My first ever playthrough of the game I decided to go out on a limb and picked the Dark Urge origin, only having a small bit of secondhand knowledge of BG1 & 2 (coincidentally the same level of knowledge the Dark Urge also starts with). I spent the whole of act 1, 2, and the better part of 3 terrified that at any moment I would lose and kill my companions, that I had made a mistake choosing the Dark Urge and it would in turn act against me and ruin my experience, possibly even causing me to never want to play the game ever again, but even then I still tried to resist the urge. When Sceleritas threatened me with the proposal that if I didnt kill Isobel I would kill Laezel (my partner in the playthru), I started to think like the Urge, genuinely considering killing her just to spare Laezel. I decided to go against my better judgement and let Isobel live and in return I spent the night tied up, even more scared that I couldn't control the urge and it would get my party killed. When I stumbled in the sewers Orin revealed to me that she kidnapped Halsin and would kill him unless I killed Gortash, I dropped everything I was doing and immediately began scouring the sewers for where she could be hiding. I didn't want to have to be forced to kill against my will again. I had only found the entrance to the Undercity because I noticed a small blood circle ,which triggered some memory in a small recess of my mind that this was the symbol of Bhaal. I didn't even know Sarevok was alive yet, I skipped that quest, I was just going off my own knowledge. After I entered and fought my way to Orin, she along with the narrator revealed everything to me, coupled with the knowledge I had learned from reading various books along the whole game, everything had clicked into place. I knew I would have to fight Orin. I knew she had the Slayer form. But most importantly I knew that after I killed her, I, the only remaining Bhaalspawn, would be turned into that very same monster. It was tough, but despite me having "not trained well enough", I used the tactics, the tools, and the experiences I learned throughout the game to win the duel. When I saw Sceleritas' gored body float towards me however I knew that it was to all end here. Bhaal himself, not an avatar like Myrkul previously, would either kill me where I stood for having resisted him and played the evil character path wrong, or I would have to become his Chosen, the very thing I spent so long trying to avoid. Either way, all the progress I had made, the nearly three weeks I spent on my playthrough, would be erased. In the end I still stood firm and resisted, and in the end exactly what I had thought pass did, and I was killed right there. When the camera shifted to a cinematic view, and the narrator monologued I thought that was it. The Bad Ending to the Bad Character Origin. I was honestly content with the game ending there for me. Sure I was a little dismayed I would not get to defeat the Absolute, and I may not have fully understood when I started what I was getting into, but I was happy knowing despite the circumstances I did the best I could. That I had made what many consider the unideal first time playthrough matter to me. Of course though that wasn't how it ended. Where I thought I would be punished for resisting the very urges of the game itself, I was instead rewarded by Withers, the Avatar of Jergal, and the Avatar of the Game itself. Withers didn't just grant my character with life itself, but with the confirmation that despite everything, all of the circumstances, the confusion, the fear, I had truly done my best to make the worst better. That experience. That first playthrough. All of my odd choices I had made throughout the game, in the game or out of it that lead me to that one moment, had worked itself into creating an experience so utterly unique to me specifically that I don't think it will ever be truly replicated again. The Dark Urge is without a doubt the single best experience I ever had in a game. I started my journey afraid that starting with the Dark Urge would sour any attempt to replay it, in a way it kind of has, I don't think I can ever replay the game as any other character now.
I've read the whole thing. The Durge origin alone makes this game for me a GOTY not to mention that the game itself is amazing. Srsly I don't think I have ever experienced character personal story this good, there are so many moral dilemas in this origin that you won't experience in normal playtrough, not to mention that main plot is heavily tied to his background. It's a shame that a lot of people won't experience Durge story because they will play as custom becasue they think that Dark Urge is a evil playthrough origin. Maybe they add Durge as companion in the future or maybe when they realese defenitive edition. That would be amazing. EDIT - If only there was a option to meet Imoen and Adrian as Dark Urge with basically going full circle with the series.
so true, durge playthrough sour my replay attempt, not because i have bad memory of it, but because it was so great that any replay from that point wouldn't compare to my first playthrough. I never played the first and second Baldur Gate, so my blindness to Baldur Gate lore made my first experience even more magical. How i wish ican remove my memory of playing this game, so i can play it like my first time again.
@@leanasa2915 If you don't mind bad graphics and dated gameplay then you have to try out BG1 and 2. BG1 is kinda average with intresting but dated story but BG2 story and companions are amazing for a game from 2000. It is kind of shame that we have only 3 characters from previous games in BG3.
as a person who played the old games as a child and know what a good story can do to a person: i am so happy you had this experience and I pray you can find another soon.
@@shadowscall7758and what victory is that absence of effort? To simply ride the inertia of the soul? You don't choose how you are born, but to defy your nature and become better is the victory harder-won, and it is always the more worthy pursuit.
@nickmalachai2227 you missed my point. If you were born good, you didn't commit evil in the first place and those people affected by it wouldn't have been. Do you think it matters to the family whose parents you slaughtered if you change later? The parents are still dead.
@@shadowscall7758 you don't have control over that, though, and that's the point. I'm all for the absence of harm, but this isn't a "choose which origin", this is "who of these two is greater" and I think it's greater to overcome the inertia of life and improve than to continue assured that you awere already acceptable enough in nature.
Bhaal having a temper tantrum because another one of his kids has turned against him. Jergal laughing at Bhaal, reminding him that he was the original death god, and taking the Dark Urge as his chosen instead in the heart of his own temple. Nice
Even better, it’s essentially a grandfather slapping around his idiotic, immature adult son, and taking his grandson away from such undeserved cruelty and taking you under his guidance instead.
@@eagleye2893well no. You can still refuse to go into the prism and you can directly disrespect her wishes by telling her you won’t do what she tells you to do, you just can’t insult her lol. And you can just not go into the prism when she sets it out for you. When you say ‘I’m not going into the prism’ she’s like ‘I will not be disobeyed!!!! But still maybe your autonomy will lead you to the right path if your words won’t’ or something
As someone who who grew up playing the original games - when Jaheira finished off her speech with her catch phrase "... Nature's servant awaits." I was struck by a huge wave of nostalgia. Larian has created a fantastic story for a new generation but also has written a love letter to us older gamers who grew up with Baldur's Gate. Damn I love this game!
Same, Im now replaying BG1 and 2 and its great to experience this games again with new context. I kinda wished that there was a way to meet Gorion's Ward because I romanced Jaheira in BG2 so it would be nice to see them reunited. Or maybe few more cameos from older characters.
@@Azumgi my condolences for having to play ad&d rules :) though 5e made some terrible things too compared to 3.5, especially magic that lasts more than one round
@@mattmark94 aye, I would've loved to go full circle with DUrge and run into the Bhaalspawn from BG1 & 2 and have a confrontation with them. THAT would make for an amazing climactic battle
He definitely feels more complete than a custom character because the Act 3 of the game really focuses around him and his backstory so playing as custom seems like you are missing out on a lot context of the game story.
Imo Dark urge should have been the default main character. It's the only origin that feels like a continuation to the original games where the protagonist was Bhaal's spawn, and it gets so much extra content compared to custom or the other origin chracters I picked custom origin because that's the best option in almost all RPGs. I decided I would never play Dark Urge because I thought it was some meme origin where you were forced to be super evil, and spoiled myself on all the special stuff. Instantly regretted it because the story was actually really good and now I can't experience it fresh anymore
@@exantiuse497 Yea they really should gave better description for Durge. I played as custom and after few hours i made a new game because i fucked up Karlach romance and picked Durge because someone said he is really good and i promised myself that no matter how fucked up he will bee I wont restart the game and after Alfira death i got hooked into the story because i realised that Durge is a Bhallspawn at that point. With the diffrence that in BG1 and 2 its more of the story of good guy becoming evil where in BG3 Its evil becoming good.
@@exantiuse497 Look, I understand what you mean, but I have seen how people reacted to Alfira's death. They would not take it if this was the only origin that allowed for custom classes. Trust me, it would have caused major issues.
I believe Tav was always meant to be a Bhaalspawn but at some point in development they decided to let you play as just a normal adventurer as well. Honestly I hope Durge convinces Larian to do more origin characters like this. Having a character you can customize with a more tailored story like Durge is more interesting to me then playing the game but one of the pre made companions is the main character now.
Withers gives the most genuine sweet grandfatherly smile when he tells you “the sole way to atone is to do better, in a new dawn. That dawn has come.” And I just love it. Do not disappoint grandpa Withers if you redeem the dark urge.
I enjoy that Larian gave Jergal some proper love. Although not talked about often in D&D, he will eventually have the largest role in the cosmic hierarchy at the end of everything.
It just makes me more disappointed that the dark urge doesnt exist as a companion. The voice actor and the relation you could have with tav could have been unique
I named my Dark Urge Dhawn, in dnd lore, it means plague. Perfect, a cute name with a dark double meaning just like my character. But I could have *never* imagined the payoff for her name. Wither's speech at 16:04 had me in tears. All at once, her name became the embodiment of the new life she fought for and the friends who gave her hope that it was even possible
Playing as The Dark Urge pretty much feels like the canonical way to play Baldur's Gate 3, since the previous Baldur's Gate games also featured the Dead Three as major plot devices, and The Dark Urge makes the story even more interesting as it tries to fight the urge within itself as a Spawn of Bhaal, given a chance for redemption through amnesia, all done by that disgusting and pathetic asshole of a mass murderer Orin.
Wow thats crazy, you could select the dark urge path and you could have a redemption arc??? IDK why but I wasn't expecting such depth, but since there already are so many things possible in this game I never imagined I guess I shouldn't be surprised haha. I am still probably going to go full dark urge because I was originally going to go fully evil. maybe Ill try redemption some time later.
TBH the game feels better if you resist the urges. The companions have a lot of new dialogue especially Jaheira and Minsc and the romance has some really emotional scenes. I loved Red Dead Redemption 2 and DU story was on par if not the better of Arthur's. Also the Act 3 is amazing if you play as DU because this is where you learn a lot about his past and man it was probably even better than the main plot of the game.
@@Azumgi I imagine so - after all this seems to be much closer to BG 1 and 2. Since it was so long ago - and I was a child when I played BG1 and 2 I did not realize it then how dark some of the story is... and the graphic at the time also helped. But here it is all on display and a much more truthful BG experience. For that reason I also started my DU game this weekend.
You don't have to play as the Dark Urge to be a murder hobo, but it indeed offers a lot more brtuality options than "normal" playtroughs. As the name suggests, and that's the beauty of it, it only gets as dark as the player wants it to be. The fact that the original appearance is also a white/pale dragonborn almost feels like a small Paarthurnax reference from Skyrim, a dragon who overcame his own evil nature by himself.
Between BG3 and Cyberpunk 2077, I seem to be developing a liking to protags who die only to get back up to take the big bad down. "Wake up hero, we have an absolute to burn"
What I love about the Dark Urge path is how much their journey mirrors the journey that the rest of our companions have been on. We're not on a journey to just have our parasites removed. We're on a journey to free ourselves from both our past and oncoming tyrants. The Dark Urge's bloodlust is a tyrannical influence on our mind just as much as the horrors that Karlach, Astarion, Lae'zel, Shadowheart and Wyll endured from their past choices and the choices made for them. This is why I can't do an Evil Dark Urge run. As to resisit the Dark Urge, as well as helping the friends we've made on our journey resist and defy their personal demons and tyrants, is an act of rebellion one must follow to be finally free. It is better to be free then it is to be powerful. I'd say that's the theme I got from the overarching narrative of Baldur's Gate 3 in the journey our party members have been on.
If your friends, your closest compatriots in this dreadful time, can rise up and overcome their own trauma, growing stronger for it, on what right have you to not do the same?
“You don’t deserve the Murder Lord’s Blessing!” “Fool… I AM THE MURDER LORD.” …at least that’s how my first playthough went. Come on. We all want to be the bad guy sometimes.
When i first saw this after playing BG1 and 2 it gave me the immediate and immense feeling of “HOW MANY TIMES DO I HAVE TO TEACH YOU THIS LESSON OLD MAN”
I'm not gonna lie, as amazing as her voice actress is, and how cool her character design is (being the hottest Chosen notwithstanding...) The Dark Urge would have been a fascinating NPC to encounter similar to the other options, he would have been the ONLY dragonborn worth mentioning, and he would also be able to use any of the 8 custom character voice options to avoid conflicting with a default Tav's. Although Tav's voice is so rare to hear that even if it was literally the same guy I don't think anyone would really care.
Paladin Durge is pretty fun and engaging storywise. My paladin who has these terrible thoughts is doing everything he can to prevent another innocent life from being taken like a certain hopeful bard. It's actually because of what happened my character became a paladin 2/bard 10 by Act 3 all the while using her lute. My paladin/bard did become an oathbreaker but the first time I used the oathbreaker channel oath was on Orin. Let me tell you that fight and this scene was absolutely surreal.
I truly recommend to break your Oath at some point because the Oathbreaker NPC has great dialogue options and the lore behind why you are an Oathbreaker Paladin is juicy af. I honestly consider Oathbreaker Paladin the canon job for Good Durge because the lore and how well it works narratively makes the most sense.
Oh I get it now. if you reject the entire path she takes all your blessings. I had done everything and rejected the blessing at the end so I never got to see Orin's slayer form
I had no idea that Orin's Slayer Form was determinant on whether you actually got it yourself. I always assumed Orin would enter Slayer Form regardless if you got it or not (not that I would ever sacrifice one of my companions to get it)
I haven't finished the game with the dark urge but i love watching these videos as if it was a tv serie about Dungeons and Dragons. And it's incredible how they gave so much depth to the whole Forgotten Realms pantheon and lore
4:29 Note that the appearance or whatever Mimic looking spell that is doesn't have the Withered appearance of the Character so that means if they were to impersonate the Dark urge they wouldn't even fool anyone especially without the scars
I think he has no illithid veins not because she cant fake them but because its just Orin mocking him and acting like him BEFORE he lost his memory to show him how far he have fallen. She ACTS like old you to mock you that everything you have achived was undone by her and only by her. Or it could be that im just overanalyzing it and the devs just forgot about the veins.
I wish we could play through the game with Durge as a companion, rather than having to play him ourselves. I'd love to be able to have my character interact with him, and guide him.
@@richardshiflett5181Going by Companion logic. We'll probably need to pass a check to convince Durge to fight back. Or have Max Affinity with Him (Going by Default Durge being a Male Albino Dragonborn Sorcerer using Voice 5)
I almost didn't watch this because I haven't beaten Durge for myself yet, but I'm not one to be thrown off because of spoilers. I'm so glad I watched and I'm so excited to see all of this for myself. I'm so glad that Durge gets a second chance if they reclaim themself and stand up for what's right. Withers FTW.
Why did I not think of the name Dovahkiin? 😭😭 It's perfect. Though I guess it caught me off guard; my brain stopped as it had a "does not compute" moment. "Wait, this isn't... isn't this the wrong game?" 🤣
I rejected Bhaal just because I was playing as a manipulative dragonborn sorcerer who despises being someone's slave due to being a Dragonborn (Dragonborns were the slaves of dragons), and I still decided to be the biggest asshole I could so that my actions were truly my own and not some stupid God's.
"Thou art now faithless - godless - and doomed to wander the Fugue Plane for eternity" wait, does that mean that, at long last, Wall of Faithless has been removed from the Forgotten Realms universe? I mean, wandering Fugue Plane for eternity is not exactly picnic, but it still beats fate of being turn into brick in wall that slowly erodes your consciousness.
I'm almost certain your dialogue option is an Avatar: The Last Airbender reference about inflicting agony tenfold, similar to Iroh saying the same to General Zhao.
Well bhaal was not that pathetic you know yeah as a character he is but he was too strong before cyric killed him after he return from death he become weaker
When I fought Orin as a barbarian Durge, I stunned her, and wailed on her. It was way easier than I anticipated, though it may have been because I was at max level
I appreciate that you have the two OG's alongside what I presume is the Romance pick. Adds a lot of substance to this scene. Withers cracked a smile! He witnessed a great legend unfold in real time, and even got to give a huge middle finger to Bhaal.
Do you think that Withers gave up his position as the God of Death for similar reasons? Eventually growing tired of answering the prayers of murderers and sinners, hoping that one day someone would turn against their nature and seek redemption, but they never did.
There is a book that Volo gives you when you save him that explains how some Bhallspawns managed to trick the Bhall into giving them Slayer Form while keeping their mind sane. Also Gorions Ward also could become a Slayer in BG2 but he had trouble controlling his form and few times you lost control over your character even if you are good. Its weird that Durge cant be a Slayer as a good guy, maybe they give us a option when defenitive edition comes out.
There is missconception about Dark Urge being a "evil playthrough" and thats wrong. Dark Urge is a origin for people that played older games and want their characters to have some kind of backstory. There is only one scene when you have no control over your actions at the act 1 to show you how dangerous your character really is. Its still possible to save the groove, lift the shadow curse etc. as the Dark Urge.
Honestly Larian should go with the approach they took to the Dark Urge for future games. I don't personally care about playing the entire game as say Astarion, but if I could have a custom character who was a spawn who broke free? I'd be more interested in that.
To motivate the player to resist and to make the urges feel like an actual threat? It's not like the dragonborn bard matters anyway since they were created solely to be killed in that scene by durge.
Because Bhall Bane and Myrkul used to be a mortals and they achived godhood and on top of that they were pretty evil, especially Bhall who was just a human serial killer.
You have no control over her death and you can show remorse multiple times for killing her in the game. Her death was a reason why Dark Urge tried to resist the urges. And don't forget that if it was not for Withers he would be dead.
So pretty much the dead 3 got greedy in their hunger for souls that they almost ruined the mortal realm and still would have lost as mindflaters have no souls.
*Spoiler warning* Later on you learn from the brain that Dark Urge never wanted to control it. He wanted the city to be slaughtered by it and become Bhall chosen but Orin kinda ruined it for him. Basically the same thing Sarevok wanted in BG1. Its kinda ironic that person that caused everything saved everyone in the end.
Sure, just go to the Sarevok and become a Unholy Assassin. Its not actually a evil choice, you can pretend to be on his side to get the amulet so you can enter Orin's temple all tough you have to kill Valeria, that flying elephant. If you bring Minsc and Jaheira they will pretend to be hostile to you to not make Sarevok suspicious but they are actually fine with it. Jaheira will even say that she knows its just an act but she hopes that you will make the right thing in the end. After bathing in blood go to the Dragonborn merchant and just buy the armor.
@@hallacson8535 Also I forgot to mention, if you bring Jaheira or Minsc or both of them you have to pass intimidation 18 dice roll or performance 20 to order them to knell before Sarevok and failing it will make him realize that you are trying to fool him and he will attack you.
@@Azumgi I see. Can I ask one last quesiton? Should I play pure rogue or rogue/fighter I cannot decide. If I'd be multiclassing I'd probably go 6 rogue and then 6 fighter. Tough 4 and 8 might be better to get 4 ASI.
@@hallacson8535 Rouge Assassin makes the most sense for DU story wise. As for multiclassing then sure you could try it but I dont know how many levels you should invest into certain classes but there is a really good armor for Rouge/Fighter that can be bought from Dammon in Act 3 and its called "Unwanted Masterwork Scale Mail" and it look really good. imgur.com/a/1YyjWj2
I think I understood most of that. I'll try to take it to heart and see what happens when I do an evil playthrough or a bad playthrough or something and when you saying resisting the first camping rest, do you mean killing that tiefling with the guitar? Is that the only thing you can't resist?
Yes Durge always kills Alfira but you can show remorse for killing her, all tough there is a way to save her but its more of the bug rather than option.
Armor: Reapers Embrace (Kethric Thorn armor) Helmet: Helm of Baldurian Gloves: Gauntlets of Hill Giant Strenght. Boots: don't remeber the name but i think I bought them from Dammon in act 3. Cloak: The Deathstalker Mantle (basically a Dark Urge cloak) Sword: Baldurian Giantslayer. I Don't remember the trinkets.
If you are planning to go for redemption then do it. It was mine 1st playtrough and i dont regret it. Just don't get discoruged by him in the beggining because the payoff is amazing.
Resisting the urges IS the redemption path because your character past is really evil. If its your first Durge playthrough then i would reccomend you to play as the good Durge.
