I'm agreeing with you : "SIMPLE, FAST, FUN" (sorry, I dunno how to quote)
I think background story must be... back. You can make one if you feel you can, and you'll enjoy it. You can try to integrate this story in your daily roleplay if you really rule, and enjoy it. You can make a hard char to play, with a huge history, follow his path step by step and never go away of what you decided to do with him, and enjoy it...
Important for me is : ENJOY THIS SERVER AND TRY TO AVOID FLAGRANTE OORP, like flying CSV with civilian ID, or things like that.
We are here to spend good time, and do our best to make this comunity live. Obliging half of people to disconnect for one month to make them think about their char's background is guite boring...
OK for gentle RP, OK for gentle PvP too. What do you prefer ?
Hurk hurk hurk...
[\JG/]Pim (mercenary, ex-IMG)(Raven's talon, New London and New Berlin mainly)
John Smith(independant trader, ex-contract killer on Manhattan)(Heavy Tanker)