Immersion can be hard to master. However, with practice, expertise, and the proper tune for background music, it becomes simpler. Music or sound effects to increase the ambience are one factor that adds to the overall immersion. Background sounds to add to your game’s immersion. A survey shows that nearly all of the larping respondents felt that background music and sound effects increased their overall sense of immersion (the computer games journal). Use these scene and music changes to improve your game. Photo by Craig Adderley on Top Ten Tips for Immersive Background Music We’ve compiled a list of the top ten tips for adding immersive music to any kind of game. Let us know your thoughts in the comments below. Set the playlist up ahead of time and just click play to start and next when the next scene change comes up Putter on forums related to TTRPGS or social groups on social media. You don’t need to be active in the groups to learn more tips, tricks, and background music or soundscape suggestions. Change it up each game to keep your players on their toes Try having scene-specific soundscapes. If your players are inside a rowdy tavern, play a soundscape that’s crowded and noisy. Find new sounds. Try different styles, or artists when compiling your playlists. There’s always something new to add to your games. Listen to them beforehand to anticipate any changes in volume or loud bursts of noise. Consider your audience’s preferences and take their advice. The playlist is for immersion for you as much as it is for your players. Collaborate with your players to find new and exciting music. Branch out. It may seem counterintuitive but try different genres for your game. Your western style game could benefit from some spooky soundtracks during a specifically scary night scene. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes. If the song doesn’t work at the moment or isn’t vibing with your players, take it as a learning opportunity. It’s not a mistake if you learn from it. Follow switchingstyles.ca to get updates on fun and quirky music to add to your game. Immersive Soundscape Playlist Here are some ambient playlists, soundscapes, and background tracks to make your game as immersive as possible. “Jurassic Park Music & Ambience – Amazing Soundscapes and Music” By Ambient Worlds “Full Hour of Avatar the Last Airbender and Korra Amazing Soundtracks!” By Red Life “11 HOURS of Rainforest Birds in 4K – Colorful Breathtaking Birds with Sound” by Nature Relaxation Films “Uncle Iroh Plays Tsungi Horn For 20 Minutes” By Saimo “Deep Ocean: 10 Hours of Relaxing Oceanscapes” By BBC Earth Last Thoughts Additional immersion information, recommendations, and methods may be found at switchingstyles.ca. Let me know in the comments what your favourite music recommendation was! Thank you for taking the time to read today’s update! It means a great deal to the writers. To never miss an update or a contest, follow the blog on WordPress or our social media! Photo by cottonbro studio on

Read below for the Inspiration Songs of my Were-Bear Barbarian GURPS Character! I created a character that’s as fierce as a mama bear and twice as big. This is her story and the music that she uses for inspiration. Introducing Lilja Dalgaard My name is Lilja Dalgaard. Some people call me half-fish. I was born in the north in a village called Oland. It had short harsh winters, mild summers, and long rainy seasons. I remember playing in the rain as a cub. Our village bordered a river. We had an abundance of ships and an almost endless supply of fish. My mouth waters just thinking of a great white tuna. I know that it may seem as if we just open our doors to pillaging, but what can I say we welcomed a challenge. Our village is one of were-bears. We weren’t concerned. Since we are all bears, we have a sense of community that no other Norse village could have. We belonged and were understood with more than just mere understanding but a twin-like empathy. Photo by lil artsy on Family Life They say home is where the heart is and with our village it couldn’t be truer. I lived in the longhouse with my parents and my siblings. My brother, Yorick, is just as strong as I am. We are about the same age give or take a few moon cycles. We always got along like we were best friends. He is the darkest were bear of our family, with a pelt as dark as cold molasses. My father says that he gets the color from his father. My sister has a light tan coat just like my father. She has proven herself as a skilled archer. She is the baby of the family, for now. On my last visit home, my parents told me they are preparing for another baby. The child should be born in about four moons from now. My mother and father met during one of my father’s pillages. He went Viking and came upon her village. Their eyes met and it was love at first sight. She went with my father willingly, and they have been madly in love ever since. I and my mother share the same deep red pelt. Father says that her deep red is one of the things that he fell in love with. My mother, Ronia, and my father, Henrik, are the best that I could ever have asked Odin for. Photo by Erik Mclean on I chose to leave my village, not because something was wrong with it, but because I wanted more. I found less and less challenges and inspirations. Freya and Thor aren’t impressed with meagre stories of an easy victory. I needed a new spark. That spark came at the ceremony of my second decade. Celebration of my Second Decade There were many others in the village celebrating their second decade. The whole village gathered around the fire and had a feast. We took turns telling stories while we passed around delicious food. It came time for my parent’s story of me. Story Time: The Monster Under My Bed When I was little, I was convinced there was a monster under my bed. I was a bit afraid, but I was mostly annoyed. My parents went back and forth, telling the story. They finished each other’s sentences. They spoke together, with one voice. I found this fascinating. I wanted a love like that; I was convinced I would not find it here. Anyway, my father had tried to tell me there was nothing there; he tried to scare it away. Still, I was sure it was there. My mother then came in and sat down and told me about a place to the south where girls are told they are weak and need to be protected by men. She laughed and said that we are not those women. We will be handmaidens of Freya and we can’t be afraid. They left and I was alone. Unknown to me at the time, they had stayed by my door to see what I would do. They heard me talking to the monster, telling it to get out from under my bed because it was bothering me and my brother’s sleeping. I put my hands on my hips and told it that if it didn’t stop bugging us, I would turn into a bear. So, I did, I turned into a bear and growled at my bed. With the minster vanquished, I went to bed in bear form. The circle roared with a chorus of chuckles and cuteness noises. I was a bit embarrassed but there were worse stories. On The Way Home While we were on our way home father handed me a leather strap. Dangling from the strap was a large cleric gobbling tooth. It was polished and tattooed with goblin magic runes. He said that when I was a wee babe, a large party of goblins raided the village. In the heat of the battle, I was separated from my mother, who was pregnant with my brother. They found me after the fight was over. I was contently sitting between corpses. holding the tooth and one of the eating knives from that night’s feast. There I was, waving them around, and occasionally sticking the dagger hilt in my mouth. He told me that this was the first of many Freya-worthy stories. From then on, I knew that I wanted to gather honour and victories. Unfortunately, I did not know where. Starting my Adventures I had heard of adventurers of distant lands, but I didn’t dwell on them. One day that changed. I met a traveller one day; he was in the inn of our village. We had taken a liking to him even though he was a foreigner. He told such grand stories; the entire inn was listening. I heard tales of ferocious creatures I had never encountered. I had found a spark. There was a land beyond our borders full of stories worthy of Freya and I was going to get them. Photo by Dagmara Dombrovska on Inspiration Songs for Lilja Dalgaard, my Were-Bear Barbarian GURPS Character There’s a long list of adventuring music that all adventurers share. There are battle songs and clerical hymns that all characters can relate to. But we’re not talking about any adventurers here. The playlist below is curated for a hardened Norse barbarian with everything to prove. “If I had a heart” by Colm McGuinness “Surface Pressure” By Our Last Night Originally By Jessica Darrow “My Mother Told Me” by Peyton Parrish “Wolf Totem” Originally by the Hu “Carry on my Wayward Son” covered by Anthrax Originally by Kansas “Far over the Misty Mountain Cold” by Geoff Castellucci “The Call” Originally by Regina Spektor Final Thoughts Photo by Erik Mclean on What are your thoughts on these songs? Are these the songs of a Were-Bear Barbarian GURPS Character? Whose battle ballad held the most pizazz for you? Let us know in the comments below!

Whether you’re a bard in the middle of combat or a barbarian enjoying a late-night campfire, here are songs to belt out during a LARP game. Here is some Bardic Inspiration with examples of Bardic Songs. Photo by Nothing Ahead on Sing Bardic Inspiration Aloud for Your Guild. When it comes to any kind of traditional Roleplaying game be it D&D, GURPS, Pathfinder, Quest, Coyote and Crow, there’s a bard or a bard-like class. They are the ones that are typically oozing charisma with entertainment. Usually, this is musical entertainment. Bards also appear in many LARP games. Take Refuge LARP or Underworld LARP for example, these two Canadian LARPs have a fantastic and creative community including bards. Why Would You Sing At A Roleplaying Game? Photo by Ryan Klaus on That’s honestly a good question. Singing randomly can seem like a weird thing to do that only happens in Disney movies, musicals and that one episode of Buffy the vampire slayer. Despite the love for musical theatre, there are a few varied reasons you’d sing at a LARP. Singing is something your character would do. Performing in real life adds to realism. Impressing the party, the dm, and the plot team with your singing and improv skills. Engaging with the other characters and with the plot. Help your character stand out. This could be either a good or a bad thing. Acts as an excuse to add in a musical number. Finding The Song for Bardic Inspiration Fantasy songs for folks to sing during a D&D game or a LARP can be hard to find and even harder to perform. We’ve compiled a list of fantasy songs perfect for your bard! Here are some lively songs to sing around the campfire. Don’t worry, we’ve provided links to the lyrics to help you practice before the game. “Sunshine” by Charles Mitchell and Jimmie Davis Want to convince your players that you’re less evil than they think you are? Sing a song like “that can make even the most roguish character seem trusting and in touch with their emotions. “Holding Out For A Hero” by Bonnie Tyler. Don’t hesitate to stick with the classics. They’re classics for a reason. There will be both Bonnie Tyler and Shrek fans in the audience. you’re sure to have a few folks singing along. It’s a great idea to add in-game immersion for everyone. Listen to it on Spotify. “Here There Be Witches” by Creature Feature. Here’s another beautiful and heartfelt classic that’s not just for the bards. Show off your cleric or paladins’ pipes while singing out loud and making all the magic users around nervous. Listen on Spotify! “Wellerman”by Nathan Evans When it comes to classics, there’s nothing wrong with giving the audience what they want. I promise you someone will want this song whether they specifically request it or not. Sea Shanty’s rule. Save it on Spotify or Deezer. “Save My Soul“ by Big Bad Voodoo Daddy Just because it’s a new song doesn’t mean it won’t work for a medieval fantasy setting. Check out this fantastic modern swing revival band from Southern California. “Give That Wench a Sonnet” by The Poxy Boggards The combination of Irish folk singing, lively instrumentals, and iambic pentameter makes this song a perfect fit for your bard. especially if they’re very charismatic if you catch my drift. “Come Little Children” by Erutan Now this song is quite simple and sweet. Around the campfire, this is an ideal song to lull the characters to sleep or into a false sense of security. Either way, “Come little children” is a hauntingly beautiful song. “ Mariner’s Revenge Song”, by The Decemberists Listen to it on Spotify. Ready to go into battle? Not without singing about your motivation, you’re not. Take it from me belting out a woeful song before the war is as effective as an orc barbarian war cry. “My Mother Told Me”, an Assassin’s Creed Valhalla Cover, by Alina Gingertail It’s not only bards that could benefit from singing. Consider your lonely barbarian that just happens to have a lovely baritone singing voice. Give them a chance to shine with a song already from within a game. From Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, this song is sure to give everyone goosebumps or chicken skin. ‘Misty Mountains”, by Glenn Yarbrough, Rankin And Bass From The Movie ‘Hobbit’ If you didn’t expect this song to be on the list, then I don’t know what to tell you. Of course, it’s on the list, it’s from Tolkien, one of the main fantasy authors that inspired characters to this day. Now we only had room for 10 because our writers thought that nobody would read to the bottom of a list of 176 fantasy-inspired songs. Nonetheless, here are our honourable mentions for your listening (and singing) pleasure. Bardic Inspiration Conclusion Make any event a spontaneous musical. Whether you’re heading into battle humming one of these or providing a healing word to a tune or even running into battle shrieking music at the top of your lungs, it adds to the immersion of the event. Support Switching Styles and sharing our song suggestions far and wide. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, on our email newsletter. Share your favourite song suggestions in the comments below.

Christmas is nearing, but that doesn’t mean you only need to listen to upbeat, joyous Christmas cheer every second of the day. For Humbug Day, let’s enjoy some anti-Christmas songs. Be warned that some of these holiday humbug days anti-Christmas songs have some profanity and mature themes. Photo by Andrea Piacquadio on Fun Fact: Did you know that most countries turn up holiday tunes by the end of November? Thanks to Christmas music research by Spotify, we know when to expect the holiday tunes to start. You’ve been warned. Why is there so much holiday music for Christmas? It’s once again that time of year. All I Want for Christmas Is You by Mariah Carey, “Last Christmas” by Wham!, “It’s Beginning to Look a Lot like Christmas” by Michael Bublé, “Santa Tell Me “By Ariana Grande, and “Mistletoe” by Justin Bieber are a few of the most popular Christmas songs in both Canada and the United States. Not everyone gets into the holiday cheer by singing carols. Some folks need something different. Some folks would rather listen to anything else. You are aware of it. We are aware of it. Kids pick it up. Everyone acknowledges that Christmas has a monopoly on festive music. Michael Buble doesn’t perform any songs about offering thanks during Thanksgiving. During the Labor Day long weekend, Mariah Carey is not selling records. If you’re ready for Christmas music that’s not quite Christmas music, then read on! Christmas music for days for hours on end. Let’s break the cycle. Here’s a playlist of our favourite anti-Christmas songs for your listening pleasure. “Christmas Celebration” By Weezer “Christmas Is A B!Tch” By Rudy Mancuso “Christmas Carol” By Tom Lehrer “December Is For Cynics” By The Matches “Hallelujah” By No Resolve, Originally By Leonard Cohen “Don’t Shoot Me Santa” By The Killers “The Night Santa Went Crazy” By Weird Al Yankovic “Not Another Christmas Song” By Blink-182 “Disco Christmas” By Universal Robot Band “Dear Santa (Bring Me A Man This Christmas) Cover” By Alaska, Courtney Act & Willam Originally By The Weather Girls “This Christmas” By Set It Off And our holiday favourite – Set It Off’s Christmas melody, “This Christmas (I’ll Burn It To The Ground),” is our primary writer’s, Dylanna Fisher’s favourite Christmas tune. Very humbug if you ask me. Happy Humbug Day!! Photo by George Dolgikh on Want more wonderful anti-seasonal music? To kick off the anti-holiday celebration, check out these incredible tunes!

Snow isn’t something everyone enjoys. Nevertheless, it is a day to recognize the individuality of each snowflake. Today is Snowflake Appreciation Day, so to celebrate, we’re playing some amazing songs with a winter theme! Fun Fact: Snow can fall at high speeds. A single snowflake may move at speeds between one and nine miles per hour. Photo by Jill Wellington on Celebrating Snowflake Appreciation Day What is a snowflake? You may just think that a snowflake is like fluffy ice. And you are kind of right. According to BBC writer Dale Shaw, a snowflake starts as something else entirely. “Snowflakes or snow crystals don’t have nuclei in the traditional, biological way (that contains genetic information), but they all do form around one single particle whether that’s a speck of dust or a piece of pollen. This makes it completely different from sleet (which consists of frozen raindrops) or hail (which are sleet droplets that collect water as they fall). This original piece of material that formed the flake can be detected using a powerful microscope.” With that in mind, a snowflake can develop in a variety of ways. It’s no wonder that they’re all unique and special. Appreciate snowflakes with this snow-themed playlist. Listen to these holiday favorites while staring out at the snowy landscape. Remember you’re as unique as a snowflake! You are as one-of-a-kind as any snowflake you’ll see this winter season! “Snowblind” Is Covered by System of a Down, Originally By Black Sabbath “Every Snowflake Is Different (Just Like You)” By My Chemical Romance “Fifteen Feet of Pure White Snow” Covered by Saw Lamb Originally by Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds “I’ve Got My Love To Keep Me Warm” By Robyn Adele Anderson Originally By Billie Holiday And Irving Berlin “Let It Snow!” By Frank Sinatra Originally By Vaughn Monroe Fun Fact: chionophobia is the fear of snow. The word is derived from the Greek word chion, which means snow. Final Thoughts Photo by Jill Wellington on Would you like more for your holiday playlist? Well, you’re in luck! Which one of these original songs with a winter theme is your favourite? Have we missed any? Tell us in the comments section below or on our social media!

What’s better than homemade brownies? A family recipe for homemade brownies and a homemade playlist for the baker! Check out an Ireland family brownie recipe as well as the music she listens to while baking them. Photo by vjapratama on Introduction To a Family Recipe We’ve heard from Jade Ireland, all about her love for cooking. She is a fun-loving person who enjoys everything to do with the kitchen. Most importantly she loves to cook, bake, and create culinary artwork. A few of her main focuses include Sustainable Life, cooking for Diabetics, Permaculture, and Clean Food. She’s spent her life cooking and baking for her loved ones. Today we’re sharing one of those recipes plus a list of music perfect for baking. Below is Jade’s family recipe for delicious brownies. Family Brownies Recipe Here’s Jade’s family recipe for all Switching Styles readers and followers. Photo by Marta Dzedyshko on Ingredient List 125 grams of unsalted butter, chopped 125 grams CADBURY Baking Dark Chocolate, chopped 3 eggs, lightly whisked 1 1/2 cups white sugar 3/4 cup plain flour 1/4 cup cocoa powder 1 tsp vanilla extract Pinch of salt Step 1 Preheat oven to 180C/160C fan forced. Grease a 20cm (base measurement) square cake pan and line it with baking paper. The easy way to line a square cake tin with baking paper. Step 2 Place butter and chocolate in a heatproof bowl over a saucepan of simmering water (don’t let the bowl touch the water). Stir with a metal spoon until melted. Remove from heat. Quickly stir in egg, sugar, flour, cocoa powder, vanilla and salt until just combined. Pour into prepared pan. Step 3 Bake for 30 minutes or until a skewer inserted in the center comes out with moist crumbs clinging. Step 4 Set aside to cool completely. Step 5 Delicious!! Time to enjoy. Family Brownies Recipe and Baking Music Photo by Felicity Tai on When Jade is in the kitchen, there’s always music playing. “I find it helps me to focus, every kitchen I have ever worked in there has always been music. Kitchens are a loud environment—all the slicing and dicing. Music also makes the time fun, with all the singing and dancing that happens,” she explains in an interview with Switching Styles. Here’s some brownie-baking music inspired, by Jade’s very own musical inspirations. “Lyfjaberg (Healing-Mountain)” By Wardruna “Rún” By SKÁLD “My Mother Told Me” By Alina Gingertail “Valhalla Calling” By Miracle Of Sound Ft. Eric Hollaway and Peyton Parrish “Seven Nation Army” By SKÁLD “Let It Go” By Connor Engstrom Music “How Far I’ll Go” By Peyton Parrish, Richaadeb, And Jonathan Young “Nobody Like U” Ft. Halacg And Justine’s Mic “I Won’t Say I’m In Love” By Caleb Hyles “Circle Of Life” By Alex Boye, Alisha Popat, And Lemarti In Conclusion Thank you for reading Switching Styles this fall season. We’ve got many more fantastic articles of all sorts. Check out articles like Local Music Venues: Naked Cyber Cafe and Espresso Bar, Musical Gender Bending, and Starting a Blog about Covers and Parodies.

Many folks combine music and cooking or baking. Jade Ireland is one of those types of people. This article delves deep into the relationship between music and cooking or baking. Photo by Felicity Tai on Jade Ireland is a fun-loving person who enjoys everything to do with the kitchen. Most importantly, she loves to cook, bake, and create culinary artwork. Some of her main focuses include Sustainable Life, cooking for Diabetics, Permaculture, and Clean Food. Jade Ireland Q&A Switching Styles has contacted Jade to discuss how music combines with her culinary passions. Below is an interview with Jade and some of Jade’s go-to cooking music. How did you get started in cooking? I got started with my grandmother. Every school holiday, we were in the kitchen cooking up a storm. Every event in our lives revolves around foods of some kind. What were some of the memorable events and meals from your childhood? Every Sunday night, we went to my grandmother’s house for dinner. The smells and the warmth of her house are the things I remember. What is one of your favourite recipes to cook? I find this to be very hard. What’s the setting? Who is it for? What type of food do the people you cook for like? I love to cook with an Asian twist, but nothing beats a choc chip cookie I make every Sunday and give to them the people I love. I find they make Mondays better. What’s one of your favourite Asian-inspired recipes? Sushi bowls love them so easy and quick What’s the secret to a good chocolate cookie recipe? Your grandmother would never tell you this, but it’s the love they put into it. (And the type of butter, salted) Why is cooking a vital skill to learn? We all have to eat to survive. Why not have some fun with it? The more you work at this, the better you get and the more you learn. I love that it’s a skill I will be forever learning. What advice do you have for people wanting to learn to cook? Don’t be too hard on yourself. Time and practice are the things that are needed. Start with a dish you love to eat. Right now, why is cooking with what you have so important? The world is changing, so much waste is a huge issue at this point. I do believe that if this skill were handed down just like it used to be, waste wouldn’t be such a problem. Scrappy cooking is a thing. What’s the biggest concern that people have when learning to cook? That they won’t cook the items right, or they are afraid of the knives and the skills of using them. What are some tips for people that are nervous about cooking? Keep using the knives. The more you use them, the better off you are, and your skills will improve. Keep cooking, you may burn the items for the first few times, and you know what? That’s more than ok. I have been in the industry for over a decade. I, too, still get it wrong sometimes; I use it as a learning opportunity. Why does it help you to have music while you cook? I find it helps me to focus. Every kitchen I have ever worked in there has always been music. Kitchens are a loud environment—all the slicing and dicing. The music also makes the time fun, with all the singing and dancing that happens. What songs are on your playlist while you work? At this point, I find myself putting on a lot of Viking tunes, the amazing artist Peyton Parrish. In saying this, I have been making a lot heartier meals as we are coming out of winter where I am. Does the playlist change depending on what you’re cooking? 100% it does. I go from Viking to Disney. What recipes do you cook with Viking music versus listening to Disney music? Winter and hearty foods are for the Viking music. Whereas I find Disney is light and summery, so more salads and fruits What are your favourite Disney movie soundtracks? I’m an old-school Disney fan, but I have a list of all the tracks, and I just hit shuffle. Whatever comes on, you just let it go. Sharing Jade Irelands Cooking Music You read it right here! Viking folk music and Disney tunes are Jade’s go-to when it comes to cooking in the kitchen. Of course, we’ve got several examples to add to your very own cooking playlist! Jade Ireland Pick: “My Mother Told Me” Old Norse Viking Chant By Peyton Parrish “Ó Valhalla” By Skáld “If I Had A Heart” Norse Version) By Colm McGuinness Music “Go The Distance” From Hercules by Peyton Parrish “My Mother Told Me” By Adam Chance And The Hound + The Fox “Lava” By Bowcut Productions “Arabian Nights” By Lydia the Bard “Part Of Your World” By Ms. Chloe Dichoso “I Won’t Say I’m In Love” By Thomas Sanders “Beauty And The Beast” By Lindsey Stirling Photo by Dapur Melodi on Which of these songs are you adding to your Spotify list? Let us know in the comments below!

Read our Switching Styles article below to get Jade Ireland’s delicious family recipe for chocolate chip cookies and a fantastic chocolate chip-themed playlist. Introducing Jade Ireland and Her Chocolate Chip Cookies Jade Ireland is a fun-loving person who enjoys everything to do with the kitchen. Most importantly, she loves to cook, bake, and create culinary artwork. Some of her main focuses include Sustainable Life, cooking for Diabetics, Permaculture, and Clean Food. Switching Styles has contacted Jade to discuss how music combines with her culinary passions and asked for some of her favourite recipes. Below is Jade’s family recipe for chocolate chip cookies. Photo by Anete Lusina on Sometimes it’s hard to know what to make or bake. In an interview with Switching Styles, Jade Ireland explained that picking a singular favourite recipe is complicated. “I find this to be very hard; what’s the setting? Who is it for? What type of food do the people you cooking for like? I love to cook with an Asian twist, but nothing beats a choc chip cookie I make every Sunday and give to the people I love. I find they make Mondays better.” Delicious Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe Photo by Brigitte Tohm on Here’s a recipe to improve your Mondays or any day of the week. Chocolate Chip Cookies Ingredients 150 grams of butter, softened 1/2 cup brown sugar 1/2 cup caster sugar 1 3/4 cups plain flour 1 tsp vanilla extract 1/2 cup milk chocolate bits, plus 1 tbsp extra 1 egg 1/2 cup dark chocolate bits, plus 1 tbsp extra Step 1 Preheat oven to 180C or 160C fan forced. Line 2 baking trays with baking paper. Using an electric mixer or whisking, hand beat butter and sugars for 1-2 minutes or until smooth and well combined. Beat in egg and vanilla until combined. Step 2 Stir in flour. Stir in the dark and milk choc bits—roll 2 level tablespoonfuls of mixture into balls and place on prepared trays, 3cm apart. Press down slightly. Decorate with extra choc bits. Step 3 Bake for 15-18 minutes or until lightly golden and cooked. Transfer to a wire rack to cool. Store in an airtight container for up to 1 week. Baking Chocolate Chip Cookies With Music Chocolate chip cookies are indeed a classic. What about baking these classics with a fantastic soundtrack? Cookie Dance By Chip Chocolate “Share It Maybe” By Sesame Street “Faraway Cookies” By Caitlin Mc Ewan “Who Stole The Cookie From The Cookie Jar?” By The Jaynetts “C Is For Cookie” By Soul Sanctuary Final Thoughts Thank you so much for reading Switching Styles. Check out our blog for a range of different topics. We have many more fantastic articles to keep you on the edge of your seat.

What’s a High Fantasy Themed RPG game without high-fantasy music to accompany the party? Even the most basic ethereal high fantasy games are brought to life with ethereal and immersive background music. Introduction To High Fantasy Games “With the rapid advancements in technology accompanying video games, soundtracks have changed dramatically and have become an important part of the storytelling process,” Explains the writers at Anara Publishing. Photo by Tú Nguyễn on Consider fantasy films like Lord of The Rings, The Dark Crystal, Maleficent, Jumanji, Enchanted, Alice in Wonderland, and The Spiderwick Chronicles. All of them have a fantastic soundtrack that adds to the film itself. With fantasy elements intertwined in the sound effects, ambience, and music soundtrack, there’s so much immersion. Now consider immersion in a role-playing game. whether you’re playing The One Ring Roleplaying Game: Second Edition, Pendragon, D&D, Pathfinder, Warhammer, D6, GURPS, Zweihander, Ryuutama: Natural Fantasy Roleplay, Journey Away, there’s always a potential for music to add to it. Follow this fantastic topic on Switching styles by signing up for our newsletter or visiting here. High Fantasy Themed Musical Immersion How can audio help RPG immersion? Audio, whether it’s music or sound effects or soundscapes, adds to immersion by interacting with another sense. Typically, in a tabletop RPG game, you’re engaged visually and mentally. Adding another sense makes it easier to ignore the ‘outside world’ while you’re playing the game. Music like the ones we’ve compiled below is a great way to add a sense of realism. Mana Storm By Michael Ghelfi Studios Isverden By ASKII Underdark By Cthulhu Mythos Music Branches By Dreamhop Music Cursed Forest By Michael Ghelfi Studios A New Adventure By Blue Turtle Spirit Of The Wind By Brunuhville Streets Of Eroa By CIRI Dancing With The Elves By Sundew Baggins Astray By Space Wave Photo by Pixabay on Let me know what your favourite was in the comments below! Thanks for reading Switching Styles today! It means a lot to the writers. Follow the blog on WordPress or our social media and never miss an update or contest!

There’s no shame in being a new player or an anxious player. Sometimes LARP and social anxiety overlap. Read more about combatting social anxiety and enjoying your LARP game. Introduction to LARP Let’s start with the obvious question. What exactly is LARP? LARP stands for a live-action roleplaying game. These immersive games are based on traditional roleplaying games such as D&D, Pathfinder, Gamma World, etc. Like these traditional roleplaying games where one creates, you create a character based on the game rules. Then it’s time to roleplay as your character. The difference between TTRPG and LARP is that you play out that character’s thoughts, actions, and progression in live action. You act out the motivations and activities, roleplaying what your character would do in any situation. For example, instead of telling your Dungeon master what your 5th-level elf rogue does to sneak past the guards, you do just that. It’s a fantastic way to bring the game to life. You can roleplay as Darcassan Joric, a fifth-level roque with a history of drunken disorder likes and a love for the kazoo. From combat to diplomacy to adventure to friendship, there are all kinds of situations to advance the characters’ storyline. Joining LARP with social anxiety The Mental Health Foundation defines social anxiety as a “Beyond the typical sensation one might expect when speaking in public, meeting people for the first time, starting at a new job or school, or giving a performance, when the discomfort or feelings of shyness result in anxiety, fear, or avoidance and have an ongoing impact a person’s daily at work, in school then it could be social anxiety disorder (SAD).” As it’s different from general nervousness in social settings, ‘jump right in’ isn’t the best solution. Baby steps and social awareness are often the most helpful for most socially anxious folks. The Mental Health Foundation explains that “How we feel, think, and behave in social situations varies from person to person depending on our personality traits, upbringing, and life experiences. Some people are naturally reserved and shy, whereas others might be more outgoing and extroverted, but anyone can have a SAD.” This can make games that highly focus on socializing and person-to-person engagement, like RPGS, difficult. LARPS takes it a step further by being longer and more involved as you’re physically acting as the character. Refuge LARP, a game based out of Calgary, adores giving folks a chance to learn and to be comfortable. Their website reads, “Glad you made it! Learn about LARP, and take a break from the real world. Everyone is welcome to seek Refuge in our fantasy world. Whether you are new to roleplaying, LARP, or looking for a new LARP to play, we look forward to meeting you and answering your questions!” Photo by Alexandre Silva on Tips for joining a LARP with social anxiety Social anxiety can be debilitating for inexperienced players as well as experienced ones. However, fear shouldn’t stop players from enjoying a weekend LARP game. Getting out there is rough, but that doesn’t mean it’s not worth it. Here are a few tips for getting ready for a LARP game with social anxiety. Join social media groups and forums. Even as a lurker, you can get more comfortable with how the players interact with one another. Try asking a question to some of the players either in a DM or a beginners’ forum. Most people will be very open to your curiosity or, at the very least, know someone who can help. You can take this further once you’ve figured out your character. Joining Organizations that your surface may join provides another way to engage with the material and observe the subtleties of the game in the game. Take these examples from the Refuge LARP. Depending on who or what your character is, these groups can include The Home Guard 2.0: The Standing Army of Calanda, The Arcane Sanctum 2.0: The Mage Guild of Caledonia, or The Earth Weavers 2.0: The Order of Earth Casters, or The Silken Refuge: A Hobling run merchant house specializing in the trade of rare Silks from the island of Auric. You’ve got options! Play as a monster. Cory Fliegel, the head organizer of the Calgary game Refuge, says it’s easier to get started with non-player characters or NPCs. His Advice for newcomers is to start with the monster camp, as it’s easy to create and simple to play. Monster camp is a nickname for the portion of the organizations that play non-player characters (NPCs) or monsters. “Others jump right into being a PC, and again, that is the choice everyone makes. Your level of comfort should be your main guide,” Explains the user guide for Refuge LARP,” You get to learn the game while gaining Experience Points (XP) for a future PC you may play. Playing as a goblin, orc, troll, bugbear, hobgoblin, kobold, mimic, beholder, or even an evil NPC allows new players to get a taste of the game and the rules without the stress of an entire character. It will enable the fun to come first. Get inspired Do your research. Most LARPs have lore, myths, history, and characters on their website. Take a look at the various options before you. [Tip for those that don’t want to read the entire website or folks with ADHD – try a browser extension that reads out the page’s text to you. It’s a game-changer for reading any block of text. Here’s what I use. And it’s free!!] Attend with someone Going with someone that’s been there before is a huge help. They’re able to show you the ropes and guide you through. Make sure you discuss this with them beforehand. They will surely be an immense help, but they must know how to help first. As a bonus to this, many games have incentivized introducing new players. Refuge LARP organizer Cory F. provides an incentive for bringing new players in with you and explains, “While only one member may benefit for each new player that purchases a membership, there’s no limit to the number of new players you can bring and receive rewards for! Plus, as a thank-you to both, players may pick from a list of specific magic items!” Bring a friend What’s better than one new player? Two new players!! It’s much easier to fumble through the first day when you know you aren’t alone. Chatting with friends or folks on social media is a terrific way to meet people that are also LARP newbies. Ask about Out of game (OOG) options. Many games will have options for folks that want to take a break. Whether that’s a separate area where you can check your phone, have a snack, or return to being you for a bit. Some games have a visual aspect, such as a white headband or a hand on your head, to tell other players, “Don’t interact with me.” It’s essentially the LARP’s version of AFK. Each game with have a slightly different approach, so it’s always best to ask. If you are worried about potential panic or anxiety attacks, ask about the first aid options. LARP games are meant to be fun, not a health hazard. Give yourself some slack. The first game can be overwhelming. There are a lot of new things to learn and stories to hear. Every new player goes through this, I promise you. Nothing you ask is going to be a surprise to the current players. They’ll either know the answer or send you to someone that does. Consider it your first quest!! Remember that these are games that are meant to be fun. Take It seriously, but not so seriously that it stops being fun. Here are some relaxing songs to help you focus and calm throughout the process. Lost Tales: Our Secret Place By Dreamhop Music Celestial Choirs By The Guild Of Ambience Mysterious MusicBy Arondight Studios Magic LibraryBy Blue Turtle Northwind By Brunuhville Traditional Irish Folk Music By Lantern Seeking Solitude By Daydreaming Of Persephone Haunted CemeteryBy Michael Ghelfi Studios Coronation By CIRI Got more tips to add to the list? Let us know in the comments below!! Want some more fantastic LARP-themed music? We’ve got a lot of unique genre soundscapes like high fantasy, science fiction, cyberpunk, horror, space western, supernatural, steampunk, haunting, and so much more!

Immersion is the act of immersing yourself in something or having deep mental involvement. It’s what most LARP games strive to achieve for their players. Photo by JJ Jordan on Why Is Immersion Important? During a research project, study authors, Associate Professor Tom Van Laer from the University of Sydney and Dr. Davide Orazi from Monash University followed three different LARP groups. This ethnographic study collected 52 pages of field notes, 2,496 photographs, four hours of GoPro videos, 29 interviews, seven diaries and 2,936 screen captures from four LARPs. They said their research demonstrated three main reasons LARPing leaves a stronger impact than traditional media or tabletop roleplaying gaming. Associate professor Van Laer explains the impact that LARPing has on its players. “When you watch tv, vision and sound are basically the only two senses that play a role. In a LARP there’s touch, smell, and taste, so all your senses are there. It’s not just in your head, it’s everywhere, there’s no border from reality. “LARPs also allow more freedom and agency than is possible with traditional media and tabletop games. Rather than the showrunner, game designer or dungeon master ‘writing the book,’ LARPs give consumers a lot of involvement in creating the story. “And finally, you know you can stop a movie. If people get too scared, you stop it. You cannot stop the LARP because the social pressure to be there is the same as the social pressure of a meeting at work—you can’t just stop if you’re not liking it.” LARPing immersion statistics Associate Professor Van Laer isn’t the only person looking into the immersion of LARPing. This is a topic that’s been highly studied throughout the world. Switching styles has found some immersion statistics for you and your local LARPing community. Check them out! It’s not just about the game and being immersed in the fantasy. It’s about being a part of the world. Immersion into a game involves solving problems through cognition, strategic thinking, abstract reasoning, and tactics (First Person Scholar). During the Covid-19 pandemic, the LARPing craze has blown up throughout the world, including in China. The number of LARP studios across China is also rising, with nearly 12,000 shopfronts as of 2019 (CGTN). Data shows LARP game’s market value in 2019 has doubled in only a year. The market value exceeded 10 billion yuan in 2019 (Meituan Research Institute). A survey shows that nearly all of the LARPing respondents felt that background music and sound effects increased their overall sense of immersion (The Computer Games Journal). Background Music to Help the Immersion One aspect that adds to the overall immersion is music or sound effects to improve the ambience. Here are examples of several types of music immersion background music to use in your LARP game. Darkest Dungeon Composed By Stuart Chatwood For Red Hook Studios The Hellion TavernBy ASKII Finding PandoraBy The Vault of Ambience Tranquil Atmospheric Ambience Enchanted Lands By The Guild of Ambience The Yōkai CompendiumBy Realm of Dementia H.P. Lovecraft Music By Cthulhu Mythos Music Deep Within the Forest By Dreamhop Music Dungeon Ambience By Arondight Studios A King’s Remorse By Arondight Studios Sunset In the MountainsBy Blue Turtle Let me know in the comments below which one is your favourite!

Fans are ecstatic about the new anthem song for the National Football league (NFL). This article “NFL Anthem from Pinar Toprak” is guest written by Jason Greiner. Introducing Pinar Toprak Some musicians are household names. Even if they haven’t been performing for decades and are relatively new to the industry, there are people out there that you’ve probably heard of regardless of your age or musical interests. Unless you are especially versed in the music scene, Pinar Toprak is probably not one of them. Despite that fact, I can assure you that she is extremely talented and well-respected as a professional and ground-breaking artist. Toprak is a Turkish-American composer. Only in her early 40s, she has written scores for some of the biggest video game franchises and blockbuster movies including those in the superhero genre. A quick sample includes the game “Fortnite” and the movie “Captain Marvel.” Her impressive resume began in 2004 with the short films “Hold The Rice” and “Headbreaker” both directed by Alfonso Pineda Ulloa. But recently, this woman took on new ground and became the first female ever to compose a score to go along with one of the biggest sports on the planet. Amazon commissioned her to write the new theme for their broadcasts of the NFL’s Thursday Night Football! Photo by Dhia Eddine on You can see her in action conducting the music for this theme on YouTube! This newest piece features a full orchestra and a sound that combines the qualities of both power and grace. Final Thoughts If you take a listen, you may recognize some sounds that seem to have a feel very similar to what you might expect to hear at a college football stadium during the height of the season. There is an energy about it that makes the listener want to join in as if they were there in the stands while their college team was driving down the field. There is a driving, forceful and uplifting sensation that seems fitting for a stadium anthem. After all, that is the purpose of this piece. And the energy does not waiver from the very first notes to the finale of this work. What are your thoughts on the newest NFL Anthem from Pinar Toprak? Let u! Jason Greiner is the author of several books and eBooks and has worked as a professional in the field of journalism and blogging. He also provides photography and graphic design services on a freelance basis. Originally from Pittsburgh, PA, Jason now lives in the city of Mebane, a small but fast-growing community in central North Carolina. As a lifelong music enthusiast, he enjoys discovering new artists and reviewing their work.