I think Dark Urge really was at least considered for a time to be integrated into the default story. I have the vibe that there were three big pillars that you’d always interact with but could make very different choices about: Hells, Mind Flayers, and the older series powers behind Dark Urge. The first seemed downplayed compared to earlier marketing, I get the sense that it was overall squashed down in emphasis, but hilariously that has still lead to the fanbase calling for possible tweaks, new Avernus content, and even a post-game expansion. The second is what they boosted the hell out of (including Illithid skill tree), however still having to cut some content/emphasis out (tadpole consequences, story elements) before launch. The third… strikes me as something that might have been a much bigger deal, and tied to every protagonist, but they reduced and made entirely optional, tossing it the occasional OMG WHAT IS THAT Dark Urge choice/event for the most part. They made it its own thing but probably gave custom Origins some more variety to compensate (at least for earlier acts).
It became the Mind Flayer Focused But Really Let’s Just Ship This Giant Game Out story by the end, but I think there were pieces for something even more ambitious than we got.
I would love to see more stories in the game, whether they’re official or community made. I feel like Larian went for too much fanservice in some points, though,
super duper spoilers for end of the game
Like how the emperor is revealed to be Balduran. There was no real need for that. We’re already saving the world, not everone and everything has to be the most important thing or person in the world.
spoiler
I think Dark Urge really was at least considered for a time to be integrated into the default story. I have the vibe that there were three big pillars that you’d always interact with but could make very different choices about: Hells, Mind Flayers, and the older series powers behind Dark Urge. The first seemed downplayed compared to earlier marketing, I get the sense that it was overall squashed down in emphasis, but hilariously that has still lead to the fanbase calling for possible tweaks, new Avernus content, and even a post-game expansion. The second is what they boosted the hell out of (including Illithid skill tree), however still having to cut some content/emphasis out (tadpole consequences, story elements) before launch. The third… strikes me as something that might have been a much bigger deal, and tied to every protagonist, but they reduced and made entirely optional, tossing it the occasional OMG WHAT IS THAT Dark Urge choice/event for the most part. They made it its own thing but probably gave custom Origins some more variety to compensate (at least for earlier acts).
It became the Mind Flayer Focused But Really Let’s Just Ship This Giant Game Out story by the end, but I think there were pieces for something even more ambitious than we got.
spoiler
I would love to see more stories in the game, whether they’re official or community made. I feel like Larian went for too much fanservice in some points, though,
super duper spoilers for end of the game
Like how the emperor is revealed to be Balduran. There was no real need for that. We’re already saving the world, not everone and everything has to be the most important thing or person in the world.