Goodman Games

Ok so I was thinking that my Characters needed some long term goals, that were more specifically defined out. This, to give them a reason to go out and seek thier fortune/power. And, to also provide adventure hooks for the DM to design modules/encounters for. Then I thought, hey, what if we made up an optional table that a player could roll on, to provide a reason for thier character to venture out into the unknown.
It might be cool to stylize it by each class, so that way if a player is suffering from "Lack of Imagination" then can just roll for it. Or even if they just wanna roll for it anyways.

Please submit your brainstorming ideas and I might add'em to da list.

Cleric Reasons for Adventuring: roll 1d20
Roll: Result
1: You are compelled to wipe out the competion to your god's dominance. This is only one god and you follow him. All other gods
are false Idols. Destroy them all!
2: You feel enlightened to convert those Heathens and Blasmphemers to the one true god, your god!
3: Many centuries ago a Religious artifact fell into enemy hands when a particular city of God was razed to the ground by humanoids. You have just found a clue as to what tribe of creatures may now have that artifact, or may know where that artifact is.

Dwarf Reasons for Adventuring: roll 1d20
Roll: Result
1: The Boy who smells gold! Ever since a young age you could always find deposits of Precious Metals and Gemstones. Since then you have always been on the lookout for futher deposits of ores and minerals. You are out looking for your next mining business venture.
2: You are a Do-It-Yourself craftsman looking for raw materials to stock up on.

Elf Reasons for Adventuring: roll 1d20
Roll: Result
1: Many centuries ago an Elven artifact fell into enemy hands when a particular Elven city was razed to the ground by humanoids. You have just found a clue as to what tribe of creatures may now have that artifact, or may know where that artifact is.
2: In your alchemical persuit to make "The Perfect Wine", you seek new ingredients towards that endevour.

Halfling Reasons for Adventuring: roll 1d20
Roll: Result
1: Living a comfortable life cost money, and supporting your eating habits does not come cheap! So you have decided to hire on with an adventuring group "as a mascot and lucky charm." It is your hope that it will only take 1 trek through the wilds to set yourself up for life!
2: In the Culinary Arts, a Halfling is judged only by thier last made pie! So in order to win this year's "Best Blueberry Pie" Blue Ribbon, at your local County Fair, you have taken up with some adventurers to help you find that missing spice you need.

Thief Reasons for Adventuring: roll 1d20
Roll: Result
1: Hearing that the locals are all riled up to go take out "the thing on the edge of town," you figure it would be the perfect opportunity to "liberate" any treasures of its lair. Let all the local Yokels get their pent up frustration out, while you help yourself to the goods!
2: Your friend is off to find some lost missing treasure, (book, staff, wand, what-have-you.) You are just going along to help him find it for a cut of the treasure.

Warrior Reasons for Adventuring: roll 1d20
Roll: Result
1: You have always been a Bully! You feel the need to take from others what they are too weak to keep for themsleves. Hense, you go forth to take from the meek and give to yourself!
2: Your friend is off to find some lost missing treasure, (book, staff, wand, what-have-you.) You are just going along to help him find it for a cut of the treasure.

Wizard Reasons for Adventuring: roll 1d20
Roll: Result
1: You crave knowledge for knowledge's sake. You search for a particular rare artifact, a Tome of vast power. You seek the Necronomicon!
2: You were kicked out of the Wizards guild for the substance abuse program and now have no where else to go but with those foolish adventurers looking for loot.

The elevn artifact can also apply to clerics.

Wizards

2. You were kicked out of the Wizards guild for the substance abuse program and now have no where else to go but with those foolish adventurers looking for loot.

You could use the situations set at the beginning of the Zero Level adventures as character goals and plot hooks. I think that the setup for 'The Portal Under the Stars' is an excellent motivation for the players.

I'm currently playing a character in a campaign that started the game with amnesia (spelling?).
The GM and I have had fun with it. He will on occasion throw a curve at me about my characters past, or an NPC will walk up and start talking to my character like a long lost friend. That's how my PC learned his name.
Little by little things are starting to make sense to him (my PC, not the GM).
Stonebreaker