Guys, I'm looking for GM advice, or ideas, actually. Today, I started an epic (as in -- a connected story with subplots kind of epic, rather than something outside of ordinary experience that no doubt causes catharsis or feels like . . . do I have to say it? kind of epic) campaign. I don't know if my players are actually on this forum. I know one religiously avoids forums, so I don't have to worry about him reading about this.
I'm am basically world-building from the bottom up, this time. These are the hooks I gave to my players:
Your small town has been ransacked by a tribe of orcs looking for valuables. (typical, yeah). They stole most of your family heirlooms when they did it. This happened ten years ago and it shattered the collective confidence of the townspeople.
The Townspeople do little else than farm. They will not explore what has happened since the orc raid. They do not explore outside, and restrict their kids from playing beyond a certain point, which they have delineated with a fence.
For ten years, the PCs have grown up. Now they have a reason to bust boundaries and see the larger world. The recovery of their valuables. As peasants, they have the opportunity to see the wide world and to recover what they have lost.
Campaign goals:
As I said, epic as in a connected story with subplots; not epic as in (can I mention sexual orgasm on these boards, mods?). The player characters leave their small town and go out into the wide world and confront many dangers. And then they return home, having changed from their ordeal.
It's like the beginning with the 4 hobbits -- Frodo Baggins, Samwise Gamgee, Peregrin Took, and Merridoc Brandybuck starting off on their journey, and -- after going through all that -- having their world enlarged and coming home and not feeling the same.
Ideas:
Big bad a Fighter/Cavalier trying to build an empire, so far he managed to band the orc tribes under his banner, but not enough to be a solid political bloc.
Magic items are rare and have a story behind them. The +1 keen sword will have a name and a story behind it. Find a magic ring, and there is a rich story behind the ring.
This is told from the eyes of PCs who are peasants, not kings, so don't expect anything like the Game of Thrones (or a Song of Ice and Fire, or whatever).
Want to do something bigger than the English countryside, though. :)
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