Help with character goals... [Archive] - Wizards Community

Help with character goals... [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Bazcasta
06-08-04, 05:27 PM Okay, my only other thread on this board , Here, (http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=252404) has a character in it.

Now it says that this character adventures because he has a passion for knowledge and travelling can somewhat sate that desire. Now that is just one goal. I know that I have many goals for my own life, so why wouldn't my character. But I'm at a mental roadblock for why this guy would adventure. Can you guys help me out with this, giving me ideas why he would adventure?

thanks
Lone Wolf88
06-09-04, 04:28 AM Well, I will say your character seems very well adjusted! Maybe... *creative juices flowing*.... Maybe if we tweak his background a bit?

He grew up in a unsupportive houshold? His father, a veteran of many battles, disapproved of his bookish nature and was never very proud of him. His mother, although loving, was a succesful trader and traveled often. After an argument with his father, Laren left home. Now, away from his combative family, he can do what he enjoys most. This makes him happy, hence his cheerful nature.

or...

Sometime after leaving home, Someone in Someway helped Laren out of some dangerous situation and asked for no reward. Laren felt that his new lease on life would be well spent making other people's lives better. Maybe he researches magical cures or some such.

these ideas are just rough and there's plenty of room for you to customize them. i feel the best backstories somehow reflect your (you, the real you) personality, and so should your character.
Trydan
06-09-04, 04:29 AM Take your own life goals, and analyse them. Buying a car may be one of your goals, but why? Do you need the transport? Do you want a status symbol? Do you want to impress someone? Do you enjoy home-mechanical-matainence? Are you doing it for someone in your life (spouse, family)? Is is a requirement for your work?

Then try applying some of these ideas to the character.

Or, alternatively, look at the primal (and not-so-primal) instincts and try to find a way to expound them.
Food - Famine plagues his homeland
Water - Drought or flood can be just as bad.
Money - there is only so much one can do with farming; time to seek his fortune elsewhere in the world
Friendship - single and lonely, the character seeks companionship in fellow travellers
Family - Either to support one, or to find/start one
Power - a wish to increase the character sphere of influence
Collector - in search of a prized artefact or to add to a collection of certain items
Business - well, this comes down to money, but perhaps trading is a driving factor
Religion - a pilgrimage (sp?) or quest
Law - hunting down a criminal, or seeking to exact revenge on one who has wronged him/her.
Flight - perhaps the character is on the run from something?
Respite - Perhaps the character seeks to get away from it all. A holiday or retirement from mundane life.
Dream - Perhaps the character is motivated by a dream - either a vision or a passion to fulfil a lifelong ambition
Investigation - either to determine something or to acquire a particular piece of knowledge
Curiosity - the desire for general knowledge (you have sort of already covered this)
Well, that's all I can think of for now. I hope it helps.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Bazcasta 06-08-04, 05:27 PM	Okay, my only other thread on this board , Here, (http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=252404) has a character in it. Now it says that this character adventures because he has a passion for knowledge and travelling can somewhat sate that desire. Now that is just one goal. I know that I have many goals for my own life, so why wouldn't my character. But I'm at a mental roadblock for why this guy would adventure. Can you guys help me out with this, giving me ideas why he would adventure? thanks
Lone Wolf88 06-09-04, 04:28 AM	Well, I will say your character seems very well adjusted! Maybe... creative juices flowing.... Maybe if we tweak his background a bit? He grew up in a unsupportive houshold? His father, a veteran of many battles, disapproved of his bookish nature and was never very proud of him. His mother, although loving, was a succesful trader and traveled often. After an argument with his father, Laren left home. Now, away from his combative family, he can do what he enjoys most. This makes him happy, hence his cheerful nature. or... Sometime after leaving home, Someone in Someway helped Laren out of some dangerous situation and asked for no reward. Laren felt that his new lease on life would be well spent making other people's lives better. Maybe he researches magical cures or some such. these ideas are just rough and there's plenty of room for you to customize them. i feel the best backstories somehow reflect your (you, the real you) personality, and so should your character.
Trydan 06-09-04, 04:29 AM	Take your own life goals, and analyse them. Buying a car may be one of your goals, but why? Do you need the transport? Do you want a status symbol? Do you want to impress someone? Do you enjoy home-mechanical-matainence? Are you doing it for someone in your life (spouse, family)? Is is a requirement for your work? Then try applying some of these ideas to the character. Or, alternatively, look at the primal (and not-so-primal) instincts and try to find a way to expound them. Food - Famine plagues his homeland Water - Drought or flood can be just as bad. Money - there is only so much one can do with farming; time to seek his fortune elsewhere in the world Friendship - single and lonely, the character seeks companionship in fellow travellers Family - Either to support one, or to find/start one Power - a wish to increase the character sphere of influence Collector - in search of a prized artefact or to add to a collection of certain items Business - well, this comes down to money, but perhaps trading is a driving factor Religion - a pilgrimage (sp?) or quest Law - hunting down a criminal, or seeking to exact revenge on one who has wronged him/her. Flight - perhaps the character is on the run from something? Respite - Perhaps the character seeks to get away from it all. A holiday or retirement from mundane life. Dream - Perhaps the character is motivated by a dream - either a vision or a passion to fulfil a lifelong ambition Investigation - either to determine something or to acquire a particular piece of knowledge Curiosity - the desire for general knowledge (you have sort of already covered this) Well, that's all I can think of for now. I hope it helps.