Comparatively, I'm in the camp that feels that a softer, comfier start is better, ramping into a dramatic-for-your-level scenario to conclude the intro/prologue.
I'm actually REALLY fond of the West Harbour start in NWN2. Not only does it teach you the mechanics of D&D, and how those mechanics work in this game, but it does so smoothly and more or less in universe, without penalising or punishing you if you've made a character that can't do some of those things very well. It teaches you organically how the party and companion system works at the same time, and then, during the climax of the intro allows you to make meaningful and impactful decisions about what sort of a person your character is and wishes to be (And also worth mentioning, dialogue during the earlier intro allowed you to define elements of your history and relations with your friends and community, to flash out your own character in a natural-feeling way). It's really well crafted to bring you into the game world and anchor you there with conviction.
I just wish the companions were better.
I LOVE Neeshka... Neeshka is best rogue. But a lot of the others read like "We read a list of alignment stereotypes"
