Gothic Atmosphere
Aside from exceedingly descriptive text and employing gothic plot elements, the best enhancer to any session is the addition of music, and mood lighting. In my first and most recent Ravenloft campaign (I played the computer games and read about it a very long time before actually DMing it - I've never PLAYED it as of yet), I've used music and lighting to improve the mood. I live in Sweden, and this time of year is perfect. The weather outside is cold, hostile and dark, which I used to my advantage.
Lighting
Lighting can dramatically improve the atmosphere of Ravenloft. I play using only candles and the light of the fire, which casts strong shadows, and awakens the imagination of the players.
Music
I also make a soundtrack for my sessions, listening to atmospheric music from various sources as I'm writing up my session plans. I often time cinematic sequences to a particular track, to take full advantage of the music. For example, I used Midnight Syndicate's 'Haunted Nursery' for a cinematic sequence where the players had to pursue a lycanthrope who had stolen a baby into a haunted house. The sections with the baby crying in the background really freaked out my players, and that's what Ravenloft is all about.
I recomend the following artists:
- Eliot Goldenthal - Interview with the Vampire
- Eliot Goldenthal - Alien 3
- Midnight Syndicate (anything)
- Cradle of Filth (instrumentals only)
- Danny Elfman: (So good he has his own section)
- Army of Darkness
- Batman
- Batman Returns
- Edward Scissorhands
- Nightmare before Christmas
- Sleepy Hollow
- Howard Shore - Lord of the Rings (any)
- Jerry Goldsmith - The Haunting
- Don Davis - House on Haunted Hill
- Don Davis - Queen of the Damned (actual soundtrack)
- Wojciech Kilar - Bram Stoker's Dracula
- Wojciech Kilar - The Ninth Gate
Some of them can be purchased below through Amazon.com.
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