Horror Hero Cultist Package Deal

[AlHazred]

I wonder if there's enough commonality among insane fringe cultists that there could be a package deal to cover them. For instance, is there some degree of similarity between crazy degenerate Cthulhu worshipers in 1929 Arkham, demon-worshiping barbarians in Turakian Age Aarn, drugged-up psychic freaks on backwater worlds of the Terran Empire, and so on.

 

Preliminarily, I've got the bog-standard "KS: Religious Doctrines []" and perhaps "KS: Demons" or "KS: Cthulhu Mythos". What about special "powers"? Some kind of Mental Defense for being insane? Enhanced Senses of some kind?

 

I know there's some degree of variability, but if we can spitball some ideas, it would be really helpful.

[Lord Liaden]

Re: Horror Hero Cultist Package Deal

 

Well, The Ultimate Mystic goes into a fair amount of detail on various types of cults (historical or fictional), their backgrounds, motivations, methods and organization. It describes a number of similarities, but also significant differences. It doesn't give much specific about Characteristics, Skills, or Disadvantages/Complications -- much of that can be inferred from the textual description or the genre of game you want to use them in. TUM does stat up (for 5E) a few common cultist abilities, such as "Crazed Force Of Will" (Mental Defense), "Intimidating Display" (extra offensive PRE for being howling lunatics), "Fanatic Resistance To Pain" (enhanced Defenses), "Hellish Drug" (more potent than any mundane narcotic, hallucinogen etc.), "Self-Sacrificial Summoning" (kill yourself to call up your god or one of its servants), and "Vampire Dagger" (classic cultist-style magic weapon).

[AlHazred]

Re: Horror Hero Cultist Package Deal

 

Aha! I'll have to check that when I get home! Many thanks!