Spoil me about Dark Urge events before the mindflayer ship

[Manimal]

So I am trying to play a resist Urge and I am between Paladin and Monk.
In general, I suffer from extreme case of restartitis because I analyze everything especially backgrounds when it comes to RPGs.
From what I gather, Durge before the Ship was running amok killing people until he got his behind kicked by Orin?
In general, I can not justify classes that need commitment e.g. like a Paladin (taking an oath, serve an order) or Monk (being in a monk order) if he was just a serial killer before the ship. When did he learn all that stuff like Smite or Manipulating the Ki etc.
So, I want you to spoil me everything that happened to his life before the Ship. somewhere I read that he was a Bhaal cultist and he wanted to escape from all that, dont know tho if thats true.
Spoil me

[Mike Garrison]

I think the Durge was effectively mindwiped, so you could likely justify anything you wanted. However, no matter what class you pick for the Durge (except maybe sorcerer, because that is supposed to be instinctive and innate?), it seems strange that they would be able to have even a Level 1 background. Like, say, if they were basically mindwiped, how would they have all the weapon and armor proficiency of a level 1 fighter? Or the slight-of-hand proficiency of a rogue? Or the connection to a god of a cleric? Etc.

[Manimal]

Originally posted by Mike Garrison:

I think the Durge was effectively mindwiped, so you could likely justify anything you wanted. However, no matter what class you pick for the Durge (except maybe sorcerer, because that is supposed to be instinctive and innate?), it seems strange that they would be able to have even a Level 1 background. Like, say, if they were basically mindwiped, how would they have all the weapon and armor proficiency of a level 1 fighter? Or the slight-of-hand proficiency of a rogue? Or the connection to a god of a cleric? Etc.

exactly it doesnt make any sense. The only class that fits the Durge whatever the path you will take is Rogue Assassin or Gloomstalker. I just read that he got his amnesia before he was taken on the ship before that pretty much was killing around. Ugh so annoying

[Pixie Demon Queen]

Honestly, for personal immersion with spoiler to Durge:

You have essentially two paths, fight the Urge or Embrace it. Embracing it you have two options: Hide it from your allies or be open about it. Paladins can break their oath and become an Oathbreaker Paladin, which really seems most app for immersion. Durge is Mind-wiped through a power grab by Orin granting Durge a fate worse than death in becoming a Mindflayer. For classes you pick a deity, simply picking an 'evil' one works just as well. The other side of Durge story is HOW Orin got the better of them, as when not Durge, the default Durge corpse is found next to Orins bed. Likely pillow talk shifted from murder to a hypothetical different life and well...

Really any race/class/build combination can work, waking up and grabbing the gear from a corpse nearby and taking it on as your starting class. Changing your class later via Withers once you have chosen your Durge path to be more suiting is acceptable. Using the logic of as your memories return, do does the prowess of what you were before. I know some find Withers class change immersion breaking, yet it can work well for Durge given their unique circumstances.

EDIT:
The logic that Durge is an Assassin based off the Items obtained from the quest line and Off Orin is equatable to Fan Fiction, enforced further by player-made mods for equipment and aesthetics. What IS certain is what the game tells you, the Bhaal cult is NOT just made up of Assassins, while it has attracted those drawn to chaotic murder, there are other high ranking members who are very much NOT.

[Paroe]

arent classes in DnD generally like divine portents?
When we level a class we just 'know' stuff, or we can be 'taught' stuff.

In this case, we know durge can have memories from their victims, so what if theyre just a jumble of memories that arent theirs resulting in whatever class you pick at the start?

[Manimal]

Originally posted by Paroe:

arent classes in DnD generally like divine portents?
When we level a class we just 'know' stuff, or we can be 'taught' stuff.

In this case, we know durge can have memories from their victims, so what if theyre just a jumble of memories that arent theirs resulting in whatever class you pick at the start?

the whole thing with DnD tabletop is when you level up pretty much you get more experience and you learn new tricks through your experience. I think Durge isnt a well written character. They didnt take in consideration the background how it will mess with classes. I really struggle to play this origin.

[Oonayah]

Originally posted by Manimal:

From what I gather, Durge before the Ship was running amok killing people until he got his behind kicked by Orin?

I have not played as Durge yet, so this is pieced together from dialogue and things you can read in-game, but from what I've been able to discern (and I could be understanding things incorrectly as I only have a Tav's perspective)... Orin is the unhinged murderhobo while Durge was a lot more calculating, a lot more patient. One is a mass murderer and the other is a serial killer. Durge was the mastermind behind the whole entire plot, along with Gortash. Eventually Orin got butthurt that Bhaal loved Durge best, so she completely lobotomized Durge and then left their body to one of Balthazar's disciples for use as a tadpole science project. When this lackey grew too attached to and distracted by their pet, Balthazar then packed Durge's carcass up in a pod and sent it off on a nautiloid with the Emperor. Which is where we first meet our "hero". Unless you are playing as Tav, in which case you meet Durge's corpse doing its best impression of a rug in Orin's bedroom.

[Romnia]

After Orin almost-kills Durge she infects him with the tadpole and sends him to the colonies from the end of act 2.
But somehow Durge ended up in that ship from the tutorial later.
What was her name, Something Bonedaughter? That Myrulite underling tortured him in the colonies, was obsessed with Durge, until from what I remember her husband and/or co-worker sent Durge away.
But I don't think it was specified that Durge was sent to the tutorial ship?
So it could be possible he managed to gtfo in his mind-broken state to live a new life, only to be kidnapped again.
Which now that I spelled it out feels like an even worse excuse :)

[Manimal]

yeah so it doesn't make any sense to play as a "specialty" class like Paladin, Monk, Wizard, Warlock even sorcerer doesn't make sense. Rogue, Gloomstalker and Fighter maybe

[GrandMajora]

Originally posted by Manimal:

So, I want you to spoil me everything that happened to his life before the Ship. somewhere I read that he was a Bhaal cultist and he wanted to escape from all that, dont know tho if thats true.
Spoil me

Before the ship, The Dark Urge was the chosen of Bhaal, and leader of his cult in Baldur's Gate.

You and Gortash were actually the ones who came up with the whole Absolute plan, while Ketheric was brought onto the team later.

Orin did not kick your butt. She ambushed from behind, striking you when your guard was down.

With The Dark Urge being rendered out of commission, Gortash was forced to recruit Orin as your replacement. Although it's important to note that he never actually trusted or respected her, viewing your niece as a deranged maniac.


--------------------

That about covers all the important bits for The Dark Urge's life before the ship.

Also, you're actually the last 'pure' Bhaalspawn in the world. Orin is a 3rd generation, great granddaughter of the murder lord. Where as The Dark Urge was created directly from Bhaal's own flesh and blood.

I mean that in a very literal sense. Your butler reveals that Bhaal tore off pieces of his own body and reshaped them into The Dark Urge. Which means that Orin isn't your sister, she's your grand niece.

[Romnia]

Originally posted by Manimal:

yeah so it doesn't make any sense to play as a "specialty" class like Paladin, Monk, Wizard, Warlock even sorcerer doesn't make sense. Rogue, Gloomstalker and Fighter maybe

Tbh, I wouldn't say that. You can def make up your own headcannon for those classes and the Durge backstory still make sense.
Warlock - make Baal the patron. For a redemption Durge it's perhaps a deity that's trying to fight the evil as its root.
Use the same logic for Paladins and Clerics.
Some need more leeway than others but I don't think it's 100% unreasonable.
After all memory loss doesn't have to mean that you completely forget who you are as a person. Your knowledge and instinct can be just fine.
Take Minthara and Shart as an example. They're Paladin and Cleric yet serve evil deities.

[GrandMajora]

Originally posted by Romnia:

Take Minthara and Shart as an example. They're Paladin and Cleric yet serve evil deities.

What about Wizard? Who's power comes from a lifetime of dedicated study and experimentation?

Also, what makes you think evil deities don't have Clerics? An evil deity is still a deity, they can empower people with spells just as well as any other.

While the Paladin is not meant to be a super hero type character. They are a fanatical zealot, who's devotion to their Oath is so powerful, that it grants them access to magical abilities.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l3T_X2E26sQ

[Romnia]

Originally posted by GrandMajora:

Originally posted by Romnia:

Take Minthara and Shart as an example. They're Paladin and Cleric yet serve evil deities.

What about Wizard? Who's power comes from a lifetime of dedicated study and experimentation?

Also, what makes you think evil deities don't have Clerics? An evil deity is still a deity, they can empower people with spells just as well as any other.

While the Paladin is not meant to be a super hero type character. They are a fanatical zealot, who's devotion to their Oath is so powerful, that it grants them access to magical abilities.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l3T_X2E26sQ

Wizard would be more tricky ig, but as I said, you can justify it simply with the way amnesia works. Perhaps he forgot the years spent studying the weave, but the calculations, movements and encantations could still be stuck somewhere deeper in his mind. Memory loss doesn't make you an idiot.

And yea, my point exactly.

[wtiger27]

Originally posted by Manimal:

yeah so it doesn't make any sense to play as a "specialty" class like Paladin, Monk, Wizard, Warlock even sorcerer doesn't make sense. Rogue, Gloomstalker and Fighter maybe

I am playing it now as a Paladin/Fighter. The main reason I enjoy playing the Dark Urge is the awesome cloak you can get early and spitting in Baal's face after killing the pc. of ♥♥♥♥ Orin.

The path of redemption is there for those who want it. I once thought it sucked and you had to play a evil play run. I was wrong.

[GrandMajora]

Originally posted by wtiger27:

I am playing it now as a Paladin/Fighter. The main reason I enjoy playing the Dark Urge is the awesome cloak you can get early and spitting in Baal's face after killing the pc. of ♥♥♥♥ Orin.

The path of redemption is there for those who want it. I once thought it sucked and you had to play a evil play run. I was wrong.

Personally, if I want to play a custom character who isn't a deranged psychopath, I'd just play Tav.

I played Dark Urge, because I wanted to be a Bhaalspawn; so why not lean fully into it?

[Mike Garrison]

Originally posted by Manimal:

I think Durge isnt a well written character. They didnt take in consideration the background how it will mess with classes. I really struggle to play this origin.

I agree, in many ways.

RPGs have a problem. Either they present you with an established character (like, say Lara Croft or Aloy or John Marston) and you build that person from where they are at the start of the game. Or they give you the standard "drifter with no name" or "prisoner with no name" kind of person with no backstory.

In this case Larian tried to do both. Give the Durge a very sepecific, detailed backstory, and yet also allow you to start the game with the character as a blank slate for appearance, class, etc. It works OK for gameplay, but the narrative doesn't really hold together.