Originally Posted by ldo58
I don't see a problem with the background stories. We're all level 1 PC's with 0 XP, so we could all just come from our basic training, eager for adventure and fame.
The main purpose would be, to add a D&D flavor to the story beginning and some of the claasical fun things for old-school D&D fans, like:
"Should I buy this ring mail, or just studded leather and a bow." smirk
Or try to find some more money to get ring mail AND a bow.
And also learn something about the world in the tavern, maybe even a small town quest.

Now, as a cleic for instance, I awake from my pod, armed with shield and mace and a leather armor. Hmm, strange.
Otherwise, I could find my chapter 0 belongings in a crate beside the pod, which seems less strange.

But you could make chapter 0 skippable for those who want to dive straight in the heat of the escape chapter.
Although, in that case there may be a complication with XP. It would ean you can gain no XP in the chapter 0. Still, this could be solved.


Again, I like the idea and I share the sentiment, but it would require extra stories. Otherwise every character would start in the same Baldur's Gate inn or what have you... and it wouldn't make sense for many characters. Especially for drow and githyanki, who got abducted from who-knows-where and likely not the same place as others. And even for common surface races - "why is my outdoorsy ranger in this foul tavern?".

And this is just for customs - every origin would require a different Chapter 0, because they were up to all sort of different things before the abduction.

But some sort of generic character tutorial in this style could be nice. I think BG2 had something like that, though I didn't really explore it. It could serve as a lore introduction for newcomers, as you say.