Villain motivation

[Midas]

I'm kicking around a Dark Champions campaign where a Sauron/Morgoth/Lord Foul is trying to conquer 21st century Earth. (Tagline: "The enemy has cruise missiles, SEALs, and laser pointers. I have...orcs? ").

I'd like to get the "Why" out of the way before I start on the "How" though.

He's a bit of a fatalist, thinking that it has been his fate from the beginning of time to do this, but I'd like a better motivation than "Somebody's got to do it."

[Lawnmower Boy]

A)


B) Isn't that just Takofanes? Actually, if he had dragons, werewolves, fireball spells.... it might be quite the fight.

[Old Man]

Well, what were Sauron/Morgoth/Foul's motives? A desire for order, sheer lust for power, and just plain sadism, respectively. But I could see your bad guy also motivated by a hatred of technology, almost like an epic Luddite or Amish guy gone wrong. Especially if technology somehow suppresses magic.

[Zen Archer]

Well, what were Sauron/Morgoth/Foul's motives? A desire for order, sheer lust for power, and just plain sadism, respectively. But I could see your bad guy also motivated by a hatred of technology, almost like an epic Luddite or Amish guy gone wrong. Especially if technology somehow suppresses magic.

If you need an example of the above, and you've got old hero stuff, there's an old character called the Demonologist that fits this bill pretty well.

There's also the idea that your baddie believes that something worse will happen if he *doesn't* take over, which you could connect to the whole fate thing.

[csyphrett]

If he thinks he's fated to do it, what put that thought in his head in the first place? Maybe he got played. Maybe he was told someone would come looking for him if he didn't. Maybe he has a split personality where the other side is feeding him his motivation so they would both be killed.
CES

[Michael Hopcroft]

Perhaps he has been observing the world of man and sees himself as the bulwark against humankind's rapaciousness and desire to control his environment. Perhaps he thinks that he can restore the "order of nature" that humans have corrupted by breeding, spreading and exploiting the world. He might have been OK with us while we were hunter-gatherers or subsistence farmers, but civilization might strike him as an obscenity.

[Clonus]

I'm kicking around a Dark Champions campaign where a Sauron/Morgoth/Lord Foul is trying to conquer 21st century Earth. (Tagline: "The enemy has cruise missiles, SEALs, and laser pointers. I have...orcs? ").

I'd like to get the "Why" out of the way before I start on the "How" though.

He's a bit of a fatalist, thinking that it has been his fate from the beginning of time to do this, but I'd like a better motivation than "Somebody's got to do it."

1. Revenge. He blames someone or something for past defeat, pain and suffering and wants them to pay.
2. Fear. He believes that the only way to remain alive, free and strong is to conquer his enemy and their pawns before they defeat him.
3. Insecurity. He wants to prove he's more than his predecessor or than someone thinks he is.
4. Idealism. The imperfections in the world bother him and he wants to destroy them.
5. Arrogance. He believes he's the rightful king of the world by right of birth, power or capability. Those who stand against him are in the wrong and deserve what they get.
6. Hunger. He's hungry, we're his food.
7. Overconfidence. He thought it would be easy.

[Narf the Mouse]

He's a jerk. Sometimes, it's just that simple. He enjoys power and making people suffer.

Not every villain has to have a "Trajic Background".

[Midas]

Takofanes and The Demonologist aren't quite it. Origin wise Slug is closer.

Well, what were Sauron/Morgoth/Foul's motives? A desire for order, sheer lust for power, and just plain sadism, respectively. But I could see your bad guy also motivated by a hatred of technology, almost like an epic Luddite or Amish guy gone wrong. Especially if technology somehow suppresses magic.

Or: Keeping the Boss's seat warm 'til he gets out of Stir, ticked the The Maestro didn't like his ad libs, or -being the Jungian Other- has a certain responsibility to do just the opposite of what the dominant personality would want.

The idea of an Amish super-terrorist has a certain appeal, though.

[Midas]

1. Revenge. He blames someone or something for past defeat, pain and suffering and wants them to pay.
2. Fear. He believes that the only way to remain alive, free and strong is to conquer his enemy and their pawns before they defeat him.
3. Insecurity. He wants to prove he's more than his predecessor or than someone thinks he is.
4. Idealism. The imperfections in the world bother him and he wants to destroy them.
5. Arrogance. He believes he's the rightful king of the world by right of birth, power or capability. Those who stand against him are in the wrong and deserve what they get.
6. Hunger. He's hungry, we're his food.
7. Overconfidence. He thought it would be easy.

Three, Five and Seven work.
3: This isn't the first time this has happened (see, Silmarillion, Lord of the Rings, and the grand daddy of them all Paradise Lost). This time Evil will get it right!

5: It is his destiny to be the current Dark Lord. Of course The Opposition will have champions in the game, fools that they are.

7: Well, he's got plenty of examples of how *not* to do it. If your most loyal lieutenant wants a particular wench, go ahead and give him her. Keep in mind The Opposition might chose to destroy the world breaking weapon rather than use it: Watch out for suicide missions to the heart of your power!

[Midas]

He's a jerk. Sometimes, it's just that simple. He enjoys power and making people suffer.

Not every villain has to have a "Trajic Background".

Heh, there is that option. While reading this thread I had the idea that his secret identity was a college professor who tortures students by boring them to death. Suspends disbelief too much, that never happens in the real world.

As the saying goes, nobody believes *they* are the villain. Hitler, Stalin, Pol Pot, George W. Bush: None of these people decided one day to become nightmares for future generations. They all thought they were doing their part to make the world a better place.

OTOH, you have Lord Foul, who was a force of nature. His function in life was inflicting misery, and he had as much say in whether he would or not as a would a car on a steep hill, in neutral, has as its destination.

I am looking for something halfway in between. "Yes. I'm Evil. Here are my Evil goals. Here's is why I'm voluntarily provoking evil."

[Narf the Mouse]

Heh, there is that option. While reading this thread I had the idea that his secret identity was a college professor who tortures students by boring them to death. Suspends disbelief too much, that never happens in the real world.

As the saying goes, nobody believes *they* are the villain. Hitler, Stalin, Pol Pot, George W. Bush: None of these people decided one day to become nightmares for future generations. They all thought they were doing their part to make the world a better place.

OTOH, you have Lord Foul, who was a force of nature. His function in life was inflicting misery, and he had as much say in whether he would or not as a would a car on a steep hill, in neutral, has as its destination.

I am looking for something halfway in between. "Yes. I'm Evil. Here are my Evil goals. Here's is why I'm voluntarily provoking evil."

...Wants to get good grades at The University of World Conquest? Motto: "Fools! I'll destroy you all! Ask me how."

[Midas]

A)

Heh, cute. "Lets make these orcs sorry they ever messed with the US Park Service!"

I'd forgotten about that movie, need to add it to my watch list. And rather close to what I was going for, except I want Big Damn Heroes, not Hapless Everymen for heroes.

[Arkham]

Is this evil overlord from some other time/planet/dimension?

Perhaps in his home realm, he is in a military stalemate with some local foe, and thinks if he conquers some other world that has technology instead of magic and orcs, he can combine the two and become unstoppable.

After all, who messes with a dragon that has a backpack full of hellfire missiles?

[Narf the Mouse]

Is this evil overlord from some other time/planet/dimension?

Perhaps in his home realm, he is in a military stalemate with some local foe, and thinks if he conquers some other world that has technology instead of magic and orcs, he can combine the two and become unstoppable.

After all, who messes with a dragon that has a backpack full of hellfire missiles?

...A Bolo.