Re: Biker Gangs, or Waha vs Storm Bull

From: Kevin Rose <vladt_at_interaccess.com>
Date: Wed, 14 Apr 1999 02:17:39 -0500 (CDT)


Brian wrote:

> Why is that certain cults are labelled as powergamer-type cults and
> treated as one-dimensional, while other more politically correct cults
> like Waha, Ernalda, etc. are allowed to have real depth?

Well, the reason that certain cults are considered fairly one-dimensional is that the god is basically focused on one thing. Cults that define an entire culture have a necessarily deeper structure to them.

Even Humakt, which is the bigest and most powerful of the monofocused cults is not generally considered to have real depth. Nearly everything about the cult in a particular area is defined by the dominant culture. "Are you ready to Kill, and willing to Die?" is the only rule. Everything else is cultural. That's why you can have the houscarl Humakti of Sartar and the "samurai" Humakti of Carmania.

There is only so much depth that a small cult can have. You don't get real depth in the marginal cults like Storm Bull, Babestor Gor, Black Fang, etc. You can't. How much depth and complexity can 50 people have? Particularly when they are nearly all young males?

You can develop all sorts of interesting things in a storm bull game. But you can also do the same thing in a study of the Hells Angels. And like studying the Hells Angels will reveal somthing about America, Storm Bull will reveal something about Prax. But it is going to look like a really odd place if that is the only view you have.

Kevin


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