Interesting, I find that I need as little distraction as possible online or it’s too easy to miss what people say.

When playing on Roll20, I find music helps a ton. I try to always have tunes playing to reinforce the location and level of action.

When playing face to face at the same table, I don’t have music.

Too much labor for me and mostly I find music at the table annoying. Besides we generally have a “no ringtones or sound effects” rule and I really don’t want to put a camel’s nose under that tent.

Music can be extremely difficult to get right, but places like Soundcloud have a lot of good options. I believe it is worth the effort if you are willing to do the leg work, but I understand it can be daunting.

The point about using archetypes is very helpful. Archetypes are useful when you have an idea you want to get across quickly. You can then mess with them when you want someone to stick out.

The way that music is so carefully integrated on The Fifth Element is really nice. I don’t typically like music when gaming as I find it just increases the cognitive load without adding much, but I did like using popular music when playing Vampire back in the day and there are a few songs that are cross-linked with games in my head now. Maybe one reason I don’t like it in fantasy settings is how cheesy a lot of fantasy music is. Unless you’re talking about really top notch stuff like the soundtracks to Gladiator or the Lord of the Rings movies a lot of the music is just bad.

Exactly as Shawn wrote down, keep your own story, show the changes, show the imprint of the PCs in the setting.

Plus, on the “OWN IT” comment: feel free to change whatever you see fit. Even if it is a known world with tomes upon tomes of official content, it is still your game and your table.

Love this post.

My next campaign is near future on Earth. Tons of ideas for space fantasy for an earth centered homebrew setting.