Sound Between the Spaces

Setting the Scene

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Section written By Drew   Growing up, video games forever linked me to moments in music. The haunting strings and woodwinds that play when entering Tristram take me back to late nights of Diablo on my first computer. I’m guessing most of you can hear the chimes of Link opening a chest as clearly as I can. These notes in games have a way of sticking with us, making places and experiences more vivid, as though the music itself holds part of the memory.   In my tabletop games, I’ve learned to use music in the same way. Assigning identifiable tracks to locations, characters, and encounters makes everything feel more alive. A recurring villain with a signature theme creates tension before they ever appear. Music helps set expectations without saying a word.   We’ve all experienced the adrenaline rush when a boss battle track kicks in. The stakes get higher and the mood changes. RPG video game music, with its shifts between location themes and battle scores, taught me to link emotions to certain melodies. It’s a well-known conditioning in games and film that can work just as well at the table. When our players hear a certain orchestral piece, they will sigh with relief or brace for a tough encounter.   I’ve been using musical cues as sentimental bookmarks. Returning to the familiar village theme is a reward after a long dungeon crawl. And if that music changes, players immediately sense something is different. We can connect to them faster than words, quickly setting the scene.   In our future Return to the Age of Horror campaign we had custom music made by Lucas Quinn for the town of Tera Union. Every time the characters return from the Bastard’s Bog they can hear a familiar song. "People United"becomes a connection to safety and a crocodile-free life. Later, when danger rises, the music changes as they approach the gates, and a villain is born. "Stained in Blood" was made as a theme for Seveth Van Dem, the main villain of the adventure.

Crafting Character Playlists

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Section written By Chuck     Before we play, I spend an hour listening. This time reminds me of where we were and what frame of mind I was in. Usually, I go with hard rock and heavy metal songs, hyping me up for the session.   Sharing a playlist with the group is my way of introducing a character away from the table. It makes it easier to focus on what's happening during gameplay without feeling the need to “force” my character’s traits into a session. The music does the work, letting the group know where I stand. It becomes a way to bond even when we aren’t playing.   My playlists aren’t static. As a campaign progresses the list evolves. Songs might be removed when they don’t apply anymore. To anyone listening, they will be able to audibly chart my PC's growth, and follow along with the adventure.

Balance & Pacing

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Before the internet gave us endless music options, we older folk relied on tapes and CDs to provide atmosphere, typically anime and video game soundtracks. You wouldn’t always have an intense song on when the villain attacked or "Concerning Hobbits" would interrupt a tense moment with its joyous opening. Nothing kills a moment like a person singing from out of nowhere.   Music is powerful, but it can also be distracting if it is overused, too loud, or not connected with a scene. Repetition can break immersion as easily as a poorly timed song. Hearing the same bar patrons Charlie Brown adult mumbles in the background while you plan a heist will create more annoyance than ambiance. Rotating tracks avoids this completely and prevents the distraction.   Our goal is to underscore the action rather than dominate it. Players need to be able to talk and not worry about competing with excess noise. Silence is much easier to get right than playing a song or sound effect on cue.   It’s easy to get caught up in crafting a perfect score, but knowing to hit pause has helped us far more. During stealthy and dramatic events, we have taken to removing background noise completely. The quiet makes every spoken word count; when the music fades and the dice roll, the absence feels louder.

Practical Tools

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We’ve discussed music so far because it is what we are most experienced with. For us, sound effects are the next frontier in this space. At this point, everyone knows Spotify, YouTube, and the plethora of other music services available online. What is listed here are the tools we currently use or have relied on in the past.    

Tis' the Season

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The sounds of the season have inspired us to set a similar atmosphere in our upcoming gaming session this Saturday. A major event awaits our players and we are looking to music and sound effects to elevate it. Taking into account everything we talked about, we have decided to go all-out, amplifying the encounter.   In our Red Keep Adventure session, we are planning something different. While Drew GMs, Chuck is going to act as a DJ. We’ve prepared everything needed for a monster attack that’s central to the story. The idea is to bring the encounter to life in a way we haven’t before, with sound building the tension and fear at every moment. It is a lot of work and something we can’t manage every session, but for this one, we are pushing ourselves.   By the end of the game, we hope to discover more about how timing, music, and effects can impact immersion. We’re curious to see how the players react, and whether it worked or simply adds another level of complexity. Either way, this experiment is about escalating the fear and danger of the attack. Whatever we learn will guide how we use sound in the future, further fine-tuning our balance between atmosphere and storytelling.   If you aren't using sound to elevate your campaigns, think about giving it a try. If you do, let us know how you use it. We welcome recommendations for music and artists. Share your character’s playlist and we will add it to the Stonehome Spotify.   Music is never required in life, but it is always better for it.