I want to do some simple background story, but my main concern at this point is to make this thing at least resemble a game.
Just some stuff here to consider for when you start to work on the story stuff. You don't need to answer all of them, hell you don't need to answer any of them here. These questions are just here to help you shape the story around the type of game you want it to be.
I'll be trying this game out later too, and may have more advice, pointers, and suggestions afterward as well.
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For character-based background story stuff, you might want to consider the following questions.
Who is the character?
Where are they?
Why are they there?
Do they have any friends?
Any Enemies/Adversaries?
What is the world like? (From the character's perspective)
How well do they fit in among their peers? (Are the liked or disliked?)
What are their motivations or goals? (THIS IS AN IMPORTANT ONE)
How have they tried to accomplish their goals?
Why are their goals what they are?
How do their short-term goals match up with their long-term goal / main objective?
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For site-based background story stuff, you may want to consider the following questions.
Where does the story take place?
What kind of place is this?
Why does this place exist (in the form it appears to be to the characters)?
Are there any major legends or myths about the place that the characters know?
Are there any that they DON'T know?
Why are the characters here?
What are the pros, and cons, of pursuing the story here?
What are the major events (from the past) that happened here?
How are the characters (if any) connected to these past events?
What will happen if the characters ignore the story?
What will happen if the characters fail in their quest here?
What will happen if the characters succeed in their quest here?