Outside of background music, my group likes songs played diegetically (songs played that are being heard or sang by characters in the story as well as the audience).
Mostly it's been for bard songs during battles, flute music played by satyrs, and songs at funerals.
Songs we've used recently:
Gone - Ioanna Gika
Narnia Lullaby - Narnia Soundtrack
Those Were The Days - Mary Hopkin
Bard's Song (acoustic) - Blind Guardian
What are some songs you've used during a game as part of the experience and not just background at the table?
Whenever I tried, it backfired. So I stopped using music whatsoever.
We started it as intermission music. If the table decided to take a short break, then the party was making camp and the bard sang a song. Meanwhile, the players were grabbing snacks or what-have-you. It kept our quick breaks brief (1 or 2 songs hardly make 10 minutes), let everyone know roughly when we were about to start back, and kept the mood of the game intact - even if we stopped for a long break and ate pizza or something.
It turned into an in-story feature when we played a campaign based on the Lord of the Rings series. Our PC Boromir survived the Uruk-Kai attack at Amon Hen, but the player wanted to be Éomer at Helm's Deep. The GM had an Uruk-Kai rouse and fire an arrow - intending to hit Aragorn, but Boromir threw himself in the way to protect him. It was always the plan to let Boromir die, so the GM had a Youtube performance of 'Lament for Boromir' cued up on his laptop. While the player was shifting character sheets and the GM was gearing up for Helm's Deep, everyone else sat and listened to the song. By the time it ended, we were ready to find Pippin and Merry and butcher their captors.
After that, we just started putting them in from time to time. Pacing is a delicate thing, and we rarely wait through the entire song. After a verse and a chorus or so, the volume is dropped to background level and play continues. One memorable occasion had the song stop jarringly as we were attacked at camp and someone shot the bard with an arrow.
It's usually a planned NPC death or a 'meet a strange caravan' adventure hook that gets the treatment, but it's a great mood-setter.
Hi Plenilune and Hama,
Give Syrinscape a try. It's a specially designed tool for the Pathfinder game. Unobtrusive, easy to run, totally immersive.
You can download it and try it for free here.
It works on PC, MAC, Android and iPad.
Music without lyrics, specially focussed on different locations and encounters and sound effects mixed in for each different monster and environment. No repeats, no discernible patterns... It's good stuff!
Benjamin Loomes
Hi Plenilune and Hama,
Give Syrinscape a try.
We're even making Licenced Content for Pathfinder Adventures (Rise of the Runelords atm), and Pathfinder monsters (Goblins, Ghouls, Dragons, Ogres... all sorts)
...
Music without lyrics, specially focussed on different locations and encounters and sound effects mixed in for each different monster and environment. No repeats, no discernible patterns... It's good stuff!
I'm not really interested in background music itself. Specifically, I was hoping to find more songs that could be played diegetically (stuff the characters are hearing in world as well as the players at the table), not filler instrumentals.
Thanks.
...
Music without lyrics, specially focussed on different locations and encounters and sound effects mixed in for each different monster and environment. No repeats, no discernible patterns... It's good stuff!
I'm not really interested in background music itself. Specifically, I was hoping to find more songs that could be played diegetically (stuff the characters are hearing in world as well as the players at the table), not filler instrumentals.
Thanks.
Cool. I understand.
BUT... with the licenced content for say... Sandpoint, we have actually made the sound of the music the characters will hear from the bard in town, or from the musicians in the tavern.
And obviously... if you are looking for immersion, then actually hearing the sounds of the Red Dragon who is trying to tear your heart out and toast it for breakfast will help just a little.
No?
But, yes, I understand that's not what you were actually posting about, so I'll leave you in peace now! :-)
Ben
A lot of Irish and Scottish folk songs would work so long as you find the ones that don't refer to specific locations. Songs like The Parting Glass work. Maybe try Cara Dillon, she's got a beautiful voice and would work well for tavern scenes with a barmaid singing.
Instrumentals are good, way back when I ran convention timed tournament games using mix tapes for both atmosphere and to track the timing. You young kids with your devices could do much better. Worked really well but did have some unexpected consequences. One final round, final fight went all off. Two finalists, both game designers, got seriously into it with each other, (my bad for not crushing them,) delaying the final battle. As I am describing the entrance of the Hell-Queen, the Star Wars triumphal march, which was supposed to time with the party freeing the Avatar, thundered out. Several party members actually broke and ran. Two of my playtesters who dropped in before we went out for dinner could not stop laughing. Funny thing was, up until then they were perfect. I was expecting to have to pad out the final fight with some plot exposition to not get too far ahead of schedule. This tiny little girl had figured out that there were clues in the music and used it to good effect.
Music I like playing for atmosphere?
Bo Hansson: Lord of the Rings, Toys in the Attic, and the Watership Down one.
Also, Vangelis, David Arkenstone, Tomita, Clannad, Tubular Bells, Yes, lately, Nightwish, particularly their instrumentals. Most classical works, especially long themed pieces.
I had Rhapsody in Blue playing on a loop for a CoC game that left the players in fits of paranoia by the end. ( The party was trapped in a loop) It worked WAY better than I planned. They cheered when I killed the loop and the Pastorale started up.
Outside of background music, my group likes songs played diegetically (songs played that are being heard or sang by characters in the story as well as the audience).
What are some songs you've used during a game as part of the experience and not just background at the table?
I have used songs and poems as props for many gaming sessions.
Thank you for the new term, diegetically, I never heard that one before.
Recently, we compiled a bunch of the songs used in the campaign over the years and released them. Check out:
Video game soundtracks are full of great tracks to use for tabletop. Just depends on hat you're looking for.
I have a huge playlist of music by Nox Arcana and 2 Steps From Hell that I play in the background. Nox Arcana is best for spooky or horror type games, and some of 2 Steps From Hell's stuff is downright heroic and inspiring.
Tried Syrinscape in our last Hell's Rebels session and it blew the other player's minds!
I used the "Friendly Tavern" and "Magnimar Big City" soundpacks via an AR Bluetooth speaker controlled from my smartphone.
Looking like the Green Lantern coming into the game was just a bonus! ;)
The sounds really added depth to the game! I also find myself more focused and remembering the plot better as the memories get accentuated with sounds. Weird but true in my case.