I’ve found with Blades in the Dark, because it’s such a different system to what I normally run (WFRP2e and Fate are my big two), that I prefer to have a ritual before GMing the game, to make sure it’s Blades-in-the-Dark-enough.
Before every session, I read through the GM Best Practices, then I listen to The Heavy – Short Change Hero, and How You Like Me Now (by the same). I feel this gets me in the right head space.
Does anyone else have a ritual like this? Or consistent touchstones that help you get into the game (as either a player or GM)? Always looking for more and better tools to add!
I try to play a level of Thief!
Yea! I actually just keep the GM Reference with me – and read the part on Goals, Principles, and Actions before and during a game. I listen to music before most of my games but its more coincidental than about the game :>
I also dig Short Change Hero after looking it up
Jason Corley Nice! Any particular levels you feel set the tone better than others?
Mark Cleveland Massengale I feel Short Change Hero is the perfect intro song for my campaign, at least. I keep imagining a side-view Rorschach blot-test animated intro, set to it. Kind of like a black-and-white version of the Wakfu intro, if you’re familiar.
Otherwise, what music do you listen to to get amped?
Ben Scerri My favorite level is the docks in Thief 2. There’s so much stuff to get into.
Although not my favourite of the games (and not a ritual) – I keep intending to have another go at Shalebridge Cradle in Thief 3, for its horror elements as an influence to Blades.
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Given the current state of my PCs, I usually listen to “Jukebox Hero” and sob quietly to myself.
Because of this post, I’m going to try using the soundtrack to the tv show Suits as background music for the game.
Kyle Wende Awesome! Let us know how it goes. Background music is one of those things I’ve tried a lot, but I’ve never felt it’s really “worked”. It is either too loud that it is distracting, or too soft that it’s ignored.
On the topic of anti-hero theme music:
I usually like “Ain’t No Rest for the Wicked,” but depending on your tastes, it may be a bit too country for BitD.
More urban, I feel like The Transplants make a lot of really BitD-appropriate music. It’s got the braggadocio of good rap, with a heavy dose of brash melancholy brought in by its punk side. A couple tidbits that sound better aloud than transcribed:
Gangsters & Thugs:
It’s official, I’m destined to fail
I ain’t trying to catch no case
and I got no money for bail
I’m hurting, up in the E.R. before New Year’s Eve
Sir there’s nothing we can do so we suggest that you leave
30 G’s, no insurance; they don’t give a damn
Back to breaking out the scale, break it down into grams
They say you can’t win for losing, I swear it’s the truth
Same shit, different day, man I swear what’s the use
Diamonds & Guns:
No one lives forever, in fact we all die
From those who bust shots to those who stuff cops
To those who serve rocks on all the hard blocks
Every last soul must pay the last toll
In the dice game of life, who gets the last roll?
Is it the one with the suit? The one with the sack?
The one who hides behind his fuckin’ gun and his badge?
Negative outlook? Well that’s how I’m livin’
And like he said, it’s a wicked world we live in
It’s a wicked world we live in
genius.com – Transplants
I absolutely agree with you on this song. My brother and I have been messing with some Pandora stations based on The Black Keys and The Heavy, and this song is prominent in the mix. We got into this feel of music from watching the show Suits (check out the theme song for that show, Greenback Boogie), and it sets the perfect mood for Blades in my opinion. I wonder if I can share the station with you guys…
To be clear, I’m talking about Ain’t No Rest For The Wicked. I’m not familiar with the Transplants, but I’ll check them out.
James Steinberg Yeah, Cage the Elephant are usually great for inspiration, but I do find them a little too country. Maybe if you were playing a BitD deadlands train/spirit killing game… Which sounds amazing. But the Transplants sound like a good alternative! Will check them out 🙂
Kyle Wende If you can, it’d be great to see the Pandora station.