In the third Design Journal for the upcoming Dawn of Legends Setting for the Savage Worlds license, Lee F. Szczepanik, Jr. takes a look at some of the reasons people with extraordinary powers might take to a life of saving others.

With characters as flawed and alive as the rest of us, sometimes becoming a Neo Champion isn’t always simply a choice of wanting to fight the good fight . . . .

So, you have your costume design, you have your powers, and now you head out and battle crime against likewise powered individuals and groups, all in an effort to save innocent ives and make a difference in the world.

But what makes you do it?  Why do you risk your life for people you don’t even know?

Motivation helps tell why they became a Hero, what their core reasons are for battling the various criminal elements, and what might (or might not) make them tick.

Blessing or Curse:  There Hero never wanted, or asked for, the gift of superhuman ability.  They view their powers as either a blessing or a curse that has forever changed the way they live their lives.  The Hero might join other superhumans on a team seeking an acceptance they feel the normal world now denies them  They might operate as loners living by their own rules and consequences, feeling that if their life is going to be forever altered beyond their control, then they’ll do things their way.

Center of Attention:  The Hero became a hero for the attention.  Nothing pleases the Hero more than having ravenous fans and a hungry media all vying for a small piece of them.  They love to go out and arrest the villains not because they feel they need to be brought to justice, or because it is their responsibility, or even because it is the right thing to do.  They do it for the accolades and cheers they expect to receive.

Champion of Good:  The Hero fights the Good Fight because it is the right thing to do.  This can be due to a good upbringing that instilled in him the value of morality, justice, and a faith in societies laws- or due to a negative upbringing that made him seek a different path.  Whichever the case, the Hero believes strongly in truth, justice, faith, and other moral centers, and is steadfast in never over stepping the boundaries or breaking the law.

Defense of Family:  The Hero is first and foremost a family person.  They battle crime and attempt to bring those responsible to justice due to a drive to protect their family and keep them safe.  If crime can strike people unknown to the Hero, it can strike loved ones as well. 

Living in the Past:  The Hero was once a famous face on the side of Good, but age and time have passed them buy.  The Hero has once again decided to fight the forces of evil a protect the innocent, but more as a need to recapture their past glory.  It could be that the Hero no longer feels useful, or perhaps is lonely, or simply misses the gratitude and fame that once came with the Heroic Career.  Whatever the reasons, the Hero is now risking it all in a vain hope of once again becoming the Hero they once were.

Need for Redemption:  The character became a Hero because something in their past has instilled within them a sense of humiliation or guilt.  It could be a past history of committing crimes, or a resultant death due to their inability to (or choice not to) act in a situation.  Or it could be a need to redeem themselves with the public. Whatever the past situation, the Hero now protects the everyday man and risks his life in a hope of someday finding the mental or spiritual redemption he feels that he needs.

Protector of Innocents:  These Heroes walk a thin line between upholding the law and breaking it.  Such Heroes are driven by a near unhealthy need to see justice done and the criminals put behind bars.  Rarely will they ever let anything stand in the way of them and their targeted prey.  Although such Heroes seem like they could easily become the criminals they hunt (and they could), they also have a strong personal code that they will never violate, be it never breaking-and-entering, always seeking hard evidence first, or not killing.

Puppet on a String:  The Hero is a tool of a greater force, be it a more powerful entity, a corporation, the media, or a government.  Although the Hero believes in what he does for the people of the city or world, the controlling agency usually has its own agenda, and regularly attempts to manipulate the Hero to further its own ends.  This could lead to endless conflict between the Hero and the agency, or even between the Hero and the public- should he also share the agency’s goals.

Show Me the Money:  Why be normal?  Normal doesn’t pay the rent or put food on the table!  These Heroes put on the colorful costumes and rush out to do battle with the forces of evil for the money.  After all, why hide your powers and work a 9-5 job for menial pay when you can pull down the endorsements and television appearances?  Not to mention the comic book rights, movie deals, and merchandise royalties.  Heroes with this motivation do what they do in order to build their popularity and cash in on it.

Thrill-Seeker:  It’s all about the adrenaline rush and the danger.  These Heroes hunger for the next big risk and the excitement it brings.  They will regularly take chances in combat, rarely thinking of the other Heroes and innocent lives they put in danger, and will take on nearly any foe if it will keep their blood pumping.

Weight of the World:  The Hero was gifted with the superhuman abilities or advanced technology for a reason, and that reason was to show the world that anyone can make a difference.  These Heroes view their power as the ultimate responsibility, both as a gift and a moral duty.  Such Heroes, like the Champion of Good, strive to be the best they can be and will always uphold the laws of society, feeling that they are a symbol and example to others.  This disciplined life, usually more rigid than the Hero might have chosen had they not received their powers, sometimes tries their patience and causes the occasional crisis of faith.

In the next Design Journal, we'll take a look at Popularity and how gaining and losing it with the public can effect a Hero.

-- Lee F. Szczepanik, Jr., co-designer.

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