With all switching styles articles talking about immersion, there isn’t much explaining how it’s used when it’s more than ambience. Here are more details on employing immersion in your RPG, board, or card games. Whatever story you’re leading your characters through, music and sound effects can make the game seem more real. That’s what immersion is. Below we dive into the story of Lilja Dalgaard, a barbarian bear created by Switching Style’s primary writer, Dylanna Fisher, for a GURPS game played with her family and friends.

Introduction To Immersion

A game’s immersion draws you in. Immersing yourself in something or having a profound mental interest is called immersion. It’s not only about playing the game and getting lost in the dream. It’s about being inside the world itself. Whether in a world of fantasy and magic or science fiction and robots, some sound effects and tunes make it seem all that more realistic. We know it’s just a game, but they’re called escapes from reality for a reason.

Music is a perfect example of immersion. We’re using a direct example to get a deeper look into using music to immerse your players into your game. Here’s a character’s (Lilja Dalgaard) first-person perspective of the first game of the story arc. She’s never met these other people before, but fate has brought them together for a reason. Accidents don’t happen in her mind.

We’ll go through her adventure and add points to change to a different ambience or soundscape. This is a story for Lilja Dalgaard, which will be other than your stories and characters. Remember, these are just suggestions inside of a particular example. Make sure that you tell your story your way. Let us know your playlist by tagging us on social media!!

Lilja Dalgaard’s Prayer in The Tower to Freyja

A generic fantasy setting or a quiet night with crickets is a beautiful place to start. Some fantastic options include “A Forgotten Path 🍃 Chill Lo-fi Beats” By The Bootleg Boy, “Misty Forest ✢ Acoustic Celtic Harp Lullaby – Binaural Rain And Thunder And Ambience” By Blissful Existence Or “Relaxing Zelda Music With Campfire Ambience” By Sam Cisco. Our favourite is “Position Music – Fantasmagora” By Trailer Music World I.

In the following write-up, we’ve added some background music where there is a change of scene. This is one of Lilja Dalsgaard’s very first travels.

I placed the symbols of Freya by my head. As I kneeled, I began to recount my past adventure to her. I told her of the great storm brought down by Thor. At the time, I grumbled over the inconvenience. I admitted to Freya that it was an extraordinary occurrence. Without the intervention, I would not have begun this new journey. At the time, I was between contracts. I was heading east, in the wind direction when the storm hit. It was abrupt and got very violent extremely fast. It forced me to abandon my previous journey and head south. I kept going through the storm, attempting to reach a town before it got too bad. There was a run-down tower ahead of me. It was sketchy, and I was sure I could make it to a town in one piece.

“Relaxing Ambience Music – Fire Camp at Midnight” By Musiki

Something changed my mind. I strode towards the crumbling building. While there, I met four very odd, different characters, an elf and three humans. All short compared to me. I still can’t remember their names. I am sure I will in time. At first, I was unsure what to think of the small ones the most. Besides me, she was the only other woman. She was tiny and made me feel of Loki. She makes me a bit nervous. Not that she is unhonourable, merely mischievous. The elf didn’t share much about himself; however, neither did I. The next male came in with a lavish cloak. He was obviously of some wealth. I was not surprised when he shared that he was a well-to-do merchant. The other human was excitable. It reminded me of my brother when he was younger. I chuckled at the Comparison.

“Medieval Lo-Fi Vibes” By Llamaloops

Later, he would perform a sleep spell on me. I only picked up the ring by chance. He assaulted me even though I had no intention of keeping it for myself. I was not outraged that he had assaulted me, but rather why he had attacked me. In retrospect, I might have been too harsh on him. He later informed the shopkeeper that he had misplaced the ring. It didn’t matter to me who possessed the ring, but I was concerned that the short man lied about its whereabouts. Of course, I shall treat him courteously, but how can one be honourable if he lies?

“Mighty Vibes Vol 5: Zephrah Radio” By Critical Role

We weren’t there for long before a group of rats attacked us. There was one for each of us, plus a few. I took one out with one hit. It made a smear on the stoned walls. It was admittedly an underwhelming attack. The event wasn’t all bad, though; I had a hearty laugh. One of the rats had spun around and attacked one of its own. I shook my head at them and giggled.

Next, I helped the elf barricade the door at the tiny girl of Loki’s suggestion. My battle axe took the elf a bit off guard. I chuckled to myself. I barely noticed the merchant’s absence until I heard a scream. If I hadn’t shoved past the only other female, I would have thought that she was screaming. I burst into the room where a lesser vagul was attacking him. I shoved the shocked man to the ground, not causing too many bruises and attacked the beast. It, like the rats, was finished in a moment.

“D&D/RPG Combat Music” By Michael Ghelfi Studios

At that moment, I was coming down from Berserker. Of all things to ask at a time like that, the merchant offers me a job as a bodyguard. Even funnier than that was his face at my response. I felt no foolishness as I laughed aloud at the memory. Next, we travelled down a corridor and were face to face with a pair of hobgoblins. They barely readied their short swords before I attacked. It took one hit to topple the couple of them. Above us was their camp. They had escaped the storm just as we had.

These were all stories of great strength, but there was no bravery or cunning. Then I sighed; we came upon the undead bugbear. This is a genuinely worthy story of your Valkyrie. We attacked the massive beast head-on. I was content using my human form to banish this creature back to the depths. Then he made an insult to my mother, and I could no longer take it. I bashed my chest and turned into a massive bear. Then I attacked. I took two attacks, and he retaliated. He wounded me. Victory was close. I was a few swings away when I felt a sharp pain from a backstabbing arrow. I fell to the ground as the sounds of battle raged around me. The worst part was that I knew I could have defeated him with only more time.

“Gladiator | Tranquil Ambient Soundscape with Iconic Music from The Epic Film” By Ambient Worlds

Then I launched an assault. I took two attacks, and he replied. He hurt me. Victory was within reach. I was only a few strokes away when I felt a stinging ache from a backstabbing arrow. As the noises of war erupted around me, I slumped to the ground. The saddest thing was that I knew I could have defeated him if only I had more time.

“D&D Ambience – Generic Dungeon” By Sword Coast Soundscapes

I could tell that he did not intend for his arrow to pierce my pelt. He looked genuinely apologetic. Instead of scaring him like I did to the magic user, I merely called him a runkisse. My mother used to scold me for my mouth. I have learned that there is a place and a time for cursing. Using a bear mouth for human speech is usually tricky, but I had a lot of childhood practice. I chuckle at the memories of Yorick and Karine. As siblings, we would have many play fights where we would taunt each other in bear form. I chuckled

“Nordic Mythical & Pre-Viking Ancestral Ambient” By Paleowolf

I pawed and felt the blonde handprint on my head. I knew what had happened that day. The Valkyrie did not choose me. You came down as Val Freya. As a goddess with seidr, you respun my destiny. My life was changed. With that handprint permanently on my brow, I will continue to gather stories that can compare to the best of your Valkyrie. The stars are out now, Freya. Soon, I will speak to you again. I finished my prayer and opened my eyes. That’s when I came face to face with the small girl. She attempted in vain to make me a pillow, but I refused. She kept insisting. Eventually, she was satisfied with my undershirt as a blanket. I turned into a bear and snuggled against my cloak for a long night’s sleep.

“8 Hrs Soothing Lake Waves & Birds Chirping for Relaxation – 4k Summer Ambience at Mt St Helens” By Nature Soundscapes

Like these immersive soundscapes? We’ve got more for you to check out if you’re interested. We’ve got a lot of fantastic genre soundscapes like fantasy, science fiction, cyberpunk, horror, relaxation, bizarre, steampunk, and so much more!

Concluding Thoughts on Lilja Dalgaard

Let me know what you think in the comments below about these examples of immersive background music for the adventures of Lilja Dalgaard. Do you have a favourite song to suggest to us? 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!