I do not know how commonplace this is and would like to ask the community a few questions about their campaigns and if music is involved.
Is it used for important parts in the campaign? Background music? Character theme songs? Have a favorite song? Share it! Tell me what you think of my take on the concept:
I use music as an important part of my campaign and most of the members are inexperienced with pen and paper RPG's and it helps them get more attached to their characters and the story. I put some restrictions on the theme song and generally prefer that it have something to do with the characters concept. I usually do it by a case by case basis and play part of the theme song when the character is introduced or does something awesome. It adds so much to the campaign in my mind when I have a theme song for the important NPC's and play cool battle music during the climax of a big battle. The PC's in my campaign currently spend their time in between adventures in an expensive tavern where they are allowed to stay for free because they saved the owner (level 3 bard) in the first session. The tavern happens to have a stage and is the only tavern in town that plays live music. Having a tavern song or two for the party to play while they rp with other members, order drinks, ask for info or just party gives it a cool feel that I do not think I could accomplish otherwise.
I have a lot of my current soundtrack for my game picked out and am holding back on some of the songs for later in my campaign. Once they debut I'll post some links for them since I have one player who likes to stalk me on the forums for hints to the plot of my campaign.
Some of my favorites include:
CN Female Half-Orc Druid's theme song
CG Male Half-Elf Ranger's theme song
Tavern song number one
Tavern song number two
Battle song number one
Battle song number two
When I run, I use a huge "gaming soundtrack" that is a collection from music from a variety of games (NWN, IWD, Planescape, Suikoden) and movies and TV shows (Xena, Slayers) etc. I have them sorted into playlists by theme--battle music, tavern music, adventure music, creepy music, and so on.
When my most recent campaign ended, I did want to take some "theme songs," including stuff that made me think of the PCs and major NPCs, and put them on CDs for the players. Sadly, I never got around to it.
I've been hoping to compile something like this for a while.
Should my group ever reach Xin-Shalast, I totally plan on playing
When I run, I use a huge "gaming soundtrack" that is a collection from music from a variety of games (NWN, IWD, Planescape, Suikoden) and movies and TV shows (Xena, Slayers) etc. I have them sorted into playlists by theme--battle music, tavern music, adventure music, creepy music, and so on.
When my most recent campaign ended, I did want to take some "theme songs," including stuff that made me think of the PCs and major NPCs, and put them on CDs for the players. Sadly, I never got around to it. [/QUOTE
I'd like to know what tracks would be on the CD at least. My curiosity is aroused.
Absolutely we use music. We're in my rec-room with my HTPC, so everything that we need is a click away.
It's not used all the time, though - only during important parts of the campaign, or background music at certain times for certain locations (the first time in a major city, etc).
I seem to the be the odd one out in that we use background music, but only as a "space filler". The music is never for mood, its always just whatever I or anyone else in the room feels like listening to at the time.
I did notice a difference last game, though, when there was a tense battle (the party was getting their butts handed to them) and whatever album was playing at the time ended and there was suddenly no background music. The tension started to noticeably rise, at least from my point of view. I think that music helps ease the mood of the room a bit, regardless of what's playing in the background.
Greg
I need background music when I DM. It's just a quirk I have. I'm the kind of person that needs background noise or I get twitchy. Silence makes me nervous and I can't focus.
I've played with other DM's though, that hate background music. They feel it's too distracting. I think it just depends entirely on what the music is.
Generally, I prefer fantasy/horror movie scores, and when possible, progressive rock/metal with no lyrics/vocals. I have friend's groups who just put on whatever music is lying around, and it tends to distract or start up side conversations as people talk about the band(I'm guilty of this). I find that if you can find good music, that player's can't immediately identify, then it helps the mood greatly, and distracts a great deal less.
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I use musical tracks in both my PbP and local game, but more so in the PbP.
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Typical uses include:
- Dream sequences (some characters have their own themes now)
- Setting the mood when the party enters a new place for the first time (dungeon, city, tavern, castle, etc.)
- Meeting an important NPC (BBEG, royalty, important contact, etc.)
- Different phases of battle (for big fights several songs are likely as the momentum and danger shift)
- In character performances by characters or NPCs (lots of bards around here)
Generally, it's a lot easier to queue the music in a timely fashion with a PbP, and I'd like to think that it helps to foreshadow events to the players or queue them in to when something is amiss. At the very least it serves as an indicator of what was inspiring me when resolving a particular scene. Guess you could consider it a freebie sense motive bonus against the GM. ;)
In terms of sources, Bleach, The Big O, Evangelion, Conan the Barbarian, and The 13th Warrior have all been heard in my games.