Here is what I plan to do with BG, first a little background. I obviously like hack and slash, I play only one time a week for 4-5 hours, we've got no time for chit chat!
We use the Greyhawk setting and maps, they are really good! I could care less about the back history and the who's who of the realm, I mostly, "mos-t-ly" rely on the geography and regional situations for my set-ups. That being said I also threw in a twist. Greyhawk's history is the standard break up of a major kingdom into smaller waring kingdoms, mostly human, some elf, dwarf, orc, and barbarian lands. One big bad mystrious guy named IUZ (maybe a god or Lich). No one seems to get along, blah blah, blah....My twist is about 70 years ago a conquering army arrived they are known as "Imperius" or in other words the Roman's.
See where I am going with this?
After a brief and one sided war the lands of Greyhawk fell prey to another Imperiuos conquest. Greyhawk is now divided into 5 dstricts with a govenor and prefect for each district. No one knows who the Emporer is but he/she seems to be a good person. After establishing the districts and basic laws, Greyhawk began to flurish as it has never has. Roads are safe to travel, petty warring has stopped, life is pretty much normal, other than being occupied. The previous lords and royalty kept their lands and title but just have to pay a pretty coin to keep it that way.
The Imperious only allow humans amongst their ranks and are easily the best army in the land. Thay have IUZ on the run, finaly have the Orcs keeping to their treaties, and the Barbarians from moving out of the mountains. Now we have a new protagonist...Imperious. Some folks love em..others hate em.
Greyhawk has a gem of a city known as The Free City of Greyhawk, The Emporer knows this metropolis is the lynch pin of the entire realm. The people of the lands could possibly revolt and organize if Imperious ever tried to control this city, so it has been left alone, tax free.
Well, as of last Monday a major 10.0 earthquake struck the free city! Obviously somebody is being naughty! The city has turned to rubble, and ash. The Orc hoard knowing the city is unprotected by Imperious mounts an offensive to try to loot the defenseless city. The ancient underworld of the free city is now exposed and all sorts of creatures are now free, and to top it off, the 3 Academies of magic are in ruin with their libraries free for pilfering! Along with many ancient and major temples and churches destroyed as well.
Imperious must move in to protect the city from vandals, orcs, and monsters. They must help save the innocent, and help rebuild. However they are going to need money to do this, so an obvious occupation and taxation of the city seems immenant.
As we speak thousands are fleeing the city with nothing but the clothes on their backs. The orc hoard approaches from the west. Pirates are attacking every ship leaving the harbour, with no harbor patrol availible to stop them. From the north and east Imperious approaches with their two most decorated Armies.
So where does the character back stories and chit xhat come in?
Mako