Baldur's Gate 3's Dark Urge was almost too much for it's Lead Writer

In Baldur's Gate 3, the Dark Urge storyline stands out as a dark, compelling element of the game. It thrusts players into the shoes of a barely-contained murderer, allowing them to either indulge in or resist their violent impulses.

What's particularly striking about the Dark Urge is its unsettlingly graphic narration. It manages to evoke a visceral reaction, often leaving much to the imagination. However, it may surprise you to learn that Baudelaire Welch, the lead writer behind this grim tale, initially had a strong aversion to gore.

Welch was chosen for the role by Swen Vincke, the game's director, partly because of their familial connection to the film Silence of the Lambs. According to Welch, this connection led Vincke to believe they would excel in crafting such a narrative. Yet, Welch describes themselves as highly squeamish and openly admits to disliking gore.

Adam Smith, the writing director, argues that Welch’s squeamishness was, in fact, an asset. “When you get someone who is really into gore and horror, they want to make it sensational,” Smith explains. “The Dark Urge came from someone who finds this stuff truly horrible. That perspective brought a unique edge to the writing—something that even a seasoned horror writer might not achieve. Welch’s discomfort with gore added a perverse, peculiar touch to the story.”

It's intriguing that someone with such an aversion to gore could excel at evoking it—though, it’s worth noting that Welch’s writing is complemented by Larian’s art and design team, who bring the Dark Urge’s gruesome scenes to life with vivid imagery. Many of the storyline’s most unsettling moments are depicted in graphic detail by a team that, presumably, has a higher tolerance for such visuals.

Perhaps it's the contrast between Welch’s euphemistic writing style and the brutal imagery that heightens the impact. Welch explains this approach by pointing out a scene where the Dark Urge tears the wings off a bird. Rather than graphically describing the act, Welch writes, “You wonder what it would be like to fly as the birds do.” This psychological angle makes the scene even more disturbing.

Welch’s approach isn’t unique in horror literature. They draw inspiration from Clockwork Orange, where disturbing events are often described in deceptively cheerful terms. This technique can make the horror more impactful by contrasting innocent language with sinister actions.

Despite their initial squeamishness, Welch notes that their exposure to such graphic content eventually desensitized them. As we await the new evil endings arriving with Patch 7 for Baldur's Gate 3, it will be interesting to see how this unique blend of psychological and graphic horror continues to evolve. One thing’s for sure: it will remain as intriguingly unsettling as ever.