CHARACTER MOTIVATION THESAURUS

OBTAINING GLORY WHATEVER THE COST (DARK)



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HELPFUL TIP:

To understand why your character is driven toward a certain goal, get to know their positive and negative traits, as well as any significant emotional wounds that might be motivating them. Then you can explore the various kinds of conflict that could block them as they move toward their goal.
NOTES:
Characters pursuing this goal are desperate to glorify themselves, to make themselves known and be remembered by others. Because the means are secondary to the end result, even the most vile and reprehensible methods can be justified in their mind. Their sense of importance is bolstered by how many people are talking about them or what they're credited with (even if they're working under a pseudonym or alter ego).

FORMS THIS MIGHT TAKE:
Killing a vast number of people
Creating a high-profile, heinous problem so the character can swoop in and be the savior
Committing crimes that prove their prowess in an area (their intelligence, knowledge of a certain topic, ability to evade capture, etc.)
Publishing media (books, videos, a manifesto, etc.) that publicizes their beliefs and values
Starting a cult
Facilitating terrorist activities meant to frighten people or reinforce the character's ideology
Carrying out a large-scale event that culminates in their own death

HUMAN NEED DRIVING THE GOAL (INNER MOTIVATION):
There are five basic human needs that, when missing from a character's life, could motivate them to pursue this goal. The following needs are all possibilities, but only one of them should be the primary driver for any given character. For more information on the relationship between human needs and outer motivations, please see this Character Motivation tutorial.

Esteem and Recognition: A character with this goal feels as if they aren't valued or esteemed as highly as they should be. This is why they do what they do, because they believe that popularity or notoriety will prove their value to themselves and to others.

HOW THE CHARACTER MAY PREPARE FOR THIS GOAL:
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POSSIBLE SACRIFICES OR COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS GOAL:
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ROADBLOCKS WHICH COULD PREVENT THIS GOAL FROM BEING ACHIEVED:
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TALENTS & SKILLS THAT WILL HELP THE CHARACTER ACHIEVE THIS GOAL:
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WHAT'S AT STAKE IF THIS GOAL ISN'T MET?
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CLICHÉS TO AVOID:
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