I'm rather frustrated with my 4e campaign setting for the simple reason that I have no big idea. This means I can't come up with an evocative name for my setting.
The ancient civilization used to cover the world, and a species of man that is a cousin to modern humans built a great civilization using stone age technology, and the divine guidance of the incarnation of a monotheistic god named Zerthimon. During the ice age his civilization reached its zenith, with cities built across the coninent. Warlocks looking for a source of magical power beyond that of the god-king sought the stars, and in the blackness between them found what they were looking for.
Long story short, the illithid were coming to claim the civilization. Asmodeus the angel, driven mad with power, organized a conspiracy among the angels to slay Zerthimon. He claimed that Zerthimon was too pacifistic to defend his people and thus would be of no use against the coming far realm invasion. He was successful in destroying the incarnation of Zerthimon, but did not fully appreciate the consequences of what would happen next. Magic flowed from his fingers and was loosed into the world, now without any master at all. The lands of the dead were deprived of their consolation, becoming the shadowfell. The betrayal and deicide of Zerthimon ensured his angel's damnation, and the heavenly realms bereft of Zerthimon became a prison and place of absolute horror and torment... made worse by their burning hatred of themselves and all who exist.
The Illithid invasion was complete and total. Some survivors fled beneath the earth, where due to inbreeding and evolution became the twisted and stunted forms of goblinkind. Those taken by the Illithid became the Githyanki, who managed to finally extract their revenge on their Illithid masters and escape their slavery. The dragons, who had helped Zerthimon build this great civilization turned feral and became the chromatic dragons.
On the world the years turned, and the ice age ended. The waters rose to claim some, but not all, of the ruins of this civilization. The modern races filled the niches in the world, and built their own civilizations.
However, the Githyanki never forgot their homeland... and they want it back. The Lich Queen plots from the Astral Plane to return in power to their rightful homeland, and purge the interlopers which have claimed her lands. In this she is aided by the devils, who seek to bring the Githyanki back to the world and put them back into the reach of death and harvest their souls. The Lich Queen attempts to reclaim the power of Zerthimon, and become the God Queen.
So obviously I've cribbed quite a bit from Incursion, but I plan to keep playing it after the invasion of the Githyanki is resolved. But aside from the invasion of the Githyanki, my campaign suffers from a big idea to evoke the setting in. I have lots of interesting cultures, organizations, cities, geographical features etc. all the little things that make adventures great. However, I don't have a big idea which distinguishes my world. It is really quite frustrating.
