PLEASE DO NOT INCLUDE EXAMPLES OF SERIES NAMES FOR WORKS YOU THINK HAVE FLIMSY MOTIVATIONS; AUTHORS ARE PEOPLE TOO, THEY WORK HARD AND WRITE TO LIVE.
(Actually, now that I think about it, I have no idea why I made this thread. Most people will not have read enough stories. They will come just to read the spoilers. >.< >.< Might as well post it anyways instead of deleting the whole thing.)
What I thought were good motivations:
Primary motivation-Immortality (What I think is the most important motivation of all in Xian Xia)
1 example: FanRenXiuXianChuan (凡人修仙传) A Record of a Mortal's Journey to Immortality
DO NOT CLICK THE SPOILER IF YOU DO NOT KNOW THE ENDING-YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED
click to show/hide spoilers(The author ends the series when Han reaches the world of immortals, and achieves, well, immortality. A lot of readers want the author to continue writing about Han's journey after reaching the world of immortals, but the author gave an indefinite further continuation date, and started a new series, MoTianJi(魔天记) instead. I think the author is still thinking up of a new motivation for Han.)
Primary motivation-Survival (Simple and direct. Get stronger or die)
1 example: WuXianKongBu (无限恐怖) Terror Infinity
DO NOT CLICK THE SPOILER IF YOU DO NOT KNOW THE ENDING-YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED
click to show/hide spoilers(The author built up the climatic battle between the protagonist and his copy for such a long time. Zheng Zha actually became strong enough that survival was not such a big priority near the end, and instead, his true motivation became helping his companions survive, and reviving his dead companions.)
Primary motivation- Saving and helping Human Race. (Cheers for selfless heroes like these, in fiction and reality)
1 example: TunShiXingKong (吞噬星空) Swallowed Star
DO NOT CLICK THE SPOILER IF YOU DO NOT KNOW THE ENDING-YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED
click to show/hide spoilers(The author says that the reason he stops Luo Feng's journey is because he became too overpowered, but I think it's actually because Luo Feng had stopped the ultimate threat to humanity)
What I thought were flimsy motivations:
Note: I think that flimsy motivations can become good if
Primary motivation- None for protagonist or flimsy at best. Only written for vicarious journey for readers through author's imagination. (So, basically smart protagonist and/or interesting setting. The appeal of this motivation actually depends upon how cheesy the protagonist's journey is, in my opinion.)
Examples: I can not think of any right now. There were some, but I forgot.
Primary motivation: A random kid dies from Earth, crosses into another world, and obtains a cheating device. Ever stronger enemies pop out of the woodwork to piss off the protagonist, usually by threatening the protagonist or his family's lives. The enemies, personality-wise, are flatter than a pancake, and come to fall like a stack of ever taller dominos.
Primary motivation: A random kid from Earth dies, and is "Unwilling to die at such a unfair death" His soul comes to a new world, and basically steals the body of some even more unfortunate soul (and destroys the soul of that person, so they can never reincarnate as well). Not satisfied with the fact that he even gets a second life, he curses God and the heavens on why his new life is even worse than his previous life, because his new body has some disability stopping him from practicing, and spontaneously gets an uber cheat device (Probably from God, by the way. They never question WHY they are allowed to reincarnate or HOW they get their uber cheat device. They just take it for granted) after cursing the shit out of God. (Man, I wish my life was this easy). The worst part is that he starts killing ever stronger flat pancake enemies, and acquires ever more beautiful AND talented wives like trophies. Scum.
Primary motivation: Revenge. Not a bad motivation at all. The protagonists usually get transported to the past some years spontaneously, and their cheat device is their memory of future events. The problem is that after they achieve their revenge, their story does not end. They start facing ever stronger flat pancake enemies who pop out of the woodwork AND satisfy their desires that they were not able to in the past, such as acquiring the most talented and beautiful women of their generation like trophies, in addition to their "One true love who died in the past", who is ALWAYS understanding that these new women love him and all, so he MUST be allowed to marry them. Scum.
AUTHOR DOES NOT EVEN TRY TO HIDE IT: Stories that I stop reading.
Primary motivation: Handed a cheat device. Protagonist decides that he will acquire the beautiful women of the world like trophies. Author does not even try to hide it and appeals to a specific type of reader. (Ugh)
Primary motivation: Handed a cheat device. Protagonist decides to murder massive numbers of enemies, AND acquire beautiful, talented, and flat personality women. Once again, author does not even attempt to hide it, and appeals to a specific type of reader. (Double ugh)
Primary motivation: World is handed to protagonist on a silver platter. The writing is so infused with it, it leaks out, as events are essentially repeated, and protagonist faces no real challenge. (Boring & self-explanatory)
What do you guys think about this subject?