Roleplaying 101 Villainous Motivations [Archive] - Giant in the Playground Forums

Telonius

2017-03-09, 01:54 PM

8. Programmed for Evil - usually robot-based, but can apply to mind control as well
9. Protecting my loved ones - another bad guy is threatening to kill them
10. Protecting my loved ones - a threat must be completely eliminated
11. Jealousy: destroying a rival
12. Shortcut to power - doing things the "right way" is taking too long/ineffective
13. Traumatic backstory - parents killed by Nazis, hero killed your brother, abandoned in the woods and raised by ocelots

Uncle Pine

2017-03-09, 02:09 PM

14. For the evulz!
15. Because it was Tuesday.
16. Because my brother used to hog all the attentions from everyone, but now he's dead.
17. Because Destiny says so.
18. To appease my evil/crazy/elder/Volcano god.
19. You either die a hero or live long enough to become a villain.
20. Because I will be remembered, one way or the other.
21. I just want to be a badass.
22. I just want to be beautiful.
23. I just want to be free.
24. I just want to be normal.
25. I just want to be young.
26. I just want to be you.
27. I just want to kill all your friends.
28. Better to be feared than loved.
29. You can't be hurt again if you're the only person left in the whole world.
30. To create a playground for Evil.
31. Utopia justifies the means.

Segev

2017-03-09, 02:15 PM

32. I'll show them all!

martixy

2017-03-09, 02:55 PM

33. Indoctrination.
34. Power corrupts.

Red Fel

2017-03-09, 04:32 PM

35. I need to prove my existence by leaving incontrovertible evidence.
36. I need to prove my existence by defeating the most powerful hero.
37. I need to prove my existence by losing to the most powerful hero.
38. I need to show the world what happens when corruption and cruelty is taken to its logical extreme.
39. I need to show the world what madness tastes like.
40. "I am the world's first homicidal artist."
41. I just want to be left alone.
42. I find craters aesthetically pleasing.

Dagroth

2017-03-09, 04:43 PM

43. Someone needs to make the tough decisions, and I don't trust any of you to make them.
44. They wore White? After Labor Day!?!
45. The Voices told me to.
46. Four Bucks?!? For a lousy cup of coffee?!?
47. They just kept asking stupid questions...

Trekkin

2017-03-09, 05:04 PM

48. Free people make inefficient choices.
49. The only escape from tyranny is to become the tyrant.
50. Hurting people makes me feel powerful.
51. Because no one as evil as me should ever have been allowed near power, and they deserve to be punished for their laxity.
52. Happiness is relative, and sticks are cheaper than carrots.
53. I want to know how far I can go.

Buufreak

2017-03-09, 05:14 PM

53.5: To prove that sorcerers are better than wizards in all ways.

SirNibbles

2017-03-09, 05:16 PM

54. People need an enemy in order to be good.

Blu

2017-03-09, 05:19 PM

55. They should know their place... Below my feets!

Inevitability

2017-03-09, 05:26 PM

56. I've found this cool dagger that grants wishes if I kill enough people with it! Don't worry though: I'm only using it for the betterment of the world.

Speaking of which, mind dying for the betterment of the world?

Flickerdart

2017-03-09, 05:28 PM

57. I needed the experience points.

Strigon

2017-03-09, 05:34 PM

58. I just wanna have fu-un!
59. You killed my father. Prepare to die.
60. Gaining power to bring back a dead loved one.
61. The gods think our race is growing too powerful. If I don't curb our numbers, they will - and they'll be far less gentle.
61.5 In a sci-fi setting, we're getting too close to interstellar travel. You know what's out there, and what will happen to us if we make it out there in the dark.
62. Lost someone to bandits; consolidating power to wipe them out is the only way to ensure it never happens again.
63. You're ruining my beautiful grove!
64. Cursed with an endless hunger.

flappeercraft

2017-03-09, 05:38 PM

57. I needed the experience points.

Can I sig this?

58. The Law must be enforced
59. Things must be my way
60. I will ascend to GodHood

Blu

2017-03-09, 06:05 PM

65. Blood for the blood god!!!

Flickerdart

2017-03-09, 07:20 PM

Can I sig this?
Go right ahead.

WarKitty

2017-03-09, 07:24 PM

66. Race x/sentient creatures/city dwellers are ruining the sanctity of the world.

weckar

2017-03-09, 07:37 PM

67. "The world is a mess, and I... just need to rule it"

Strigon

2017-03-09, 09:17 PM

67. "The world is a mess, and I... just need to rule it"

68. I need to be Evil, or else I can't enter the Evil League of Evil!

atemu1234

2017-03-09, 10:44 PM

68. I need to be Evil, or else I can't enter the Evil League of Evil!

Bad Horse! Bad Horse!
Bad Horse! Bad Horse!

Blu

2017-03-09, 11:20 PM

69. Good* PrC's and spells on this side of things...

*Pun not intended

Bad Horse! Bad Horse!
Bad Horse! Bad Horse!

Reminded me of something...

70. Sorcurus king da best!

Fri

2017-03-09, 11:24 PM

71. My dad never loved me

SoraWolf7

2017-03-10, 12:36 AM

72. Mother never loved me.
73. Mother loved me too much. I needed my space!!
74. Because I can and it's free.
75. Because I'm bored.

Lord Raziere

2017-03-10, 01:15 AM

Inevitability

2017-03-10, 01:39 AM

81. I have this totally awesome build, but it only works if I'm evil.

BloodSnake'sCha

2017-03-10, 01:58 AM

76. Because I'm a wizard, what are you going to do about it?
77. Because war is the only real thing and all else is a sham
78. Because I need to spread my form of enlightenment
79. Because thats just a theory, AN (X) THEORY!!!
80. Because good doesn't REALLY exist, why pretend it does?

79.5. Tnx for watching

82. I am a good guy, all I ever do is good.
83. This is just a dream, I can do what I want in it.

Shackel

2017-03-10, 02:05 AM

83. They want their loved one back and the good guys/nation/innocents just happen to be in the way.
84. A hatred for their target and everything related to it, may or may not be unfounded.
85. The world considered them a villain already, so might as well reap the benefits!
86. "Asmodeus/Lucifer/The Plane of Shadows/The Negative Energy Plane is just misunderstood! I'll show you all if you just listen!"
87. Blue and Orange morality: they do not understand good and evil at all.
88. Sold their soul to evil to protect another
89. The world/nation/tristate area has grown stagnant, and I must remind them why they should strive for greatness.
90. For every hero, there must be a villain: this is balance.
90b. There are not enough heroes, therefore I must be the villain that inspires the next generation of them.
91. I am the only one who is real.

Dagroth

2017-03-10, 02:26 AM

Since 81 got doubled up...

93. In the end, there can be only one... and it shouldn't be you.
94. Because Real Estate schemes are for bald losers.

Afgncaap5

2017-03-10, 02:54 AM

95: I couldn't let you take the fall like that.
96: My people will starve/die from the sickness if we don't get those supplies first!
97: The kingdom forgot me after all I did for them.
98: You couldn't give me what you owed me.
99: If I can't have you, no one can!

Better save the last two for someone else...

danielxcutter

2017-03-10, 03:08 AM

100. I don't want to die, so everyone else has to.

(Btw, are we really only going to do 101 of these?)

Sheogoroth

2017-03-10, 12:24 PM

Wyrmclan

2017-03-10, 12:45 PM

102. All of my actions have been predetermined by the gods, I am but a tool.
103. I'm just following the instructions in this book I found. It starts with "N" and ends with "ecronomicon".
104. My most meaningful relationships are found with my hands around someone else's throat.
105. "I wonder if everyone bleeds red. . ."

Dagroth

2017-03-10, 03:56 PM

106. They tried to make me play 4th edition... so of course I had to kill them.

Jack_McSnatch

2017-03-10, 05:00 PM

107: (in the case of downtrodden "primitive" races. Example: goblins) Why should humans elves and dwarves get all the nice things? My race deserves prosperity too!
108: (in a similar vein) These were our lands first, before the elves forced us out! We want our homes back!
109: My god is the one true god. All others are false! Convert or die!
110: The church is corrupt, it must be cleansed of all but the truest believers.
111: The government is corrupt. It must be purged of selfish individuals using the system for their own gain.
112: No one has shown me mercy, why should I offer it to anyone else?
113: If someone doesn't take a stand, they will trample us all. So what if my solution calls for some spilled blood?
114: For God and Country.
115: So nature can reclaim the world.
116: So civilization can overcome nature

Dagroth

2017-03-10, 05:03 PM

117. Why do I need to justify myself to you?

Malroth

2017-03-10, 06:27 PM

118. Oh a neat looking helmet I wonder if it fits.
119. Hey a deck of Cards who wants to Play.
120. BRAINS!!!!

Kantaki

2017-03-10, 06:46 PM

121: When all races/nations/cilizations stand united in peace the time has come for the gods to bring the end of the world. Spreading chaos, war and discord is the only way to prevent it.
122: If civilization speads to far across the planes/universe the whole thing will be restarted from scratch by the gods/precursors/whoever.
To prevent that people must be discouraged from doing so at all costs.
123:Actually it's both.Infinite Space was a weird game.

Graysire

2017-03-10, 11:40 PM

124. The only way to prevent the world from falling to disaster is if I cause chaos and destruction to keep everyone form being orderly and complacent.

EDIT: Didn't realize I accidentally copied 121, sort of

Thealtruistorc

2017-03-11, 12:11 AM

125. I must secure the future of my clan, even if that means murdering every family and nation that stands in my way
126. My master ordered me to do this a long time ago. After his death, this order is all that I have left.
127. Because I can't afford to face death after all that I've done
128. My nation is under threat. I serve the one person who can protect it.
129. The gods no longer care for our race, so we must shepherd it ourselves.
130. Because smashing this realm beneath me is the only way to ensure that we will never experience war again.

NecroDancer

2017-03-11, 12:38 AM

131. I will finally rule the tri-state area!

Dagroth

2017-03-11, 12:44 AM

132. I mean, I've already killed this many people... why stop now?
133. Because being good never felt right.

MHCD

2017-03-11, 04:06 AM

101. He's really a good guy from the future where the morality system is flipped due to millennia of gradual cultural change! Now he's gone back to the past to try to kill his version of Hitler who is a good-guy in the present day.

134. Similar, but from a different culture, not the future. As in the inevitable seeking to apprehend/punish innocents across the valley for persistent deceit, but they are just celebrating the regional holiday of Spring Fool's Day. Or the serial killer murdering all those women is an out-from-the-underdark-Drow social justice vigilante avenging men while freeing them from their tyrannical matriarchal oppressors.

135. To commit evil on a small or large scale to disprove the existence or goodness of a god(s) - "If X was good/real, why won't they stop me?"

136. To commit evil on a small or large scale to prove the existence or goodness of a god(s) - "I know X is good/real because they will send someone to stop me!"

137. To become the focus of the PCs attention. Someone else needs help hiding from adventurers.

138. The villain is convinced this is all just a dream and there are no real consequences.

139. The villain is convinced this is all just a dream and X is necessary to end it (like shocking himself awake by performing some small or large scale evil act).

140. It starts with something small - say, sneaking a copper coin from the collection plate, before moving on to trying to knock out Old Man Wilkerson with one punch. Then it's moving in on the Bandit Lord Damien's territory, and before you know it, he's running from his latest job as cult leader to raze "Uncle Arty's Custom Magic Items for Adventurers and Orphanarium" - but it's not for the gold. It's not for the fame. It's not even for the ladies who love bad boys. It's for the rush, the thrill of getting away, and most importantly: the adrenaline of running from, matching wits against, and going toe-to-toe with adventurers. The more powerful, the better, and the bigger the crime, the bigger the reward, and the bigger the mercenary PCs sent to stop him.

141. To prove to himself that he is good / prove his worthiness. "If I am only capable of doing good, then doing good is meaningless. Grace is demonstrated in choosing holiness in the face of great opposition; a creature incapable of disobeying is not an angel, but a golem. Only by proving to myself and my god what wickedness I am capable of will my righteousness redeem me."

Blu

2017-03-11, 09:11 AM

142. I prefer corruption spells.

Calthropstu

2017-03-11, 09:21 AM

143: Guy became so powerful, fighting monsters became boring. So he becomes evil to relieve boredom.
144: Society turned its back on him after a terrible accident, despite having done many great things. Now they will pay.
145: There exists a vulnerability that he wants closed so no one else can use it... so he utilizes it to enact a change that will prevent many deaths in the future.
146: The bad guy is not actually evil, but neutral. Due to an inordinate amount of good deeds he has done, he must counteract them with evil ones to maintain a personal balance. Since he can't stop doing good deeds he must do evil ones as well.

TheTeaMustFlow

2017-03-11, 09:48 AM

147: Vive la Révolution!

Jay R

2017-03-11, 10:47 AM

148: If I could take over the kingdom, run roughshod over the peasants, intimidate the nobility, Force my will on the populace, embezzle the treasury, dominate the church …

Boy, then I could get girls!

GiantFlyingHog

2017-03-11, 03:24 PM

149: Because I'm tired of you idiots messing everything up, so I'm burning this place to the ground.

BloodSnake'sCha

2017-03-11, 04:02 PM

150: ORDER!!!!!
151: CHAOS!!!!
152: oops, why am I always missing(or miss spelling) my spells.

Calthropstu

2017-03-11, 04:13 PM

152: oops, why am I always missing(or miss spelling) my spells.

The spelling bee took your verbal components.

Dagroth

2017-03-11, 07:06 PM

153. "Mother always liked you best!"
154. Dad always seemed to have fun trying to take over the world... I'm just keeping up the family tradition!
155. "My dad named me 'Sue'... what did he think would happen?"

dhasenan

2017-03-12, 02:47 PM

156. I'm not trying to be evil; it's just, these are the most effective techniques for achieving a goal important enough to sacrifice my morality for.

Doorhandle

2017-03-12, 07:19 PM

157. The heros are hypocrites and I seek to prove it!
158. The heros are not hypocrites and I want to bring them down to my level!
159. The very existence of X oppresses me! I shall be rid of it, or it of me!
160. Because I want attention!
161. Because everything's a cosmic gag!
162. As above, but it;s a cover for my own depression and sadism.
163. Because [The heros] are holding humanity back from their true potential!
164. As above, but it's a cover for my own envy.
165. Because I cannot take joy in goodness no matter how hard I try. I''d rather be evil than unhappy.

rel

2017-03-12, 11:18 PM

166. I'm not evil we're just on opposite sides.

167. I'm not evil I just live in a dungeon. And you're trespassing.

168. The world is a place of crushing injustice. Once I take over I'll make things better.

169. I may be a thief but the people on top steal more in a day than I have in my entire career. If I'm evil what does it say about them.

170. I'm not evil I'm just in charge. That means I have to make the hard decisions and defend what's mine. I owe it to those I lead just as they owe me my due.

171. An angry mob attacked me on my own land. The killings were self defence and now I am claiming their kin and belongings to cover the costs of repairing my home from the damage THEY caused.
A weregild is owed, I am within my rights.

Dagroth

2017-03-13, 02:03 AM

172. With Great Power comes Great Massacres.
173. They say Absolute Power corrupts absolutely... They're right!

Doorhandle

2017-03-13, 02:07 AM

174. I burned the past to reach a better future, and now i'm bitter that all that it holds is ash!
175. I turned to evil to get revenge for crimes committed against me and my kin, and now i've got it my life has become empty. I now seek to make other like me, in order to provide at least temporary fulfillment.

danielxcutter

2017-03-13, 03:22 AM

176. Knowledge is power, and power corrupts. The mages have gathered much arcane knowledge - far too much. If they desired, they could destroy the world.

Thaneus

2017-03-13, 03:34 AM

177. Evil? its just a point of view!
178. Evil? Good? when all is gone there will be neither!
179. Ignorance is a bliss *midrape*
180. There is no Good because it justifys itselfe to defy evil!

Segev

2017-03-13, 09:50 AM

181. I want to, and I can. And you can't stop me.

Ettina

2017-03-13, 08:37 PM

178. This country is a mess, and I can fix it. I'll do anything to bring this country to order.
179. I want to rebuild my lost kingdom.
180. I don't wanna die.
181. You crossed me, so I'll hurt you.

(All actual motivations of villainous characters I've made.)

GiantFlyingHog

2017-03-22, 10:55 PM

I believe we have all missed an obvious one:
182. Because I AM A SEXY SHOELESS GOD OF WAR!

Thaneus

2017-03-23, 05:15 AM

also one of the good ol greek days:
183 you stole my woman lets wage war
184 lets steal some women!
185 THIS IS *random country name*

some orcish ambitions:
186 WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGHH HHHHHHH!
187 Tools we need, puny humans has it, we take!

Segev

2017-03-23, 09:58 AM

188) So, she'll only date me if I'm the last man alive? Challenge accepted.

Telonius

2017-03-23, 10:55 AM

199) I swore an oath to restore my family's honor. I'll recover that macguffin, no matter what the cost.

Segev

2017-03-23, 11:35 AM

200) When my plan is complete and I reverse time to correct my terrible mistake, all the evil I've done to make it happen will also be erased.

Dagroth

2017-03-23, 01:46 PM

201: Dude, my name's Skeletor and I have a Skull for a face. It's not like I can become a Hair Stylist.
202: "Her name is Evil-Lyn! How much more obvious do you need it to be?!?" "But dude, she's hot." "Go team Evil!"

the_archduke

2017-03-23, 02:21 PM

189. The current king usurped my throne. I want it back.
190. The current king is an idiot and I would make a better one. Plus his daughter, the princess, is totally hot.
191. The current king (my brother) banished me for trying to steal his throne. I still want it.
192. My child should wed the prince, not the protagonist.
193. I shall be the fairest one of all... stupid mirror. Poison apple time.
194. The rightful ruler has been transformed into a hideous monster. Lets kill it.
195. I was cast out because I am evil, lets curse the whole kingdom into eternal sleep.
196. I have to pay the ransom for my brother, the true king who is being held for ransom. As his regent, I guess I am doubling the taxes. No, tripling the taxes.
197. I am the head of a marauding horde. Your empire is in the way and has nice stuff to steal.
198. The savage natives are sitting on all that rich land. Lets wipe them out and take it.

203. I am the youngest son and have no chance to inherit. I better take the throne of a neighboring kingdom. That nation's queen is clearly a witch, burn her.

Segev

2017-03-23, 03:43 PM

204) Those settlers are squatting on our ancestral land. Kill their men and enslave their women and children.

Dagroth

2017-03-23, 05:06 PM

205) Crush your enemies. See them driven before you. Hear the lamentations of their women.

Bohandas

2017-07-10, 11:46 PM

206.) A twisted sense of humor

flappeercraft

2017-07-11, 12:01 AM

207) The ideals we have been taught were wrong all along

Lord Raziere

2017-07-11, 02:12 AM

208) Because the world is a garden and there are so many weeds that need uprooting to make it beautiful.

Malroth

2017-07-11, 02:17 AM

209) Ragnarok is coming, i must ensure humanity is strong enough to survive
210) You see in this world there's two kinds of people, those with loaded guns and those who dig, You dig.
211) I need the tall two legged slaves to rub my fur and bring me fish.

Bohandas

2017-07-11, 11:13 AM

212.) "We take a quick ride, homicide, then I confide in you and I can love you, and technically even though your dead you'll always be around 'cause I'm keeping your head." -ICP, Bowling Balls
213.) "The young are simply too dumb to live, the old are weak and unclean, the ones in the middle they also must die, their ways are obtuse and obscene" -Gwar, Biledriver

61. The gods think our race is growing too powerful. If I don't curb our numbers, they will - and they'll be far less gentle.

214.) The gods think our race is growing too powerful. I must kill the gods!

Dagroth

2017-07-11, 11:57 AM

214) Moral relativism is for the weak-minded fools who can't understand that Evil is Fun.

Braininthejar2

2017-07-11, 12:20 PM

215 - "The elves took in my family when we escaped the war. But I was never an equal to them. Even their children saw me as... a pet? A pudgy, short-lived thing they could befriend, and then forget when it ages and dies. I will show them what a human can achieve."

216 - "I have seen the work of gods, and found it lacking. I have seen heroes of myth die before my eyes, mere pawns in the divine games. We are all slaves of capricious masters, and the priests are traitors of their kind who serve as our willing jailors. I will not rest until I see humanity in control of its own destiny."

217 - "I want to die. I have been trying for eons to escape this pain. But no matter how hard I try, I am not a mortal. Death has no meaning to me. The only way for me to cease to exist is to unmake reality itself."

218 - "I sacrificed all I had to save the lot of you, and you branded me a villain for the methods I used? Cast me out, labelled me a monster? That will not stand. You all owe me your lives, and if that is your idea of gratitude, I'm taking them all back."

Bohandas

2017-07-11, 01:32 PM

219.) "I love people, I love everything about them, and that's why I gotta live life without them. I know it don't make any sense to you, but **** you, this song's about me, exclusively." -ICP Mr.Happy
220.) "Oh it feels so good every time I murder I get happy!" -ICP Mr.Happy
221.) Didn't read the terms of the faustian contract

Zaq

2017-07-11, 08:20 PM

222) I need attention the way you need food.

222a) I need the attention, and I need it forever. "The evil that men do lives after them; the good is oft interrèd with their bones."

223) I have no impulse control. I also have an artifact of unspeakable power. I'm not a schemer, but you'd better believe I'm not thinking too hard about ANY consequences. 72 hours remain . . .

EisenKreutzer

2017-07-11, 09:24 PM

224) There can be no good without evil. To foster the ultimate good, I must become the ultimate evil.

225) A paladin ran off with my wife, just because I'm an ogre and something he called "consent." Feh.

Misereor

2017-07-12, 05:15 AM

226) I fell, and the Avariel who condemned me shall fall also.
By having their wings cut off and being forced to walk the plank from the tall cliff where their capital is placed, to eventually make a nice little mound of dead flesh at the bottom.

227) To maintain the Balance between Civilization and Wilderness. (What makes the grass grow? Blood! Blood! Blood!)

228) Hi, my name is Guido, and I'm just an ordinary guy trying to make a living.

229) We need fresh hosts!

230) No, seriously! If the Sun God doesn't receive his sacrifices, a big Wolf will swallow all the light!

231) Well, someone needs to take care of my fellow infected.

232) Homocidal rages be damned, I'm running for Governor!

233) Superpowers need to be regulated!

234) No they don't!

235) Hi, my name is Johnny Lomumba. I'm the son of a deceased Nigerian Dictator, and I need to move several millions dollars out of the country...

236) All that doesn't concern us. We're just trying to buy some <insert rare wood or mineral>.

237) Sorry, but we need that drug money to finance our struggle for freedom.

238) Oh yeah? Well Sharks have rights! They need to eat too, buddy!

239) I'm sorry, but one of the Altar boys escaped from the Vestry, and we will stop at nothing to get him back.

240) Why I quite agree. Overpopulation *is* the most serious problem the world is facing. But how come you're bringing up the subject, Doctor von Anthrax?