Larian Studios Forums Baldur's Gate III Baldur's Gate III - Story & Character Discussion Are custom characters flat and pointless compared to Origin ones? [Spoilers]

I don't mind the fact that Durge kills the particular character, it's an intentional emotional gut punch that gives stakes to the internal conflict. However, it's not the story I want to play. Maybe I will do a Durge playthrough later, but I don't want to be forced into an edgelord playthrough. I would complain just as bitterly as the opposition currently is if every custom character was forced to be Durge, because I want to play a character that's my own creation in an RPG, and I don't think that's too much to ask. I am 100% fine with Tav having "less" content if it means I'm allowed to play the character I want to play.

You are absolutely correct with this point, and the people trying to contradict you are only ending up contradicting themselves. To claim that DU can be played "good" is patently absurd. DU cannot be played good by any stretch of the imagination.

Wrong. Failing does exactly represent you being evil or doing something evil. The checks are merely a mechanical abstraction. What they represent, pass or fail, is your character's actual thoughts/words/actions.

"Good Dark Urge" is the ultimate oxymoron in BG3. Good Dark Urge simply does not exist.

I think the best you can hope for with durge is really just a tragic villain that doesn't want to be the bad guy but patently can't control themselves. I love the turmoil and depth this creates beyond twirly mustache evil, but it is certainly a character with a pre-existing story just like the others. Attaching your own head-canon is bound to backfire on any of the origins.

Agreed with the rolling point completely. If I give in a eat that extra slice of pizza, I'm essentially rolling, failing doesn't absolve me of the consequences in any sense, it means that I CHOSE to do one thing instead of another thing.
Now, if they allowed DU to avoid anything nasty every time without having to roll for it, then yes, you could have a good DU imo, but as it is, no way. Calling it Tav+ is objectively wrong. It would have to have everything Tav has, with additions. What it actually does is force you down a very specific path, removing player agency while doing it.

Yes, good is a stretch with Durge. The best is a redemption arc, but the wisdom roles are representing their urged, so they have to fight against themselves to not commit a murder. Not really good guy/gal behaviour.

I am sorry, I don’t see how does that stop the Dark Urge being very much a custom character if, as I explained earlier, we consider the custom character a blank slate in it’s current state, regardless of having a strong back story or not.
When you play Durge many of the choices you can pick are specific for them, but it is you roleplaying them is what decides if , for example, they are proud of the murder they did, they are in denial or if they are freaking out. Will they tell it to the others or will they try to hide their tracks? Etc. Despite Dark Urge being very much predefined, I still think they can be played as a very much custom character. It is a bit similar to KOTOR 1, really, where you have a specific backstory, you do meet people who knew you, etc, but the whole game is about you forming your own story.


I am, however, absolutely agreeing with everyone else saying that the Dark Irge have lesser control of the story than Tav due to the unavoidable actions and wisdom checks, and that they cannot be Tav+.
Which kind of leads me back to my opening post… Tav (not Dark Urge) feels flat next to the Origin characters, as if they weren’t the hero of the story but the sidekick. If the story was about Dark Urge only, a lot of people wouldn’t have liked it (me included), but Dark Urge is a more complex and interesting character than Tav and Tav basically is pushed to the sideline in every situation possible, when there is an Origin Character there to steal the scene.

The thing is, I might be old fashioned, but I thought the player is supposed to be the hero of the story they play? Or is that just me?

I think I do agree with this take. I don't want to run into main character syndrome in game necessarily (ala final fantasy 14 where you are constantly showered with praise and adoration), but the game could certainly take steps to be more inclusive of Tav (or even player-played origins to a lesser extent). It isn't the worst example out there by any stretch, but your point does stand on solid ground as you often feel the observer watching other character's stories unfold because there is so much more weight to their evolution.

I agree with @Timoleth on the Dark Urge. I would try playing it but only once the obligatory murders are removed.

I'd play it like Battlestar Galactica - at some point some of the wake up and realize that they cylons but, because their enemy wiped their memory, they are different people and now side with the humans.

"It's in the fracking ship!"

Or the Nameless One who was an evil person in (one of many) a previous life but ends the game as Lawful Good. (which is the only alignment that makes since the chaotic forces are represented as idiots)

"by following the teachings of Zerthimon I have grown stronger"

Ah, yes, and just in case anyone cares, let me tell you, after several meltdowns I actually convinced myself and continued the custom githyanki story all the way to the Sharess’ Caress where



Like, Larian dear? What. The. Actual. F***?!! =_=

So, this kid of describes the custom character vs origin character situation in my opinion. Also, poor gith Tav is now deleted…

This is a high magic setting, where I can mind rape people and that is what happen with the dark urges, it's OUTSIDE magical influence by a freaking god forcing your to do bad things.

The DU does come with a good ending.

Yeah, Larian learned pretty much nothing from OS2 it seems. Once again custom character is one you play fully once and never touch again because everything else is just much better and you are actively gimping yourself by playing it.