Coordinated char backgrounds vs save the world....again!

[Kahuna Burger]

Traditionally when we've started a campaign in the past, our group usually write backgrounds for their characters (some briefer than others, but nearly every character has their own aims and goals). Eg.

1) The half-elf who desired to build a haven for half-elves that have no true home due to their mixed heritage.
2) The hunter of the dead who seeks to destroy undead at every turn
3) The thief who wishes to amass wealth and set up his own guild

So usually we write these backgrounds, and give them to the dm. The dm goes through the backgrounds and tries to integrate them into the campaign to make for a fluid game that works and doesn’t feel rail-roaded for forced etc.

Now, looking at the above three character examples, it’s easy to see that they are three different individuals that are sooner or later likely to go their separate ways and follow their own goals.

I would indroduce a long term goal that could fulfil all those dreams at once, and let them adventure together working up to the strength to meet it. For instance, there is a great cit of the undead which the hunter has heard of. It is common for undead hunters to work its periphery, protecting surrounding communities from wanderers, but none have launched a successful attack on the city itself. Is there a great undead master at the center? Who knows? But wouldn't the undead hunter like to take on such an awsome challange someday.

But wait, what would happen afterwards? The city of the undead has been there for centuries and no one claims ownership. It is in the dessert and well preserved, and if it could be taken the PCs could determine who settled there - perhaps a group of hardy half breeds willing to resurect a lost city for the chance at a home?

Well, not right away, of course. We'd have to thoroughly search and, ehem, clean the city first of all those ancient tresures, not to mention adventuring gear left behind by the former unwary travelers.

But we can't just charge into something like this, first there are rumors and quests for artifacts which may help, the organization of the halves, the honing of abilities... a bit of dventuring is in order.

Kahuna Burger