I was gobsmacked.
Reeling, I stammered for a few moments and blurted out
something to do with prophecies and revenge, but this didn’t stop the PC from
then asking, and I quote, “But why? What do you hope to gain? You’ll slaughter
and blast and defile until there is nothing left for you to rule. There must be
more to life than this.”
Clearly, the player had not realised that motivation was not
forefront in my mind when I designed the game – but it certainly gave me
something to think about. I had always concentrated on the plot and the action,
basically running the game as a sequence of encounters and situations, but
never had really gone over the reason why certain people did certain things and
what drives them to act the way they do. In this article I hope to give you
some ideas on motivation based on upbringing, and give a few ideas on what to
consider before deciding why a character, NPC and PC, is disposed to act a
certain way. It may help to add more depth to the game as whole personalities
are revealed, and it helps open up more role-playing opportunities as players
start to question their own motives.
What a child is exposed to can have an effect on their
personality and perceptions at an older age as incidents throughout childhood
mould their character. Their childhood will, in general terms, depend on the
environment they were bought up in, with different ideas on how their position
in life affected them, both POSITIVE and NEGATIVE. A POSITIVE influence is an
indication of how events can improve a character’s personality, whereas a
NEGATIVE influence details how events can transpire to make a character a
danger to society.
All these can be chopped and changed and added together – a
nice family who lives in a rough neighbourhood, or a good kid falling in with a
bad crowd always makes for an interesting character. For a real challenge you
could randomise the character’s background by flipping a coin to see if their
experience is positive or negative.
- Poor / Lower class family background
a) Peer Teachings
POSITIVE = Perhaps the father of the character was a poor
man but he had pride which made him work hard to improve his situation, or
their mother, although the family had little, was satisfied to have the love of
her family and did not need anything material to make her happy. An upbringing
like this might make a character less greedy than most, more patient, or able
to weather hardship.
NEGATIVE = The father is angry at the ruling body who have
allowed him to end up on the bottom rung of the social ladder. He spends his
time drinking and working, creating dissent and taking out his anger on his
family. The mother cares very little for children she did not want and sends
them out to work and thieve so that the little they earn can go into her
pockets. An upbringing like this may make the character violent, angry at peers
and institutions, learning skills generally regarded as anti-social.
b) Social Background
POSITIVE = The friends of the character are enjoyable,
well-rounded people with good hearts and friendly attitudes to everyone. They
frequently go on trips and small adventures together, and bonds are formed and
honoured as the group shares what little they have to improve their lot in
life.
NEGATIVE = The people the character knows are cheats, liars
and unfriendly. The small social group the character falls in with have a
reputation for cruel or anti-social behaviour and the only way they can get
their kicks is by preying on those weaker than them. This often leads to
infighting and distrust.
c) Environment
POSITIVE = The
location the character hails from is wide open and spacious with plenty of
places to lose themselves in and appreciate what they have, or it is a well
cared for part of a larger town which, even though it has very little in the
way of wealth, makes do with what it does have and appreciates its existence. This creates a community spirit.
NEGATIVE = The location the character is forced to endure is
a dangerous place, with creatures or individuals a constant threat to the
people who work and live there. Neighbours distrust and, frankly, hate each
other. Its dirty, grimy and has the atmosphere that if you say or do the wrong
thing you’ll be found in a shallow grave.
d) Beliefs
POSITIVE = The character is taught that all things are
equal, that good virtues are always a benefit to the individual and those about
them. Their religion may take the form of a passive or defensive stance on
violence, and they may also believe that, whilst they do not have much in the
way of belongings or wealth, money and material goods are no substitute for a
good heart and health.
NEGATIVE = The character is bought up to believe in
‘survival of the fittest’ – those willing to do what they can to get what they
want is all that matters for life is one huge battle for supremacy. Friends,
family, neighbours, guests; they are all usable, disposable and crushable.
Their religion may revolve around intolerance of other beliefs or cultures and
violence is the only true solution.
- Comfortable / Middle Class family background
a) Peer Teachings
POSITIVE = The father of the character is a generous man and
he has a pride which makes him work hard and share his fortunes, or their
mother had the love of her family and acquired material goods for them to make
them happy. An upbringing like this might make a character less greedy than
most, appreciate what they have and the value of it, and willing to help those
less fortunate.
NEGATIVE = The father is angry at the fact that he only has
so much. Perhaps he has progressed up from a lower social standing but still
wants more. He spends his time working (although he shirks his
responsibilities), creating problems for those around him and taking out his
anger on neighbours and family. The mother cares very little for the children
who are a drain on what she has, so she does all she can to get them to leave
home as soon as possible. An upbringing like this may make the character angry
at and distrusting of others and create abandonment issues.
b) Social Background
POSITIVE = The friends of the character are good people with
their own lives but with friendly dispositions. They frequently gather at
social venues, share trusts and stories, and great friendships are honoured as
the group gather to appreciate each others company and personalities.
NEGATIVE = The people the character knows are shady and
always know ‘someone’ with a finger in the larger pot of trouble. The social
group the character joins have a penchant for anti-social behaviour and this
often leads to infighting and distrust of others in the group and outsiders to
the group. Perhaps the ‘gang’ builds a reputation that leaves a lasting
impression.
c) Environment
POSITIVE = The location the character comes from is a
beautifully natural place, or a whole estate/quarter of a city which has good
security and wealth. This creates a community that enjoy gatherings and social
activities and a general atmosphere of well-being and safety.
NEGATIVE = The character is forced to handle themselves in a
dangerous place, with dangers a constant threat to the community who live
there. Because of this danger, maybe crime or gang problems, neighbours
distrust and feud with each other. It’s an unsanitary, lawless and uncared for
place. The atmosphere is one of continuous oppressive danger.
d) Beliefs
POSITIVE = The character is taught that although all things
are equal, hard work and commitment reaps it’s own rewards. Their religion may
be a way of bringing together the community and preaching their non-aggressive
stance on life and, whilst they have a comfortable existence, money and
material goods are a way of defining your success.
NEGATIVE = The character is bought up to believe in ‘if you
want it, take it’ – those who want to better themselves had better be prepared
to fight, cheat and tread on others to reign supreme. Their religion may incite
distrust of other religions and encourage closed ears to other opinions and
conflict.
- Rich / Noble family background
a) Peer Teachings
POSITIVE = The father of the character is a hard-working
honourable man and his main aim in life is to make sure his family has
everything they need to grow up to be good people. Perhaps their mother
acquires tutors and materials to help them to grow. An upbringing like this
might make a character appreciate their lofty position and the value helping
others less fortunate.
NEGATIVE = The father has so much that he become a selfish,
uncaring miser. Perhaps he has fallen from a higher standing and hates the
fact, or risen from a lower class and still wants more. He might spend his time
playing and squandering his money, ignoring his family in pursuit of other
distractions. The mother cares little for the welfare of her children and
leaves them with nannies and carers for the most part. A childhood like this
may make the character unemotional and selfish in his actions.
b) Social Background
POSITIVE = The friends of the character are of their social
class and they mix frequently at expensive restaurants and venues. They share
their leisure time doing exciting activities and travelling to far places,
always under the protection of the security the family needs, and friendships
are solid as they all appreciate the lives they lead.
NEGATIVE = The people the character mix with are always
trying to throw off the ‘leash’ of their superiors, trying to do things that
are the opposite of their position, such as dangerous sports or ‘slumming it’.
Even though they oppose the rules set by their peers or security, they still
use their position as a retreat or an excuse. This makes them spoilt and
ignorant of the consequences of their actions.
c) Environment
POSITIVE = The character comes from a beautiful estate which
is has been taken care of by the family past and present, and the cities they
invest in or govern have good security and wealth. This creates a community of
good feeling and safety, and so the character appreciates their lot in life and
is sympathetic to lesser-privileged people.
NEGATIVE = The area the character hails from is a dangerous
place, with violence a threat to the ruling higher-privileged families who live
there due to their lack of concern for those less fortunate. This danger causes
civil unrest and riot problems. It’s an oppressive place, and the family regard
the lower classes as misfits and miscreants.
d) Beliefs
POSITIVE = The character is taught that hard work and
responsibility is the way, no matter how much you have or how much you can
delegate. Religious ceremony may be a way of showing the community that the
family is not all-powerful and even they answer to a higher power. Whilst they
have a comfortable existence, more so than those above them, this brings the
higher families and the lower classes together and promotes solidarity.
NEGATIVE = The family ideal is ‘the power is yours, so you
can do what you want’ – those without power or money are good for nothing but
service to the richer or ruling elite. Their religion may incite hoarding and
selfish acts, and encourage violence to take whatever makes the family or
estate more powerful.
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