Writing Cults - Running RPGs

53K views • 6 months ago • 34:27 Cults and Cultists are classic opponents for our heroes to face. But often they're flat with little explanation behind their actions. Here's how to write better cults for your game. Get 51% OFF any yearly subscription to World Anvil, and get started world-building with Promo Code SETH at http://worldanvil.com/?c=Seth *SUPPORT ME ON PATREON* (Tip Jar): https://www.patreon.com/SSkorkowsky A heartfelt thank you to my 240 Patrons for their continued support in making this channel possible. ______ *CHECK OUT MY NOVELS* If you want to support my channel, or just want to read an action-packed Urban Fantasy about modern-day monster hunters and their sentient weapons, check out my four-novel Valducan series. They feature gun fights, sword fights, car chases, monsters, and a smattering of horror (except Book 2, which is mostly horror). Audio book editions narrated by the badass R.C. Bray: https://amzn.to/3rehNnJ I also write pulpy Sword & Sorcery thief adventures in my Tales of the Black Raven series. It's 21 short stories packed with action, intrigue, and daring heroics. Audio editions read by R.C. Bray. https://amzn.to/3faj4cX And if you want a kickass and dark revenge story about a modern-day sorceress hunting across the multiverse for lost Carcosa, my novel Ashes of Onyx is available in print, ebook, and audio book: https://amzn.to/3sfh1IA If you enjoyed my stories, please leave a rating or review on Amazon, Audible, and/or Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4088554.Seth_Skorkowsky __________ *MY PUBLISHED RPG ADVENTURES* A Mother's Love (Call of Cthulhu 7e). This collection of adventures won the 2020 Gold ENnie Award for Best Digital Adventure Book: https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/299661/New-Tales-of-the-Miskatonic-Valley?affiliate_id=1017650 Mysteries on Arcturus Station (Mongoose Traveller 2e). This is two adventures. One is written by me, and the other is my update to J. Andrew Keith's brilliant Murder on Arcturus Station: https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/350034/Solomani-Adventure-1-Mysteries-on-Arcturus-Station?affiliate_id=1017650 And while I didn't write it (Marc Miller has that distinction), I did greatly expand and update the classic Traveller adventure Death Station to Mongoose 2e, which is TOTALLY FREE: https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/380659/Death-Station?affiliate_id=1017650 And while not an adventure, here's Mythos Artifacts I wrote with Jon Hook of some neat magic artifacts for Call of Cthulhu: https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/390047/Mythos-Artifacts?affiliate_id=1017650 __________ *GOT DICE?* Check out the Q-Workshop Seth Skorkowsky RPG Icons Dice, a 10-die set that I designed with Q-Workshop: https://q-workshop.com/en/rpg-dice-sets/2046/rpg-icons-dice-set-seth-skorkowsky-copy?search_query=skorkowsky&results=10 For individuals of the 12-sided D6: https://q-workshop.com/en/single-dice/1713/twelve-sided-d6-seth-skorkowsky __________ *SHIRTS!* Check out the Channel Store for some shirts: https://spreadshop-admin.spreadshirt.com/sethskorkowsky/ __________ *FOLLOW ME ON BLUESKY* I mostly ramble about movies, tabletop roleplaying games, and random other things as they occur to me: https://bsky.app/profile/sskorkowsky.bsky.social __________ *I HAVE A PODCAST* Check out the Modern Mythos Podcast where veteran RPG writer Jon Hook and I discuss horror and gaming, especially Call of Cthulhu: https://modernmythos.libsyn.com/?fbclid=IwAR1_wArr3cKQhXj5GNv52s2Q-_gdM9yyq-0O-_dugpOYp3CsevyZiir5mBU __________ As an Amazon and DriveThru RPG Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases from those websites. Guest starring The Gang #ttrpg #horror #dnd 00:00 Intro 01:42 What is a Cult? 02:58 What Do They Worship? 05:14 Word From Our Sponsor World Anvil 06:31 Why Do People Join a Cult? 06:41 1-Desperation 09:38 2-Be On The Winning Side 10:21 3-Tradition 11:17 4-Community 11:51 5-Cohersion 12:54 6-Fear of the God 13:44 7-Ignorance 15:29 What Is The Cult's Threat? 16:45 Recruitment 18:16 Cult's Structure 22:24 Cult Leader 25:03 Where Do They Worship? 26:25 Personal Flair 26:39 Symbols 28:20 Cult Attire 29:15 Ceremonies 31:19 Paying For It All 33:18 Closing