Music for Game Planning

[Zaydos]

Well I was looking over threads on this forum and decided I was curious as to what kind of music, if any, playgrounders listen to when making adventures for RPGs or when homebrewing.

Personally if I'm not alone I keep my music off, but when possible I listen to songs like
Back in Control (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IgU0X73QGzc) by Sabaton.
Warriors of the World (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CfZBMQoNxJM) by Manowar.
and oddly
Back to the 80's (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kw5s3CB_1pE) by Aqua.

I actually think the first two work much better for these purposes.

Also if this is the wrong (sub)forum to post this in, sorry :smallredface: I just thought it was the most appropriate.

[Lurkmoar]

Usually Worlock (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NhoMbt5oDzw), Right in Two (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TLjrD-oXkhA) or Still Alive (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RthZgszykLs) when I'm writing down notes about how the adventure will play out.

I find that Still Alive works quite well for Paranoia.

[valadil]

I don't have any particular style of music that I like in general, but I do have a habit of designating an album for each of my campaigns.

[Darth Stabber]

Mc Chris, Mc Frontalot, Johnathan Coulton, Steven Lynch, Daft Punk, Dead Mau5.

[grimbold]

i like to listen to fantasy inspired NWOBHM
it is music i like and gets me in the right mind set

[rayne_dragon]

The music I find best for game planning are anime and squaresoft game sound tracks. I find a lot of the final fantasy games to have particularly inspiring music, especially a number of the boss themes.

[Sipex]

What usually happens is I'll have a rough idea in my head, very rough. I'll listen to music casually and one song usually 'clicks' and causes me to start developing the rough idea further.

From there I kind of obsessively listen to that song (and only that song) while working on the specific idea.

Ideas are usually limited to an encounter, dungeon or short quest so I'm not listening to the same song more than 10 times in a row at most.

For some ideas? My most recent mega-battle (end of chapter, heroes level up to paragon) was based off the song 'Requiem of a Dream' lord of the rings epic remix version.

[Valameer]

Usually? Little Einsteins (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-utKYYXVT7I), or whatever else my daughter is into. :smalltongue:

If I am planing late night, though... it varies.

If I want to do something mystical or slightly disturbing, I listen to Opeth's Damnation (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1IzLDT73bkk) album.

If I want something more high fantasy, I like Epica's feel. Any of their earlier albums will do, but I also like Chasing the Dragon (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vFwHTNETEGs) from The Divine Conspiracy.

If I just need to get slapped in the face with some pure fantasy feeling I listen to Blind Guardian's Bard's Song (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u_tORtmKIjE). Or, some tracks from Led Zeppelin (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=glBuUa8Vkho) can get me in the right mindset too.

Sometimes I'll pick an artist whom I only know through Youtube such as Andy McKee (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lSnWhsmlGec) or Songelereveur (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CkLgRU50Ia4).

For Star Wars, sometimes I'll listen to the John Williams tracks (I don't even need to link these), and other times I'll throw on something more cyberpunk like tracks from The Matrix (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0hyGM3uyzQc) soundtrack.

And for everything else, there's Y (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=byhcdd6_eKk)o (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ux90A4YDLdo)k (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E-vWFCM03EQ)o (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_hymzkN_QJU) K (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EIVgSuuUTwQ)a (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8JJUEAVBDeo)n (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IaAVuyp1yiM)n (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ZfyXEXaLuI)o (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WKnVaDwUg5s).

[101jir]

I plan to use a lot of stuff, spread out over a wide variety of genres.

Legend of Zelda (NES) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yjmeb7HCeyU&feature=related) is actually good. Let's face it that's all RPGs really add up to:smalltongue:. Walk up to the guy and stick him with the sword. Don't get bombs though:smallfrown::smalltongue:.

If I were to do something with ships, this (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=78GHTIcDnK4&feature=BF&list=UL3JeNNr0C0Vg&index=1) wold be my hurricane/storm music other Sky Odyssey tracks work for stuff too.

And yes, even some metal (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3RsOy_3iNrI) for those metal-headed orcs.

There are more, but I want to keep this brief. I might post with some more later.

[Hida Reju]

Really it depends on the kind of story you are trying to write.

If you are trying for a scary horror type movie then you got to set the mood for yourself with the right kind of music. Haunting melodies that linger in the backgrounds like many classical tunes.

If you are pushing for an action filled romp then high energy music like techno or anything you like that is fast and has a good beat.

If you are going for a show of pain and loss then the borderline goth/Industrial scene may have the kind of sound you need.

Unfortunately there are so many types of stories and music that its hard to do each of them.

[Dust]

Recently, I've been running the Leverage RPG and planning sessions listening to 'Nothing Suits Me Like a Suit' (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mz8n2hzQ0t0) for some unknown reason.

[101jir]

Really it depends on the kind of story you are trying to write.

If you are trying for a scary horror type movie then you got to set the mood for yourself with the right kind of music. Haunting melodies that linger in the backgrounds like many classical tunes.

If you are pushing for an action filled romp then high energy music like techno or anything you like that is fast and has a good beat.

If you are going for a show of pain and loss then the borderline goth/Industrial scene may have the kind of sound you need.

Unfortunately there are so many types of stories and music that its hard to do each of them.

The haunting/horror gives me an idea (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-_6gmjocsbo)

[Xefas]

I often listen to some Machinae (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=majaL5_qFu8) Supremacy (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i_ouxpQOcGQ) or Freedom Call (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rD2_8peLKUQ).

[bloodlover]

Saxon, Blind Guardian, Black Sabbath, Iron Maiden, Manowar etc. Classical music goes well too. Listening to Wagner's Ride of the valkyries or Beethoven's 9th symphony while fighting some boss give me a great feeling.

[Decoy Lockbox]

Normally I just listen to my normally scheduled musical activities (metal, some psytrance, maybe a little drum and bass), but one time I fired up some incense, through on a bath robe and put on some Tupac. The session that was produced was a good'n.

[Zen Monkey]

The sountrack to Conan the Barbarian, especially "Anvil of Crom," assuming it's a sword and sorcery style of game. (Also gets a lot of play in my gym listening for heavy lifting days)

[toasty]

Last Christmas break I found listening to Tiesto/Gaga during my evening (Read: Midnight) gaming sessions to be really fun.

Normally, its just normal metal though. However, playing really fast stuff like DragonForce, or just hilarious stuff like most power metal and then shouting at the screen and being really intense is fun too. :smallbiggrin:

[101jir]

Hunde wollt ihr ewig leben by Macbeth (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8TESSJMJO6w)

Nice battle music.

Blow Me Away (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OVscFGDdqiY)

Battle music as well, but it has more of a storyline

I am sorry if this has already been stated, but Hero by Nickelback (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OVscFGDdqiY)

I know I used stuff from people's fan vids for The Sight, but it is a good book so people chose very adventure based songs for it and it was easier to find them when they were right there in the related vids.

[TheSummoner]

If you're doing anything fantasy based, you can't go wrong with Rhapsody (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eFn_aU8Lu2Y) of (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BxsqBxiUKgs) Fire (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N8DA4vsgDuI). Nerdy as eff, but just as, if not even more awesome. To quote TvTropes on this... "DragonForce uses fantasy imagery because it's cool. Rhapsody composed a five-album long fantasy story."

Oh, and as Xefas said, Freedom Call is pretty damn good too (though I haven't listened to nearly as much of their music).

[Decoy Lockbox]

If you're doing anything fantasy based, you can't go wrong with Rhapsody (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eFn_aU8Lu2Y) of (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BxsqBxiUKgs) Fire (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N8DA4vsgDuI). Nerdy as eff, but just as, if not even more awesome. To quote TvTropes on this... "DragonForce uses fantasy imagery because it's cool. Rhapsody composed a five-album long fantasy story."

Oh, and as Xefas said, Freedom Call is pretty damn good too (though I haven't listened to nearly as much of their music).

Dude, if you like Rhapsody, check out Fairyland (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zfO72wYllgU). I love both bands, but I personally think Fairyland has better chops.

[101jir]

Also, anything super intense, especially chases at insane speeds or wild battles deserves Bloodsugar by Pendulum (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1in7aKt-exU)

[The Antagonist]

Fantasy metal, yo. And symphonic metal.

Blind Guardian (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c98gIxCe1zo), Epica (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YQFSlYPGoac), Battlelore (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=16YMFD8XZ0I), Nightwish (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eb9iCz5P1LU), you get the idea. Maybe some Dimmu Borgir (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S-hsa1a7kyM) to help with those villains, and always some good ol' fashioned battle metal (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xnWO7iJZXDA).

[Dvandemon]

Well if I were to plan a game, I'd begin with the Jet Set Radio Future (JSRF) soundtrack, then I'd move on to Arcade Fire, YMCK, Anamanaguchi and finish off with the Panty and Stocking Original Soundtrack (specifically track 15 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S7SLggdFS60))

...

but that's just my taste in music :smalltongue:

[Makeitstop]

The same music I listen to when doing anything else, movie and game soundtracks with occasional classical.

I particularly like:
Highlander (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tCkV0qSJRkk&feature=related)
The Last Airbender (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-mTANle_IcQ) (if you haven't seen the rifftrax, do so now!)
Les Miserables (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tRal_e2S9DU&feature=related)(1998 Liam Neeson, non-musical version)
Advent Rising (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DSbTviFhHI4)
Narnia (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q41fwx1tfHc)
Dragon: the bruce lee story (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eLO2ibt0uIc)
Inama Nushif (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7whegFR6Lz0)(from children of dune, which I hated)
Princess Mononoke (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qvaA-Y0XB90)
Braveheart (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UjP54OWvlmg&feature=related)
Last Samurai (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GWm8-jlddaw)
Dragon Age (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n2VDHLWFrFo)
Lord of the rings (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JgcoBKWTW14)
Batman begins (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8-wIg90lagk)
Dark Knight (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yvB-FrF0wXE)