Music in games

[Syberdwarf2]

I was just curious....
In almost every game I've ever played in (except for convention games), we've had music playing. In some, it was for mood, in others certain songs were used for certain characters or at the start of the adventure. In one long running campaign, the GM had made a 'flip folder' with things on it like the title of the adventure, 'starring' so-and-so as (PC), and 'executive producer et cetera. This was a lot of fun, because it gave the game the feeling of a TV show somewhat.
Anyway, what kind of music do you use in and for your games? what kind of music do you use when planning your music? What kind of music do you draw your inspiration from?

[Agent Escafarc]

I'm in the minority when it comes to things like this(music, mood lighting,using non-gaming terms to desribe actions). I find this distacting and even annoying both as a GM and a player as it tends to slow things down.

[keithcurtis]

I find it hard to hear the other players with ambient music. An occasional Sound effect or an intor piece are somethimes fun. Derek's con game "Challenge of the Superfriends made very good use of both.

Keith "Whose D&D world used the Academic Festival Overture by Brahms" Curtis

[Syberdwarf2]

Sorry if my initial post was a little misleading. I guess I was really wondering what kind of music you listen to for inspiration or to get in the mood right before gaming (not during actual play). Also, does anybody else listen to music when working on their campagin material?

[Tech]

When I plan an episode, I either listen to music, read material or whatever it takes to get into the mood of the episode. If you, as GM, aren't in the mood to do the episode, it's certain to come out poor at best. Sometimes, I listen to music just to see if I get any ideas. Of course, I listen to music just to enjoy it, too. :p

[Edsel]

Like Tech I have found that music is very condusive in getting my creativity flowing. I have often come up with game ideas while listening to music.

We use music in games only very occationally. It is something that seems neat for a while but eventually the novelity seems to wear off and it becomes a distraction.

On a side note, I often use sound effects (mp3s, wavs, mpegs, etc.) in a game to help get my point across.

[Thag13]

iN SMALL DOSES, music can be very effective.

Teh right music at the right moment can really convey a mood very well.

I had several types I liked to play for Shadowrun meets.

Adn ihad some really haunting Violin music for when my vampire hunters met a vampire king for a truce.

a little music goes a long way.

[zornwil]

Originally posted by Syberdwarf2
Sorry if my initial post was a little misleading. I guess I was really wondering what kind of music you listen to for inspiration or to get in the mood right before gaming (not during actual play). Also, does anybody else listen to music when working on their campagin material?

Although I'm a musician, I really don't directly connect any music to RPGing, either in preparation or in play. I don't have an aversion, either, just don't do it.

[Dust Raven]

I ran a Rifts game a long time ago in which the player character were member of a freedom fighting rock band outlaws by the Coalition States. We played a lot of Trans-Siberian Orchestra because it was similar to their heavy metal/classical style. We also played a lot of Van Halen, Styx, Rush, Dream Theater and similar bands to get us into a rockin' mood before play.

For my current Champions game, I'll listen to Satriani a lot when writing up adventures. When preping the game before a session, I'll usually put on one of the Sci-Fi's Greatest Hits albums (yes, usually Defenders of Justice).

[Bystander]

I always play music, if I'm the GM. The type depends on the mood of the game and the system used to play. For instance, if we were playing Shadowrun, I would put on Bad Religion, Pennywise, Fugazi, or Black Flag to capture the punk feel of the setting. For D&D games, I could go classical and put on some Wagner or maybe a little prog was in order, so I'd pop on King Crimson. I've had a tough time with Hero though. It's hard to find music that fits in with a Supers setting.

[ShelleyCM]

Originally posted by Syberdwarf2
Sorry if my initial post was a little misleading. I guess I was really wondering what kind of music you listen to for inspiration or to get in the mood right before gaming (not during actual play). Also, does anybody else listen to music when working on their campagin material?

In prepping & gaming alike (and writing, for that matter), I like to have music playing. It depends on the genre, but it's generally orchestral and/or soundtracks -- in my 1793 game, I play a lot of Handel and Beethoven, English country dances, soundtracks to Pride & Predjudice, Mansfield Park, etc. In modern games, I use modern soundtracks -- but Preditor is always helpful to set the right mood. :)

-Shelley

[keithcurtis]

Originally posted by Bystander
... I've had a tough time with Hero though. It's hard to find music that fits in with a Supers setting.

I would suggest using Superhero movie soundtracks. They usually have the right mood and often cause players to remember the feel of the movie.

Keith "still thinks it's distracting" Curtis

[edited for gross misuse of the English language-thingie]

[ShelleyCM]

Originally posted by keithcurtis
I would suggest using Superhero movie soundtracks. They usually have the right mood and often cause players to remember the feel of the movie.


I just remembered my favorite supers-gaming soundtrack -- Beetlejuice!

- Shelley

[misterdeath]

Originally posted by Syberdwarf2
Anyway, what kind of music do you use in and for your games? what kind of music do you use when planning your music? What kind of music do you draw your inspiration from?

During Games. None. We're too lazy to look for appropriate music, and while in some settings it can be a mood enhancer, I too find it hard to hear what's going on over the din.

Planning Games. Whatever I need. I'm partial to Megadeth when writing supers adventures though.

If I'm having real trouble, I'll break out the Funkadelic. You would not believe how much listening to Maggot Brain will get the creative juices flowing.

D

[Bystander]

Originally posted by keithcurtis
I would suggest using Superhero movie soundtracks. They usually have the right mood and often cause players to remember the feel of the movie.

Thanks Keith, that's a great idea. The only movie I can think of that would work would be Superman, but I should be able to find something similar.

[Captain Obvious]

In a former FH campaign I participated in, we had a long-standing tradition of listening to the soundtrack to Conan the Barbarian, or to change things up, Conan the Destroyer. We kept the volume down enough that it was just ambience, and you really didn't even notice it when the situation started getting tense. The fact that all the tracks were instrumentals helped not to distract too much, too.

Along the same lines, when we played Star Wars (the West End version, not d20), we listened to the various Star Wars soundtracks. Actually, one day, the GM (our very own Slaughterj) took it a step further, and we watched The Empire Strikes Back while our characters desperately tried holding off the Imperial army on Hoth. It worked out pretty well all in all. It wasn't too distracting, since the GM played off the events in the movie as we played, and although everyone knew that the Rebels (mostly) got away, we didn't know if our characters would be captured, killed, or whatnot....

[EAfenris]

When I ran a Werewolf game, for 3 years, we started off every session with "Of wolf and Man" by Metallica. It was a signal for everyone to stop kibitzing and get into character...

It also kinda set the "tv" frame of mind. It made the game seem more smooth.

Now we run soundtracks, no words, as a backdrop. Sometimes the GM will queue up a song for a particular scene. I find it adds to the game especially if it is low enough as to not interfere with talking.