Wow, thanks for all the responses. I thought there wouldn't be a clear cut answer, but honestly I got a bit more confused reading the comments ha ha... The thing about LMoP pre-gen characters is that their backstories aren't just part of game mechanics. There are some defined relationships with NPCs and "monsters", for example, one character used to live in Phandalin as a member of Redbrand Ruffians and also his aunt lives there. Thus, if I were to play the NPC based on their backstories then I could surprise the PC that this NPC is his aunt actually.
However, reading your ideas and experience was very informative and soothing. I'll just try to nudge the PCs here and there (my plan was never to enforce the backstories ha ha), and see where it goes from there. We can always improvise.
Regarding the rules, I am still struggling with them... I have played some 20 games as a player and 3 as a DM now. It's not that much, but I hoped by this time I wouldn't need to look into the rule book that much ha ha... Some game mechanics just don't make sense to me and learning by heart is the only way (or re-reading the rules). However, as the starter set rule book stated - the rules are just a guide. In the end it's about the story. I completely agree with that and I want my games to be more story focused. Nonetheless, the game mechanics intervene almost every step of the way. :)
I just wanted to add that one of the very best uses of these forums can be to ask about stuff you don't understand or which doesn't make sense. You are likely not the first or the last to have any particular thing that doesn't seem to make sense and it is usually something quite straightforward that a number of folks who post here could offer some guidance, suggestions or even just let you know if it is one of those rules that really doesn't make that much sense that are in the game for ease of play rather than making the game more realistic. D&D is a set of rules to facilitate role playing and fantasy adventure stories ... it moved away from simulation very early in its development.
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I just wanted to add that one of the very best uses of these forums can be to ask about stuff you don't understand or which doesn't make sense. You are likely not the first or the last to have any particular thing that doesn't seem to make sense and it is usually something quite straightforward that a number of folks who post here could offer some guidance, suggestions or even just let you know if it is one of those rules that really doesn't make that much sense that are in the game for ease of play rather than making the game more realistic. D&D is a set of rules to facilitate role playing and fantasy adventure stories ... it moved away from simulation very early in its development.