Villain Motivations

Oh my god that's so creepy I had an idea just like this once. I remember having the same issue but here's what I came up with:
Come up with a devastating backstory and have him be trying to avenge someone or save someone.
Maybe like, one of the heroes accidentally almost killed a family member or a loved one of the villain's, and he needs their powers to heal them or something. That way, you can come up with the devastating relationship for the villain and his loved one, and if you do that part super well, it'll almost seem like he's the good guy for a moment, and the readers will want him to win. So basically, he does the wrong things for the right reasons kind of thing. Just an idea :)

While this post is active, i'm having trouble with one of my Villan characters as well. i haven't filled in the personality section of my character sheet for him because im not sure how i should. hes a very complicated character. i gave him a disorder, i just dont know how fix his motivations around that.
i dont have a book or story that he plays a key role in yet, as i intend to use him for roleplay, but heres a link to him Miyahira Shinji
still a work in progress, just found this site, but yea. any suggestions?

While this post is active, i'm having trouble with one of my Villan characters as well. i haven't filled in the personality section of my character sheet for him because im not sure how i should. hes a very complicated character. i gave him a disorder, i just dont know how fix his motivations around that.
i dont have a book or story that he plays a key role in yet, as i intend to use him for roleplay, but heres a link to him Miyahira Shinji
still a work in progress, just found this site, but yea. any suggestions?

You have him set as private, so we can't see him. To fix this click the three-dotted triangle symbol.

try it now

Oh my god that's so creepy I had an idea just like this once. I remember having the same issue but here's what I came up with:
Come up with a devastating backstory and have him be trying to avenge someone or save someone.
Maybe like, one of the heroes accidentally almost killed a family member or a loved one of the villain's, and he needs their powers to heal them or something. That way, you can come up with the devastating relationship for the villain and his loved one, and if you do that part super well, it'll almost seem like he's the good guy for a moment, and the readers will want him to win. So basically, he does the wrong things for the right reasons kind of thing. Just an idea :)

While this is a good idea, I would say to not base your villains motive solely on the backstory. Sometimes when having a bad past doesnt let people understand the villain. Things like "just because he had a bad past doesnt mean he take his anger out on the world" will start being said. Take Loki for example, his whole villain persona is based on his past and not getting a chance for the throne, but people dont love him/understand him because of that, the other movies he is in. All the thor movies, give an insight to how much he wanted his father to appreciate him.but never got it.

Having a backstory is a good start, but make his back story in such a way that it connects to people. Things like always being undermined or shut down, not having their voice heard, being a victim of some kind and having his abusers or whatever go free because they had money. Use worldly problems and incorporate them into your villain, this will make him feel more alive, allow people to find a piece of themselves in him, etc.

Hope this helps!!

Oh my god that's so creepy I had an idea just like this once. I remember having the same issue but here's what I came up with:
Come up with a devastating backstory and have him be trying to avenge someone or save someone.
Maybe like, one of the heroes accidentally almost killed a family member or a loved one of the villain's, and he needs their powers to heal them or something. That way, you can come up with the devastating relationship for the villain and his loved one, and if you do that part super well, it'll almost seem like he's the good guy for a moment, and the readers will want him to win. So basically, he does the wrong things for the right reasons kind of thing. Just an idea :)

While this is a good idea, I would say to not base your villains motive solely on the backstory. Sometimes when having a bad past doesnt let people understand the villain. Things like "just because he had a bad past doesnt mean he take his anger out on the world" will start being said. Take Loki for example, his whole villain persona is based on his past and not getting a chance for the throne, but people dont love him/understand him because of that, the other movies he is in. All the thor movies, give an insight to how much he wanted his father to appreciate him.but never got it.

Having a backstory is a good start, but make his back story in such a way that it connects to people. Things like always being undermined or shut down, not having their voice heard, being a victim of some kind and having his abusers or whatever go free because they had money. Use worldly problems and incorporate them into your villain, this will make him feel more alive, allow people to find a piece of themselves in him, etc.

Hope this helps!!

Thanks all! I’ve got a good idea to start me off now.

Happy to help!!

Oh my god that's so creepy I had an idea just like this once. I remember having the same issue but here's what I came up with:
Come up with a devastating backstory and have him be trying to avenge someone or save someone.
Maybe like, one of the heroes accidentally almost killed a family member or a loved one of the villain's, and he needs their powers to heal them or something. That way, you can come up with the devastating relationship for the villain and his loved one, and if you do that part super well, it'll almost seem like he's the good guy for a moment, and the readers will want him to win. So basically, he does the wrong things for the right reasons kind of thing. Just an idea :)

While this is a good idea, I would say to not base your villains motive solely on the backstory. Sometimes when having a bad past doesnt let people understand the villain. Things like "just because he had a bad past doesnt mean he take his anger out on the world" will start being said. Take Loki for example, his whole villain persona is based on his past and not getting a chance for the throne, but people dont love him/understand him because of that, the other movies he is in. All the thor movies, give an insight to how much he wanted his father to appreciate him.but never got it.

Having a backstory is a good start, but make his back story in such a way that it connects to people. Things like always being undermined or shut down, not having their voice heard, being a victim of some kind and having his abusers or whatever go free because they had money. Use worldly problems and incorporate them into your villain, this will make him feel more alive, allow people to find a piece of themselves in him, etc.

Hope this helps!!

Thankssssss I've always made my villains have devastating backgrounds but this makes sense! Thank you!
Also I LOVE LOOOKIIIIIIII

I get most of my inspiration for 'good' villains from villains like Loki whose pain and hurt can be felt through the screen and not just because of how amazingly Tom Hiddleston acted his character

I get most of my inspiration for 'good' villains from villains like Loki whose pain and hurt can be felt through the screen and not just because of how amazingly Tom Hiddleston acted his character

Yeah agreed. Also Loki is just awesome. XD