I posted this in a thread on EN World but decided it was worth to keep on my blog as well.
What about the use of music at the gaming table? One of my DMs uses the [Baldur's Gate](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baldur's_Gate "Wikipedia") soundtrack every time.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baldur's_Gate
I tried it using the Vagrant Story soundtrack and writing down a few key elements of the various tracks. I knew the track that started with a bang and was useful for combat and I planned to switch to that as the dice fell for initiative.
It turned out *too complex* to juggle. I forgot to turn it off when combat ended until a player complained; I forgot to turn it on half the time; it took me critical seconds between combat announcement and die rolls to skip to the right track.
Lesson learnt. *I no longer do this*.
I do scream “DO DOO DOO DOOOOOM!!!!” at the table at opportune moments, however.
Or I’ll start with “Ok, so you’re walking down this corridor, when... [humming as I looking up stuff] dumdidumdidooo...” Players will shout “Watch out, random encounter incoming!!”
In a way I have maybe three or four such “musical” humming themes that I use at the table.
“Wheeeeeouuuuwheeeooouuuwheeeeee...” Flying monsters attack!!
I heartily recommend to use a variety of grunting, howling, cackling, drumming, whimpering, and crooning at the table to immitate cinematic soundtrack-like effects. You can’t sing all the time, you can’t produce the real sound-effects, but you can be entertaining!
#RPG #thoughts
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A player for a group I played in did zit/DARRRR for every arrow that hit in combat. That was pretty fun.
– Harald Wagener 2009-05-20 10:01 UTC
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Hahaha. Well, I make audio soundtracks, so as not to hurt my voice.
– Siskoid 2009-05-20 12:21 UTC