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2 years ago ::
Jul 03, 2008 - 7:00AM
#11
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Yeah, in the first campaign that I played in there were three or four tracks that ruined the flow of the game because the GM stopped to sing along with them.
Lyrics + RPGs = bad.
If you must have music, make it instrumental only.
(The new Doctor Who series has some great tracks)
I agree 100% ... and yes, the new Dr. Who stuff is awesome!  Especially Season 3! 
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2 years ago ::
Jul 03, 2008 - 7:42AM
#12
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I have used instrumental and orchestral scores in my games for many years.
For Star Wars - the original John Williams themes paints the picture very well. I choose specific tracks to play with specific themes. For example, in DoD, the landing on Alderaan - I chose Leia's theme.
I've reserved a few tracks for specific things. The Emperor's theme will be used for the Inquisitor, and only for him.
I also borrow lesser known tracks from other John Williams movies, since they often share a style with SW. Raiders of the Lost Ark, for example - lots of good music in there (though the Raiders march itself is too evocative of Indy to use).
Other movie soundtracks offer good ambient sound. Se7en has a great oppressive 12 minute atmospheric track. Lots of good videogame music too - awesome for ambient sound.
Myst, Aliens vs Predator (the games), Quake (with music by Trent Reznor) - all awesome.
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2 years ago ::
Jul 03, 2008 - 11:03AM
#13
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You had me until Quake. I might have investigated 12 Monkeys (I haven't seen it in forever; I don't remember what kind of music it had), but with the mention of Trent, suddenly I don't want to even worry about 12 Monkeys.
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2 years ago ::
Jul 03, 2008 - 11:42AM
#14
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The Advent Rising soundtrack is an excellent match. An excellent game, too, though I hear the Xbox version had some bugs. It's a shame that Majesco lost its way and that I won't get any sequels.
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2 years ago ::
Jul 03, 2008 - 12:38PM
#15
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I've been doing this for my Star Wars games for years. I've got Windows Media Player set up with playlists for "Moody" (general background stuff), Alien Moody (for creepy background stuff), Imperial (For when the PCs are interacting with the villains), and Battles (all the good fight music).
It's creepy how often my storytelling just happens to synch up with the music. The imperial theme appears in little stanzas throughout a lot of the Moody music, and it meshes all too well at times with how I'm describing a scene...
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2 years ago ::
Jul 03, 2008 - 12:52PM
#16
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Yeah, I love it when things like that happen. There's a strong chance of syncing for four reasons: 1) the music is repetitive, 2) scene descriptions often have multiple points at which they have a chance to sync with the music, 3) when it doesn't precisely sync it doesn't precisely not sync, so its non-syncing moments tend to go unnoticed, further highlighting its syncing moments, and 4) musical rhythm and cadence has a strong effect on human rhythm and cadence so that we often fall in line with the music subconsciously.
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2 years ago ::
Jul 03, 2008 - 2:39PM
#17
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For some great Sith music ... take a listen at Deathnote ... great stuff there!
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2 years ago ::
Jul 03, 2008 - 6:54PM
#18
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I would suggest the KOTOR games soundtracks. Lots of Star Wars themes incorporated into new tracks that manage a distinct feel that differentiates it from the Saga. KOTOR1 CD is more of an awesome space romp (more in line with the movies), while KOTOR2 CD is more calm and has a feeling of hopelessness, really good for desperate worlds that your players may encounter and whatnot.
I'd also recommend some of the Halo tracks, as long as you don't use the more familiar ones. Metal Gear Solid also has a lot of great instrumental tracks to use.
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2 years ago ::
Jul 04, 2008 - 1:55PM
#19
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Yeah, in the first campaign that I played in there were three or four tracks that ruined the flow of the game because the GM stopped to sing along with them.
Lyrics + RPGs = bad.
If you must have music, make it instrumental only.
(The new Doctor Who series has some great tracks)
agreed, hell I've long said Lyrics in ANY soundtrack are, more often then not sucktastic, I mean it depends.. a choras thats in a forgien language or no offical language at all tends to work fine (case in point.. in duel of the fates) but I don't care how THEMATICLY approperate you might think it is, a siong with Lyrics is a no no
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2 years ago ::
Jul 04, 2008 - 9:36PM
#20
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I'd also recommend some of the Halo tracks, as long as you don't use the more familiar ones.
Halo is the only video game I know of with good music. (Never played KOTOR)
Star Wars music is fine for Star Wars miniatures. In fact, it can be refreshing to use music associated with a particular scene for a different but similar scene in your game. An excellent example: The audiobook Legacy of the Force: Betrayal uses Padme's Ruminations for the part where Jacen has a vision of the future Confederation-Galactic Alliance war. It was neat hearing that music affiliated with a specific scene in Ep. III for a similar but different scene.
Imagine the possibilities in Star Wars Miniatures. I can imagine playing Luke JM against Darth Caedus and listening to Battle of the Heroes. It would be perfect.
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