So at the ACD Open House, WotC stated there will be a document on their website that will give the info to generate a BASIC character, emphasis his (Chris Lindsay)
You didn't have zero choices during chargen in the old days. You had plenty of choices. And the difference is that you made them, rather than having them made for you. You chose what to do with your stats (whether arranging your rolls, modifying stats in Basic, point buy for those who want it, etc), your race, your class, your gear, your name and background, etc.
To be clear, I'd love for the basic set to contain rules for character creation. They are needed as soon as the first characters bit the dust. But I really can't see their oimission from the printed set to be a decisive factor.
And now we know the missing bit, 15% of the PHB (the parts with character creation) will be free on the WotC site.
Check the BoardGameGeek Seminar thread.
Thaumaturge.
Also, WotC confirmed the minis in the Minis Starter are the pregen characters, plus a bonus figure of Drizzt.
So at the ACD Open House, WotC stated there will be a document on their website that will give the info to generate a BASIC character, emphasis his (Chris Lindsay)
Now to turn it into a nice, printed book(let).
The text is:
"Approx 15% of the D&D Player's Handbook will be free on WotC site to cover the basics of building characters for those getting Starter Sets. [EDIT: [MENTION=662]thalmin[/MENTION] mentioned the rules will be for BASIC characters (emphasis from the WotC rep)]"