Motivations
Upholding the Good
"Helping others is its own reward."
Someone who has the motivation of "Upholding the Good" is dedicated to helping others because it is the right thing to do. This person may not always work inside the law, but when given the choice will always attempt to work within the law as best he can (unless the laws themselves are tyrannical and harming innocents). Defeating those who prey on others is only a portion of this person's motivation; even if those who prey on others were to be eliminated, there is still hunger, natural disasters, and all sorts of accidents that need to be dealt with.
Seeking Justice
"No one is going to be hurt again. Because I'll be out there."
A person who is Seeking Justice has been harmed in some way, and is working to either bring the person who harmed him to justice - in one form or another - and/or working to make sure that no one else can be harmed in the same manner. A person with this motivation may have a number of attitudes towards the law, depending on how the law treats those who deal harm to others. Someone with this motivation will not rest if there are those who are doing harm to others still at large.
Responsibility of Power
"What I hold in my hands could either destroy the world or save it. I choose the latter."
A person who has the motivation of "Responsibility of Power" has some form of power - magical, psionic, or technological, in this setting - which sets him apart from the norm. He is the living embodiment of the statement, "with great power comes great responsibility." This person differs from Upholding the Good in one major aspect: while both use their abilities to aid others, the Upholding the Good does so because he feels it is the right thing to do, and the Responsibility of Power does so because he must.
Unwanted Power
"I didn't want this power, but that doesn't mean I won't use it."
Someone with Unwanted Power has been given abilities he does not want - an escaped slave borg, for example. This person often has come to terms with what he has been made into, but still feels cut off from the rest of the world because of it. This person is struggling to find his place in the world - or to hide from it.
Thrill of Adventure
"Cowabunga!"
This motivation is a classic for city rats, crazies, juicers, and anyone else who lives for the adrenaline rush. This is a classic motivation for thrill-seekers and daredevils everywhere. Personal safety often doesn't matter; he will throw himself recklessly into a conflict just because.
Mercenary
"My rates are very competitive."
This person is generally self-centered, doing what he does for monetary gratification. This is the classic motivation of bounty hunters, headhunters, and others warriors-for-hire. Some have principles of a sort, taking only jobs that are deemed worthy or strike back against a particular enemy; these rarely switch sides in a conflict. Others do not, and can be seen on all sides of a conflict depending on who pays more at the time.
Nihilist
"Everything comes to an end. I just help things along."
Unlike the other motivations on this page, the Nihilist simply wants to see things destroyed. Genocide, mass destruction, and scorched earth campaigns are simply means to an end . . . the end. The Nihilist knows that everything comes to an end; he is simply helping things along.
Power Lust
"There is no good or evil, there is only power and those too weak to seek it."
Someone with Power Lust is in many ways the opposite of Responsibility of Power. This person lives by the adage "with great power comes opportunity for even greater power." This person has had a taste of tangible power - magical, psionic, or technological - and has gained an interest in obtaining more of it and/or intangible power, such as ruling over others. This motivation is common for petty tyrants, ivory tower wizards, and Coalition elite.
Psychopathic
"There is no good or evil, only predator and prey."
This person cares only about himself, and is interested in spreading pain, chaos, and disaster wherever he goes simply because he can, or because he somehow feels he must. This places him at odds with both the Upholding the Good and the Seeking Justice motivations above. This person often compares himself to a predator, usually a wolf, taking what he wants from the sheep of the general populace.