Thanks for the clarification. I'm not sure how I feel about that as a story to be honest; I guess I prefer that tired old RPG trope of characters evolving and achieving over time, rather than some convoluted plot to explain why your companions have such incredible backgrounds but such meagre powers.
I say this with all due respect, but just because they have achieved in the past does not prevent them from evolving or achieving more over time. I will agree that grandiose background more often than not tends to not work well. They require careful development and thought in order to do decently. Normally you would focus on one character in such a case, but Larian looks to write about seven characters. I think they can do it, but that is one hell of a challenge. Evolution and triumph are common in all stories. You seem to be describing the "zero-to-hero" trope. It's easier to relate to a character because we can, more or less, self-insert or empathize with those characters. Liking that is not a bad thing; we all have tropes we enjoy. I believe this to be more compelling as takes another step in individualizing them, so to speak. In life, we meet people that we often don't relate to or encounter because of shared fate or cause. We see them as people who have lived and developed, not as beginning to develop (with the exception of children). Of course, having those grandiose backstories for context can leave us with a sour taste in our mouths because they are often used with "Mary Sue" and "Gary Stu" characters. But here, our companions are undeniably fallible, and in that lies the potential for great development if done correctly. I would encourage giving them a chance but understand your dislike for that facet.
I do believe there is something to be said about developing characters that have reached their peak. As a writer, it is an enticing idea and thought. How does one act or live when they have come to the very heights of their abilities, only to have it all stripped away from them by one misstep or twist of fate? I would think that it is in these moments that allow for very interesting stories to occur. What lies underneath can easily be brought to the surface when our companions are faced with their imminent doom. Is Gale a power-hungry mage hellbent on recovering his power and more? Does Wyll truly want to be rid of Mizorra when she is the only thing he has left? Does Lae'Zel truly believe in Vlakith and might she want to stay by her side once she meets her? All of these questions can lead us down some very enticing storylines.
With BG3 so far it conveys a sense of a group of super heroes, I hope eventually we get some companions with more humble backgrounds who aren't infected with the tadpole.
Oh, don't you worry about the humble companion. A certain...someone, shall we say, will be returning. Though, he is humble in the sense that he likely won't have a tadpole, but who knows at this point.
It's possible that the Netherese Destruction Orb is constantly eating at his magic, making him much weaker. He has to build up his magical stamina to simultaneously both feed the orb and cast anything other than 1st level spells. Also, giving him magical items to absorb makes the Orb less "hungry," allowing Gale to use more of his own magic.[/spoiler]
That certainly could be reasoned. I still find myself leaning towards [spoiler] the story of Mystra leaving him completely and simply severing most of his connection to the Weave. Mystra wants new Weave and magic to be created, rewarding those who do since she herself is the "embodiment of magic", as Gale puts it. By that logic, it could be reasoned that she grows in power whenever someone does add to the Weave and harmed when someone damages or destroys the Weave. That Netherese orb literally destroys and consumes Weave. If we assume that Mystra is harmed by the destruction of Weave, it is not hard to reason why she would abandon Gale if that would be the reason. But why not destroy Gale and be done with it if it were a danger? I would wager that either she can't and or she might still have a lingering fondness for him. But, who knows.
