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Creating a mood within your gaming area can help better immerse your players, and even yourself, into the game. Here are three highlights to take into consideration when trying to create a certain mood for your next D&D session.

Lighting
Lights can determine whether you’re in a bright, cheery place, or in a dark, brooding dungeon. Just using normal overhead lights in a room can help create some atmosphere for the session, especially if they have a dimmer. You can leave them at a constant brightness to create a general mood for the whole session. However, try experimenting a bit during the session. Perhaps when the players are in the middle of a busy city, have the lights on full blast. Then, when they delve deep into a dungeon, dim the lights, to create that dark and brooding atmosphere.

You can also use different types of lighting. Bright overhead lights can be great, particular for places where it’s expected to be bright and sunny. But within dungeons, abandoned keeps, or dark forests, try using candles. You can either keep the overhead lights dim, with the candles adding more decorative light, or you can turn off the overhead lights completely, and let the candles be the only source of light. I’ve played in a one-shot adventure for Halloween where the overhead lights were kept off, and candles were placed all about the table. When using candles though, it may be good to have little flashlights available to make it a bit easier for players to quickly read their character sheets without having to squint or try to start a fire. You may be able to find cheap LED lights at a nearby dollar store, or similar place.

Aside from candles, you can try experimenting with different light fixtures as well. Christmas lights could be used to simulate a clear, starry sky at night, or perhaps the twinkling of fairy-folk in an enchanted forest. You can also try lights that come in different colors. Colored filters for lights can work well too. Red lighting, for example, can really enhance the feeling of being in an evil temple, before facing off against its inhabitants.

Music & Sounds
Playing some background music can also help set the mood. For a tranquil scene, you can play something soothing and relaxing. If in the heat of combat, play something that’s fast paced. Some songs from the Gladiator soundtrack come to mind for good fighting music. I would recommend trying to avoid music with lyrics, since the game is what’s important.

If you have a computer available, particularly a laptop, you can use small sound effect files to further enhance gameplay. It can be something that repeats, such as the sound of a gentle breeze or the sounds of a raging storm. You can also use sound effects for weapons being swung during a combat encounter, and perhaps a death cry when an NPC (or the PCs, if you wish) is slain in combat.

Simply playing music and sound effects with a basic setup is fine and all. However, you can make this better by employing better speakers than what usually comes with your typical laptop or CD player. Good quality stereo speakers can go quite a ways to give a better impression on your players. If you can, though, try going with at least a 4.0 sound system in your game area. With this, you can then play sounds that come from different parts of the room, creating even better immersion. Just imagine your players reaction when, on a Listen check, they hear something from one side of the room, and they actually hear it coming from there! Granted, there will be some prep work to do to pull this off, but it will be very much worth the effort in the long run.

Decoration
This may seem to be an obvious way of getting into the mood, but it’s still worth mentioning. Granted, you can do this a bit by employing lighting, as mentioned above, but taking some time to actually build up a general theme in the room can result in a better overall experience. For example, for a horror session, place some skulls and bones around the room. Or, for a session that will take place in an enchanted forest, get some leaves and sticks and place them about.

I’m going to include food on this as well. Not only do we need something to munch on, but the food that’s served can add to the overall decoration. Going back to the horror example, you can serve some jello shaped like a brain and a dark red punch.

Costumes
If your players are willing, have them dress up as their characters. This can be a huge step towards a great role-playing experience, as it helps everyone to better get into character. Also, as DM, try dressing up as well. You can wear a generic costume that fits the theme of the current session, or you can wear a costume of one of the key NPCs the characters will encounter. And, if you’re up to it, you can try changing between multiple costumes for multiple NPCs.

Inspiration
If you’re lacking inspiration to try any of the above, try looking at your classic sources, such as movies, music, and books. The Eberron Campaign Setting actually lists a few movies to use as inspiration at the beginning of its first chapter. Try to find movies, books, and even music that seem appropriate for the theme of the session you’ll be running. Maybe watch some horror movies for a session of like theme. Or listen to some of Enya’s music for a theme that’s more enchanting.

I will admit, at least half of what you just read is more musings of possibilities. However, I can say that I have been involved in D&D sessions that used the other half! For example, my group’s Halloween session (which was DMed by someone else, rather than myself) involved all of us dressing in character, playing in a dark room lit mostly by candles, morbid looking munchies, and darkly themed music.So go ahead and give my suggestions a try. It may add in that little extra something to make your D&D games much more fun!