Backstory mostly (Who are the mothers? Why is Sadie at a brothel? How did the girls find out who their father is and where he is?).. Also thought they'd be a good writing and dev experience
Good writing and dev experience does sound like a good reason. I can't help but feel like the use though is going overboard...
I watched a video today about prequels that added plot holes that made an interesting joke about prequels in general that went "... Not got an idea for a plot? Don't worry, having the original movie as an end point excuses the lack of narrative purpose... "
So the question I have for you, now that I've been given the words to express my own fear with the word prequel (and can you really blame me, I'm a star wars fan) is, do you have a plot with narrative purpose, or is it just backstory extracted from the main product that could instead be peppered into the plot throughout?
I had a conversation with a someone on the dev hub yesterday that made a great point about backstory. What's great is when you learn about it throughout the story. You don't necessarily want the audience to know everything going in. They should learn it as they go along. It makes them enjoy the story more as it makes them interact, putting the pieces together.
For instance, Evelyn, the MC in my HS project, is not a traditional "slut" but instead someone who is polyamorous. The reason for that I know and will reveal as the story goes on, but isn't addressed at all in the beginning. The opening scene teases at this reveal however. Evelyn, leaving her hometown to go to the Seniors only college prep arts program offered by Seraphim Academy, says goodbye to her best friend, a guy who has lived in the friend zone ever since puberty, by giving him what he always wanted. An apology from her both because she knew all along how he felt about her, and because she was leaving him behind, possibly forever. She gives him her virginity, and when he questions whether or not she should wait for someone she loves, she replies, "You know I don't believe in love, at least not the way most people do."
Later on, I'll reveal her home life, how her parents split angrily when she was young, how both had had several relationships since but neither had ever remarried, and how this observation of relationships and love had shaped her own feelings on the subject. She doesn't not believe in romance, but she thinks its separate from sex and doesn't need to come with the governments involvement.
Now, if I was going by your implied method, I'd make a prequel story from the mom or dad's perspective with lots of no strings sex and references to their lack of attachment. However, if everyone always knew this there'd be no mystery to Evelyn's character development. We'd just know from the start.
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