Music & Roleplaying (What kind of music do you listen to when writing?)

[R0bE0]

I'm a generally curious person by nature, and I am wondering what kind of music (if any) do you listen to when you write? Are there some bands/genres that get you into the writing mood quicker? Are there bands/genres that you can't imagine yourself ever listening to while writing?

And if you do not like listening to music while writing, what is your experience with music/writing? Why are you unable to / don't enjoy it?

I myself have to listen to upbeat music. Regardless of whether or not the post is actually upbeat or more quiet/sorrowful. I find that I lose motivation/energy quickly while writing, and need something to constantly keep me motivated. So things like rock/metal (Trivium, Disturbed, Demon Hunter, etc), or trap music is usually my go-to. Though a lot of OSTs and instrumental/industrial music is helpful too.

[ethanjory]

I prefer complete and total silence.

[Alan Hawke]

Video game soundtracks. They really help set the tone of my writing when I'm roleplaying. ^-^

[Ellri]

When we feel like listening to music (and its far from always), we tend to prefer something "epic". The tone of it depends on what we're writing.

[Hey Im Jordan]

For me it sort of depends on the character I'm writing, y'know.

[Keyguyperson]

I generally listen to either Sabaton or some random piece from in-between 1920 and 1960, or a remix of said random piece.

Or maybe just some really generic EDM or pop. That's for when I don't know what to use.

[AlteredTundra]

Though not always, I usually listen to some instrumental piece. If it's not that, then silence. It really just depends on what I'm writing tbh.

[Dinh AaronMk]

I keep segregated playlists on my YouTube containing tracks that are thematic to the story I'm telling.

For Precipice of War, the longest running NRP I got I write through China. For that purpose I've since assembled a long playlist of generally traditional Chinese music on the pretense that it sounds like what'd play on state-controlled radio. When I go to write I may often put that on.

Likewise, I've had (keyword: had, most of the tracks on it have been removed from YouTube so while the playlist exists it's basically empty) one for classical music for when I wrote in a quasi-European Enlightenment setting for a fantasy RP set in that period. As well as for anything set in that RP.

More often though I've been drifting to Tibetan ritual music since it meets the criteria I need for writing. It's a background thing I can put on to mask other sounds while itself not being too distracted. Otherwise I might end up listening to the lyrics more than trying to put words to a page. Which is another thing too: if it has words I generally look for something in a language I don't speak or I have an incomplete lexicon of that language. So it tends to be strange obscure shit like Malian or Berber music, or Buddhist chanting.



Mantras or chants are helpful for background music too since they're fundamentally repetitive so there's nothing that pulls away your attention and allows you to slip into peace.

[Chrononaut]

Depends. I love these guys though. GOOD MOOD SETTER. Their clever use of lyrics rubs off eventually.

[Shorticus]

Really depends on the roleplay or the scene. But...

Medieval fantasy typically demands medieval music or video game soundtracks. Weirder, darker, or more sci-fi related medieval settings call for the seriously amazing Endless Legend Soundtrack. This game has a nice variety of tracks I can pick and choose, and none of them are intrusive. They let me think as I write, and they all sound beautiful. Other video games with good medieval soundtracks include Battle Brothers and (for exploration stuff) Expeditions Conquistador.

(If you like weird fantasy music, you may also like some of Keith Zizza's work, like this playlist, or maybe this one.)

Civilization 5 has some amazing soundtracks, too, but you need to really know what you're looking for when you start making playlists out of anything that game has. Its soundtrack covers music meant to represent the ancient era to music meant to represent the modern era.

If you want to listen to some neat sci-fi tunes, Endless Space has some AMAZING tunes. One of my personal favorites - one that's really easy to relax to - is this track. These are the same guys who made Endless Legend, so I guess it's not surprising that both games have great soundtracks. The Mass Effect series also has some good tracks.

Character-focused music is a common thing I use when I write. I.E. angry music for an angry character, or medieval Italian music for a medieval merchant / schemer. I've been preparing two playlists for a raptor superhero I made in an RP. Her battle music has stuff like this sweet Killer Instinct track and also some select hip-hop / techno that fits fight scenes.

But the general rule of thumb is to find music that gets the message across and is non-intrusive. Sometimes you need to break that rule, but most times you need something that lets you think while you listen.

[Royzooka]

I listen to music when I write stuff up and even when I am out and about. The genre is not really important though genres do tend to give me ideas for RP's like my Power to the Beat idea and Metal Maidens idea. At the moment, the Life is Strange soundtrack is really getting me going though usually I tend to listen to Aggrotech, EMB, Dark Electro, Soundtrack (Both Videogame/Movie) Metal (Various sub-genres).

The strange thing is I have written peaceful posts and RP ideas via angry and aggressive music such as The Fading, Hammercult, Arch Enemy, etc. I have also written aggressive and warlike posts and RP ideas via calming music such as anything from the Life is Strange soundtrack as an example which is basically licensed indie and original indie music.

The spoken word from lyrics does give me ideas and feelings towards writing a post or RP idea as well. Cradle of Filth has given me many ideas and good posts though they are only one of many bands/artists who have done this. Psyborg Corp, Deathstars, D12 and many more have also done the same. As long as the music makes me flow it does not matter what type it is though rarely I do get stuck but it does not last too long.

Video Game soundtracks such as Mass Effect, Timesplitters, Life is Strange, Legend of Zelda, Loaded and many more are usually really helpful but lyrics in licensed music can be just as helpful. I remember being rather stuck and I listened to a few tracks and before I knew it I was writing away though this example extends to both original and licensed music.

Strangely though not music-related the stupid stuff on the radio in Saints Row series gets my brain working most of the time but I don't do it that way much.

[Lady Absinthia]

I am a bit.. Oh how to put this... anal when it comes to music when I am rping.

I have play lists worked out like one may outline a chapter in an educational text...

Over Rp Feel
-Character In General In Said Rp
--Specific Feeling For Said Character In Said Rp

Each character I have has these play lists and sub play lists. Then I have just general RP Playlists divided up by Rp type and scene (fight, meeting, traveling, etc) - As well as specific "The Feels" playlists (sad, happy, funny, serious, etc.)

Having said that there are common bands or singers I gravitate towards when building a list - Amaranthe, Fleetwood Mac, The Eagles, Kamelot, Cradle Of Filth, The Misfits, Rush, Johnny Cash, Bette Milder, and so forth.

[tsukune]

Since I normally roleplay while on the move - well, I'm usually on the move anyway - the kind of "music" that I listen to is usually the noise of the crowd, or if I have my earphones on, whatever random songs on shuffle in my mobile.

Even so, sometimes I would listen to soundtracks - JRPGs, movies, anime/animated films... Basically instrumental/acoustic/orchestral pieces. For example, Final Fantasy OST when I'm working on @Mr Allen J's Verthaven RP, and Fate/stay night OST for the Sekirei one I'm doing with @RyuHll.

(I'm more particular about having specific playlists for my personal novel projects than RPs.)

[El Taco Taco]

I make playlists for almost every character and roleplay I'm in and pop them on whenever I'm writing a post.

The thread I'm writing for right now is mostly Coheed and Cambria, Banks, Fall Out Boy, MS MR and Cold War Kids.

[Ellri]

We generally just find something in the vague "Epic" category when we feel like having music behind our writing.

Most of the time we don't need such.

And we just realized we'd replied before.

[ClocktowerEchos]

I've found One Punch Man has been my jam recently and have been listening to a lot of that ^3^

[SleepingSilence]

When I'm writing my own fiction, or roleplaying. I sometimes listen to music that fits the mood of what I'm currently writing, other times I just listen to background music or nothing at all. So I don't get distracted, which I get a little too easily. I honestly listen to music almost all the time, so not sure if it means a bunch coming from me.

[POOHEAD189]

A lot of post grunge rock like Seether, mainly. It gets me into this gritty but creative mood for writing.

[Attis]

I'm not even into Kingdom Hearts anymore but this is still excellent.

[Uncertain Tea]

Nine times out of ten, nothing at all. Usually I find music distracts me, and my posts turn out dumpy. But if I do have on music, it's usually something without lyrics. Something like this.