by pdzoch

I don't use music in my face-to-face games. Several of my players are partially deaf, so the music becomes a distraction.

For my online games, I used Syrinscape to provide both ambiance music, background noises, and sound effects. It is optional, so some of my players listen to the Syrinscape effects, and some do not.

I am picky about the Syrinscape music because it does change the players opinion of the scene. Tipping the scene with an NPC with ominous music sets the players on edge, especially if the NPC is actually not a threat. It kind of reminds me of the Dave Chappelle skit with John Mayer:
Youtube Video.

Viva la Dirt League has a funny skit about "Danger Music/Boss Music":
Youtube Video

Years ago when I was teaching English in college, I conducted an exercise with my students where I had them write a descriptive paragraph based on a picture of two students studying together. For the first exercise, it was done in silence, and after a few minutes, everyone shared their writing. Much of it was generic, but there were a couple of creative students who loaded meaning into elements in the photo to provide deeper understanding of the scene. The second exercise, the same students looked at the same photo, but I played music which was a love ballad of some sort. Everyone's writing changed to described the scene as either a couple in a relationship or hoping to be in a relationship. The third exercise, the same students looking at the same photo while listening to alternative rock song about hatred, betrayal, cheating, dishonesty, etc. The writing reflected a tense undertone in two students in the photo, only together out of necessity but seething resentment towards each other. It was a great exercise in illustrating how the writer's environment affects their viewpoint and experience.

by pestigor

I had a cassette of Bedlam (TRS-80) for my Trash 80 color computer and my friend had Hitch Hiker's guide for his C64.

by Moonlight_Fox

An item RPG Item: Captain's Log (Solo RPG) has been added to the geeklist 2026 RPG Challenge: Run 5 RPGs New to You in 2026

by Moonlight_Fox

An item RPG Item: Briar & Bramble has been added to the geeklist 2026 RPGG Challenge: Play Five RPGs You Have Never Played Before (Each At Least Once)

by pestigor

In our Fallout: The Roleplaying Game the GM opens the session with a song and some narration pertinent to the upcoming session and has the music from Fallout Radio on at low volume in the back ground.
For Traveller I have all my music on my computer and have links to play lists on all my devises so I have some Tangerine Dream and Boards of Canada at low volume in the back ground when I run.

by Moonlight_Fox

An item RPG Item: Soul Cemetery has been added to the geeklist Solo RPGs on Your Table - May 2026

by Rachel Carpenter

I have a Linktree now :geek_grin:.
https://linktr.ee/rachelncarpenter

I think this'll help me wrangle my socials a bit better and hopefully it'll make me easier to find too.

Additionally, art work continued on Nine Tails, rules revisions for Surfboard Stealin' Sea Otters, and... some research for The 7th Seal/applicable to any of my games involving the Guardians... More on all of that coming soon...

Tomorrow's plan: get Reverse the curse! functional and contest-ready or banish it to the back of my to-do list. One or the other by day's end...

Happy Wednesday and happy playing!
-Rachel

Thank you for reading my blog. If you liked it; then please click the green thumb [microbadge=23724] at the top of the page. If you really liked it; then please subscribe. And follow me across social media with my Linktree:
https://linktr.ee/rachelncarpenter

by Inkwan

Moonlight_Fox wrote:

Out of curiosity, I'm under the impression the general approaches when using music during TTRPG sessions is to either not do it or have constant background ambience (with some apps designed to help you adjust on the fly), but I'm wondering if anyone's tried something closer to older radio plays - A bit of music at the start of scenes, playing while the scene is getting going, rather than constantly running. The TTRPG equivalent would, I suspect, be instead of a full playlist or constant ambient music playing a single track when entering a location or combat, fading out of it at the end of the track (ideally the fadeout being baked into the music itself).

I would do this if I was ever organized just to set the tone for a new session or scene

by Lux_Bux

GrimoireOfJank wrote:

Love Bowie. Gotta listen to my favorite album of his when I have some free time (Station to Station).

Something to tide you over...😉

Golden Years
Youtube Video

by GrimoireOfJank

Love Bowie. Gotta listen to my favorite album of his when I have some free time (Station to Station).

by SlikkRikk

I wouldn’t give up on this just yet - many times people fly in to post the last week. But I would imagine that traditionally it’s the lowest attended of the three.

by 7eat51

Related Item: The One Ring

Corrected the date - thanks, Erik.