Don’t get me wrong: for the longest time, I thought “O Fortuna” by Carl Orff was the most epic piece of music ever written.  For those of you who don’t know, the piece is the title song for the film Bram Stoker’s Dracula with Gary Oldman and — *sigh* — Keanu Reeves.  Being brought up on classical music (I really didn’t listen to the radio until I was nine or so), I came to RPGs with an already established sense of awesomely epic orchestral scores.  Over the past few years, I’ve been collecting more and more epic music from iTunes to help set the scene for great roleplaying sessions.  I’m here today to talk to you about 1) how and why epic music is vital to gameplay; and 2) great musical artists and groups to use for your games.

Imagine yourself as a great film director.  You have a story to tell and you spend every waking hour freebasing 5-Hour Energy drinks and injecting Splenda into your veins to stay awake while you edit every last inch of reel.  Your job is wholly visual, especially figuring out how to make Dane Cook seem funny again in movies like My Best Friend’s Girl.  But there’s something else lingering in the back of your mind: how do I want my movie to sound?  You have your Foley artists breaking some celery and cracking some coconuts to make some sweet shattering bone sounds but you need more.  You need music to set the mood, frame the emotions, and even tell a story in the background.  That’s why you goddamn hire John Williams.

The same is true for a DM or Storyteller.  Music is not, on the whole, necessary, except that it is.  This may just be this particular DM’s opinion, but he feels that it’s right.  It can only help the storytelling capabilities of any game master.  You get to be like George Lucas, except that you probably have a neck and don’t rob me of all my childhood dreams.

Background music helps the players feel like they’re part of something bigger.  I guarantee you that every single player of any RPG has some sort of affinity for action and adventure/fantasy/sci-fi film scores.  However, if you ask them which ones, and they respond with, “Either Gigli or Glitter, man,” then you have my permission to sick one of the Res Evil hounds on them.

Music also helps produce an image: everyone knows the slo-mo walk of the astronauts in The Right Stuff and… fine, I guess Armageddon.  Let’s say you just busted up some gnoll who wishes to let Yeenoghu inhabitate him — you foiled his plans and sent his minions packing… well, I bet you want to walk back to your base in the city with some booming classical score set behind you.  You know you’re a badass when that music plays, and all the Duergar in the Seven-Pillared Hall shy away from you.  Boom.  No but seriously, do you remember how effing scary the music was from FFVIII?!?!?!  Ugh, nightmares from that score——————>

Music is key for telling your story.  Now, I’d like to point you in the right direction; check out some of these artists that I’ve found particularly awesome:

1) James Dooley, “Position Music”

If you type either of these names into and iTunes search, you’ll get some of the most thrilling story music ever.  So far, I’ve discovered three volumes of the music and use it every single week during my campaigns.  Each piece sounds like the most engaging moment in Lord of the Rings or the most spine-tingling moments in Aliens or Blade Runner.  I’m fairly certain I’ve heard these pieces used in film trailers, and, let’s be honest, who doesn’t love trailer music.

2) Kerry Muzzey, “Music for Movie Trailers”

Speaking of movie trailers, Kerry Muzzey’s collection of film music is phenomenal.  Check out this guy’s music on iTunes as well and download some suspenseful and magnificent tracks that will make your campaign feel more engaging.  I also pretty much use these tracks each week during my campaigns and have found them to help especially with story moments.  Dooley’s music frames the combat much better, but Muzzey’s tracks back up the RP elements with an amazing alacrity.

3) Corner Stone Cues, “Requiem for a Tower”

I downloaded these guys during the first D&D campaign I ever ran back in 2008.  Their music may not be as epic as Dooley’s orchestral scores, but they provide some enticing sounds and tracks that aid in both combat and story.  They provide great background for some minor scale combat encounters and transition nicely into story element portions of your game as well.  These guys are great for everyday game play and story RPing.

4) Globus, “Preliator”

Okay, so this isn’t a collection of pieces — it is just, without a doubt, the most epic boss fight music I have ever heard.  Several trailers and previews have used this piece to highlight the awesomeness of whatever it is they’re advertising.   highly recommend you check it out and download this piece for your games.  To sample just a little bit of its grandiose nature, check out the video at the end of this post.  You’ll recognize it and remember it, I’m sure.

Well, that should be about it for now.  Every week, I try to frame the campaign with great music to provide for the players a little more flavor in their adventuring.  I suggest you do the same; they won’t be sorry…unless you use Gigli or Glitter.  Seriously.  Zombie hounds.  You’ve been warned.