Fight Music for D&D Game Suggestions

[TheWerdna]

Lately the players in my D&D campaign have gotten tired of the background music I have been playing for the better part of a year. To rectify this I have begun to try and look for new music, but have been having trouble finding anything good.

For the most part I have been using Videogame/movie music, and would like to stick with that theme. Any suggestions would be welcome.

[tuesdayscoming]

My group frequently uses music from the Final Fantasy series. We've also taken to the soundtrack from Inception, though that's more of an inside joke.

[WinWin]

Ennio Morricone has done a number of scores for films. The Mercenary has got to have my favorite score.

Orchestral movie scores are great for background music. Less distracting than something with lyrics I find.

[Dust]

Search up Two Steps from Hell. Buy the entire discography. Done.

[Sith_Happens]

I might just be a Star Wars nut, but you can't go wrong with John Williams.:smallwink:

For epic set pieces/boss battles, there's always this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4nFn5yRqMD8

[EccentricCircle]

the Pirates of the Carribean soundtrack is quite swashbuckling, so can be good for sword fights. I also use starwars a fair bit. although both of those are really familier. so your players will almost certianly recognise the music.
this can work if the situation is right, or be distracting if you are using music associated with something like starwars in a totally different situation.

[Ayron]

Or just try audiomachine. go to youtube and search for it. nice epic music :smallbiggrin:

[Combat Reflexes]

Seriously, try Rhapsody of Fire (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YEMeBTmiX4g). Their music was made for the gaming table:

[Whammydill]

I recently got Icewinddale/Baldur' sgate games from www.gog.com and they came with the soundtracks. Perfect mood music, I just rename the tracks to what it would be appropriate for. They have some good battle music.

[Radar]

Ahh... where to start?
1. Basil (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s76_hhIFCOs) Poledouris (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tTho790_Yl8) has plenty good compositions.
2. Krzesimir (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9FS-gNL1qls&feature=related) Dębski (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0drHclGf0oE&feature=related) would be another composer to look for.
3. Neverwinter (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iOzBPQdeGLw&feature=related) Nights (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rXnH8upA5y0&feature=related) had a good soundtrack.
4. Immediate (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X7-L2peFrVo&feature=related) Music (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cS5SKUJWuQk&feature=related) in general specialises in all-purpose epic action music.

[Kuzimu]

I love the music from Fable! Look it up on Youtube!

And yes, lol, Rhapsody of Fire is basically just a DnD campaign set to music. See their music videos for even more fun!

[TheWerdna]

Thanks for the suggestions, through them i think i got enough music for the time being :smallbiggrin:

[Jjeinn-tae]

I recently got Icewinddale/Baldur' sgate games from www.gog.com and they came with the soundtracks. Perfect mood music, I just rename the tracks to what it would be appropriate for. They have some good battle music.

I second the Icewind Dale music, they have a great sound track for this sort of thing, I've actually personally used it for such.

[Skaven]

Humm.. some of these may not fit for the style you're going for but I love suggesting music.. i'll share a bunch from my RPG playlist. All of these are pretty much battle orientated.. I find general background music really needs to be tailored to the campaign, while combat music is a little easier as you can choose more easily between specific encounters.

Spoilered for length.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AcwKnfV4nM8

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=awyPX0BHha0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-UBUNPbq8OA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1-k8jWIKT6w (very much a BBEG confrontation tune)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6d2jB1-gOcI

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FRq6afyKhbg

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

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eMGNAe57kFA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TgLmEt8o5eA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k2mqMJXGUdo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RZpMiF92IQ0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=atR0_4UllHo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nr3WTQVInMc

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=em_k961Fn44

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w997kW-dFhg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dxwkG7Uc4OM (probably good for battling something like gothic vampires)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kEGl2jtFcos

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nc0rR9qdnfo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PuCrcbN1UVs

[Combat Reflexes]

Humm.. some of these may not fit for the style you're going for but I love suggesting music.. i'll share a bunch from my RPG playlist.

These. are. great.

I'm going to create an adventure around them :smallwink:

[TalonDemonKing]

Guilty Gear or BlazBlu is what I use for my background music. Awaking the Chaos(V-13) was used for a boss fight, while Keep in Gates(ABA) was used for a fight against a necromancer/golem scientist.

I find that when looking for fighting music, using music that was made for fighting can rarely go wrong :P

[Razgriez]

Video game music wise:

You already mentioned Final Fantasy. which is always a good choice

Ace Combat is another good option, earlier games in the series often have a more Techno-electronic battle themes, while games from Ace Combat 4 and up start shifting to more Orchestral music. Ace Combat Zero: The Belkan war's sound track for example, makes use of Spanish flair sound track with Acoustic guitars.

Lord of the Rings movie instrumental/orchestral sound tracks are always good.

have you considered taking a look at some Anime music as well? Maybe not the J-pop/rock style stuff, but there are some battle themes in them that work well.

[Torufhar]

A few months ago I started creating a campaign for the first time and I am putting quite an effort into it including the music I pick,anything anyone would recommend would be great since I am always on the lookout for more... anyway,so far,I found:

"The Longest Journey" -really powerful,magical ambient,best thing I found so far.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ypwa86Wl-uo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QJRbJpneWA4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fR0Dl9tgmyU&feature=related

Heroes of Might and Magic

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LXGBh_3J25g

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M0ObS62Js-4

Diablo 2

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I_G8DzfB-0A

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SdY2MxMo4-k

Disciples 2

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8jgIJgBFocY

Icewind Dale
Baldurs Gate

and Erdenstern (the purpose of this music is specific for D&D)

[DrWeird]

Oddly enough, the Kill Bill soundtrack seems to work very well; the Lonely Shepard in particular I find is very fitting in moments that are dramatic but quieter, and the lack of vocals for most of the songs improves the mood considerably, allowing the pure sound to flow as it will, unshaped, through your ears.

[Cieyrin]

This is one of the best songs I've ever heard for epic conflict, from the Berserk soundtrack: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1xho9thsoUo

Surprisingly, the rest of the soundtrack isn't so good, which confuses me to no end, honestly. :smallconfused:

[AslanCross]

It really depends on what kind you're looking for, since it can very by setting. I used a lot of Baldur's Gate/Neverwinter nights music in my first game, since it was a fairly stereotypical Forgotten Realms game.

Here's a very long and wordy list of music I've used in my more recent Eberron campaign. (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showpost.php?p=7139406&postcount=163) There's a good mix of metal and techno along with the orchestral music, since it's a magepunk setting. The orchestral music I reserved more for the dragons and final bosses.

Here's some more good battle music from video games:

Persona
Brahman (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dkRW89orUzI)

Final Fantasy
I usually avoid FF since it's kind of ubiquitous. I have sworn to never use One-Winged Angel, since it's really overrated.
However, there are some remixes that are really awesome:
Dancing Mad (Distant Worlds---a full orchestral version that has the last movement performed by with real instruments instead of synth. The guitar solo is awesome.)
(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jMFCM0SKbnY)
Cantata Mortis - God in Fire (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zmo584truz8)
The Extreme (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RVkcmx2l3WA)

Bayonetta
You May Call Me Father (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZmQm_PySHCk)
The Greatest Jubilee (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QV3wFRy23cY)

Touhou
While the music from the games itself is just synthed and at first sounds fairly typical, it's actually very well written and lends itself to fantastic remixes--and the remixes thereof are of extremely high quality.
Border of Life (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e-eensMhO_k)
This one's good for a very sad battle, perhaps when the PCs face a former dear ally who has fallen into darkness.
Judgment in the Sixtieth Year (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VGqlEL9WQW0&NR=1)
Septette for the Dead Princess (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nwRwNj87WCw)
Locked Girl (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dvbl7n3m0Os)
Lunar Clock ~Luna Dial (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KiPoiFsY5FY)
Nuclear Fusion (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Br7AcIiu84)
Nuclear Fusion (techno) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pi_B3FXij2g&feature=related)
Heartfelt Fancy (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hXYKTpV9QXs)
Captain Murasa (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A3Hxbn0EPNw&feature=related)


Super Robot Wars
Custos (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fJMF0jB4Ymk&feature=related)
Twin Icon (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WP99-D-VRCM&feature=related)
ZEST SEVEN (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oQLUXVa5CwE)
Dark Prison (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r3HcfmPAxCY)
Valsion (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DeLv9RKzk6U&feature=related)
The Arrow of Destiny (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fs_O4E63n3I)
Armageddon (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kYDJAZeuU0I&feature=related)
Dark Knight (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g4iSXt7BQVA&feature=related)
CHAOS (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vds5cJ_RnAU)

[ELC]

My recommendations may be a little . . . outdated, but I firmly believe that a good 8-bit or 16-bit tune goes a long way. Heck, you have a good chance of finding a remix for it.

Blood-Pumpers (use with Boss fights)
Sonic 3 (Remix) - Final Boss (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pFK5aM9XGu4)
Castlevania Arcade - Illusionary Dance (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D3SMiH9wAIs)
Castlevania Order of Ecclesia - Sorrow's Distortion (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WIPQTG2gcnw)
Castlevania Portrait of Ruin - Dance of Sadness (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Gbe46aBDF8) <-- I suggest using this when the PCs would rather not fight but have to.
Final Fantasy Series (Medley) - Fire Cross (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8QErGxUubbk)
Dynamite Headdy - You're Izayoi (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SnwunBUlPFk)

[Wardog]

As a few people have been mentioned: Baldur's Gate has some very good music.

Examples:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9QMRGLd5Nko&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ImgBBVXMZvA
And my favourite: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qrnDOjkKkAA

Its a completely different genera, but Freelancer also has some very good battle music. Examples:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lcYFogsKBgQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=19oP30kf5jo&feature=related

[smasher0404]

Has no one suggested music from the most epic game ever:
Chrono Trigger, I think enough has been said.

[Knaight]

Concerning instrumentals, Bond, Epica, and Apocalyptica pretty much only produce those. Many of their songs work for fight music.

[Cartigan]

Homeworld 2 has some epic music.

[The Watchman]

Anything from the Castlevania series. It's got music covering just about any situation you might want to run.

For battle music, you can't go wrong with pretty much everything Clutch (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5-QLikWM2aE) ever produced.

[Arutema]

Allow me to recommend the soundtrack from Nier, a very under-appreciated action RPG with a truly (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hWSkW8TKrXc) epic (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XiDI4GZMVF0&feature=related) soundtrack (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0IEbfDtDaUc&feature=related).

[Mutazoia]

Wow...nobody mentioned the Conan sound-tracks...or Beast Master. The Mummy sound-track works well. But then there was no mention of what was being use previously.

I have (on rare occasion) used the victory theme from FF right after a battle, but then my regular gaming group tends to take a more tongue-in-cheek attitude to some things, like playing "Thriller" during fights with zombies.

We didn't limit ourselves to "period" music. We used After the Flesh by TKK, or anything with a fast, aggressive beat for fight music. (only did the Matrix lobby fight music once).

For general atmosphere music, Check out Freeplaymusic.com (http://freeplaymusic.com/), you can find every style of music there to fit just about any atmosphere.

[Jay R]

Ride of the Valkyries (Wagner) comes first. Then I recommend Hall of the Mountain King (Grieg), Night on Bald Mountain (Mussorgsky), 1812 Overture (Tchaikovsky).

Next would be classic movie themes by Erich Wolfgang Korngold -- Captain Blood, Adventures of Robin Hood, and The Sea Hawk.

[Mutazoia]

Then I recommend Hall of the Mountain King (Grieg),

Try "Prelude to Maddness (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PKrLxyqc7yA)/Hall of the Mountain King (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eVI7iX4N08s) (Savatage) (on the CD prelude plays right into the beginning of Hall)

[20percentcooler]

Ultimate fight music. Works best for boss encounters.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9JPzyjMQ-rI&feature=related

[Pokonic]

Nah, this is. (http//www.youtube.com/watch?v=RNvxjCDOc34) Best when your fighting hoards of foes.

[Sutremaine]

Super Ultra Violet (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y-MX__zgqZM) -- all the battle music from the original DMC is good, but this one has a long cutscene before the battle that makes for a nice lead-in on the audio itself. Also of note are the first (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pRKPqQyIzA8) and third (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cyU5r3ZbrGc) Vergil fights from DMC3.

[20percentcooler]

I know this isn't the subject of the thread , but fable ost is the best general background music

[SlyJohnny]

My GM used this song one time. It made us realise that **** had got real. Awesome tension, instantly.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GusLypfx7OQ

[Dr Bwaa]

First off, I would suggest you take a look at this thread (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=210048); there's a lot of fantastic music in there.


For the most part I have been using Videogame/movie music, and would like to stick with that theme. Any suggestions would be welcome.

Now, as for some great videogamey music, there are a huge number of tracks here (http://homestuck.bandcamp.com/) that would probably fit the bill. For example, here (http://homestuck.bandcamp.com/track/orange-hat) are (http://homestuck.bandcamp.com/track/clockstopper) a (http://homestuck.bandcamp.com/track/at-the-price-of-oblivion) couple (http://homestuck.bandcamp.com/track/crystamanthequins) highlights (http://homestuck.bandcamp.com/track/cascade).

[Sith_Happens]

http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p298/BobaDebt/ThreadNecromancy.jpg

[CUB4N-B]

I know this is an old thread, but for anyone skimming through it for D&D combat music ideas, I would definitely suggest FF Tactics, it has a soundtrack that's perfect for classic-style D&D campaign settings. I was searching for a lot of combat music myself for weeks and often searched the FF games or similar RPGs, but it was only until just minutes before posting this that I checked out the FF Tactics OST and realized how well it would fit with what I've been looking for, and no doubt what most others are looking for... I honestly don't know why the game never popped into my head well before this, especially considering it's one of my favorite FF games, but I would highly recommend it!