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View Full Version : DM Help I need theme music! Theme music for a boss fight!



Delcan
2017-05-04, 09:58 PM
Hey everyone,

So, long story short, I have a party of PCs in the Starstone Cathedral of Pathfinder RPG, gearing up for a boss fight with the last aspect of Aroden, long-dead god of humanity, for the party's introduction into Mythic Tier 1. Don't ask, it's complicated, and it's not even for the end of the campaign or anything. Since it's a good solid climax fight, I want to get some music in to really set the mood.

Does anyone know any really good music that would hit the sweet spot for what I need? Anything along the lines of Ominous Latin Chanting is always good for a divine-themed boss fight, but I'm wondering if I can also fit in the qualities of "not evil" and if at all possible "Hell Yeah Humanity". None of it really necessary, but the mood I want to set is "Tense and climactic but all for good." Does anyone know any good pieces off the top of their head that would hit this kind of note?

Thanks much for your help!

Mr Beer
2017-05-04, 10:00 PM
I don't know but you should play 'Ride of the Valkyries' when the PCs charge in.

Mongobear
2017-05-04, 10:07 PM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=--ijjuvQMW8&t=200s

Probably the best boss theme from that entire game.

EDIT:

Also, if you want to go super cheesy/cliche there's always OWA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YwbMGAM2W38

OWA from the movie (Same song, but more instrumental and less techno)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aBergisxm60

Personal Recommendation--The World's Enemy a remix/variant of OWA from Crisis Core
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gqFLWPcgynk&t=1563s

JENOVA theme from the movie, again, same song(ish) but more instrumental and less techno-y
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OTLdoK_AU18

Honorable Mentions

FFX Jecht Theme https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GepZ5hM3nTw
FFIX Kuja Trance theme https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MmYSy9U78Sc (this opens up with an organ/churchy sounding stuff)
FFIX Necron theme https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6VnZLp3qjpc
Legend of Dragoon Final Boss Battle https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-k8aWJ2zfew

Kol Korran
2017-05-04, 11:20 PM
I'very compiled some soundtracks by themes for a previous epic campaign I ran. Check this post, under the "playlist" spoilers. (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showsinglepost.php?p=16680435&postcount=2) (There are a few). Most are extended or looped versions. I'd start with anything related to battles, though there are a few more that may fit.

Good luck! :smallsmile:

scalyfreak
2017-05-04, 11:42 PM
Hey everyone,

So, long story short, I have a party of PCs in the Starstone Cathedral of Pathfinder RPG, gearing up for a boss fight with the last aspect of Aroden, long-dead god of humanity, for the party's introduction into Mythic Tier 1. Don't ask, it's complicated, and it's not even for the end of the campaign or anything. Since it's a good solid climax fight, I want to get some music in to really set the mood.

Do you want your party to feel energized or intimidated by the music?

That matters for recommendations.

Fri
2017-05-05, 12:52 AM
Sorry, there's only one boss theme song for any boss fight.

Eternity,

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KRpw-8vxZag

Dragonexx
2017-05-05, 01:19 AM
Gonna recommend this one as perfect. Bonus points if a ghostly choir of former worshipers appears during the fight. Even more points if some of them are bards providing buffs to Aroden.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nIeVc1yE4TY

Sacred Dawn is also good for the divine theme: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8AJ9aOCG1NU

Venice Rooftops is also epic if you want to go for a sort of tragic but human theme: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lmsIVpXcu5k

Delcan
2017-05-05, 11:29 AM
Do you want your party to feel energized or intimidated by the music?

That matters for recommendations.

Energized, 100 percent. I'd like the party to think "this is going to be AWESOME."

scalyfreak
2017-05-05, 07:55 PM
Sadly, I am not sure how much help I can be then...

georgie_leech
2017-05-05, 10:24 PM
Let's see... Tense, dramatic, divine-ish, not evil, energizing....

I can think of a couple that might apply.

I've used this recently (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WTdDaX1xr1o) to good effect, though it might be a little close to the "last stand" side of energizing...

This one (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HxBPeePUjW8) is a little light on the divine feeling, but hits the others fairly well. And being the theme of an undeniably heroic figure trying to oppose a great evil, as oppose to the theme of the evil itself, doesn't hurt anything...

I like this, (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NcCrHZAKfPI) but if anything it might be a little bit too much "victory is assured!"...

It's not strictly a "fight" theme, but I'm'a plug this anyway, (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qOnjDUd29JU) as it's one of my favorite general heroism themes...

Finally, this. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i0_YA0XsRkw) It's got the choir, it's tense, that guitar does a lot to lend a feeling of strength, and that bell at the start... yum.

If any of these are close but not quite, I have others that I recommend. This is an intentionally broad sampling, and I've got plenty more where they came from that hit similar notes. Er, so to speak. I have way too much of my brain storage taken up by this stuff...

curious-puzzle
2017-05-05, 11:09 PM
Doesn't have the divine-ish choir feel, but United we stand divided we fall (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z0zdqeivGaU) certainly has the dramatic and heroic parts down solid.

UndeadArcanist
2017-05-05, 11:15 PM
"O Fortuna" is one of the most common Ominous Latin Chanting songs, and with the right recording of it you could probably get the energetic sound you're looking for. The lyrics are in Latin and talk about the fickle nature of fate.

Madbox
2017-05-06, 05:02 AM
I recommend "Truth", by Devin Townsend. It sort of has that "Inspiring divine choir" thing going on, but also is some awesome metal at the same time. Link: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=LC_5WIep32g

JAL_1138
2017-05-06, 11:10 AM
Final Fantasy 6 boss music, The Decisive Battle (http://youtu.be/Qjw35-qkb_s). Always a classic.

Dr paradox
2017-05-06, 08:12 PM
I swear by Dvorak's 9th Symphony, especially movement 4. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p9OBf8f55tU)

AlanBruce
2017-05-08, 02:57 AM
Hey everyone,

So, long story short, I have a party of PCs in the Starstone Cathedral of Pathfinder RPG, gearing up for a boss fight with the last aspect of Aroden, long-dead god of humanity, for the party's introduction into Mythic Tier 1. Don't ask, it's complicated, and it's not even for the end of the campaign or anything. Since it's a good solid climax fight, I want to get some music in to really set the mood.

Does anyone know any really good music that would hit the sweet spot for what I need? Anything along the lines of Ominous Latin Chanting is always good for a divine-themed boss fight, but I'm wondering if I can also fit in the qualities of "not evil" and if at all possible "Hell Yeah Humanity". None of it really necessary, but the mood I want to set is "Tense and climactic but all for good." Does anyone know any good pieces off the top of their head that would hit this kind of note?

Thanks much for your help!

So the party will square off against some God of Humanity, huh?

It doesn't get closer to fighting God like this one. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eV8UyymA9DE)

In fact, in the game, you actually fight her in space, as she destroys a planet, if I'm not mistaken. But since your fight is limited to a cathedral, you may want to tone it down with the divine destruction.

Latin chants? Check.

Church organ music? Check

Feeling of epicness? Double Check.

georgie_leech
2017-05-08, 10:47 AM
So the party will square off against some God of Humanity, huh?

It doesn't get closer to fighting God like this one. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eV8UyymA9DE)

In fact, in the game, you actually fight her in space, as she destroys a planet, if I'm not mistaken. But since your fight is limited to a cathedral, you may want to tone it down with the divine destruction.

Latin chants? Check.

Church organ music? Check

Feeling of epicness? Double Check.

If anything, it's probably too epic. I'd never fail to recommend this for a final boss, but this is meant for an intro to the new part of a campaign. :smallbiggrin:

Also, to properly contribute, a friend recently recommended this little number. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zqJRnD5HuZw)

Hunter Noventa
2017-05-15, 11:43 AM
Energized, 100 percent. I'd like the party to think "this is going to be AWESOME."

It's hard to get much more energetic than some good old JAM Project (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PMmsENB04ps). They have pretty much defined 'energetic boss music' for years to me.

Though really, all kinds of Super Robot Wars (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jc9UgLN8vDA) music is amazing for this sort of thing. They always start playing when you've got the final boss on their last legs and are about to kick the crap out of them for good.

Some other good selections include
The Sword that Cleaves Evil (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dYp950Xq7NI)
Spirits of Steel (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rgWJqBbV7_o)
GONG (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=12KJO-35hK8) (Vocal version) (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kSrpM_taSI4)
SKILL (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ocAjHuJo150) (Vocal version) (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qCE4pHiGTXs)
VICTORY (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=krLFBORYh78) (Vocal version) (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8WZZdjsqqIk)

I even found some vocal versions, because hot-blooded Japanese screaming is just as good as, if not superior to, ominous latin chanting.

evocurio
2017-05-17, 09:23 PM
I'd go for "Clash On Big Bridge," the boss-theme for Gilgamesh from FFV.

Cealocanth
2017-05-17, 10:12 PM
This is basically Midnight Syndicate's shtick. They do a lot of music for fantasy RPGs with no vocals in the background that fit the theme incredibly well. In your case, I would recommend one of the following:

Beasts of the Borderlands
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rc5OQkz7Lvo

Final Confrontation
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n9cavov_Uq4

Lair of the Great Wrym
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iP1lAMQP9AY

Army of the Dead
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kpxjjyfnnvo

Heroes' Valor
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5mAHvMAgJY8

Luz
2017-05-17, 10:27 PM
This Dvorak classic?


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yctfXIqugXc

Bohandas
2017-05-27, 03:25 PM
Requiem in D Minor (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sPlhKP0nZII)

And of course the old standby O Fortuna (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8LWcTT__1CI)

EDIT:
Honorable mention to Thus Spoke Zarathustra (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6SFAAsdqkuQ#t=00m20s), The Last Dungeon (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f1JE-TkYZB0), Ave Satani (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BxZMU-jV7s0) and anything from Escaflowne

Dr_Dinosaur
2017-05-27, 05:19 PM
If it looks like they're going to do something decisive on their turn, either "That Person's Name Is" from Bravely Default, "Virtuous Pope" from Jojo's Bizarre Adventure, or my personal favorite "You Say Run - Plus Ultra" from My Hero Academia are all great themes for climactic moments of badassery and defiance.

Bohandas
2017-05-27, 05:56 PM
Pride of Man (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q2bL4DGq7Ds)

The Extinguisher
2017-05-27, 08:11 PM
I would recommend Legion (Or: A Pile of Ghosts) (https://griffinmcelroy.bandcamp.com/track/legion-or-a-pile-of-ghosts)

Vercingex
2017-05-28, 06:31 AM
My personal favorite is "The Infernal Dance of King Kaschei" from Stravinsky's "Firebird Suite."

Edit- As a side note, Kaschei is a famous villain from Slavic mythology/folklore who attained immortality by hiding his soul in a needle. A proto-Lich!

(Fair warning- this video is quite loud, if I recall)


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HoLacjKPl7w

2D8HP
2017-05-28, 02:13 PM
I'd recommend:


https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=AdIpoE2LEps

And also:


I think I've got one for you. It combines the sweeping epic grandeur of John Williams (Indiana Jones) with a dark but adventurous feel. It's called "Mars, the Bringer of War (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L0bcRCCg01I)," from Gustav Holst's The Planets. It has elements for villains, for triumphant army marches, great sweeps and dips.

And if it feels a bit too much like Star Wars, well, guess what inspired John Williams?

All of Carmina Burana and The Planets is good actually.

ThreadNecro5
2017-05-28, 03:01 PM
My personal recommendation would be the boss music for The Nameless God from Salt and Sanctuary. Suits the cathedral theme in by opinion, and doesn't help that the music was used for fighting a god.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m0cYbfm7YA0

Also consider as a prelude the music that leads up to The Nameless God, it serves a nice extended build up or if you want something more subdued.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oqFAA3T6x2o

2D8HP
2017-05-28, 03:15 PM
From what was probably the first "live action" Fantasy film I ever saw (at a drive-in theatre through the back window of a VW Bug, while my parents watched something boring through the front window!)

The Fight with the Roc:


https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=G4fgGCxzh00

From the 7th Voyage of Sinbad soundtrack (https://www.amazon.com/7th-Voyage-Sinbad-Complete-Soundtrack/dp/B00BNKS5XU#).

https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51ZwLE7DBVL._SY200_.jpg

Bohandas
2017-05-28, 07:30 PM
I'd recommend:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=AdIpoE2LEps


I prefer the version by Gregorian


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8LWcTT__1CI


All of Carmina Burana and The Planets is good actually.

Also check out the unauthorized third-party addition to The Planets, "Eris: The Bringer of Strife" (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SqHpTXoPwzQ)


EDIT:
Also Inner Universe (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EIVgSuuUTwQ) from Ghost in the shell, and Dance of Curse (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O_49H_N43jQ) from Escaflowne (or really anything from Escaflowne- "Escaflowne Lives" and "Escaflowne Gloria" are good too)

Klara Meison
2017-05-29, 05:07 AM
Hey everyone,

So, long story short, I have a party of PCs in the Starstone Cathedral of Pathfinder RPG, gearing up for a boss fight with the last aspect of Aroden, long-dead god of humanity, for the party's introduction into Mythic Tier 1. Don't ask, it's complicated, and it's not even for the end of the campaign or anything. Since it's a good solid climax fight, I want to get some music in to really set the mood.

Does anyone know any really good music that would hit the sweet spot for what I need? Anything along the lines of Ominous Latin Chanting is always good for a divine-themed boss fight, but I'm wondering if I can also fit in the qualities of "not evil" and if at all possible "Hell Yeah Humanity". None of it really necessary, but the mood I want to set is "Tense and climactic but all for good." Does anyone know any good pieces off the top of their head that would hit this kind of note?

Thanks much for your help!

How is this? (https://youtu.be/AClwx60LRtU)

Bohandas
2017-05-29, 08:03 PM
More possibilities:

The Duel of the Fates (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qzVBqBosf5w) by John Williams
Gates of Steel (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=goV57pGmiCk) BY DEVO
Jocko Homo ("Ape Man") (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cGaXiUHI-Og) by DEVO
Vulgaris Magistralis (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=reOLeLX0Q9U) by Heidevolk and Normaal

Bohandas
2017-06-01, 01:21 AM
The more I think about it the more I'm convinced that Inner Universe (Aeria Gloris) (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EIVgSuuUTwQ) is the song to go with (though admittedly I don't have much to base this on; I'd have to know more about the plot of the game)


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EIVgSuuUTwQ