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Caex
2013-05-20, 09:38 PM
Hello, forumers. I am currently DMing an evil campaign (3.5, for what it's worth) and I am looking to introduce a reoccuring hero to chase my gaggle of villains. He is a high level assimar paladin of Heironeous, a powerful, stern, and unrelenting crusader of his order, and he is sufficiently powerful at this stage to actually survive some encounters with them (they have a habit of overcoming amazing odds and killing off possible reoccuring NPCs the first time they meet them). He lacks subtlety and pursues his vision of justice with untiring, merciless passion, but he is no fool and directs the members of his order quite effectively in combat. Further, the divine nature of his ancestry is something which is entirely alien to them. I'd like my team of villainous schemers to know that his arrival means serious trouble.

All of this background is to say that I am looking for music to associate with him (like the Giant mentioned here (http://www.giantitp.com/articles/rTKEivnsYuZrh94H1Sn.html)) and would appreciate any recommendations y'all have. So far for this campaign I've mostly used music from video game soundtracks, such as Rome: Total War, Empire Earth, The Witcher, Dragon Age, and Guild Wars (to name just a few), though I've also drawn significantly from Midnight Syndicate's D&D soundtrack CD and other irregular sources.

Apologies if this is the wrong place to post this request.

DisasterArea42
2013-05-21, 12:43 AM
Maybe you would like a bit (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hJ3sMdOsT-k) of (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wQbKtqxbJPU) Disgaea (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d6SgGoc2bic)?

Ninjadeadbeard
2013-05-21, 03:31 AM
Well, there's always the classic (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NN3eBvZvUXk). Or the sequel (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5yGeroywBuo).

There's also the avant garde (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TdrEmZ35fxc). But I suspect this one shall do (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OJhtIv_Yd5w) magnificently.

Caex
2013-05-21, 10:36 AM
Thanks for the responses!


Maybe you would like a bit (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hJ3sMdOsT-k) of (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wQbKtqxbJPU) Disgaea (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d6SgGoc2bic)?

Oh, I hadn't heard of this before. Quite good, though I am torn between the good ol' dramatic heroism of Galaxy Wars and the steady, relentless march of March of the Planet Earth. Good, distinctive choice either way. The way they trail off at the end is slightly unfortunate for the sake of youtuberepeater, but that is a very minor problem.


Well, there's always the classic (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NN3eBvZvUXk). Or the sequel (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5yGeroywBuo).

There's also the avant garde (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TdrEmZ35fxc). But I suspect this one shall do (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OJhtIv_Yd5w) magnificently.

First off, you get a digital high five right off the bat for the Dr. Horrible choices. Sadly, my group would be too distracted singing along and it would break their roleplaying.

That Dawn of War piece is magnificent, indeed. It takes the direction of the strong, unrelenting march and cranks it up to 11.

Now I just need to figure out which of those three to settle on. Thanks again for the recommendations.

DisasterArea42
2013-05-21, 11:18 AM
Oh, I hadn't heard of this before. Quite good, though I am torn between the good ol' dramatic heroism of Galaxy Wars and the steady, relentless march of March of the Planet Earth. Good, distinctive choice either way. The way they trail off at the end is slightly unfortunate for the sake of youtuberepeater, but that is a very minor problem.

The trailing off isn't the youtuber's choice, the song does that. Every campaign needs a little CAPTAIN GORDON, DEFENDER OF EARTH! (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0k0hFuVw47Q) at some point.

Caex
2013-05-21, 01:26 PM
The trailing off isn't the youtuber's choice, the song does that. Every campaign needs a little CAPTAIN GORDON, DEFENDER OF EARTH! (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0k0hFuVw47Q) at some point.

That ... I have no idea what to make of that.

Omegonthesane
2013-05-21, 01:45 PM
This seems appropriately bombastic, hostile, and heroic for the purpose. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=09t3EFCsq_o)

And also has the advantage that you can use this (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yQjr76nI7yU) as a leitmotif if the PCs ever have any direct or indirect interaction with the paladin's actions that doesn't instantly result in drawn blades.

DisasterArea42
2013-05-21, 02:07 PM
That ... I have no idea what to make of that.

Then Disgaea is doing its job right. :smallbiggrin:

But a good, cheesy ridiculous character is always fun. they are certainly the most memorable and you'll want your players to remember the guy they are opposing as something other than "that big dumb paladin", even if its "that big dumb paladin with the awesome insane squire that talks like he survived a Call of Cthulhu campaign"

Ares B
2013-05-21, 10:59 PM
Two Steps from Hell has suitably pompous themes, such as Invincible (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VvhTNGr1lhc), Kronos (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoy5U0vJVVY) and Black Blade (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KjHSEzoMrSI).

Slipperychicken
2013-05-22, 12:31 AM
The Master (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TWn0nF-PFcE). My brother used this one for a campaign's BBEG. It worked wonderfully, keeping players stressed and on our toes whenever we heard his theme. A lot of music like Madder Sky (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t2tGEiYU9KU) from Code Geass can work.

You could consider Atlas (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sdHx_0s-_mQ).

Heroes Theme (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UDqLX5lQm3c) might work too.

Hyena
2013-05-22, 02:41 AM
So, we're looking for heroic antagonist? It's pretty obvious that we shall look into Soul Calibur.
Versus Siegfried! Fight! (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W1GI6Ml-4Jc)
Versus Kilik! Fight! (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aMbyGRaPpRU)
Versus Siegfried! Fight..! Again! (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ejPrKpBgIHU)

Bryn
2013-05-22, 10:05 AM
powerful, stern, and unrelenting
...
He lacks subtlety and pursues his vision of justice with untiring, merciless passion
Sounds quite like Javert (from Les Misérables). For times when lyrics are appropriate, you could use Stars - his other songs are generally quite contextual and wouldn't work unless your party also happens to include Jean Valjean.

neonchameleon
2013-05-22, 02:09 PM
Hello, forumers. I am currently DMing an evil campaign (3.5, for what it's worth) and I am looking to introduce a reoccuring hero to chase my gaggle of villains. He is a high level assimar paladin of Heironeous, a powerful, stern, and unrelenting crusader of his order, and he is sufficiently powerful at this stage to actually survive some encounters with them (they have a habit of overcoming amazing odds and killing off possible reoccuring NPCs the first time they meet them). He lacks subtlety and pursues his vision of justice with untiring, merciless passion, but he is no fool and directs the members of his order quite effectively in combat. Further, the divine nature of his ancestry is something which is entirely alien to them. I'd like my team of villainous schemers to know that his arrival means serious trouble.

All of this background is to say that I am looking for music to associate with him (like the Giant mentioned here (http://www.giantitp.com/articles/rTKEivnsYuZrh94H1Sn.html)) and would appreciate any recommendations y'all have. So far for this campaign I've mostly used music from video game soundtracks, such as Rome: Total War, Empire Earth, The Witcher, Dragon Age, and Guild Wars (to name just a few), though I've also drawn significantly from Midnight Syndicate's D&D soundtrack CD and other irregular sources.

Apologies if this is the wrong place to post this request.

I'd head off on a completely different direction from everyone else on this thread. You want your villanous schemers to know that his arrival means real trouble? Try having one of the following as his theme song:
The Lark Ascending (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZR2JlDnT2l8)
Ode to Joy (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nZJ1Tgf4JL8#t=3m37s)
Air on a G String (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0MYzkBiJn5Y)

Something that utterly lays crossways against the rest of your music. I don't know my opera well enough, but now I come to think of it anything Wagner might be perfect. As might O Fortuna (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GD3VsesSBsw) - chilling, bombastic, in a foreign language, and largely orchestral. And, I think, a terrible fit with the rest of your music.

Zahhak
2013-05-22, 07:10 PM
Two Steps From Hell is always the right answer, except when Voltaire is the right answer. In this case, I think Two Steps From Hell is the right answer
Archangel (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dJ-QLl5qjLg)
Protectors of the Earth (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ASj81daun5Q)
To Glory (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d2hRTLdvdnk)
Moving Mountains (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZMrmnB2LjjM)
Spirit of Champions (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1rm9mIneSVA)
A Hero's Return (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G-gwzUbcuGo)

And if you want something somewhat lighter, Voltaire
Riding a Black Unicorn (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yjJDBP292rM)

And we're just going to go ahead and call this "thread".

The Fury
2013-05-22, 11:45 PM
Battle for Wesnoth music, maybe (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uFTaPRrmUGc&list=PLF3967B26A365480C)?

Caex
2013-05-23, 06:15 PM
Wow, I should have come here for music much sooner. So much good stuff. While I certainly can’t use all of it for this hero, I am still going to use ~90% of what’s left for other parts of the campaign.

I had planned on responding to each of you in detail, but many of the responses wound up being remarkably similar, so I’m just leaving in a few of the responses with unique elements. Don’t think this means I’m disregarding your suggestions; I really appreciate your input, and at least Two Steps From Hell is going to be a major part of my soundtrack from this point on.

Detailed responses:

This seems appropriately bombastic, hostile, and heroic for the purpose. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=09t3EFCsq_o)

And also has the advantage that you can use this (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yQjr76nI7yU) as a leitmotif if the PCs ever have any direct or indirect interaction with the paladin's actions that doesn't instantly result in drawn blades.

I like this a lot, though it seems a bit electronic-y for this ol’ divine sword ‘n’ board-er. It is, however, quite appropriate for a hostile construct factory which they may be stumbling across, and the slow non-conflict one that it pairs with is an especially nice touch.


Then Disgaea is doing its job right. :smallbiggrin:

But a good, cheesy ridiculous character is always fun. they are certainly the most memorable and you'll want your players to remember the guy they are opposing as something other than "that big dumb paladin", even if its "that big dumb paladin with the awesome insane squire that talks like he survived a Call of Cthulhu campaign"

That’s a good point, but I have some more light hearted antagonists (and protagonists, as the lines there are sketchy and always moving), and this guy’s role is more to straighten out that mood, sometimes by walking in and effortlessly cutting down the light hearted NPC that the team was dealing with.


Sounds quite like Javert (from Les Misérables). For times when lyrics are appropriate, you could use Stars - his other songs are generally quite contextual and wouldn't work unless your party also happens to include Jean Valjean.

Now that you mention it, he does have a certain Javert-ness to him, albeit without the capacity for cognitive dissonance. Sadly, however, Jean Valjean’s schedule wouldn’t work with the rest of the group. While Stars is a good song, I’m trying to avoid identifiable lyrics whenever possible and am pushing loopability (things which I realize I should have mentioned in the OP).


I'd head off on a completely different direction from everyone else on this thread. You want your villanous schemers to know that his arrival means real trouble? Try having one of the following as his theme song:
The Lark Ascending (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZR2JlDnT2l8)
Ode to Joy (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nZJ1Tgf4JL8#t=3m37s)
Air on a G String (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0MYzkBiJn5Y)

Something that utterly lays crossways against the rest of your music. I don't know my opera well enough, but now I come to think of it anything Wagner might be perfect. As might O Fortuna (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GD3VsesSBsw) - chilling, bombastic, in a foreign language, and largely orchestral. And, I think, a terrible fit with the rest of your music.

That is good thinking; I was starting to object on the grounds that the player playing the dark paladin--the only one who had a previous run in with this fellow--is a music major who is likely to actively recognize any such work I use, but that may not necessarily be a drawback. That may only enhance the recognition we’re working towards.

(Air on a G String may be the perfect background music for the city of Peloria, a city of light dedicated to the god of the sun which the team may be unfortunate enough to need to infiltrate … crossways, indeed.)

And, of course, I think it would violate some rule of drama if I never used O Fortuna.


Thanks again for all of the responses. I’ll work with these a bit; this fellow is unlikely to make an appearance until the session after tomorrow’s, so we have a bit of time. I’ll let you know which one I wind up going with and why.

Arutema
2013-05-24, 12:27 AM
So, we're looking for heroic antagonist? It's pretty obvious that we shall look into Soul Calibur.
Versus Siegfried! Fight! (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W1GI6Ml-4Jc)
Versus Kilik! Fight! (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aMbyGRaPpRU)
Versus Siegfried! Fight..! Again! (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ejPrKpBgIHU)

Versus an embodiment of misguided "good" Fight! (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PtdLWJOk9pw)

Miranius
2013-05-24, 07:06 AM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V5zmenfPYEM Sol Invictus by Audiomachine would be my pick.

Erasmas
2013-05-26, 01:03 AM
Well, I had a lengthy post about the reason for these suggestions... but my phone ate it.

So, without further ado, here's just the list:

Angels & Demons ST
DaVinci Code
Kingdom of Heaven
What Dreams May Come
Lotus by Jalan Jalan (Dragon Hunters)
Lux Aeterna by Clint Mansell (Requiem for a Dream)
Halo games (may be a bit too recognizable, depending on your crowd)

Man on Fire
2013-05-26, 09:16 AM
Here are some mine

Birth of a Hero (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JSvnxv_Mh2A)
Erza Theme (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TFRbKyL-xkU)
Erza vs Erza (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T-a4hxniZ-U)
Fight Against Destiny (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7GSX5MujUzY)
Heroes (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lfa2QLV3MaA)
Patriot (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7G2wJUIa8So)
Stand Up Be Strong (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eoMrkPLBuCs)

EDIT:
And if you don't mind lyric, try Glorious Land (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UiWeutUblpw)