CONFLICT THESAURUS

LOSING A VITAL ITEM



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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:
Losing an advantage, failures and mistakes, duty and responsibility, increased pressure and ticking clocks, ego-related conflict

NOTES:
For more conflict scenarios related to this one, see BREAKING OR DESTROYING AN IMPORTANT ITEM, LACKING AN IMPORTANT RESOURCE, LOSING A PHONE, and LOSING A SOURCE OF TRANSPORTATION.

EXAMPLES:
Not having a map or compass in an outdoor environment 
Losing a phone or laptop
A family heirloom being misplaced
The character losing their passport or birth certificate, a relative's will, or other documentation
Losing necessary medication, a medical device, or a prosthetic
Not having a plug adaptor for international travel
Losing car keys or a security card for work
A police badge and gun being stolen from a locker
An airline losing the character's luggage
Losing critical resources in an outdoor environment (a water purifier, fire starter, knife, etc.)
A key piece of evidence in a criminal investigation being misfiled
A wallet, credit card, or purse being stolen
Losing a portable energy source

MINOR COMPLICATIONS:
Needing to search for what has been lost
Wasting time notifying security personnel 
Needing to file documentation for an insurance claim
Having to tell a friend, family member, or employer about the loss
Needing to notify banks and creditors
Having to borrow the item from someone else
Changing or canceling travel plans 
Having to scramble for a replacement or workaround
Needing to summon help (a locksmith, technician, etc.)
Not being able to use their phone, computer, or another electronic device
Developing a reputation for being irresponsible
Lying about what happened
Being reprimanded for the loss 

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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