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If you do, what do you listen to and does your genre of preference change depending on the game? If you do not, how come?

Ball games, usually. Baseball, American Football, etc.

 CthulhuDawg wrote:
If you do, what do you listen to and does your genre of preference change depending on the game? If you do not, how come?

Why didn't you share yours?

My usual selection of original era Punk, New Wave, New Wave of British Heavy Metal and 90's Indie/Britpop.

 kronk wrote:
Ball games, usually. Baseball, American Football, etc.

 CthulhuDawg wrote:
If you do, what do you listen to and does your genre of preference change depending on the game? If you do not, how come?

Why didn't you share yours?

Ha! Good point, just kind of threw a post together on a whim. As of right now I don't listen to anything, I like to narrate my games and describe what's going on. However I'm introducing a bunch of people to 8th when it drops out of my home game room. I thought maybe people would enjoy some background tunes and was trying to feel dakka's pulse on the subject. I like your idea about ball games, I have thought about putting on talk radio or wargame podcasts in the past.


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 Mad Doc Grotsnik wrote:
My usual selection of original era Punk, New Wave, New Wave of British Heavy Metal and 90's Indie/Britpop.

What Maiden album do you think would be best to play 40k to?

I don't really but i've never given it thought. my own music tastes aren't really in line with my friends, so it might be hard to agree on something. Just plain conversation is probably better on account of that.

I'll usually have something on in the background.
tends to swing between something really chilled if I need to concentrate or something more upbeat for a fun game.

 amazingturtles wrote:
I don't really but i've never given it thought. my own music tastes aren't really in line with my friends, so it might be hard to agree on something. Just plain conversation is probably better on account of that.

Oh yeah gotta love the social aspect of the hobby. If your tastes did align, what do you think you would most likely listen to?


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 Ratius wrote:
I'll usually have something on in the background.
tends to swing between something really chilled if I need to concentrate or something more upbeat for a fun game.

I've been thinking perhaps Jazz Hop. As the beats are mellow, not too fast, not too slow and minimal if any lyrics. If not that, then maybe just full on death metal, get all grim dark with it.

I sometimes listen to some ambient stuff on low volume. Anything with lyrics can be distracting.

 CthulhuDawg wrote:


Oh yeah gotta love the social aspect of the hobby. If your tastes did align, what do you think you would most likely listen to?

Thinking about it, it would have to be something without words, no matter what. music with lyrics would be too distracting for me because i'd be trying to listen to it. So that would leave, in practice... non avant-garde jazz?

Everyone likes john coltrane, i'm sure.

all bolt thrower all the time.


I'm kidding, usually we put on some ambient music (without lyrics) crack open a couple beers and a bag of chips and are good to go. I dont want music that'll distract from the game just something for background noise.

A few buddies generally listen to Classic Rock when we played at their house. One was really into metal, but he got tired of watching me cringe and switched to smooth jazz. Nice...

It would seem as if no lyrics and jazz is a common theme, makes sense, background noise rather than something to add to the gaming element. Also, Bolt Thrower is super metal, I was thinking maybe some Amon Amarth for a special game or something.

Funny, my friends are old-school gamers where no music at all.
I would prefer some metal or industrial but to each their own.
There are songs I think are made for 40k that need to be in the background but hey.
The classic "Heavy Metal Soundtrack" is a good start.
Any music used in Conan movies might be a good choice as well.

Best Maiden album for gaming?

All of them.

 Mad Doc Grotsnik wrote:
Best Maiden album for gaming?

All of them.

Q; What is the best Maiden album for walking the dog? Making tea? Going to church? etc.

A: All of them!

I do not listen to music. Mostly because we are too busy chatting and the like.

Having worked in GW in the early 2000's the compilations they had of 90's indie and sci fi & fantasy movie soundtracks (Conan, LOTR, Dawn of War) are 2 genres I now associate with gaming. Vets nights were all Maiden, Motorhead & Black Sabbath so they have the same association for me. I've also read most of the HH series whilst listening to EBM and retrowave that is my personal soundtrack to 40k.

I wouldn't put music on whilst gaming, purely because I want to be able to hear and participate in conversation with my opponents, who are usually friends. Whilst painting, anything goes, anything from Miles Davis to Marilyn Manson (musically, not alphabetically), depending on what I'm painting.

When playing X-Wing, I general have a Star Wars mix going.

When it is just me and my son playing 40K, I'll put on some instrumental music like Two Steps from Hell, or if its Nids vs. Imperial Guard the AVP (PC game) or Aliens soundtrack.

Great comments everyone. A lot of good input from both the pro music and anti music while gaming crowds.

Can't remember the last time I actually played a wargame, but I definitely have my headphones on while painting. Usually listen to either metal (Amon Amarth, Sabaton) or folk/filk (Heather Alexander, Mercedes Lackey).

I do sometimes use music during D&D, either something orchestral or ambient spooky sounds for particularly creepy dungeons.

I'm not anti-music, but the only times I've played to music has been in GW stores or WHW.

We sometimes listen to the Classic Fallout soundtrack when we play This is Not a Test.



And the Dragon Age Inquisition Tavern Songs when we play Dungeons and Dragons.

If we're playing at my house, I usually have a classic episode of Mystery Science Theater 3000 on in the background or I just hit shuffle on my iTunes. If we're at my one buddy's house, he usually puts on some kind of current alt-rock Pandora station, and if we're at another buddy's house, usually nothing.

I generally play themed soundtracks off youtube when we play
To keep it from being overpowering I play it in the next room over with the door open.

Fallout Soundtrack for This is Not a Test

Spanish Guitar for Shadows of Brimstone (actually the game that gave me the idea for themed music with the soundtrack CD that comes in the game)

Lord of the Rings soundtrack for ... wait for it ... Lord of the Rings (or most other Tolkenesque fantasy games)

Star Wars sound track for X-Wing

I'd look for foreign language broadcasts of sports games to play during Dreadball games

Canteena song on repeat for Imperial Assault (they'll have to listen until somebody else learns to play the Imperials and I get to have a go at being a hero)

Generally my friends and I run video game OST (Halo is the preferred OST for multiple reasons) at a low volume, works well enough as background music.

Isnt it illegal to listen to anything other than D-Rock while playing 40k? I normally just shove my itunes on , who knows what we might hear! (suspicious amounts of christmas songs in my opinion , theres only 1 christmas album on there! )

Edit :Shadow Captain Edithae , made the mistake of clicking on your fallout music link ..... time to start new vegas again :p

If I'm concentrating on what I'm playing, it doesn't matter what music is on, I won't hear it (focus goes to my eyes, and cuts out hearing for the most part.).

My clubmates have a fondness for early 90s grunge - so me going selectively deaf is a good thing from my POV.

Well, for 40K it usually boils down to this:

Metallica: Kill ´em all album


When my WotDG march to battle they demand the following songs to be played at least once:

Manowar: Gods made heavy metal

Conan the Barbarian Theme song

 ScootyPuffJunior wrote:
If we're playing at my house, I usually have a classic episode of Mystery Science Theater 3000 on in the background or I just hit shuffle on my iTunes. If we're at my one buddy's house, he usually puts on some kind of current alt-rock Pandora station, and if we're at another buddy's house, usually nothing.

Wait, background MST3K is the greatest idea and now i am going to do that forever. Forget you, music.

Most of my games are in a FLGS these days, so no music there . I would like it if they played something I like, but there are so many tastes and sensibilities in our club that it's probably best avoided (like talking religion or politics).

If it is practical then I have some music that both my opponent and I don't mind in the background.
Never had music themed to the game, but would love to.