[Raellus]

In the v1.0 Rulebook- and probably the v2.2 as well- the designers suggested giving the players short and long term goals. This idea goes along with PC motivation. In my mind though, there's a difference. Are we talking about intrinsic motivation (from within) or extrinsic motivation (from outside)? I think the line between the two can get a little blurry. I'm going to address intrinsic motivation first.

From all of the my studies into the human experience of warfare, it seems that soldiers throughout time and space have shared the same primary motivation to keep fighting, even in the most effed-up of situations (pretty much all of WWI, for example): for their immediate comrades in arms.

In my gaming experience, this is sometimes true. Unfortunately, when players don't really get along personality-wise, their PCs usually don't either. IMO, there's far to much Sgt. Barnes vs. Sgt. Elias (see Platoon) drama in most PbPs. This tends to undermine the band of brothers mentality that has been the primary motivator for soldiers throughout history.

So, since PCs often don't have that natural comradery that real soldiers in combat usually do, other things need to act as motivators. As a result, many games seem to really on extrinsic motivation (complete such-and-such a mission, earn such-and-such a reward). Warfare is rarely like that IRL.