Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Amara Trapspringer 03-16-04, 06:00 PM	I have been trying to find out how you go about designing a cult, and I cant seem to find anything to help me. It is a cult built around the worship of a great wyrm red dragon. Even though the dragon was slain many years ago, the cult still thrives. I don't have much to work with on the cult, they are from a module and only briefly mentioned. Basically only their name and purpose. It is the Cult of Ashardolon Their purpose is to try and bring back the Great Wyrm Red Dragon Ashardolon. Thats about all it gives me. It gives no real background, history or really much of anything. I got the cult from the module The Sunless Citadel. I fit it into my campaign which is just some of the WoTC Modules I am running set in the world of Greyhawk. Can any of you help me find the steps needed to design a cult?
Drindin 03-16-04, 06:41 PM	Not much, really... First, just decide what kind of people are in this cult. Is it primarily fighters, bards, sorcerers, wizards, clerics... or everything or different in every area, are most members Kobolds or humans, or a mixture of things. Next, decide if being in this cult has requirements... either racial, or class, or maybe there is a set of trials to get in, or maybe they need to be able to do something like make something or cast a spell. Third, decide if being in this cult gives you access to certain spells, or feats. In this case, you might want to give the dragon clerical domains that clerics of the Great Wyrm Red Dragon can choose. (Most probably Chaos, Evil, Fire {and if somebody else is using this for Forgotten Realms, Scaleykind} Maybe a few others like destruction, war, or death, though the first three will suffice)
Sulaco 03-16-04, 06:43 PM	Well, I don't know that there is a step-by-step guide to cult creation, but the best way I can think to go about it is to set yourself some basic questions about the cult and then go about answering them in terms of your game adn game world. This will help you both flesh out the cult and customize it to your game. Suggested questions include: • Why does anyone join this cult? • What is in it for the worshippers? • What is in it for the leaders? • Who belongs to the cult? • How do they get new worshippers? • Where do they worship? • What are their ultimate goals? • How will these goals affect the world? • Are they evil or merely secretive? • Is the cult legal? • Are they a "real" cult (ie. Jim Jones, David Koresh) or just a way for the few on top to fleece the underlings (ie. Scientology)?
beyowulf 03-16-04, 06:45 PM	The thing about cults it they usually have some sort of leader, usually charismatic, who is supposed to be obeyed in all things. If this cult is trying to bring back a Red Wyrm, then there's going to be one person spear-heading the effort.
Drindin 03-16-04, 06:52 PM	Well, in this case, I'd imagine the leader is the red-dragon (since it's still alive).
dmdarkdragon 03-16-04, 09:46 PM	According to the Draconomicon, the Cult of Ashardalon (A cult composed entirely of dragons) does not worship Ashardalon per se, but rather tries to follow in his footsteps. You see, Ashardalon captured a demon and grafted it to his heart, granting him fiendish abilities beyond mortal ken. Thus, the initiation rite to the Cult is to have your heart replaced by a demon. Many dragons who undergo this ritual die. In the Draconomicon, there's a prestige class for cult members (Disciple of Ashardalon), but placing it here would be against the rules/law.
beyowulf 03-16-04, 11:47 PM	Originally posted by Drindin Well, in this case, I'd imagine the leader is the red-dragon (since it's still alive). Well, not in the thread starter's campaign, otherwise, they wouldn't be trying to bring it back from the dead.
Amara Trapspringer 03-17-04, 11:19 AM	From what information I have gathered, It seems that he is not dead, but merely on another plane.