Explain to me the whole Cultists vibe within pulp

[carlos marighela]

I dunno, commies are a lot further down my list but then I have worked with a number of colleagues who were former party members. All good people.  When my wife and I first married our local representative was a member of the PCdoB and she was lovely. Good local rep too.

Now Trotskyites, that's a whole different story......

[ErikB]

Well, at least 5x the dead victims of the you-know-whats and China is still running conscentration camps.

[area23]

Now Trotskyites, that's a whole different story......

[Andy in Germany]

Well, at least 5x the dead victims of the you-know-whats and China is still running conscentration camps.

Two sides of the same coin.

I've just finished listening to Terry Pratchett's "Guards, Guards!" wherein a group of cultists summon a dragon, and it helped me understand a lot of the logic behind the cultist idea, especially the anonymity, control under one major personality, and the ideology of killing anyone in the way.

It got me thinking about how I could introduce this into my Ascension Island scenario; I have a league called the "Auxiliary Police", which is an initiative of Prima Minister Oswald Moseley, and they could certainly gain some expendable foot soldiers from among the dispossessed, psychologically damaged, and just plain angry people on the Island. I'm not sure about hooded robes, although I'm reminded that part of N*zi ideology was decidedly mystical...

I do not need to buy nmore figures... I do not need to buy nmore figures I do not need to...

[Elk101]

This is supposed to be about Pulp Cults for gaming, so let's not get into discussions about politics in any of its guises please.

[Cat]

The essentials of the pulp vibe cultists are mysterious, threatening, anonymous (except perhaps the leader); and above all, achieving their goals is focused through arcane and dangerous rituals.  That is the pulpy cult.

[ErikB]

The cliche cult presents a villian who:
- Wants to do bad things
- Join or die (or both)
- Diabolical intelligence sometimes
- Crazy and cannot be reasoned with
- Strange, cool fashions so they can be really cool minis

Perfect adventure!

[Deflatermouse]

"Death to the Non-Believers!" Death to the Fanatics!"
I  always thought that was directed at our heroes, but recently realised it could also mean those in the cult who don't "believe strongly enough."

I have Cultists, who can fill a lot of blank  narrative slots. They are timeless and can equally be at home in a Swords and sandals setting as in a early 20th century setting.
As their motivations and reasons, beliefs everything it known to the members and only guessed at by outsiders, it is easy to have them show up.
I can have my Corrupted Fishy Townspeople, Mad Doctor, Evil Scientist, Prussian Baron all be happily affiliated with or part of a Cult. 
Equally I could have them team up with my Native Tribes attempting to overthrow the Raj or Oriental secret society. Equally as equally they could have a falling out with the Orientals, something to be exploited by our Heroes.
They are very flexible convenient baddies.

[anevilgiraffe]

I don't get why this even needs explaining, never mind going to now 4 pages...

[carlos marighela]

Are you suggesting it's a conversational cult-de-sac?

[Tarnegol]

...realised it could also mean those in the cult who don't "believe strongly enough."

CINOs?

[carlos marighela]

No, that's just chaps in khaki cotton trousers. Not very threatening. Cultists are more of your brown corduroy underpants folk.

[Tom Dulski]

Are you suggesting it's a conversational cult-de-sac?

 GOOD ONE

[Elk101]

I don't get why this even needs explaining, never mind going to now 4 pages...

I tend to agree. I think we can probably say that the conversation has provided enough of a response already.