CONFLICT THESAURUS

BEING OUTMATCHED



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HELPFUL TIP:

Conflict is your story’s secret sauce, supplying tension, relationship friction, and complications to a character’s journey. It comes in a million different forms, so identify the obstacles and problems that will hit your character the hardest by using the Character Builder to uncover their primary insecurities, fears , and desires. Don’t forget to include everyday conflict scenarios that will frustrate them and keep the pressure high.
CATEGORY:
Increased pressure and ticking clocks, relationship friction, failures and mistakes, power struggles, losing an advantage, ego-related conflict

EXAMPLES:
Facing a rival who is more skilled, wiser, or wants to win more than the character 
Being successfully manipulated to reveal a true motive
Being forced to concede
Losing the high ground or being forced to give something up
An item of importance being taken away
Losing a custody battle
Losing a competition, bet, or race
Failing to match another's fundraising efforts
Being outbid (for a work contract, an auction item, etc.)
Losing a title or position to someone else
A rival being first to ask the character's love interest for a date 
Falling for a scam
Failing to convince someone of the truth because a rival lies better
Losing an endorsement or sponsorship to a competitor

MINOR COMPLICATIONS:
Needing to appear stoic outwardly despite crumbling on the inside
Having to be sportsmanlike and congratulate the winner
Needing to exit the situation quietly to deal with disappointment out of the spotlight
Dealing with well-meaning people who express sympathy or empathy
Being forced to abide by the terms of the win: handing over a set of keys or an access card, giving up a title, writing a check, or following through in some way

POTENTIALLY DISASTROUS RESULTS:
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RESULTING EMOTIONS:
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POSSIBLE INTERNAL STRUGGLES:
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PEOPLE WHO COULD BE NEGATIVELY AFFECTED:
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NEGATIVE TRAITS THAT COULD MAKE THE SITUATION WORSE:
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IMPACT ON BASIC NEEDS:
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WOUNDS THIS COULD LEAD TO:
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POSITIVE TRAITS TO HELP THE CHARACTER COPE:
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POSITIVE OUTCOMES:
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