Help me make a really badass playlist for my D&D group

[Scarlet-Devil]

I need a variety of songs for: battles, travel, inns/taverns/towns, and maybe other things, like shopping, going to the duke's ball, etc. Some other, more specific tracks (like for a particular recurring character or archetype, i.e. 'evil black knight', 'mysterious helpful person', or 'otherworldly monster') might be good too.

A few ideas I have right now include:

Battle-

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wioijiG9XE0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nUqP35FjbWE

Travel/town(?)-

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mYVTr1u3EYc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O1p09LxI_c0

Tavern-

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vfCzTcydsX0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KzaDb...eature=related

Stuff I might like to throw in somewhere-

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(Festival/parade/monster town?) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p70MTx56Bf4

(heroic travel?) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eaxVLLJCH70

(?) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d0BL-xBFtWg

[Immonen]

Big problem- playlists don't work that well because everytime you want a song for something else, you have to meddle around with your MP3 player/ computer/ Walkman to get the right one, which often takes long enough to kill the action for everyone. Also, depending on when you switch the songs, the players will all realize "Oh, he's putting on the battle music, I'ma cast all of my buffs before he announces the encounter."

You're better off with just some good ambiance like Arcana or Midnight Syndicate. The songs you mentioned above can be thrown in, but they won't have the relevance you're hoping for. Sorry.

[Scarlet-Devil]

Stuff.

Au contraire; my group has been using them nearly since we started two years ago, and everyone loves them. Music is wonderful for providing ambiance; so far our soundtracks have consisted mostly of songs from fantasy/adventure movies like Legend (figure Conan would fit in well), and from various video games. It's rarely disruptive, as the DM just changes the song with a hand-held controller, or turns it off/ignores it when it's too inconvenient.

Anyway, I've been commissioned to put together a new play list, as everyone's getting bored of the one we've been using.

Edit: Oh right, naturally songs with lots of ambient sound effects, like chains rattling, wheels creaking, footsteps, grunting, breathing, etc tend to be good, but I don't know of many myself.

[Das Platyvark]

Tavern:

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Had to be done. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=stbYF6XpTYE

Combat/ general badassery:

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qx4XNxHkMuc

[Acanous]

can't hit up Youtube from work, but go ahead and search "Powerglove Holy Orders" and "Knights of Cydonia Live" for some decent combat music

[NikitaDarkstar]

Midnight syndicate as has been mentioned, the World of Warcraft soundtracks (yes all of them, I might have my reservations about the game, but it has good music.). Some of the Assassins Creed soundtracks might fit you (especially Earth from AC" for a creepy feel http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c3udu4SUsIc ). Corvus Corax has plenty of stuff that might work for you (pretty much a medieval focused band, that hasn't thrown in heavy metal elements for the lulz.), and some of the stuff from the Doctor Who and Torchwood soundtracks MIGHT work, but they're very mixed. (I'd recommend looking into http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=idQRiLZukG0 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I80pc...eature=related and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m44Pv...eature=related unless they have a tad bit to modern sound for you, but really that's just a small sample since there's 5 Doctor Who soundtracks our and 3 Torchwood.). And also look into Era, you can never go wrong with some Gregorian stuff! ;)

[Starbuck_II]

Sean Connery the Musical? (I find him badass)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LB7f_...eature=related

Good songs:
Man in Black:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WqpJ7w6Ghmc

Hero
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=owOzJ...eature=related

Inspiring/Paladin like
I Believe
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ScqtvB20U9s


Combat songs:
Lu Bu's Theme
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DcYaZ...eature=related

Hand of Doom
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ex8dmquJ1o

Indesctructable
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I3GNX...eature=related

Courage
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n2YBYPCPTxk

[Hiro Protagonest]

Combat: First minute of this (then it's just the final few spaced out notes, then it goes off to the song in a different scene in the finale)

[The-Mage-King]

Mebby this for a fight?

[Dr paradox]

not entirely sure when to use it, probably combat, but you REALLY can't go wrong with Ennio Morriccone's "Ecstasy of Gold" from The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly. sorry I can't find the link. go for the orchestral.

[Scarlet-Devil]

Decent suggestions so far; in a sci-fi setting Mass Effect music would be great, and the same goes for Ennio Morriccone stuff in a more western-y setting. I'm looking for music specifically for D&D though, so fantasy-sounding music is what I need.

[Welknair]

Final Battle.

[Terraoblivion]

Given your name, you really can't go without Septette, I'd say. Also there are like a million different mixes of it and tracks based on it out there, so one should fit. If you have no problem with lyrics either, I know I don't for background music, I'd say that Credens Justitiam might not be a bad call either. Blinded by Light, the battle theme of Final Fantasy XIII would also be really good to get the mood for a battle, I'd say.

[LrdoftheRngs]

Absolutely anything from the Lord of the Rings movies. I have been using them primarily for my groups, and it works great.

[Analytica]

The soundtracks from Planescape: Torment and the Blood+ anime series are both incredible. Both have many versions of the same themes, but for different emotions and circumstances. I find this makes for wonderful ambience. Also parts of the Final Fantasy soundtracks.

[Maquise]

I'm surprised nobody's suggested any Elder Scrolls songs. Lemme highlight a few:

Ambient/Intro:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I2qDap4hnmk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E3kV1QqQIDM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OxuaDhXlJeU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yo3e9a7QKqM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Whhrh1Lgbs4

Combat:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tPCv5CKOjis

Town:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mtDYUV-UMtQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hnz3t2RN0ns

Just a few right there.

[Black_Zawisza]

Rise of Nations is the best most masculine.

Rise of Nations - Attack - BBEG/Bad Guy Invasion theme

Rise of Nations - The Russian - Good Guy Invasion theme

Rise of Nations - Simple Song - Any sorrowful situation, especially when an NPC is recounting something terrible that happened long ago

Rise of Nations - Waterloo - "Holy ****, we actually won! Hahaha! Now it's time to take the fight to THEM!"

Rise of Nations - Over The Dam - Preparation for the Final Battle

[LansXero]

The Age of Wonders Soundtrack has always had a nice effect on me, as far as ambience goes.

For something more intense, I really like the music from Atlantica Online. Probably rather obscure as a game, but the music is really nice, if you like the style.

[sparkyinbozo]

You NEED the original Final Fantasy battle theme for combat. Hands down.

[Analytica]

You NEED the original Final Fantasy battle theme for combat. Hands down.

Seconded. Also, when victorious, play the FF Victory Theme as the heroes do their Victory Dance.

[SleepyShadow]

I've said it before, and I'll say it again: this is the best BBEG music ever.

[Radar]

Combat:

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pjufc7GMrCs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ADIWb...eature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vSlNHi6wgQQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xrMmG...eature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8hacw...eature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F3cL0Y2oE4k

Various ambience background tracks (difficult to sort by specific setting):

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CIghr...eature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dlr90NLDp-0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JcSAb...eature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kr8W3...eature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s0I4d...eature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=737EB...eature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a8mnjVYXIcA

City:

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c9FsVjr0jAE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mXtrqHrHcI8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JvPu2...eature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p7sdP...eature=related

Badass action or transformation or related:

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qabln...eature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rc1Yo...eature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h5yJ_...eature=related

Something wicked this way comes:

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1xho9thsoUo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=evcmsR57Xo4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sf2fmrqA8rg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YHiRzXnwkLM

General awesomness or good endings:

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X0zm1...eature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xyfMUTYK-6k
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QmQa_...eature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FD-fqlm5XrI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mZlVa...eature=related

[Scarlet-Devil]

Well, there's easily enough here now to make more than one decent soundtrack. I hope everyone is taking notes.

[Bovine Colonel]

Final battle:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=upDySvovAYA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q3QJT12EbQo

Final battle (events working out in the party's favour)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TAy3nlATLkk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4bOia1EgdQA

[QuidEst]

Well, I personally recommend the Heroes of Might and Magic series soundtracks. Especially great for villains!
Necropolis
Dungeon
Inferno

Ocremix.org is also a great help.
Somber dirge-like music for a funeral- great sendoff if a character dies

Rogues can have theme music, too!

Great boss fight music- starts out deceptively calm.
A rather more impish sort of evil.
But sometimes, you just really need evil to be subtle, polished, and persuasive.


Don't forget the classical (used loosely here)- Ride of the Valkyries, Funeral March for a Marionette- or the classics- put "Yakety Sax" on when somebody casts Haste, and "With Cat-Like Tread" on when they really blow a Move Silently Check.

[Radar]

Travel music:

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hN6B7gSRhh8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y5R5l...eature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XujuHteMFPU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hkDXNSWJLuo

Background ambience to be sorted for various settings again:

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mhQeY...eature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QR6EQ...eature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k4Qo4vxXpC8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZEmZID0BtRw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XRQR-nfUUnk

Combat (probably not all in the same playlist):

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NYD1xy7zKR8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CMoZqNj2Yac
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9FS-g...eature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x6IyvCBK8dE

Royalty and other buffoons:

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I5Plsl9wZPc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C4ZhiRQa3Qc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JvNQL...eature=related (if they happen to be well mannered and cultural)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RBVwl...eature=related

These two themes would work well for a plot-important NPC before and after his reveal as the evil guy. To be honest, the first one has some dark undertones as well.

[gkathellar]

If you're not adverse to J-Rock, this and this are both awesome triumphant fight scene music. This is an instrumental by the same band with a lot more back and forth in tone.

[Radar]

One thing, I remembered:
for a truly final fight setup (not the fight itself) you can't go wrong with Ennio Morricone (the latter starts at about 2:00).

This might lead to a climatic battle as well. Recommended for duels between former friends and similar situations.