Dear Larian,
I, too, have registered on this forum just because I really wanted to support this cause.
I am obsessed with the game. I've put in 2.5k hours in already (I know, I know) and intend on playing for many, many more. I really appreciate what you have given us — this is my favorite game of all time. Even after this much time, I still find new things that I haven't discovered yet and I love how much effort you have put into honoring the players' choices and making the world truly come alive. I like that every little place you explore has its own story, even if it's not something we can discover.
That's why I am
begging for you to update reactivity for the redemption Dark Urge before closing the book on the game. I don't want to be someone who isn't grateful for what you've done, or harasses developers because of my feelings. However, given the amazing reactivity within the game to so many things, it feels very odd to have no reactivity to some really crucial moments for the Dark Urge. And given that I basically exclusively play a resist!Dark Urge (I can't be evil, but I love the character's plot and theme relevance within the game) it would mean everything to me to have it updated.
One of my favorite things about the Dark Urge is the Act 2 companion scene that happens when
the Dark Urge refuses to kill Isobel and Scleritas insists that they must kill their beloved.
It's basically the reason that I play the character. It was so emotionally moving for me, to have your love interest/bff look out for your character. It really made the relationship feel real and reciprocal, and made it feel like both characters were really saving one another.
That's why it feels almost hurtful when your love interest and companions barely react when
Bhaal kills the Dark Urge for rejecting him.
I love the scene with Withers that follows — it is very powerful — but I think it would be an even more powerful moment to have more reactivity. If Gale
panics when the Netherbrain blasts you in the Morphic Pool, it feels odd that he's just kind of like "Great to have you back — what's up"? when his love dies in front of him.
The Astarion "twee" comment is so rude (and my Roman Empire, honestly) in this context, especially given the extra attention Astarion has with the Dark Urge within the game. (For that matter, I think it would be nice for all the companions to have a bit more depth to their reactivity based on their experiences, like Astarion does.) I love Astarion's reaction when the Dark Urge
tries to break up with him because they're afraid to hurt him
— having this option with all the companions would be really lovely.
If you could only update one moment, I am pleading for the resist!Dark Urge's climax to be updated.
If it's possible to update more, I would also ask for some more reactivity to the revelations in Moonrise Towers. For example:
- It would be really cool to have the companions question why Ketheric recognized you. Obviously, the Dark Urge wouldn't know at that point, but it would be good for others to notice this. Same with the Warden.
- A reaction, at least from your love interest/highest approval companion, to the discovery of Dark Urge's smashed pod.
- Finally, it would be really fantastic to have the companions react to Kressa Bonedaughter saying that she experimented on you. Just a line from someone like "You'll pay for this!" and then some kind of comfort or consolation after.
Also, I think an extended conversation (and reactions from all the companions) to Gortash's reveal would be super appreciated. I understand why everyone (who has a reaction — most of my companions don't?) is angry — that makes complete sense. It just is very jarring to have one line of anger, and then to continue normal conversation as if it never happened. I know this would involve more work, but I think it would highly improve the absolutely shock of that reveal.
Anyway, I can go on and on about this. Given all the evil endings added in Patch 7, I had thought that the Dark Urge reactivity would have been updated as well, especially for the redemption path. I appreciate all the work that was done on those endings, but as someone who only plays the goodiest of two-shoes, I just really hope for some more attention to this storyline.
Thank you!