So, I wanna start a new D&D campaign with my friends. I want it to be a heavy-roleplay campaign and I didn't really want to start with the ol', "you meet in a tavern" . I was thinking of a beginning that is heavily inspired by Out of The Abyss, where the PC's break out of a fortress controlled by the BBEG. 

Though here's where the problems start:

I want my PC's to begin in a slave pen filled with notable NPCs that can help them escape. Their main goal should be to get past the main gate and into the actual fortress using their own means. Inside the fortress are a few encounters which they'll have to deal with before booking it out the escape. Since they start as slaves, I don't wanna give my PC's their starting equipment just yet, but I dont know where they can retrieve their items once getting past the gate. I want it to be obvious, but not too in-your-face either. Also, I dont want them to miss it so that they dont become meat paste when the encounters start. 

Any suggestions? 

In OoTA, the player's starting equipment is in the quarters of the leader (Ilvara), but the module suggests putting it in the armory instead if they don't go that far. The armory would make sense, and it is likely they would head that way anyways to arm up to fight their way out. Perhaps the gatehouse has a small armory where they keep some spare equipment and the prisoners gear until it can be processed?

Maybe have some of the slaves, PC or NPC, be gladiators who know where the weapons are kept between fights. Or let them find some sleeping guards who happen to have some or all of the gear they need.

If you want them to escape with it, i'd put it in the armory or on the first group of guards they fight, if not, after they escape, have them slowly come across corpses that have their equipment

well, the thing is, how are they going to fight the guards without their equiptment?

If you can get your hands on a copy of A4 In The Dungeons of the Slave Lords. It starts with the party as slaves. Its designed for lvl 5-7? But you can trim it down.

Multiple characters and npcs vs a couple armed guards. Do the math.

Quote from Mustach >>

well, the thing is, how are they going to fight the guards without their equiptment?

 

 A few of the NPCs have been slaves here for some time and have been planning this for a while: they have smuggled in some knives and rocks and buried them in the dirt while they waited for someone brave and strong to lead them, who wasn't worn down yet by years of starvation and abuse.

And once you've knocked down a few guards, you take their stuff.

Alternately, there is a guard or two on your side willing to help supply your escape.

that actually seems like a solid idea, thanks