Need plot ideas for homebrew setting

[Ravilah]

Okay, I've got a homebrew setting I like, but I'm being rushed and have developed uncharacteristic writers block. Could you help me. . .uh. . .dislodge the blockage.

Roughly, the setting is the planet earth 1000 years from now, after A.) an archaeologist has awakened a sleeping cabal of ancient psionic overlords, and B.) experimentation on a odd area of space has opened portals to weird other places (ala Rifts). The portals are closed now, but lots of fantastic critters are now in the world (dragons, etc.). The setting starts in a modern/futuristic city secretly ruled by the Psions. The city is walled in and the citizens are unware of who really rules them and ignorant of the outside world. Psionic abilities are starting to appear in the populace. Once outside, players find a former United States now reverted to medieval status, thanks to the nuclear war the Psions instigated 1000 years ago. Magic exists, but it works a bit like Materia from FF7. If you've ever read A Canticle for Leibowitz, you can catch a bit of the flavor here.
There's more but you get the idea.
The game system is a d6 mechanic whipped up by a friend of mine.

What plots can I spin in a setting like this? My players like large, kingdom-spanning plots and in-depth NPCs, but they are starting low level. Old hackneyed plots welcome. My brain is too stuck to know the difference.
Muchas Gracias,
R

 

[Ry]

Here's an analogy that might help you crank out ideas based on the ones you already have.

 

[Ravilah]

I have, sadly, included the Cotton Candy Vendor in my games before. But he usually minded his own business until stumbled upon in a dark cave somewhere.

Anyone else?

 

[painandgreed]

You mighty ask the PCs what their long term goals are and base it on that.

 

[Ry]

Are there any restaurants with cliques that are in a rivalry with another restaurant?

 

[KrazyHades]

There's tons of possibilities. Perhaps they are hired by the fierce leader of a small group of outlaws (members of a larger rebel organization)who are secretly fighting against the evil overlord psionics. After their first mission, they gain a number of contacts from the organization (make up some name for the rebellious alliance, for example: The Tevrae (pronounced tehv ray). They have a certain independence, but are recruited for missions by higher-ranking members of the rebel association. As time goes on, they may rise in rank, leading raids of government buildings or having a cell of people under their command.
This could lead to TONS of plot hooks. It would also start them off with the whole kingdom-spanning idea, as well as starting them of at a low level.

 

[Herobizkit]

When all else fails, go feudal, then make them fight.

In short, think like a Grand Theft Auto game, but large-scale. You have all sorts of factions that may war with one another: police vs. gangs, soliders vs. terrorists, psionic-wielding dictators vs. anti-psionic rebels, and so on.

Incidentally, I see the ties to FF7 that you're trying to emulate. Really, you have to figure out what the players want to do, what kind of characters they want to make, and what theme of story they're looking for...

Need more input.

 

[ssampier]

You certainly have some creative ideas. The first adventures should make the "odd" ideas seems normal. This sounds strange, but otherwise the players will not suspend their disbelief. Don't forget a meeting with a typical elf, dwarf, etc, and, of course, psion, if you want to foreshadow things.

As for the actual adventure, you could keep the players in the city (city adventures are fun!), possibility dealing with some low-level flunkies of the Psions. The Styes adventures in Dungeon would be an idea-generator (I don't remember what levels they are, however).

Outside would be different obviously. I don't what you've done with geography, but exploring a Grand Canyon or other nationally "known" site could be interesting. Perhaps the Grand Canyon is where the archeologist unleased the psions. It could be a small seed to their eventual downfall.

Other interesting sites, what became of New York and other big cities? Rubble or cities went underground with other revolutionaries? The Great Lakes region? Acid and "nuclear" waste? Or, placid and protected by water elementals?

Furthermore, since this medieval tech or medieval with feudal law? With the psions in charge, who are the dukes and other nobles? Is there any other remants of the previous civilization? Who are the psions friends (beholders, displacer beasts) and enemies (aboleths and mind-flayers)? Of course the friends and enemies could easily be reversed.

 

[Ravilah]

Yeah, I'm pretty much leaning towards the multiple-factions-all-over-the-place world, and then the players can just decide who they want to side with (if anyone).

 

[mythusmage]

Smuggling. No government, no matter how competent, has ever stopped smuggling. When there's a market for something somebody will always find a way to get it to the customer.