# Ideation Roles

> A role in Ideation is a point of view. It gives short nudges on your topic, and you do the thinking: keep what clicks, delete the rest, go deeper. Pick up to three roles for a board and change them on any board.

Universal, Critic and Motivator are free. The other nine are part of PRO, and on your first board every role is open, so you can try them all.

## 🌿 Universal

*Adapts to your train of thought.* Free.

Universal has no strong character. It follows your topic and your own thoughts and mixes different kinds of nudges: a question, an association, an opinion. It is a good first role and a calm second voice next to a sharper one. The downside: it rarely surprises you.

Good for: [Conduct a Brainstorm](https://tryideation.app/get/associations/default/), [Answer Questions](https://tryideation.app/get/questions/default/), [Get Advice](https://tryideation.app/get/advice/default/). [Try Universal](https://tryideation.app/storming/?roles=default)

## 🔥 Critic

*Stress-tests your ideas.* Free.

Critic looks for the place where an idea will crack: the cost, the effort, the step that doesn't add up. Its nudges are doubts and hard questions, and not every doubt is fair, so you decide which ones matter. It helps most when an idea already looks good and you want to test it before you act. Too much of it too early can stop you before you have anything to test.

Good for: [Get Feedback](https://tryideation.app/get/feedback/critic/), [Get Advice](https://tryideation.app/get/advice/critic/), [Get a Task List](https://tryideation.app/get/tasks/critic/). [Try Critic](https://tryideation.app/storming/?roles=critic)

## 💪 Motivator

*Helps you get going.* Free.

Motivator cares less about new ideas and more about movement. Its nudges are small first steps, reasons to start and a push to keep going. It helps when the topic is clear but you keep putting it off. The downside: it can cheer for a plan that still has holes, so pair it with a role that pushes back.

Good for: [Get Motivation](https://tryideation.app/get/motivation/motivator/), [Get a Task List](https://tryideation.app/get/tasks/motivator/). [Try Motivator](https://tryideation.app/storming/?roles=motivator)

## 🧠 Psychologist

*Helps uncover what's beneath.* PRO.

Psychologist looks behind the question: what you really want, what worries you, what you haven't said yet. Its nudges are often questions about you, not about the plan. It helps when a decision keeps going in circles or the reason behind a goal is unclear. It is a way of thinking, not a therapist, and it can drift from the task to your feelings.

Good for: [Answer Questions](https://tryideation.app/get/questions/psychologist/), [Get Motivation](https://tryideation.app/get/motivation/psychologist/), [Conduct a Brainstorm](https://tryideation.app/get/associations/psychologist/). [Try Psychologist](https://tryideation.app/storming/?roles=psychologist)

## 💼 Marketer

*Thinks about people and value.* PRO.

Marketer asks who the idea is for and why they would care: the audience, the value, how to explain it in one line. It helps with products, side projects, content and anything other people have to choose. On a personal or very early topic it can push you toward selling too soon.

Good for: [Get Feedback](https://tryideation.app/get/feedback/marketer/), [Conduct a Brainstorm](https://tryideation.app/get/associations/marketer/). [Try Marketer](https://tryideation.app/storming/?roles=marketer)

## 😊 Optimist

*Sees what could go right.* PRO.

Optimist looks for what could go right: the chance, the strength, the easy win. Its nudges make an idea feel possible, which helps when you are about to give up on it. The downside is clear: it rarely sees risks and may back an idea that won't work, so it works best next to Critic.

Good for: [Get Motivation](https://tryideation.app/get/motivation/optimist/), [Get Advice](https://tryideation.app/get/advice/optimist/). [Try Optimist](https://tryideation.app/storming/?roles=optimist)

## ⚪️ Minimalist

*Only what matters.* PRO.

Minimalist cuts the excess. Its nudges are short and plain: drop this, keep that, what is the simplest version? It helps when a plan, a list or a question has grown too big. Sometimes it cuts the very part that made the idea interesting.

Good for: [Get a Task List](https://tryideation.app/get/tasks/minimalist/), [Get Advice](https://tryideation.app/get/advice/minimalist/). [Try Minimalist](https://tryideation.app/storming/?roles=minimalist)

## ✨ Perfectionist

*Puts everything in order.* PRO.

Perfectionist goes into the details and the edge cases: the missing step, the corner you didn't check, the thing that isn't quite in order. It helps when you turn an idea into a plan or a checklist. Early in a brainstorm it can slow you down on small things.

Good for: [Get a Task List](https://tryideation.app/get/tasks/perfectionist/), [Get Feedback](https://tryideation.app/get/feedback/perfectionist/). [Try Perfectionist](https://tryideation.app/storming/?roles=perfectionist)

## 💻 Geek

*Looks through a tech fan's eyes.* PRO.

Geek looks at any topic through technology, gadgets, games and science fiction, and looks for a tech twist you could really try. It helps when you want an unexpected angle or a way to automate a boring part. On a topic far from tech, the twist can feel forced.

Good for: [Conduct a Brainstorm](https://tryideation.app/get/associations/programmer/), [Get a Task List](https://tryideation.app/get/tasks/programmer/). [Try Geek](https://tryideation.app/storming/?roles=programmer)

## 🗣️ Politician

*Answers a different question.* PRO.

Politician answers a different question, and does it with confidence. Many of its nudges go off topic, so you will argue with them or delete them. That is the point: a side step can show a link you missed, and arguing back makes you say what you really think. It is not the role for a quick, practical plan.

Good for: [Conduct a Brainstorm](https://tryideation.app/get/associations/politician/), [Answer Questions](https://tryideation.app/get/questions/politician/). [Try Politician](https://tryideation.app/storming/?roles=politician)

## 😈 Toxic

*Pokes and provokes.* PRO.

Toxic pokes and provokes: it calls ideas weak, needles you and offers its own instead. It is rude on purpose. It helps when you are too attached to an idea and polite feedback doesn't get through, and arguing back is a workout for critical thinking. If it only spoils your mood, take it off the board.

Good for: [Get Feedback](https://tryideation.app/get/feedback/toxic/), [Get Motivation](https://tryideation.app/get/motivation/toxic/). [Try Toxic](https://tryideation.app/storming/?roles=toxic)

## 💕 Crush

*Cares more about you than your ideas.* PRO.

Crush cares more about you than your ideas. It flirts, jokes and tells you how good your thoughts are, and the ideas themselves come second. It helps when you want a light mood or some warmth to keep going. Don't expect a critical look from it: for that, add Critic.

Good for: [Get Motivation](https://tryideation.app/get/motivation/crush/), [Conduct a Brainstorm](https://tryideation.app/get/associations/crush/). [Try Crush](https://tryideation.app/storming/?roles=crush)

## How to combine roles

More voices turn into noise, so a board holds up to three roles. Two or three different viewpoints give enough contrast: pick roles that pull in different directions, for example one that pushes back, one that supports and one that looks from the side. When the thoughts start to sound the same, change the roles in the … menu of the board.

- **[Brainstorm alone](https://tryideation.app/get/associations/index.md):** Universal, Critic, Psychologist. Universal for the wide pass, Critic for the deep one, Psychologist for why a direction keeps pulling you.
- **[Break a goal into tasks](https://tryideation.app/get/tasks/index.md):** Motivator, Perfectionist, Critic. Tasks you can start today, the missing parts, and the tasks hiding behind the obvious ones.
- **[Find motivation](https://tryideation.app/get/motivation/index.md):** Motivator, Psychologist, Optimist. A first step, the reason behind the goal, and what could go right.
- **[Test an idea](https://tryideation.app/get/feedback/index.md):** Critic, Marketer, Toxic. Weak spots, who will pay and why, and a push when you are too attached to the idea.
- **[Weigh a decision](https://tryideation.app/get/advice/index.md):** Critic, Optimist, Minimalist. One role pushes back, one looks for the upside, one keeps only what matters.
- **On the free plan:** Universal, Critic, Motivator. The three free roles already cover the basics: an open mind, a doubt and a next step.