So it would reveal the big bad wasn't the big bad, it was some other guy, but, when you defeat the other guy, it's revealed that the original guy was really the big bad all along?
And the fake big big bad is actually one of the two macguffins required to beat the original big bad? Provoking a big quest to go find the remaining macguffin?
Not quite complicated enough.
I don't... wha?
Where do I come in on this?
How about this.
The warlord you defeat in the tutorial is initially made out to be the BB, but obviously isn't since you defeat him pretty early on. You discover hints in town (delivered by a gold-eyed man?) about Derm, who sounds like a bad guy. You investigate, and either get Derm to join you or drive him off*. Then, you discover something that suggests that a lich in this big tower in Roll to Dodgia is the BB, and Derm was trying to destroy said lich in ways that confused me given their collateral damage. Once you reach the tower, though, Dirg and the lich(ette) have kicked off the huge civil war between themselves, the Conservatives, me, bronies, penguins, dwarves, etc. After some side quests or something, Tim arrives and looks like an all-slaying Big Bad. However, it turns out that misko and the lichette/Dirg caused him to be here, so you need to enlist the help of the ponies or penguins to defeat one of them. Plot twist, Tim was lying and is actually the Big Bad, and manages to crush the surviving army with Xantalos's help and is about to destroy the world! You must have an item gained from defeating misko and one from the lichette combined by GWG and Aperture Science to protect you from Tim's OHK gun. Also useful will be the spell(s) from the Holy Log. Upon defeating Tim, the ghost of the warlord appears as a bonus boss.
*I seem to recall discussion about the possibility of Derm being defeated and befriended at differing points, being stronger the later you pick him up. If this won't be added, disregard the "or drive him off" bit.
Thoughts?