modern or future; or maybe even if your including a little bit of spelljammer in the gaming

i've been searching and i found out that alot of old bruce lee movies got pretty good dnd music

I can't say enough for the "Willow" soundtrack and does anyone know if "Excalibur" is still available?

I played a human fighter in a campaign a couple of years ago, and every time the DM said those fateful words ("Roll for initiative"), I would start whispering, "Let the bodies hit the floor, let the bodies hit the floor..."

HERE I PRESENT YOU HOURS OF WORK UPON A MUSIC COLLECTION ESPECIALLY FOR DND.

SIMPLY THE BEST DND SOUNDTRACK EVER UPLOADED:

http://www.4shared.com/file/96436878/9bb68433/df_dnd_big_soundtrack_project part01.html

http://www.4shared.com/file/96442790/3df02df5/df_dnd_big_soundtrack_project part02.html

http://www.4shared.com/file/96448194/51ad753a/df_dnd_big_soundtrack_project part03.html

http://www.4shared.com/file/96452720/e364dd8e/df_dnd_big_soundtrack_project part04.html

http://www.4shared.com/file/96458398/66ffc4cf/df_dnd_big_soundtrack_project part05.html

http://www.4shared.com/file/96463807/bb767027/df_dnd_big_soundtrack_project part06.html

http://www.4shared.com/file/96469423/e88acfbc/df_dnd_big_soundtrack_project part07.html

http://www.4shared.com/file/96474449/910f7049/df_dnd_big_soundtrack_project part08.html

http://www.4shared.com/file/96479225/38043f8b/df_dnd_big_soundtrack_project part09.html

http://www.4shared.com/file/96483261/b6e84923/df_dnd_big_soundtrack_project part10.html

http://www.4shared.com/file/96487343/e470b7ed/df_dnd_big_soundtrack_project part11.html

http://www.4shared.com/file/96491246/8dd35f39/df_dnd_big_soundtrack_project part12.html

http://www.4shared.com/file/96495019/ecfdf5d4/df_dnd_big_soundtrack_project part13.html

http://www.4shared.com/file/96498112/88879eb6/df_dnd_big_soundtrack_project part14.html

http://www.4shared.com/file/96500933/c05d0421/df_dnd_big_soundtrack_project part15.html

http://www.4shared.com/file/96504416/5bb9628/df_dnd_big_soundtrack_projectp art16.html

http://www.4shared.com/file/96508297/f43eefbc/df_dnd_big_soundtrack_project part17.html

http://www.4shared.com/file/96511927/5bf7bfac/df_dnd_big_soundtrack_project part18.html

http://www.4shared.com/file/96516023/ce9c7883/df_dnd_big_soundtrack_project part19.html

http://www.4shared.com/file/96516273/b06f58a8/df_dnd_big_soundtrack_project part20.html

I wanted to get a taste of other peoples tastes.

What, in your openion is the best music to play/DM D&D to?
Mine is classical or jazz.

Many different soundtracks (Conan, Harry Potter, etc.) are used when we want some background music. OR we use Boogie Knights for pure fun :)

I wanted to get a taste of other peoples tastes.

What, in your openion is the best music to play/DM D&D to?
Mine is classical or jazz.

Good choice.

I use a mixture of Vox Arcana, Radio Rivendell, medieval folk music, gregorian chant, and on very special occasions - Twisted Sister or Ozzy Ozbourne.

The beauty of music used to accompany a game session is that it need only be representative of a feel or emotion. The exactness or authenticity can be less important than the imagery it evokes in the imagination of the players.

For example, a trip down the river Styx might be accompanied by "You're Gonna Burn In Hell" by Twisted Sister.

A clash of steel and the roar of battle might be enjoyed with Dio or Ozzy.

But for the most part, I like mood music to play in the background (but not with regularity). That is, I will use music for certain game sessions and none-at-all for others.

The minute this stuff becomes "expected" or regular - then it tends to lose its special ability to enhance the mood. Players can then want to be DJs, and become distracted from playing characters.

I feel any type of music, Renaissance and medieval to contemporary all can work. Of special value, I agree, are movie soundtracks. One good one in that department is the soundtrack for Legends of the Fall.

Good discussion thread!

I was listening to Ghost Opera yesterday by the Cronos Quartet in the car. Dang, there needs to be an Oriental Ghost AP in the works so that this can be the sound track for it.

Edit: BTW, has everyone found my old thread for early music?

I don't like using Lord of the Rings nor any other too-well-known fantasy movie soundtrack, I want players to feel they're in XXXX, not in Middle Earth. But that's me.

There's no music that's a bit unknown but has THE fantasy touch while at the same time screaming "this is epic" like Shadow of the Colossus's soundtrack. It's just amazing.

Cowboy Bebop's soundtrack isn't only cool, as a bass-player admirer, almost all tracks have some seriously classy bass. Since I currently run a d20 World of Darkness game, I use that, Dune's Spice Opera and No More Heroes' soundtrack. Also, Rondo Veneziano's Zodiac is excellent for any setting, in my opinion.

For Dark-mood settings I found that any Legacy of Kain has a decent soundtrack (Soul Reaver, Legacy of Kain and Defiance).

Forgot to add: Castlevanias usually have good soundtracks, the ones that were composed by Michiru Yamane and were for consoles, not handhelds.

Cirque du Soleil has great soundtracks that work for lots of different moods. I've also used:

- Last Temptation of Christ and Peter Gabriel in general

- Apocalyptica

- Rhapsody of Fire

- 13th Warrior Soundtrack

- Blackhawk Down soundtrack

- Eyes Wide Shut soundtrack (parts of it)

- The Chieftains

- Celtic Woman

- Medieval Baebes

- Barry Lyndon soundtrack

- Marillion

Cirque du Soleil has great soundtracks that work for lots of different moods. I've also used:

- Last Temptation of Christ and Peter Gabriel in general

- Apocalyptica

- Rhapsody of Fire

- 13th Warrior Soundtrack

- Blackhawk Down soundtrack

- Eyes Wide Shut soundtrack (parts of it)

- The Chieftains

- Celtic Woman

- Medieval Baebes

- Barry Lyndon soundtrack

- Marillion

Nice call on Apocalyptica!

I second the Peter Gabriel soundtrack. And I've pushed Nox Arcana in other threads, but I must bolster Pax's mention of them here too.

HERE I PRESENT YOU HOURS OF WORK UPON A MUSIC COLLECTION ESPECIALLY FOR DND.

SIMPLY THE BEST DND SOUNDTRACK EVER UPLOADED:

http://www.4shared.com/file/96436878/9bb68433/df_dnd_big_soundtrack_project part01.html

http://www.4shared.com/file/96442790/3df02df5/df_dnd_big_soundtrack_project part02.html

http://www.4shared.com/file/96448194/51ad753a/df_dnd_big_soundtrack_project part03.html

http://www.4shared.com/file/96452720/e364dd8e/df_dnd_big_soundtrack_project part04.html

http://www.4shared.com/file/96458398/66ffc4cf/df_dnd_big_soundtrack_project part05.html

http://www.4shared.com/file/96463807/bb767027/df_dnd_big_soundtrack_project part06.html

http://www.4shared.com/file/96469423/e88acfbc/df_dnd_big_soundtrack_project part07.html

http://www.4shared.com/file/96474449/910f7049/df_dnd_big_soundtrack_project part08.html

http://www.4shared.com/file/96479225/38043f8b/df_dnd_big_soundtrack_project part09.html

http://www.4shared.com/file/96483261/b6e84923/df_dnd_big_soundtrack_project part10.html

http://www.4shared.com/file/96487343/e470b7ed/df_dnd_big_soundtrack_project part11.html

http://www.4shared.com/file/96491246/8dd35f39/df_dnd_big_soundtrack_project part12.html

http://www.4shared.com/file/96495019/ecfdf5d4/df_dnd_big_soundtrack_project part13.html

http://www.4shared.com/file/96498112/88879eb6/df_dnd_big_soundtrack_project part14.html

http://www.4shared.com/file/96500933/c05d0421/df_dnd_big_soundtrack_project part15.html

http://www.4shared.com/file/96504416/5bb9628/df_dnd_big_soundtrack_projectp art16.html

http://www.4shared.com/file/96508297/f43eefbc/df_dnd_big_soundtrack_project part17.html

http://www.4shared.com/file/96511927/5bf7bfac/df_dnd_big_soundtrack_project part18.html

http://www.4shared.com/file/96516023/ce9c7883/df_dnd_big_soundtrack_project part19.html

http://www.4shared.com/file/96516273/b06f58a8/df_dnd_big_soundtrack_project part20.html

Okay - maybe I should know this.... but do I save the file first, then try to decompress/open it with WINZIP? And... what will I find if I do?

save all the files first, unzip the first one and it'll open all of them.

Now, that's a NICE amount of music, and if it's selected, THAT's some work. Thanks! I'll listen to it as soon as I can!

What, no Epic Metal suggestions at all ?

No Rhapsody of Fire (formerly known as Rhapsody) ?
No Dragonforce ?
No Manowar ?

Too sad...

(ah, check this song from Queen's 'The Miracle' Album: 'Was It All Worth It ' ; the intro is simply amazing !!!)

Some i like, no LOVE

Another one bites the dust Is Just awesome when your killing off all your pc's

All the Warcraft three and WOW soundtracks are just awesome for quite background music

and last but certainly not least is

Prince of Persia soundtracks are the best in the universe especially warrior within

I use a weird mix of instrumental / ethnic music, prog rock, metal, and classical. Some of my favorites:
- anything by Franz Liszt
- anything by J.S. Bach
- Coheed & Cambria
- 3 Inches of Blood
- Kyuss (named after a Greyhawk deity)
- Mastodon (specifically, their three big concept albums)
- late period Black Flag (In My Head makes trippy fight music)
- mid-period Marilyn Manson (Holy Wood, Golden Age of Grotesque)
- The Yoshida Brothers
- soundtrack from Boondock Saints
- some of Flipper's sludgier tracks
- anything by .moonseolnyeo (Paizo's own Andrew Turner)
- Iron and Wine
- Fugazi