I really want to try the music thing out when I run this AP. I've made a list of the songs that I think will work well for my group, but I have no idea how to make a cd or how to get the individual songs. Computers are not my friend. Anyone willing to help me out? I'd be willing to pay for the time put into it. If not, perhaps I'll just pick up a Nox Arcana album and see how that goes. I'm really looking forward to starting this.
Galvatron, you can usually use iTunes or Amazon to find the songs you want. I prefer Amazon but iTunes is probably the easier of the two to use. There are tutorials on Amazon's help page and Apple's support site to help download the programs or the songs if you need them.
Once downloaded you can burn the songs either using Windows Media Player (this is installed by default on all Windows computers) or iTunes (you can get this from apple.com). If you need step by step instructions on any of this a great place to start is youtube, there are a lot of walkthroughs for this kind of thing there. You may notice some difference between steps you find and the version of iTunes or Windows Media Player that you use as there are a few commonly used versions.
Whether in Rule of Fear or at some point during the course of the Carrion Crown AP I want to do a run down of suggestions for creepy background music to play during horror-themed adventures. We've already got a bunch of this in the reference section of the GameMastery Guide, but I want to expand beyond this.
So what do you use in your horror roleplaying to set the tone? I'm not looking for "Creepy Sounds XI" from Spencer's Gifts, but actual moody stuff subtle enough to play in the background of your game, but creepy enough to set a mood.
To get things rolling, I'll throw five out here that immediately come to mind:
Midnight Syndicate (Anything)
Michiru Yamane (Castlevania series)
From Hell Soundtrack
Dracula Soundtrack
Hannibal SoundtrackSo what works for you? As always, links are appreciated!
One of my old favorites for any horror themed adventure is the Suspiria soundtrack by Goblin http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iJUaCAIxSk4
I've used that one previously DM'ing Castle Ravenloft and House on Gryphon Hill and it got great reviews from the party.
The Goblin soundtack to Deep Red is quite good as well
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rZULOZVcGDY&feature=related
And, of course, the most frightening piece of music ever written. Your ears will bleed. You will have the irrisistable urge to open your third eye with an ice pick. Tremble, for man was not meant to hear such horror. BEHOLD!
The 99 Darkest Pieces of Classical Music was a fantastic suggestion; 'already had close to two-thirds of what's on the album, but the others are fairly rare and the quality is exceptional. I think this is an album GMs simply need.
This has been my background music at work all week. Some of the pieces have questionable "darkness," but there's also a few on here that I've known but never known the name of. Good times.
Oh, and yeah, Suspiria - soundtrack and film - are awesome! Weird as hell (barbwire attic!), but awesome
Go to Epic song of darkling epicness!
Fell in love with this song ages ago, I swear it combines darkness, desperation, with just enough hope that it's perfect for those epic but intense scenes with your players!
Anyone have any specific ideas for the Piper of Illmarsh's creepy flute solo? Seems like a natural thing to actually play during the encounter with the Haunt.
Found something else.
Syrinx by Claude Debussy is what I'll be using for that encounter. Syrinx was a nymph who was transformed into a hollow reed to escape the the attentions of the god Pan. The word syringe was derived from her name. Thought it seemed appropriate, given the stirges.
To anyone who's interested, the first installment of my Carrion Crown Soundtrack is up on the boards. Please keep any additional music suggestions on this thread. That's what it's here for. :)
Hope this is ok Wes. If not you're welcome to delete this post. Don't want to derail things.
ACK! I just got called on an error in my playlist for Trial of the Beast.
C Sharp Minor, Op.3, No.2 was composed by Sergei Rachmaninoff, not Vladimir Ashkenazy. My slip up.
You can hear a great version of the piece in question here.
Thanks to Aaron for the keen eye... or would it be ears?
Hope this is ok Wes. If not you're welcome to delete this post. Don't want to derail things.
No way man! This is awesome. Well done!
Does anyone have any general tips about how to go about using music in a campaign, or this one in particular? My campaign starts next week and I've let slip to a friend of mine playing in it that I would be experimenting with music. He has made it clear to me that he feels music gets in the way and has "never been able to get him in the mood". Is he just being a curmudgeon, or has it been used poorly in the previous executions? I suppose those aren't mutually exclusive.
Tips appreciated.
Thanks.
Does anyone have any general tips about how to go about using music in a campaign, or this one in particular? My campaign starts next week and I've let slip to a friend of mine playing in it that I would be experimenting with music. He has made it clear to me that he feels music gets in the way and has "never been able to get him in the mood". Is he just being a curmudgeon, or has it been used poorly in the previous executions? I suppose those aren't mutually exclusive.
Tips appreciated.
Thanks.
I've been using music in my games for years and it can really enhance a session if done correctly. The music shouldn't be to loud, most of the time it should only provide a background ambiance to enhance the mood. Sometimes it can be effective to turn up the volume to highlight certain scenes in the game. Music without lyrics work best, although sometimes lyrics can be great if it is to everyone's tastes (we use a lot of epic power metal to highlight our most glorious battles in Kingmaker for example). Sound effects can also be used to enhance certain scenes and add some details to the game. It is best to organize a playlist before the game starts so that the music is fitting. Having a totally inappropriate song playing at a key scene can really break the mood. Personally I use a program called scene sound (found for free Here) to organize my music before playing. It really helps to have a large collection of music available to choose from.
Here's a pair of CDs I just bought from CD Baby that might be worth getting:
http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/deadrosesymphony3
http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/alexotterlei
Now granted the one is for a Call of Cthulhu module but we can cannibalize it for our purposes can't we?
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Oops! Meant to post this in this thread to begin with, but I wasn't paying attention when I put it up the first time.
Not sure if this has been posted yet or not, but Stumbleupon just handed me a great resource: http://incompetech.com/m/c/royalty-free/index.html?genre=Horror (includes a "search by feel" feature!)
I'd suggest the Witch Trilogy (The Witch Hammer, The Witch Hunter, and The Witch Haven) by Shinjuku Thief. Three albums of brooding dark ambient/gothic neo-classical music.
Examples:
The Smell of Nightfall.
The Witch Hunter.
The Second Dream.
While not as "Creepy" I suggest The Dead Weather, it's nice a discordant. I'm going to use it as a change up, after playing creepy classical for a time, switch for no real reason.
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For my game on Friday I used The Reaping soundtrack mixed with Constantine and silent Hill and ended the session with Carry on My wayward son.
I also tried using the LED tea lights and it was to too dark any suggestion?
I am looking for the O Death from supernatural to start the funeral. But can't find it on itunes can you buy it anywhere.
Play it from youtube.
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I watch too many Japanese Toku shows...
Kamen Rider Kiva's sound track.
Sure, it's Kamen Rider...but the dude is a damphir summoner monk.
Or GARO's soundtrack. This one is near perfect.
Savior in the Dark...specifically.
A story about magical swordsmen who fight demons and monsters...ya. Just imagine this guy is a tricked out Magus.
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I've been using music in my games for years and it can really enhance a session if done correctly. The music shouldn't be to loud, most of the time it should only provide a background ambiance to enhance the mood. Sometimes it can be effective to turn up the volume to highlight certain scenes in the game. Music without lyrics work best, although sometimes lyrics can be great if it is to everyone's tastes (we use a lot of epic power metal to highlight our most glorious battles in Kingmaker for example). Sound effects can also be used to enhance certain scenes and add some details to the game. It is best to organize a playlist before the game starts so that the music is fitting. Having a totally inappropriate song playing at a key scene can really break the mood. Personally I use a program called scene sound (found for free Here) to organize my music before playing. It really helps to have a large collection of music available to choose from.Does anyone have any general tips about how to go about using music in a campaign, or this one in particular? My campaign starts next week and I've let slip to a friend of mine playing in it that I would be experimenting with music. He has made it clear to me that he feels music gets in the way and has "never been able to get him in the mood". Is he just being a curmudgeon, or has it been used poorly in the previous executions? I suppose those aren't mutually exclusive.
Tips appreciated.
Thanks.
Is there something I am missing with sound scene? I can add my iTunes music folder to the sound scene library but it will only display the folders and not the music within. Sorry if this is a bit off topic but I would love to use this for my carrion crown game that I am running in July.
Also some great music is on the Alan Wake soundtrack.
Is there something I am missing with sound scene? I can add my iTunes music folder to the sound scene library but it will only display the folders and not the music within. Sorry if this is a bit off topic but I would love to use this for my carrion crown game that I am running in July.
Also some great music is on the Alan Wake soundtrack.
Hmm, not sure about this, I don't use iTunes.
Best Thread Ever for this type of setting! I look forward to using this, thank you so much!
Interesting note on Castlevania music and remixes;
Despite that their music is more heavy-metal than creepy, the video game remix band known as The Minibosses has a really good track that's basically a suite of all the level musics from the original Castlevania, blending from one stage-music to the next rather smoothly.
It's simply called Castlevania.
Ever since I started using the first 1:05 of the song as background music while giving the intro recap at the beginning of every session, my players have loved it. One of them told me I leveled up as a GM.
Best of all, it's one of their free songs.
Another good one would be The One Ups' remix 'Clockwork (Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse.)' Unlike the Minibosses' tune, this one's not rock and roll... rather, it's a rather atmospheric piece with a guitar and violin. It starts out as a melancholy and lonely tune, then when the violin kicks in, it develops a mysterious and sophisticated classiness to it... and then, sort of intermixes the two feels for the last third of the track.
Also, it's a free sample song by the artists as well!
www.theoneups.com
Look for Free MP3s in the store section for The One Ups.
Oh - I like the pandora station idea!
Also would like to mentions the DIABLO VIDEO GAME soundtrack here. Good stuff for this type of adv.
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For the start of Trial of the Beast when they meet the caravan, and then later in the woods with the fortune teller I'm looking for some Roma/Gypsy kind of music. If anyone has heard the Audiobook version of Neil Gaiman's The Graveyard Book, they punctuate chapters and ellipses with what could be mandolin/violin in a very creep / Roma style. I'm looking for more of that, and don't know where to find it.
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For the start of Trial of the Beast when they meet the caravan, and then later in the woods with the fortune teller I'm looking for some Roma/Gypsy kind of music. If anyone has heard the Audiobook version of Neil Gaiman's The Graveyard Book, they punctuate chapters and ellipses with what could be mandolin/violin in a very creep / Roma style. I'm looking for more of that, and don't know where to find it.
Answered my own question:
[url]http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/danse-macabre-with-ben-sollee/id345249895? i=345250245[/url]
Actually, Neil Gaiman's site answered my questions, or google, you know whatever :P
good idea Galnorag. You might want to try some of Gogol Bordello - they are more modern, gypsy punk, but you might find something there. It's all pretty high energy.
Has anyone done a recording of the Skipping Song from Harrowstone like you can find on youtube of the Goblin Songs? I've been looking but cannot find. Would love to play it at the right moment as a sound effect.
One, Two
Freddy's Coming for you,
Three, Four
Better lock your door
I have tried several musics for my Carrion Crown game, but the one I like more for the campaign is Alice Madness Returns Soundtrack.
very short list of artists
Lustmord- Heresy, Monsterous Soul
Svartsinn (mostly any)
New Risen Throne (any)
Raison d'etre- Enthralled by Wind of Lonliness, In Silence and Soulitude, Prospectus, Empty Hollow Unfolds
Arcana (any)
Labels for Dark Ambient music
cyclic law
malignant records
cold meat industry
go to bandcamp.com and do a search for following free compilations:
Saur Maas
Krtrima Sprha
So far my Carrion Crown music playlist consists of:
The Hammer Studio Frankenstein Film Music Collection
Midnight Syndicate - Halloween Music Collection
Le'rue Delashay - The Law of 8ve
I dig what I've heard of Krtrima Sprha. Good looking out Headmutant!
Thanks- believe it or not, this is the genre of music that I listen to on a regular basis...
Right on. Have you ever listened to The Axis of Perdition's Deleted Scenes from the Transition Hospital? Chilling stuff.
I'd also tentaviely reccomend Silent Hill soundtracks, but a lot of that stuff is more industrial/discordant, and not great as ambient music.
i plan on using the silent hill music more for the encounters with the big 5. also, i had an idea earlier today that i'm thinking of using for ravengro's theme. how about tristram's theme from diablo? i'm worried it may be a little too much, but i'm not sure.
Very cool on the Axis of Perdition recommendation- reminds me a lot of Schloss Tegal "Grand Guignol". You would probably like Dead Man's Hill, Megaptera, Satori, and Archon Satani based on this. Thanks for turning me on to this!
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I made up some Grooveshark playlists for my Carrion Crown game. I've stayed away from anything with a "modern" feel and gone heavy on the strings. Some of these are more fleshed out than others.
Carrion Crown general music:
http://grooveshark.com/playlist/Carrion+Crown/59174834
Harrowstone 1st floor: (especially good for introducing the Warden's wife)
http://grooveshark.com/playlist/Harrowstone+1st+Floor/60111696
Harrowstone Dungeon: (A lot of dread-filled ambience)
http://grooveshark.com/playlist/Harrowstone+Dungeon/62510911
Trial of the Beast General: (Back to the strings, with the Ghost Writer soundtrack implying the mood of a hunt or pursuit)
http://grooveshark.com/playlist/TOTB+General/66936317
Trail of the Beast - The Schloss: (Grandiose entrance, followed by mystery and dread ambience)
http://grooveshark.com/playlist/TOTB+The+Schloss/63905652
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Carrio Crown radio is made! Everyone who can, please hop on and start throwing in your lot about what kinds of music is scary! ^_^
Also, if people showed some interest, I run a Livestream station and would love to do some sort of community horror movie night to celebrate the release of Carrion Crown, possibly next week. More details as I come up with stuff.
Well darn it. I'm Canadian. I can't use it.
I've check the list and ill throw what I've been using for carrion crown.
I use a mix of silent hill tracks (already listed) and surprisingly no one has said alice the madness returns ost. Those 2 mixed together was heaven to my players. They was listening to it while they created their characters and was definitely in the mood to start lol.
I would add Serenade for the Dead - Leaether Strip
It is all dark symphony of classical music that will creep you out and not have much in the way of lyrics to ruin the mood.