CONFLICT THESAURUS

FIGHTING AN UNWINNABLE BATTLE



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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, duty and responsibility, loss of control, failures and mistakes, moral dilemmas and temptations, no-win scenarios, power struggles, losing an advantage, ego, miscellaneous challenges

EXAMPLES:
Trying to help someone who doesn't want to be helped
Attempting to convince someone they're being manipulated whey they refuse to see it
Holding off a threat so others can escape
Refusing to yield even when the battle is lost
Fighting to stay alert when sleep-deprived
Fighting to stay conscious when succumbing to oxygen deprivation
The character refusing to sacrifice their morals or integrity even in the face of an imminent threat
Attempting to convince someone to give up or give in when their mind is made up
Trying to remove someone from a toxic influencer who holds great power over the person
Trying to change someone's mind about something that's rooted in their core beliefs
Clinging to life despite being mortally wounded

MINOR COMPLICATIONS:
Pain and discomfort
Exhaustion
Being disappointed that things aren't turning out as expected
Depleting reserves in an attempt to turn things to the character's advantage
Having to be hard, not kind, so people will leave the character to face danger alone (yelling, displaying anger, shoving someone toward an escape route and away from battle, etc.)
Resisting help
Refusing to give in
Emotional pain from watching someone refuse to listen to reason and throw everything away (if the character is trying to get through to them)

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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