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View Full Version : Songs that Would Make For an Awesome Campaign Setting



Dust
2011-02-16, 06:52 PM
Just as the title says. I'll start.

Saints of Los Angeles (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eyDLXVbE6YU) - Mötley Crue

Mordar
2011-02-16, 07:05 PM
Battle of Evermore, Immigrant Song or Ramble On by Led Zepplin all make pretty good options :smallsmile:

Sure, not fair, but still!

Comet
2011-02-16, 07:11 PM
The entire backstory behind Ayreon (http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/Ayreon).

A very trippy blend of sci-fi and sword&sorcery and various other elements. I'd love to play in something like that.

Kaje
2011-02-16, 07:58 PM
There was an awesome thread a while back that turned Hotel California into a creepy-as-hell horror campaign setting.

linebackeru
2011-02-16, 08:02 PM
This, from Symphony X:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c4cW5uEqfG8

JaronK
2011-02-16, 08:02 PM
"When the War Came" followed by "Sons and Daughters" could be pretty fun, both by the Decemberists. By the same, "Eli the Barrow Boy" could make for a fun haunting one shot. And of course "The Mariner's Revenge" could be a whole campaign.

JaronK

Eldan
2011-02-16, 08:06 PM
The video, not the song, but still. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G_sBOsh-vyI) I'd probably mix it with Gamma World, or run it in M&M.

Odin the Ignoble
2011-02-16, 08:07 PM
I vote for just about anything from The Sword.

Lords, The Black River, and Lament for the Auroch all spring to mind.

I've thought a time or two about making a game based around The Sword songs and lyrics. I'm might when I get some more free time. :smallcool:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QSNq03_6I5g

0Megabyte
2011-02-16, 08:10 PM
All Along the Watchtower. Or at least, I hold that it feels like the beginning of the most epic story of all time. Not even the beginning, just the set up.

CockroachTeaParty
2011-02-16, 08:26 PM
Murmaider, by Dethklok, would be a cool campaign setting. Actually, a campaign based off of the whole Metalocalypse world would be pretty metal.

Gettles
2011-02-16, 08:33 PM
The entire backstory behind Ayreon (http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/Ayreon).

A very trippy blend of sci-fi and sword&sorcery and various other elements. I'd love to play in something like that.

My friend and I actually discussed doing something based off of the "Into the Electric Castle" album.

comicshorse
2011-02-16, 08:33 PM
'Life During Wartime' by Talking Heads

Fuzzie Fuzz
2011-02-17, 12:45 AM
Princes of the Universe - Queen
Amazing concept for a party.

The Song is Over - The Who

Great idea for a bard character.

Behind Blue Eyes - The Who

Really cool character concept for a troubled character with a mysterious past.

Rebels of the Sacred Heart - Flogging Molly
Kings of the Kilburn High - Flogging Molly

These two together seem like they'd make for two warring factions of bards in a bard-only nation, ruled by the Kings. The Rebels would be rebelling, obviously. All combat is dance-fighting.

The Third Hoorah - Jethro Tull

Musical swordswoman type character, clearly.

Alright, so those were mostly song-based character concepts. Ah well.

LikeAD6
2011-02-17, 12:55 AM
Hammerfall - Knights of the 21st Century

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x72nShkeH54

Hell f***ing yeah! THE PROPHECY!

Epsilon Rose
2011-02-17, 12:58 AM
Abney Park's discography especially the three most recent albums would make for a beautiful steam-punk campaign. Then again they are designing a rpg based on it so that might not be incredibly valid...

The world created by Voltaire might also be interesting.

Bugbeartrap
2011-02-17, 01:19 AM
JaronK, you have made my day.

For my own contribution, Creedence Clearwater Revival's Fortunate Son always makes me want to play a rogue.

Zorzark
2011-02-17, 01:32 AM
The Lamb and the Dragon (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e6Noawr1N4w) by Ludo.

Forgive the Final Fantasy music video, it was the only one that wasn't a live recording. Save Our City from the same album works with it, considering they're both set in the same place.

Hida Reju
2011-02-17, 02:06 AM
Here are a few

"Eye of The Storm" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H1mX8ptsmBM) by Lovett very nice Steampunk or multiple universe feel.

"Final Hour" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jo2_s7J8-JA) By X-Ray Dog any giant battle game. End of the world, final charge against the horde, Last Stand it covers them all.

"Document" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tV9cvWSC6yg) by Assemblage 23. I like this one for revolution stories.

"Amnesia" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fqj6f8iGjfA) by Mind.in.a.box. Very good for any kind of suspense or spy drama.

JaronK
2011-02-17, 03:02 AM
And who can forget Renegade Master? Lines like "Back once again with the renegade master, d4 damager with the ill behavior" are clearly talking about a Force Missile Mage (what the heck else is a d4 damager?) who's the leader of an evil rebel cult...

JaronK

Longcat
2011-02-17, 03:15 AM
How come no one has mentioned Knights of Cydonia (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HMYcOpSr5nM) yet? It would make the most awesome campaign setting ever.

A Runner-up would be Primo Victoria (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QZm4zseMok0) from Sabaton.

SiuiS
2011-02-17, 03:31 AM
Through The Valley Of The Damned- Dragonforce

The worst part is I have a crappy DM who keeps almost setting up this awesome, crazy-epic game for the fate of all the universe, and it always ends up as "oh the world's In dire peril again? Ok, we'll fix it, whatever. Oh, the BBEG is the DMPC's sister? That would be neat if we liked the DMPC in the fort place. Why are you stopping the fight? We don't want cutscenes! This is the final battle, stop teleporting out of antimagic/antipsionic zones! ARGH!"

It's like Dominic deegan; neat! But the substance falls apart upon inspection.

Kurald Galain
2011-02-17, 06:09 AM
Seven Seas of Rhye, also by Queen.


And, anything by Rhapsody, hands down.

Temet Nosce
2011-02-17, 06:58 AM
Hrm, I see that Hotel California has already been mentioned...

House of the Rising Sun - The Animals (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mmdPQp6Jcdk) (I could see this one used for a place designed to draw people to their ruin, the ultimate house of temptations)

Counting Bodies Like Sheep - A Perfect Circle (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ejsM0VF-Os) (Dystopian dictatorship of course)

Re: Your Brains - Jonathon Coulton (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BjMiDZIY1bM) (This one speaks for itself)

LansXero
2011-02-17, 07:02 AM
Seven Seas of Rhye, also by Queen.
.

or `39.



Through The Valley Of The Damned- Dragonforce
Soldiers of the Wasteland too, imho.

And for my own: Battlefield, from Blind Guardian.

Jarian
2011-02-17, 07:17 AM
Fire on the Sea (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dhGyGml5lmU&feature=related)

Wind's Four Quarters (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6yABakvr1hA&feature=related)

Arafel's Lament (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=am-_fHpiTAQ&feature=related)

Battle Dawn (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xjqm4r6EbuE&feature=related)

VeisuItaTyhjyys
2011-02-17, 07:39 AM
'Life During Wartime' by Talking Heads

This thread is just over now.

bokodasu
2011-02-17, 07:54 AM
Iron Maiden's Seventh Son of a Seventh Son (the whole album) and probably a good number of their earlier songs. There's a lot of metal that makes for interesting fantasy worlds.

cheezewizz2000
2011-02-17, 07:56 AM
I've always wanted to run Black Sabbath's "The Wizard" as a one-shot.

Christopher K.
2011-02-17, 10:41 AM
The music video for the Safety Dance. :smalltongue:

Or, for a more serious answer, The Protomen's first album. (Can't think of the title at the moment. The Will of One?)

Ghotifish
2011-02-17, 10:47 AM
A campaign based on trying to establish "Scatman's World."

Ultimate goodie-goodie/commie campaign.

I may have to incorporate that in my Paranoia game.

CockroachTeaParty
2011-02-17, 10:50 AM
'Life During Wartime' by Talking Heads

That's pretty much the ultimate campaign setting, right there.

"Burned all my notebooks! What good are notebooks? They will not help me survive..."

wormwood
2011-02-17, 10:55 AM
I've always wanted to run Black Sabbath's "The Wizard" as a one-shot.

See... I was thinking Iron Man would be brilliant!

Tyndmyr
2011-02-17, 10:56 AM
Hotel California.

Alternatively, We Didn't Start the Fire.

bokodasu
2011-02-17, 12:05 PM
The music video for the Safety Dance. :smalltongue:

Thank you, now I'm terrified.

Gullintanni
2011-02-17, 12:41 PM
Turisas - The entire Varangian Way album. Assuming you're okay with high fantasy in a non-fictional setting.

true_shinken
2011-02-17, 01:06 PM
I once ran a sidequest form my campaign around Jim's Big Ego's Prince Charming. It was awesome.

the clumsy bard
2011-02-17, 01:12 PM
Blind Guardian's

And then there was Silence (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=snwvpJ7DxyY)

Battlefield (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rmu0LMlS8Us)

Demons and Wizards

Crimson King (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cV7BYSxsKhw)

9mm
2011-02-17, 04:51 PM
Anything posted by this man: http://www.youtube.com/user/SupraDarky

no, video game music isn't cheating.

Also Van Canto has a bunch of epic stuff.

Agrippa
2011-02-17, 05:01 PM
Black Blade (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XCxL3-Fl7bM&feature=related) and Veteran of the Psychic Wars (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nrd2xf5DIlU).

Odin the Ignoble
2011-02-17, 05:10 PM
Okay, so I can't hold my enthusiasm in any longer. I'm going to run a campaign based on this song:


The Sword- Lords (http://youtu.be/HwU8QH9kz5Y)

Lords lyrics

The lords of the passes are arming their vassals
You'll find no shelter that way
The conscripts they've taken have never returned
And our hopes fade with each passing day

The gates of the keeps are all closing
And broken men wander the road
The farmers have fled to the forests
Burning their fields as they go

The dukes of the marches have ordered their archers
To shoot all outlanders on sight
Turn back your horses before it's too late
There'll be no safe crossing this night

Hear the horns, pounding hooves
Visions of cities aflame
Wailing cries, dawn of doom
Die by the sword or in chains

Men kneel in temples of madness
False prophets spread discord and fear
Darkness descends once again
They say the lords of the last days rule here

If anybody's interested, here's a link to the recruiting thread. (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=187757)

TheDarkDM
2011-02-17, 05:51 PM
When the Man Comes Around (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k9IfHDi-2EA) could be a pretty cool setup for an Apocalypse-in -progress game.

The Big Dice
2011-02-17, 06:16 PM
Black Blade (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XCxL3-Fl7bM&feature=related) and Veteran of the Psychic Wars (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nrd2xf5DIlU).

Awesome songs. But Black Blade was written by Micheal Moorcock,who as well as having one or two very influential fantasy novels to his credit, has also had several different RPGs based on his work.

Powerslave (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xqUa5SbLU_c) by Iron maiden would make for a very cool campaign. But then so would a LOT of Maiden's stuff.

Judas Preist have done a few like that, too. The Sentinel (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=afZOTr6zBuc&feature=related) being one of the best.

Agrippa
2011-02-17, 06:21 PM
I know both songs were written by Michael Moorcock, creator of the Eternal Champion/Elric saga, that's why I posted them in the first place.

Fioyl
2011-02-17, 06:36 PM
"When the Levee Breaks" would be a good; you have to escape to Chicago because of rain or floods.

Props to you, Agrippa, for the BOC song, though I was already under the impression that Don't Fear the Reaper was more associated with ttrpgs. Veteran of the Psychic Wars was also used on the ost for Heavy Metal, though I don't know if there's an official setting with the Loc-Nar.