Virtue Definitions

[Viewing_Glass]

This topic is to help Ilushia in creating definitions for virtues. The purpose of this topic is simple: Write down the virtues you have had with a character, and how you believe it works. Try and keep it similar in form to how Ilushia formatted the current examples.

For where to pull the examples from, go here.

Ambition: This virtue signifies a drive to excel past the boundaries of oneself and/or others. It isn't merely the willingness to do so, however. What marks this as a virtue (rather than just another feature of being a PC) is the setting of a goal that is noted as being impossible and then, despite all odds, making it.
Exemplifying: You assist others in pushing their limits, helping them push past and succeed where otherwise they would fail. The cost of pushing these limits is one that you take on yourself, rather than on to others.
Corrupting: You push your own ambitions on to others, forcing them to assist you. Putting what you want before the desires and often the safety of others.

Dependability: This virtue signifies an ability to be relied on by others. You don't make a promise you can't keep, and will fight tooth and nail to keep your commitments.
Exemplifying: The commitments you take on are filled to the best of the letter and the spirit. You always strive for the best outcome for those who depend on you.
Corrupting: You take on commitments but seek to fulfill them to what makes them best for you, not those who need you.

Courage: This virtue signifies an ability to act, even when you are afraid to. You may not want to be there, but you will always fight for what you think is right.
Exemplifying: Your courage gives other strength and willingness to act. You act for those who can't, and try to endanger as few as possible.
Corrupting: Your actions seem courageous, but only when you would have something to gain from it. Renown, power, caps, it doesn't matter. You'll act in what way benefits you.

Loyalty: This virtue is signified by staying true to others, or an association of others, such as a faction, or even an ideal (though that ideal should be well-defined).
Exemplifying: You work toward helping others succeed, even at great risk to yourself. Even when confronted with a chance for personal gain, you take the hard road.
Corrupting: Your alliance is to whichever side benefits you more. You will help out in whatever way benefits you more.

Hope: A belief in and a drive to create a better world.
Exemplifying: You help ponies and give them an urge to help others. Stealing from Ten-Pony to give to the poor, or keeping drugs to prevent further addiction are just a couple of examples.
Corrupting: You give hope to others, but only by taking it from someone else.

Innocence: A belief that everyone has good inside them.
Exemplifying: Even raiders have something good in them, it just takes some work to bring it out!
Corrupting: Oh, everyone has good in them. If you take what they value beyond life itself, that inner-good is brought forth.

To Define:

Faith
Bravery
Love

[Night Light]

Be interesting to see all of these, let me know if you want more than what I've noted.

Night Light
Virtue: Hope - A belief in and a drive to create a better world.

Not technically mine, but,

Mud Pie
Virtue: Innocence - A belief that everypony has good inside them.

[Tankenstein_PhD]

Something worth pointing out: while this document seems really focused on the "good guys" don't forget that even evil characters are required to have a virtue as per the rules.

Think about it: the Wasteland isn't evil, it's indifferent. Most ponies will simply give in to their survival instinct in the end and try to keep breathing another day. That's what makes PC's unusual: they have something they're so committed to that it overrides their desire to survive (to an extent). Their goals might be bizarre or even horrific, but they'll keep plugging away at them even when common sense says to do otherwise.

The most obvious example is Red Eye. He could certainly be argued to have the virtue of hope. He most definitely thinks that a better world is possible. Thing is, he's willing to sacrifice plenty of others to make that world a reality.

Also, while that doc has a lot of good tips for both GMs and players on what virtue is and how they should be handled in game play, I don't think virtues need any additional rules tacked on. They work well as-is: to nudge players to think about some of their character's most core motivations. The things that motivate a character even when all seems lost and all else has failed. And again, these don't have to be good things.

Here's a couple ideas for "dark" virtues:

Revenge- "I'll pay back those who have wronged me and mine. And I don't care if I have to drown the Wasteland in blood to do it."

Power- "Nopony, and I mean nopony, is above me. All will either bow to me or be destroyed, and the Wasteland will tremble in my hoofsteps."

Greed- "I'll have what - and who - I desire, by hook or by crook..."

[Viewing_Glass]

To a certain degree I agree with you. However, I do think every villain has a virtue, its just a corrupted, selfish version of it. It may go well in hoof with a vice, for instance.

Take a look at the virtues I filled out. Each has a definition, and an idea of what might exemplify that virtue, and what would corrupt it. Think of it in terms of Selfless versus Selfish.

[Tankenstein_PhD]

Point taken, Glass.

[Heartshine]

Here might be a good starting point for additional virtues: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_virtues

I like the idea of adding additional virtues for ponies to take. Obviously, not everyone is going to fit into one of the elements of Harmony perfectly.

Personally, I like the idea of adding:

Faith - Belief in friends and self that they'll be a source of change in the world
Bravery - Willingness to do the right thing and make difficult choices in the face of adversity
Hope - WIP
Love/Compassion - Care for others, may be rolled up under Kindness, idk...

[Viewing_Glass]

Loyalty: This virtue is signified by staying true to others, or an association of others, such as a faction, or even an ideal (though that ideal should be well-defined).
Exemplifying: You work toward helping others succeed, even at great risk to yourself. Even when confronted with a chance for personal gain, you take the hard road.
Corrupting: Your alliance is to whichever side benefits you more. You will help out in whatever way benefits you more.

Hope: A belief in and a drive to create a better world.
Exemplifying: You help ponies and give them an urge to help others. Stealing from Ten-Pony to give to the poor, or keeping drugs to prevent further addiction are just a couple of examples.
Corrupting: You give hope to others, but only by taking it from someone else.

Innocence: A belief that everyone has good inside them.
Exemplifying: Even raiders have something good in them, it just takes some work to bring it out!
Corrupting: Oh, everyone has good in them. If you take what they value beyond life itself, that inner-good is brought forth.