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->''"I'm generally a very pragmatic person: that which works, works."''
-->-- '''Linus Torvalds'''

Here are the tropes which deal with characters doing whatever it takes to meet their goals, personal or otherwise.

See ThisIndexFightsDirty for the combat version. Compare CynicismTropes and ADishonorableIndex.

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!!Tropes:

[[index]]
* AgainstTheGrain: A character goes against what is expected of them
* TheAnticipator
* AsskickingLeadsToLeadership
* AttackItsWeakPoint
* AttackTheInjury: Attacking someone's injured part of their body.
* BatmanGrabsAGun: When a situation is so serious, TheHero must break their HeroicVow.
* BetterToDieThanBeKilled
* BigBrotherInstinct
* BreakHisHeartToSaveHim
* BribingYourWayToVictory
* ChaoticGood: A character alignment which involves a hero who breaks the law to do what's right.
* CitadelCity
* CombatPragmatist: A character uses whatever weapons, tactics, and strategies they can to fight someone.
* CowboyCop: A cop who doesn't play by the rules and does what they can to protect others.
* CrazyPrepared: A character has a specific plan devised to help them with their current circumstances, no matter how unusual or unlikely those circumstances are.
* CrazySurvivalist
* CripplingTheCompetition: Sabotaging a competition so that the opponent can get an edge.
* DarkShepherd: A pragmatic moral leader who uses threats of punishments to keep people in line.
* DeathByPragmatism
* DespotismJustifiesTheMeans
* DirtyBusiness
* DirtyCoward: Doing what they can to escape danger, especially if it means leaving others behind.
* DoUntoOthersBeforeTheyDoUntoUs
* DontCreateAMartyr
* DystopiaJustifiesTheMeans
* EnlightenedSelfInterest: Sometimes, people will do the right thing because it benefits them too.
* FairForItsDay: The full reform would fail, so you try an intermediate step.
* FairWeatherFoe: Being nice to people you don't like as a means of getting something out of them.
* GodzillaThreshold: The situation is so dire that almost ''any'' idea is a good idea.
* GoodIsNotNice
* GoodIsNotSoft: Sometimes, good has to be brutally pragmatic.
* HitAndRunTactics
* IdealistVsPragmatist: A person with ideals conflicts with someone who's willing to do whatever it takes to get results.
* IDidWhatIHadToDo: A statement of justifying your questionable acts.
* ImprovisationalIngenuity
* ItsNotYouItsMyEnemies
* JustLikeRobinHood
* KillTheHostBody: Why bother removing a body snatcher if you can just kill them along with their disposable body?
* KindRestraints: Restricting a character in order to prevent them from harming themselves or others.
* KnightKnaveAndSquire (the Knave)
* KnightTemplar: Very pragmatic to the point of being entirely convinced that your acts are righteous.
** KnightTemplarBigBrother: Going the extra mile to protect their younger siblings.
** KnightTemplarParent: Going the extra mile to protect their children.
* KnowWhenToFoldEm
* LoopholeAbuse: Exploiting the specific phrasing of a rule in order to accomplish a task without violating it.
* LoveMakesYouEvil
* MacGyvering
* MamaBear
* MightMakesRight
* MoralPragmatist: Switches to the good alignment because it benefits their goal.
* {{Munchkin}}: A [[PlayerArchetypes Player Archetype]] based on {{metagame}}-based pragmatism.
* MurderIsTheBestSolution
* NecessarilyEvil: When committing an terribly evil act because it needed to be done.
* TheNeedsOfTheMany: If you can't save everybody, save the greatest number of people.
* NeutralEvil: A character alignment which is about doing whatever it takes to accomplish an evil goal.
* NoHarmRequirement : For the sake of a mission or someone/something's well being, the character avoids actions that inflict much, if any harm.
* NoPlaceForMeThere: Showing remorse for pragmatism.
* NoNonsenseNemesis
* NoRulesRacing: A race without specified routes or rules, so characters can do whatever it takes to win.
* OneTrackMindedHunger
* PapaWolf
* PersecutingProsecutor: This AmoralAttorney will stop at nothing to convict an opposing defendant.
* PragmaticAdaptation: An adaptation makes changes to the source material because making a completely faithful adaptation is either very difficult or outright impossible.
* PragmaticHero: A hero who will go the extreme length to save the planet.
* PragmaticPansexuality
* PragmaticVillainy: When a villain [[EvenEvilHasStandards doesn't cross a line]] because it would hurt their goals.
* PercussivePrevention: Attacking someone in order to protect them from getting hurt.
* PureIsNotGood
* RainbowPimpGear: Wearing a statistically practical combination of [[RummageSaleReject mismatched clothes]] in a video game.
* {{Realpolitik}}
* RestrainedResistanceRecklessRebellion: depending on the work, a character may fall on the Restrained side because they recognise outright conflict isn't feasible and is biding their time, or may fall on the Reckless side because they realise they need to somehow galvanise opposition to TheEmpire.
* SaltTheEarth: Destroying resources to prevent an enemy from rebuilding or making use of them.
* ScrewTheRulesIHaveConnections
* ScrewTheRulesIHaveMoney
* ScrewTheRulesImDoingWhatsRight: A character breaks the law in order to do good.
* ScrewTheRulesTheyreNotReal: A character abandons rules they have no external reason to follow.
* ShootTheDog: Committing a morally reprehensible act because it needs to be done.
* ShootTheHostage: Shooting through a hostage to neutralize a threat.
* TheSocialDarwinist
* StealthMentor
* TacticalWithdrawal: An organized retreat from a position, done for tactical gain rather than out of fear.
* ToBeLawfulOrGood: A hero must choose to abide by the law or break it to achieve a good end.
* TooDesperateToBePicky
* TotalitarianUtilitarian
* TheUnfettered: A character who will do '''anything''' to meet their goals.
* UnfinishedUntestedUsedAnyway
* VictoryByEndurance
* VigilanteMan: Taking the law by your own hands.
* ViolenceIsTheOnlyOption
* WellIntentionedExtremist: Doing questionable deeds to achieve a good end.
** TheExtremistWasRight: It turns out doing so was the right thing to do after all.
** NotSoWellIntentionedExtremist: It turns out you were only doing this to achieve something for yourself.
** UtopiaJustifiesTheMeans
* WishingForMoreWishes
* WhyDontYouJustShootHim
[[/index]]

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