What's my (PC's) motivation?

[WalterKovacs]

Generally my Adventurers have power as their motivation, but that is the more immediate motivation, likely because by aquiring power, they will be able to achieve their overarching goal (revenge, duty, survival). That helps when the groups current adventure isn't directly applicable to the goal ... having a "goal to reach the goal" allows the character to pretty much go a with the flow of the group. Similarly, surivival as a motivation (if I die, I can't reach my goal) helps to keep the character stay with a party even if they seem to have conflicting goals/personalities/allignments. In general having a few motivations, especially when they come into conflict, is good.

One of my current characters has recently joined the party replacing the former leader. The group is moving away from where he can acheive his goal of revenge, but he realizes that by delaying that goal, he can amass power, and strike a stronger blow of revenge at a later time.

Some of my simpler characters are just in it for, not exactly adventure, but the ability to go out, get into fights, and have it be considered acceptable behaviour.

 

[justanobody]

Depends on the PC I am playing.

 

[Afrodyte]

My last PC became an adventurer mainly because it provided social mobility that would allow her a chance to be the one she loved.

Unfortunately, I rarely get a chance to go in-depth with my characters' motivations.

 

[crazy_cat]

For my current PC (A wizard and ex slave currently based in Nibenay and on the run with the few other survivors after his employers entire house were exterminated by a rival house in a trade war) - Survival, Money, Power, and Self Preservation.

 

[Vegepygmy]

Why does your PC adventure?

Which one? I have several, currently.

Two are 4E characters whom I have made no attempt to give any personality or motivation.

One is a 3.5 halfling barbarian who adventures mostly because his two brothers (also members of the party) do so.

One is a WFRP dwarf rat-catcher who sees "adventuring" as a way to make a better living...if he doesn't get killed doing it.

Prior to those, I played a 3.5 wizard in a Shackled City campaign who was a long-time resident of Cauldron and assisted the other PCs because nobody was going to lower the property value of his house if he had anything to say about it.

And before that, I played a 3.5 warforged cleric/paladin who was basically "programmed" to serve and protect fleshies.

 

[StreamOfTheSky]

For my current character, I chose Duty (to religion), though Revenge, Power, and Survival could also fit to a lesser degree. I suppose "the DM said..." is another reason, because his god (whom others in the party also follow) is at the center of the campaign plot. Also, because I'm the DM, I just rotate the duty around with the others, but yeah. I decided on the major plot device with the other players' approval.

 

[Lanefan]

This poll desperately needs to be multiple choice!

And, there's two types of motivation: internal (e.g. revenge, greed, curiousity) and external (e.g. duty, escape, compulsion). Most of the time, my characters adventure due to greed (internal) and duty (external); I suspect I'm not alone in this.

Lanefan

 

[ProfessorCirno]

My current character is doing it for the chicks and the cash.

God bless you, unsophisticated gnome rogue.

 

[Kid Charlemagne]

Depends on the PC I am playing.

Whats the motivation for the PC you're playing in games right now?

In my case, its revenge - or thats the closest answer on the list.

 

[Shroomy]

My eladrin artificer-rogue is in self-imposed exile and initially adventured for money and to improve his skills (he wants to make up for his brother's failure, which was the ultimate impetus for his exile). Now we're neck deep in the campaign and I've been commissioned in an airship navy, so my motivations are not so clear anymore!