Just my opinion, but if someone's 'villain' is just out looking for a little nookie in one form or another, that doesn't necessarily make them a villain. It might make them a jerk if they're out to use someone, or it might make them a criminal if they're actually out to rape, murder, etc, and not much else. Yeah, these things might define a villain on a personal level if said jerk/criminal has caused a person or character direct, personal harm. However, sticking just to these things makes the 'villain' superficial. A well-defined villain doesn't need sex, money, or power.
Many of the responses in this thread have already made some great points about what it's really all about, and given some great examples as to why specific characters are (or are not) great villains.
As someone who has an alt, I like to treat the details and histories of such a character no different than any other. Everyone has a beginning and catalysts which brought them to where they are in life, it's just a matter of how these things define the character. What sort of childhood did he/she have? What sort of influences did they have growing up? As they grew, how did those influences change and effect the character's perspective of the world and their motivations?
These are all important questions to ask.
One of the most fun parts is having people with a common background who are willing to help define the character, and vice versa. This gives you allies, enemies, and influences on both sides. I love a villain with motivations, even if their sole motivation is repaying some kind of debt owed to a higher power, whether that debt is monetary or the higher power is some sort of political or military force. This also lays the groundwork for a sympathetic villain, someone whose reasons are understandable, even if the actions resulting from it would be considered repugnant by the population at large.
Many of the responses in this thread have already made some great points about what it's really all about, and given some great examples as to why specific characters are (or are not) great villains.
As someone who has an alt, I like to treat the details and histories of such a character no different than any other. Everyone has a beginning and catalysts which brought them to where they are in life, it's just a matter of how these things define the character. What sort of childhood did he/she have? What sort of influences did they have growing up? As they grew, how did those influences change and effect the character's perspective of the world and their motivations?
These are all important questions to ask.
One of the most fun parts is having people with a common background who are willing to help define the character, and vice versa. This gives you allies, enemies, and influences on both sides. I love a villain with motivations, even if their sole motivation is repaying some kind of debt owed to a higher power, whether that debt is monetary or the higher power is some sort of political or military force. This also lays the groundwork for a sympathetic villain, someone whose reasons are understandable, even if the actions resulting from it would be considered repugnant by the population at large.
