1. Johnattan Goodboy

    Johnattan Goodboy Member

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    Most overplayed motive/backstory for a villain?

    Discussion in 'Character Development' started by Johnattan Goodboy, Sep 20, 2016.

    I know that a villain who does bad stuff just for the hell of it can get pretty tiresome...

    However some reasons why villains become the way they are can get repetitive aswell for my own taste...

    Am I the only one who feels this way or some of you have that same feeling...

    If so what do you feel is the most overplayed motive or backstory used to justify the essence of a villain??
     
  2. Caveriver

    Caveriver Active Member

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    Agreed. I started naming off a few I feel are overused, but then I deleted them, thinking of a good example for each one when it was well-done. I really think it's all in the presentation. Do I roll my eyes when the villain's excuse is "you killed my father, and I want vengence"? Yes, but only when the emotional motivations/reactions are superficial and only used as a crutch to get the plot moving. The most effective bad guys, for me, are the ones who make me wonder about/feel something for them. The "feeling" could be any number of emotions, just so long as he/she envokes something. This is NOT to say there aren't some senarios that are much less-used than others. If there isn't a fresh, deep angle involved, then I'm bored. Boring villains aren't terribly memorable...
     
    Last edited: Oct 10, 2016
  3. Cave Troll

    Cave Troll It's Coffee O'clock everywhere. Contributor

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    Greed. Power. Because you ate the last cheeto?
     
  4. Kara Gatsby

    Kara Gatsby Member

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    Bullied by jocks in high school and--horror of horrors--the girl he had a crush on saw his underpants or what have you.
     
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  5. Safety Turtle

    Safety Turtle Senior Member

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    I actually can't come up with any at the moment...guess I only remember the good ones ^^
     
  6. SethLoki

    SethLoki Retired Autodidact Contributor

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    Villains have backstories? I have so much to learn.
     
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  7. halisme

    halisme Contributor Contributor

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    The hero or their organisation accidently caused, or was unable to prevent something bad happening to the villain or their loved one.
     
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  8. Cave Troll

    Cave Troll It's Coffee O'clock everywhere. Contributor

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    The hero and the villain were a cute little gay couple living in a CA vineyard. Then there was
    a bad break up, and now it is on bitch! :p
     
  9. TheWriteWitch

    TheWriteWitch Active Member

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    They all laughed at me then, but now. . .

    Anything that makes me pity the villain. I like a villain that claims their dark feelings no matter the origin. Being tempted by my own shadow self through their example draws me much farther into the story.
     
  10. Rob40

    Rob40 Active Member

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    Dan Brown used the same motive in 4-5 or 6 books....man with power abuses power and meglomania follows.
     
  11. AASmith

    AASmith Senior Member

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    Revenge
     
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  12. tonguetied

    tonguetied Contributor Contributor

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    He had a bad childhood.
    Molested by a relative.
    Peer pressure (although that probably doesn't lead to villainy)
     
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  13. Kara Gatsby

    Kara Gatsby Member

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    Sure it does!

    "C'mon man, all the cool guys are joining crime syndicates. Don't be a square."
     
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