Songs To Game By

We all know music is an important component of setting the right vibe for role-playing.

Here are some of the factors I consider when compiling a playlist:

1.  Fit the story - no rock'n'roll music in a high fantasy setting, folk music is not ideal for ShadowRun, etc.
2.  I prefer not to have lyrics, but if there are lyrics they should support the themes of your story.  I have several songs I've added to playlist because they match a character's situation or mindset perfectly.
3.  No sudden loud, jarring changes - avoid music with trumpet blasts, drum fanfares and heavy metal ballads where the lead singer screams incomprehensibly for 30 seconds

I recommend the following:

For traditional DnD / medieval settings - Lord of the Rings soundtracks, the Fountain soundtrack, the Road soundtrack, Pan's Labyrinth soundtrack, Enya, Loreena McKennitt

For adventurous settings - Gladiator soundtrack, Last Samuri soundtrack, Battlestar Galactic soundtracks, Children of Dune soundtrack, Last of the Mohicans soundtrack

For horror/creepy settings - Nox Arcana

Light/Fun settings - Chocolat soundtrack

Future/ShadowRun settings - Transformers:  Rise of the Fallen soundtrack, NIN, Paul Oakenfold (DJ), Break of Reality, Kopas, The XX

Random settings - Putumayo has various world music that can fit a lot of different settings

What are your favorite soundtracks/playlists to game by?

A Little Something Extra - D&D Miniatures

I recently started playing a new Pathfinder campaign.  For those of you who don't know, Pathfinder is very similar to D&D.  My DM (Dungeon Master - and no, this is not a 50 Shades of Gray thing) is a big fan of miniatures.

I've always shied away from miniatures, those tiny, chess like pieces which represent PCs and NPCs.  It'll take all the imagination out of the game, I thought.  Miniatures make it into a board game.  I'm here for role-playing, not to count squares and move little plastic or metal figures like a grown-up Candyland.

My DM had laid out an impressive dungeon map and provided us with a plethora of miniatures to choose from.  I and the other female player had a hard time finding female figures both armed and clothed.  Big boobs and wee bits of leather or chainmail?  Check!  Fully clothed and adequately armored? Not a chance.

This is a really common problem, especially in anything that has to do with fantasy   Don't believe me?  Check out http://repair-her-armor.tumblr.com/page/2.  Funny commentary on the typical bikini armor female characters are stuffed into.

That aside, miniatures did make it easier to judge distances in combat and figure out attacks of opportunity.  I have to admit, they do add a little something to the game.

Still, why can't my female elf ranger wear pants?  All the males get pants.  Why is she stuck in a loincloth and ity-bity top?  Maybe she should loot some pants in her next random monster encounter.