100 Reasons behind the big bad evil guys plots and actions.
Posted by: Jason Silverain / Category: 100 Random, Buzy Bobbins, Guest, Homebrew, Setting, Table, World building
The morning light creeping across the landscape, its warm caressing breeze caused Arctas's robes to sway as he stood upon the battlements of the tower simply know as the Spire, An imposing sight, the Spire towered above all else in this land that he and his companions had fashioned from the very element of creation themselves with their combined magic's, featureless to the naked eye, to anyone with the talent it was the runic ley line heart which pulse and ebb breathed life into the land around.
His daily examination of the runic patterns status and efficiently complete Arctas drew back his senses, fingertips tracing the crystal orb at the tip of his twisting black oak staff as he waited for his newly arrived visitor to speak.
"I do not understand why you so insistently focus on such things when there other preparations that you could undertake." The voice was low and rough, more similar to a growl than human speech though this identified its owner without mistake.
"To explain in terms you will appreciate my Druid associate, when the time comes magic will be the lifeblood of this place, therefore it must be ensure that the body and circulation is healthy and each new addition the flow observed. While I... admire the cold logic of Ychellas golem creations they will make suitable caretakers but not engineers, they as of yet lack the creativity and foresight to predict problems but this is unlikely what you came to discuss I am correct?"
With another new year comes another new table, in the past we have covered Regional Drinks, Places To Wake Up and a Collection Of Cut Throats so this year we delve in to the motivation behind our villains.
While personal greed or desire for power are common place amongst many villains that a group of adventurers may face the reason behind this desire is often unexplored so this table below may help when designing your own campaigns overarching big bad evil guy/gal (BBEG).
1
|
The
BBEG had a traumatic childhood, Their village/family got killed in
a brutal manner. Now they are older they feel they must get
revenge for the fallen by targeting those he feels may have been
responsible.
|
51
|
The
BBEG is just plain mad and does evil things as easily as he would
do good deeds as long as it continues to amuse or interest him.
The mad are never known to have consistent goals so he is just as
likely to kill someone he has just saved on a whim.
|
2
|
The
BBEG had a traumatic childhood, Their village/family got killed in
a brutal manner. They have no idea who did it and now lashes out
at anyone out they see as a possible foe, trusting no one but
themselves.
|
52
|
The
BBEG is mad, enjoying violence and hurting others and find it fun.
They
don't understand the concept that others would not also find it
fun and expects the same treatment in return.
|
3
|
The
BBEG grew up in a rich but loveless family. He feels the only way
to get approval from his parents is to gain power, and with the
resources at his disposal he acts to do so.
|
53
|
The
BBEG is mad and treats their actions like playing a game. He could
be stuck in a child like mental state but with the powers of an
adult.
|
4
|
The
BBEG was a gifted child, in the arts of magic\science\combat (or
whatever else is appropriate). When his teachers could no longer
teach him he reached out into forbidden lore in search for more
power.
|
54
|
The
BBEG is not obviously unhinged to casual observation but mentally
unstable and their actions are taking them on a path of suicidal
self destruction.
He
does not realise he is doing this.
|
5
|
The
BBEG was a gifted child,
in
the arts of magic\science\combat (or whatever else is
appropriate). His teacher moulding the gift to use it for their
own gain. After the training was complete the teacher remained in
the background constantly reassuring the pupil that what he is
doing is right.
|
55
|
The
BBEG has increasing paranoia is reacting against perceived threats
and plots to themselves.
The
DM can decide just how many if any are legitimate concerns.
|
6
|
The
BBEG was cast out by their mentor and has now returned. Targeting
the mentor and other students that have been taught since, the
BBEG wished to force acknowledgement of their abilities from their
mentor and possibly usurp their legacy by replacing them.
|
56
|
The
BBEG has been driven mad by a particular revelation and now acts
unpredictably while carrying out their schemes which have no
pattern or reason to them.
It
is obvious the BBEG believes these scheme act against whatever the
cause of his revelation.
|
7
|
The
BBEG is in fact the rightful heir to the land/ throne/ heritage of
his target, they are motivated to get their rightful claim to the
land recognised.
|
57
|
The
BBEG is under the influence of drink or drugs when they carry out
their evil acts. They only have a vague idea what they have done
when they are sober.
|
8
|
The
BBEG is completing a goal started by a deceased member of their
family.
|
58
|
The
BBEG believes they have seen visions of a disastrous future and
are taking actions to stop it occurring. DMs choice if this is
true or a form of madness/excuse.
|
9
|
The
BBEG is attempting to rescue a friend or family member, this could
be done by stealing enough money to pay the ransom or gaining
enough power to break them out directly.
|
59
|
The
BBEG is cursed to have an insatiable desire (this can be food,
lust or wealth for example) and they cannot find something to fill
it. They are now going to increasing lengths to find what will
satisfy the desire even briefly.
|
10
|
The
BBEG is actually the descendant of another BBEG and seeks to
regain their family's glory/power.
|
60
|
The
BBEG is of a long lived race and has simply grown bored with life,
most of what he does is for his amusement trying to stave off the
effects of ennui.
|
11
|
The
BBEG is not in fact a person but an intelligent magical item
influencing those around it to help it carry out its purpose. E.G.
an item made to slay dragons will want to be used to slay
dragons.
|
61
|
The
BBEG believes they are already dead and the world they currently
inhabit is purgatory. Their actions are to escape this situation
or makes them not care for laws.
|
12
|
The
BBEG has been paid to target a particular person or kingdom.
However they could be persuaded otherwise with a large amount of
cash.
|
62
|
The BBEG believes
undead are perfect and free from sin, they wish to create more to
make a perfect world.
|
13
|
The
BBEG had been paid to target a particular person or kingdom,
however their employer is dead and they are completing the
contract out of honour.
|
63
|
The
BBEG is a religious fanatic driven by the urge to clense the world of people/races he considers to
be infidels or heretics.
|
14
|
The
BBEG is owed a debt of payment or service by their target. They
will not stop until the debt is paid.
|
64
|
The
BBEG started a cult to lessen the power of a potentially stronger
cult, it has gotten beyond their control leaving him a figurehead with minimum power over its actions.
|
15
|
The
BBEG is a mercenary and wishes to keep problems occurring in the
local area so that their mercenary band will remain employed.
|
65
|
The
BBEG is a leader of a cult and needs to keep showing impressive displays of power to keep their followers in line.
|
16
|
The
BBEG was once in love with a noble but was spurned. Now they take
revenge on the noble and their lands.
|
66
|
The
BBEG wishes to exterminate a particular location or group since they
are traditional enemies with his race or organization.
|
17
|
The
BBEG has been tricked by someone he is in love with and is
attacking a kingdom or person thinking that it is a threat to the
one he loves.
|
67
|
The
BBEG sees a particular race as corrupt or inferior and wishes to
exterminate or enslave them.
|
18
|
The
BBEG believes that those in power only earned it by deceptive
means and wishes to unmask them. He believes his targets are
willing conspirators or pawns so has no guilt in slaying those who
get in his way.
|
68
|
The
BBEG is a member of a minority within the kingdom and wishes to force a kingdom to accept his race/culture by force
if necessary.
|
19
|
The
BBEG initially had a bounty on them but things have spiralled out
of control as he attempted to defend himself, each time the bounty
gets bigger and the need to defend themselves higher and the
carnage around them greater.
|
69
|
The
BBEG believes he is the chosen one and believes he is the hero of his
own personal quest and that anyone who tries to stop him is a
villain.
|
20
|
The
BBEG is defending those he believes cannot defend themselves.
However the methods for doing so are merciless he terrifies those
he represents.
|
70
|
The
BBEG was imprisoned for a crime they didn't commit and now feels they
can commit evil acts because they have already atoned.
|
21
|
The
BBEG is protecting a particular sacred location and is hunting
down documents and people who have knowledge of it.
|
71
|
The
BBEG was originally imprisoned for a petty crime but learned so much
from the other inmates that the lure of larger crimes and their
rewards was very tempting.
|
22
|
The
BBEG considers a particular uncovered relic too powerful and
wishes to hide it once more and kill everyone who knows of it.
|
72
|
The
BBEG is in deep debt, they are now trying one last ditch effort to
get money to pay off the debt or they will be killed.
|
23
|
The
BBEG simply wishes to return the land to its natural state and
sees all intelligent humanoids as a plague.
|
73
|
The
BBEG is obsessed with getting an heir, his plans revolve around
producing heirs of various bloodlines.
|
24
|
The
BBEG sees himself as a keeper of the balance between good and evil
and is acting in this way because he believes good has upset the
balance.
|
74
|
The
BBEG is trying to impress another BBEG of higher power. The motivation behind this desire to prove themselves is the DM's choice.
|
25
|
The
BBEG believes the kingdom cannot defend themselves at this time
and is causing trouble to ensure that a new generation of
defenders arises. The BBEG may be a former hero or protector of
the kingdom.
|
75
|
The
BBEG is a master trapmaker they love to see their traps in action and enjoy the thrill of pitting their devices against the wits and skills of others.
|
26
|
The
BBEG made a pact with an Evil entity because they wanted personal
power and influence and now must act on it's behalf to maintain
these gifts.
|
76
|
The
BBEG is a sadist and enjoys watching people suffer, while fulfilling their goals they will often take the opportunity to harm others physically or mentally.
|
27
|
The
BBEG made a pact with an evil entity for power to save a loved one
from a terrible fate. However the entity now continually forces
them to act on its behalf due to the terms of the pact.
|
77
|
The
BBEG purposely pushes and twists the boundaries of the law for personal profit and amusement feeling that only ones own code matters and to see how others react to hardship.
|
28
|
The
BBEG was tricked into a pact by an otherworldly entity and their
evil acts are driven towards preventing his soul from falling into
its clutches upon their death.
|
78
|
The
BBEG inflexibly adheres to the laws and codes of his land/religion and reacts harshly to those who do not follow his same standards using the punishments as examples to others.
|
29
|
The
BBEG is being possessed by an entity. The entity makes use of the
Hosts power, influence or magic while the person inside watches on
helplessly.
|
79
|
The
BBEG is now compensating for a time in his/her life then they were
powerless, they relish in holding power over other people and fight
to keep themselves in charge so they never have to return to that
dark time in their lives.
|
30
|
The
BBEG is being possessed by an entity. However they are a willing
accomplice in its plans often advising the entity on subjects it
is unfamiliar with.
|
80
|
The
BBEG is the leader of a group of nomads and is seeking lands to
settle in because their nomad lifestyle cannot continue for much
longer.
|
31
|
The
BBEG is a war profiteer, they are trying to destabilise the surrounding kingdom for wealth and influence.
|
81
|
The
BBEG the ruler of a kingdom but is utterly merciless in their
rule, in both keeping his kingdom stable or developing an
advantage over his neighbours.
|
32
|
The
BBEG is a merchant who takes the gear of fallen adventurers to sell
on for cash. The whole scheme is a ruse to lure people to him with
magical equipment.
|
82
|
The
BBEG is manipulating the heroes to further his grasp on his own
kingdom and using them to put down rebel factions.
Eventually using them as scapegoats to deflect public outcry from
himself.
|
33
|
The
BBEG is attempting to start war with a weaker foe to potentially kill off his rivals
who may be leading armies while minimising the glory they would gain from success.
|
83
|
The
BBEG is making political moves against another person in court and
does not realise the implications of their actions.
|
34
|
The
BBEG is raiding a richer kingdom to bring money back to his own to
survive through harsh times. These actions may not be fuelled by altruism or need but by personal greed and glory seeking.
|
84
|
The
BBEG believes that they are in charge but are actually a
distraction for someone working behind the scenes to grab power
politically.
|
35
|
The
BBEG is from a civilisation that requires slaves and is simply
raiding to replenish their stock.
|
85
|
The
BBEG has grudges against several factions and is seeking to make
them destroy each other by framing some members of the factions
for crimes against the others.
|
36
|
The
BBEG requires more land to gift to his heirs to keep his kingdom from infighting and civil war upon his death. His actions schemes may involve direct conquest or forced political marriage.
|
86
|
The
BBEG is not in fact evil, it is due to propaganda between kingdoms
that their actions are said to be evil or twisted to seen that way
to those in other kingdoms.
|
37
|
The
BBEG is an opportunist and only striking when the target kingdom defences are
weak.
|
87
|
The
BBEG is madly in love with another BBEG. However the love is not
returned. The BBEG will do anything to impress their love which
includes diabolical acts.
|
38
|
The
BBEG wishes to prove himself to be the greatest warrior in the world.
They seeks famous foes to slay and artefacts that increase their
personal power, they have no concern of the long term implication of their actions.
|
88
|
The
BBEG is in a contest with another BBEG of similar power, each
scheme is the equivalent of a chess move to them.
|
39
|
The BBEG is from a culture where warriors need to die in glorious battle, the BBEG does violent acts to encourage strong warriors to come and fight him. |
89
|
The
BBEG carries out his schemes because he likes to prove how clever
he is by outwitting others at every turn. As his life progresses
the schemes become more complex as he feels he needs to prove
himself more and more.
|
40
|
The
BBEG simply wishes to live in hedonistic pleasure and their actions are
to either gain objects of desire or ensure their possession of them.
|
90
|
The
BBEG was originally working for another but has slain him and
taken his plan for their own. GMs choice if the BBEG has the full
plan or has somehow filled in the gaps.
|
41
|
The
BBEG sees themselves as an artist and the things that they do as
their 'art'.
|
91
|
The
BBEG has been long dead and his plans are now being carried out
though a series of long damaged communication devices and long
held prepaid contracts. The plans may not have been intended to
be evil but due to the damaged magical items mixed messages are
delivered.
|
42
|
The
BBEG wants to be legendary throughout the lands, they want to be so
famous that hundreds of years after their death people still dare not
speak his name.
|
92
|
The
BBEG is recently deceased, the latest plan is being carried out by
his trusted allies and lieutenants. This contingency plan for
their death may result in his resurrection.
|
43
|
The
BBEG been inspired my myths and legends in an area and is attempting to replicate them in modern day. Whether or not these rituals hold any magical or religious significance is the DMs Choice.
|
93
|
The
BBEG is attempting to unite the various factions of his people
through religion/war and is doing this by using races as
scapegoats for their problems. Whether or not he believes his own
preaching is the DMs choice.
|
44
|
The
BBEG sees themselves as a collector of exotic rarities and is attempting to collect
items of power, people of skill or objects of interest.
|
94
|
The
BBEG is deliberately causing trouble so that he can allow an
accomplice to 'defeat' him and take power, fame or glory. DMs
choice if the accomplice is aware of the plan.
|
45
|
The
BBEG is a collector of beasts and wishes to collect rare specimens
and create new creatures either through breeding or magical experimentation. He likes to see how his new creatures fare
in combat and in new environments.
|
95
|
The
BBEG possesses a powerful magic item or relic, but he no longer
wishes to have the power any more but believes he cannot entrust
it to just anybody or hide it where it may be found by the
unwary.
|
46
|
The BBEG is a crafter of magic
items and requires rare components for each of his works, he is growing increasingly unscrupulous
about where he gets them from.
|
96
|
The
BBEG attacks kingdoms who advance too far into the research of
technology fearing that too much technology will upset the balance
of magic and leave him powerless. Many plans will aim to disrupt
the making of large technological projects such as trains.
|
47
|
The
BBEG is a powerful spell caster dedicated to advancing his magical knowledge, having frustrated with the limited results by testing their spells on animals and objects they now wish to experiment on intelligent humanoids.
|
97
|
The
BBEG wishes to exterminate users of magic as he sees them as
toying with reality and a danger to the world around them.
|
48
|
The
BBEG is attempting to collect relics which will allow them to perform
a powerful ritual, this may turn them into a lich, give them
unspeakable power or give immortality.
|
98
|
The
BBEG wishes to exterminate divine spell casters since he sees them
as fakes and not really representatives of the gods, he thinks
that they work to control the populace through fear or by taking
advantage of their religious beliefs.
|
49
|
The
BBEG seeks power/youth/beauty/the love of another. They think that
what they are doing is the way to obtain this or a means to this
end.
|
99
|
The
BBEG wishes to cause a big enough disruption that it attracts the
attention of the gods themselves to force a showdown between the
various divine powers.
|
50
|
The
BBEG is dying of an illness and wishes to leave a lasting impression
on the land. He wish to do this traditionally by conquest and
destruction or alternatively set events in motion for which only he has
has the solution to appear as a saviour.
|
100
|
The
BBEG feels that the gods themselves are playing with mortal lives
and wishes to rebel against them by destroying them or their
influence. However he is also fears that he is falling into their
ploy by doing so.
|
The pacing footsteps on stone and another gravelly growl could not have better announced his companions irritation than if he had extended his magic to read the druids thoughts, not needing to turn round Arctas could envision the druids beastly snarl and hunched shoulders while the man replied "Fine then.. the girl of your blood, is she suitable?"
For a brief moment he considered saying nothing or lying before dismissing the thought as needless "Yes she has the spark but it has not truly awakened as of yet so I decided to wait until a better time.."
"So you can procrastinate with your tests and distractions? You've still not decided?" the druids interruption fuelled by petty annoyance reminded Arctas just why he had sacrificed such feelings to gain his immortality and how little he had lost.
"No I have not decided, why limit myself to a single course of action when I can direct my efforts to serving both until the most efficient and effective has been determined? As our agreement stated we work upon our own solutions and avoid cross conflict, why you must feel such concern towards my own progress and abilities is unfounded especially since you have already begun work upon another smaller ark project... perhaps you may even find interest in my findings."
"Unlikely, Remember Arctas not all of us are immortal." Leaping from the Spire the druids form twisted into one of the beasts he felt so comfortable as, the large Roc now soaring away as a habitual smirk crossed Arctas lips his eyes dropping away to gaze upon the succubus and angel that argued below in the shadow of the Spire.
"All the reason not to waste possible potential."
For a brief moment he considered saying nothing or lying before dismissing the thought as needless "Yes she has the spark but it has not truly awakened as of yet so I decided to wait until a better time.."
"So you can procrastinate with your tests and distractions? You've still not decided?" the druids interruption fuelled by petty annoyance reminded Arctas just why he had sacrificed such feelings to gain his immortality and how little he had lost.
"No I have not decided, why limit myself to a single course of action when I can direct my efforts to serving both until the most efficient and effective has been determined? As our agreement stated we work upon our own solutions and avoid cross conflict, why you must feel such concern towards my own progress and abilities is unfounded especially since you have already begun work upon another smaller ark project... perhaps you may even find interest in my findings."
"Unlikely, Remember Arctas not all of us are immortal." Leaping from the Spire the druids form twisted into one of the beasts he felt so comfortable as, the large Roc now soaring away as a habitual smirk crossed Arctas lips his eyes dropping away to gaze upon the succubus and angel that argued below in the shadow of the Spire.
"All the reason not to waste possible potential."