#RPGaDay2025 - 6 Motive


 

#RPGaDay2025 - 6 Motive

So many games seem to focus on what a character is capable of doing, while ignoring the reason why they might be doing it. However, in most stories, the reasons are far more important to the drive of the story than any special abilities that the protagonists or their adversaries might possess.

Whether I’m writing a game, or running a game, I always try to frame the characters with their motives as one of the central elements. I like characters to have goals, obstacles that prevent them achieving those goals, powers that might make the path easier for them, and weaknesses that might make the path harder. Each of these elements is a tension on the character’s story, sometimes working together, something setting up dramatic tensions and choices.

When multiple characters have things they are trying to achieve, this is where the complex dynamics of a TTRPG come into play.

 

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