Bard choosing background music

[Eleven]

Friends,

I was listening to Agalloch (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SIzoyPfPKO4) and started thinking about what it would be like to start playing with a laptop nearby with music queued up for the big battles. Might be corny; might be cool - I guess it depends on how you play out the situation.

I figured, though, it might be a cool way to play a bard. If you could be trusted to provide quality music, it would probably give you an interesting way to increase the flavor of the game.

Thoughts?

[Cookiemobsta]

I like this idea :) Perhaps offer different bonuses depending on how good the music is. So if the bard is attempting to inspire courage and they pick something particularly stirring, the +whatever that they would normally inspire goes up by two. Or if they pick something really lame, their attempt at bardic music falls flat. I think this would be fun for the bard player, and give some interesting fluff.

If your bard was a creative writing type and felt very bold, you could also let them write and recite epic poetry or something (only a few lines at a time) :)

[ericgrau]

Sounds like it could be entertaining. Make sure you have enough material for an hour plus long battle and make sure the group likes your music preferences.

[INoKnowNames]

I thought this was standard form for the Bard. I'm actually trying to pick out Music from Youtube to be played with Repeat Video, which I'll link to whenever I start my Bardic Music and every turn from then on.

My only issue is deciding what music to play, at least depending on the function being performed. Inspire Courage, Dragon Fire Inspiration, Words of Creation booting either or, both DFI or IC, Boosted one or the other, or Boosted Both. Each representing a different level of emotional intensity in my character, and requiring a different theme to be played. I count 8 different possibilities.

[cc_kizz]

This sounds pretty awesome! I really enjoy bringing in real world elements into the fantasy world. :-)

[Valdor]

If your bard was a creative writing type and felt very bold, you could also let them write and recite epic poetry or something (only a few lines at a time) :)

I actually did this in a game. My Bard recited epic poetry and i spend some tkme writing one or two line scripts that i would actually recite in the game when i used any ability including magic. Everyone agreed that it lead to an overall great experience and made the character really come alive. Bonus xp for me :D

[Kol Korran]

i used to bring music as a DM, appropriate to encounters and moods, but if you wish to do so as a bard, then i think it could be awesome.

don't know if it's exaclty, what you're looking for, but here are a few stuff that i used in my campaign (there are many people here with lists of their own, i suggest you ask):

This is from the very last battle of the epic campaign. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SZ1GbBlS9wM&list=PL28C0D9F897841003&feature=plcp&context=C463ffb8VDvjVQa1PpcFNWdjPvd_8Azxo2blX-MZhCghxY1EjexsM=) needless to say two steps from hell know their stuff.

Desperate fight with overtone of religious themes (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p4h1wciz45o&list=PLEB2B42E88553E55A&feature=plcp&context=C4632836VDvjVQa1PpcFNWdjPvd_8Az_9frbyN7m8l XVR1MqVi3VI=)

another dast paced, fairly furious epic battle (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dGy70BxOQwY&list=PLEE4EA1159835732D&feature=plpp_play_all)

As an opening before the last leg of the campaign. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9jK-NcRmVcw&list=PLB0D508124BB6541D&feature=plcp&context=C473bbf3VDvjVQa1PpcFNWdjPvd_8Az1xV4dEvrQKG b7-3ddknDgE=) works if you're fairly mature to remember this song at least

Paladin's song (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LgzXwpePTTU&list=FLOeNTNgfVgWBh3VtPMgRgLA&index=8&feature=plpp_video)

cry for help before a highly dangerous mission (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4m8ltkjO7Pg&list=FLOeNTNgfVgWBh3VtPMgRgLA&index=21&feature=plpp_video) again, works especially well if the people know this song

The song of the shifty yet stylish not=that-good guy (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8aTvELXNXNU&list=FLOeNTNgfVgWBh3VtPMgRgLA&index=4&feature=plpp_video)

when all is said and done, a victory song. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8aTvELXNXNU&list=FLOeNTNgfVgWBh3VtPMgRgLA&index=4&feature=plpp_video) a bit cliche, yet fitting.

hope this helps

[Bloodgruve]

I would be careful about adjusting bard song effects per tune played but bonus XP is a good way to reward a player.

My next character will be a Bard with Perform Beatbox and Perform Breakdance using the Breakdance Fighting style. YouTube is a big help for bringing content to the table.

GL
Blood~

[nedz]

Really you should play music yourself :smallsmile:
Maybe thats too much like LARP.

I did play in one game where we all wrote several songs. The songs were aweful, but they did add a lot to the game.

[Unusual Muse]

I like this idea... I've considered using it as a DM, but I like it even more for the player of the bard to do it because it a) takes yet another task off the shoulders of the DM, and b) plays into the roleplaying aspect of things. I wouldn't have it affect game mechanics with bonuses to rolls or anything, but bonus XP would definitely be in order... unless the music sucked, in which case I might consider an XP penalty. :smallsmile:

[Deadlights]

For those quiet moments in the inn (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5A8TbEkpeMo)

Similar as above, only a little more upbeat and with lyrics (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=msRy4vcSX4k&feature=relmfu)

For more epic situations, but not quite a climatic moment (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FV0VB8-nnuQ)

In case you need something both epic and 25 minutes long (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MaN3pwBsRf8)

For more nautical settings (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hRc9rNDZOCE)

And some bag pipes for good measure (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UII8CPnJuro)