Is playing the Dark Urge worth it?

[jedi7000nathan/sevenbillionjedi]

I want to know the pros and cons: are there any things to AVOID that come with it and to embrace. As a general rule I'm not a murder hobo and I would like to avoid my run as the Dark Urge doing that exact thing.

[Chaosolous]

Alright, then you won't like some of the Durge.

[Driblex™]

I just finished Durge and it was fun, but you have play a different way for sure. I personalyl kinda embraced the Urge, so I went on a killing spree most of the time. But it costs a lot to play that way. You lose a lot of allies, even companions. You can resist the urge and try not to go on a spree, but you cannot completely avoid it.

So long story short: Yes, it was worth it for me for a very different experience, but I also have to say that my next Playthroughs are def. not Durge again.

[seeker1]

So, I'm just curious. I understand you often can try and resist the Urge and it requires a check, but I have heard there are plot points where there's no option to resist -- you just give in. Curious how many of those there are.


I do know, from reading, BTW, it is possible to do a Dark Urge "redemption arc" where you essentially reject your Bhaal-nature --- then Bhaal basically destroys you, for rejecting your nature, but Withers restores you.

[A New Player]

This game overly rewards you for being good.

Being evil is going to be a giant letdown, if you choose to go that path. It's almost as if they just forgot half of the alignment system exists.

[Cur]

You can either lean into the Dark Urge or you fight against it. If you are unprepared for the moments you have to resist the Dark Urge there an be some dire consequences for failed rolls. But you are not forced to play as a murder hobo. You're just encouraged to by the evil in your head.

[Mojo]

Honestly I got kinda bored with the Durge. Not saying it is bad, just maybe I expected more...dunno lol.

Not saying it is bad, there are some cool things. Just got to Act 3 with it, like literally to act 3 and he is still just sitting there waiting for me to continue his story... lol

[Duetzefix]

You can always resist your Urge, so you're not railroaded into being the murderhobo.
You can also endulge it and be the murderhobo you always wanted to be. C'mon, admit it. :D

Act I:
Two main changes, I think:
1. You can lose an origin companion permanently if you pick the wrong dialogue option: The first time you talk to Gale while he is still trapped inside the malfunctioning portal there is the option to indulge in your violent thoughts. If you pick it, the screen fades to black, Gale complains in a ridiculous manner, and you come to to the portal closed and Gale's severed hand being all that is left of him.
2. You will permanently lose one NPC, who on any other playthrough would be responsible for a valuable quest reward. Well, your butler will show up to give you a consolation prize. Not going to spoil the rest of this. ;-)

Act II:
Again, I think there are two important changes to the story here:
1. Your weird butler gives you a job:
Kill Isobel. Be aware of the knock-on effects this will have on the story as you will lose Dammon, all the other Tieflings, the Deep Gnomes and the Harpers. It could also have an impact on your ability to recruit Halsin (you probably won't be able to finish his quest), Jaheira (she will probably die in the ensuing fight) and later on Minsc (IIRC you need Jaheira in your party to be able to recruit him). You are not forced to do this job, though; as I said, resisting the Urge is always an option. This is as easy as just not doing it.
2. If you do not do this job your butler gives you an alternative:
Kill the companion with the highest approval, which will probably be the character you romanced. In this case you can't just simply choose not to do it, you need to pass a few ability checks to not kill them.
If you do either job your butler gives you a second reward. Not going to spoil this either, as it is indeed a massive spoiler.

Act III:
I'm not there yet in my Dark Urge playthrough so I can't really go into detail here. Most DU-specific interactions here will probably depend on whether you decided to claim your butler's reward in Act II or not.


You do get a lot of smaller interactions here and there, but this should cover the most consequential ones.

[Blanch Warren]

It's suggested you not do it as your first play through.

[McGoodGreen]

Halfway into my Dark Urge run so I don't have the whole story.

But it is 100% set up in a way to make this a redemption arc. So make this possible, they do force your hand at the start with one murder you have no choice in, you don't "really" get to even see it play out, so it isn't like other "choices" or anything.

In all other Dark Urge cases so far where there was unique experiences I had the choice to "Indulge in the fantasy" so to speak or "Resist"

So they certainly set it up so that it is never a "Nah, I have always been good" they make it a case of "There was that one time that was out of my control but now I am different!" Or...y'know, just...

"Kill everything, yesssss"

[Arcade Bumstead]

If you're the type of person to shop at Hot Topic, sure.
Otherwise I'd say no.

[Maraxus]

It can get horribly dark if you let it right up until the end o.O

[Foxtrot39]

Only one death you pull up early in act 1 is mandatory, you can skip the original target by putting them KO before the event

Everything else falls under 2 categories

-You CHOOSE to do it

-You are given an option to avoid it via dice rolls

[The Yeen Queen]

Originally posted by jedi7000nathan/sevenbillionjedi:

I want to know the pros and cons: are there any things to AVOID that come with it and to embrace. As a general rule I'm not a murder hobo and I would like to avoid my run as the Dark Urge doing that exact thing.

As has probably been mentioned, the game does account for playing a character resisting their dark urge and there's even a payoff toward the end where you can fully redeem your character. It DEFINITELY takes some dark twists regardless of your chosen path, especially one early incident. But it does serve the purpose of emphasizing how much hold these urges have over you and, from a roleplay perspective, at least, what a battle it is for your character to resist them.

Or you can play submitting to the urges and just be a bloodthirsty killer.

[Dragon Master]

The Dark Urge is definitely a playthrough I would recommend doing at least once, but it's NOT a playthrough for the faint of heart.

Just like a dark urge character who wants to be good, sometimes the urge is overpowering and sometimes your body will react without being given a choice.

[アンジェル]

Originally posted by jedi7000nathan/sevenbillionjedi:

Is playing the Dark Urge worth it?
I want to know the pros and cons: are there any things to AVOID that come with it and to embrace. As a general rule I'm not a murder hobo and I would like to avoid my run as the Dark Urge doing that exact thing.

Taking your nickname into consideration: it has probably the best protagonist story since Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic. It would be a mistake not to play it.