I've always found her to just be awkward. Its like I get to Spellhold with myself and 5 other people and I'm like....sorry Im's, I've got a new crew. Beat it!
Poll doesn't really include my "indifferent" view.
Baldur's Gate always liked to tell me I cared about Imoen, but seemed reluctant to spend a lot of time actually making me care about Imoen. Maybe it's better in TOB (I've never actually played it), but that's awfully late to make up for lost time.
It is a good theory, but the first time you meet Imoen is actually in Candlekeep. The implication of Candlekeep is that nothing bad has ever happened to charname there, so it definitely does not follow anything traumatic. Unless "I need to speak with you, son" is really traumatic to CN.
I always thought that my character was always in a bad mood in BG1 whereas Imoen was the bright ray of hope in my humble but serious party. Then in BG2 it was my character's turn to put her in the better mood after she goes through her tortured experience.
It is a good theory, but the first time you meet Imoen is actually in Candlekeep. The implication of Candlekeep is that nothing bad has ever happened to charname there, so it definitely does not follow anything traumatic. Unless "I need to speak with you, son" is really traumatic to CN.
Well, *if* you do all the side quests, then theoretically there are two points where it could be the first time that someone has tried to take charnames life, and he/she has been forced to kill. That could be pretty traumatizing. (Sorry for the double post!)
The dryads mentioned "touching" her. All Imoen mentions is the blades and torture, and the dryads were implied to have been tortured too. It was the *dryads* who were used for the sexual relief, though Irenicus seemed to be unaffected by their charms.
Still no actual proof or serious implied "rape" for Imoen. She was cut, blasted by spells, and had her mind opened up to things she didn't want to see, however (such as Khalid dying).
Yeah; I've always had the impression that Irenicus' torture was mostly psychological. There's enough tragic and bad things happen to characters in this game already... I don't think there needs to be any more.
Not only that, Irenicus was pretty much made clear cut several points in the game: He lacks emotion. He lacks compassion or love, and his only lust seems to be for revenge, and the immortal power that he's wanted forever. If a man lacked emotion other than hatred, he would have little need to have sex; the dryads mentioned they failed to instill desires in him, which was the reason they were captured in the first place. Irenicus's reason for doing what he did was to steal her soul to give to Bodhi.
If his goal was to break her then he might have done it if he thought it would affect her mentally. But I don't remember any dialogue to that effect either. I imagine most of his tortures were the mad scientist "open up your skull and stick needles in your brain" type... which is not any better, really.
I actually doubt that Irenicus raped her at any point. The dryads did make me raise an eyebrow, but it just doesn't seem to fit his character. Like @GamingFreak said, Irenicus's one and only drive is vengeance against the elves. He does those awful things to Charname and Imoen because they are Bhaalspawns, and because he would do whatever it took to unlock the secrets of their powers and steal their souls for him and Bhodi. Raping Imoen, even if it was to "break her" (as if the brain-surgery-torture hadn't done that already), doesn't fit into his long-term plan. And Irencius, being the obsessive villain that he is, would do little to detract from his ambitions. If anything, I think the dryads were tortured too after they failed to charm him.
Irenicus has the dryads to try and stir some emotion within himself, it's basically his fantasy-viagra for the mind, and it fails. I don't even think Irenicus thinks in those terms at all, regarding Imoen. Having lost his soul, his passion and his drive he only makes cold, logical and calculated decisions. So unless it has some further goal, no reason at all to sex up Imoen. (There was a fan-mod that gave her a romance and a friendship path, if I remember correctly, where the author decides to spring a "I was raped by duergar dwarves" convo on you out of left field, which was both sad and hilarious, mainly due to the inept writing.
It is a shame I think that the new EE banters don't really improve Imoen much. The one's with Neera are mildly amusing, but even though she has far more reason to dislike vampires than most, she acts around Hexxat like she has an INT and WIS of 3.
Poll doesn't really include my "indifferent" view.
Baldur's Gate always liked to tell me I cared about Imoen, but seemed reluctant to spend a lot of time actually making me care about Imoen. Maybe it's better in TOB (I've never actually played it), but that's awfully late to make up for lost time.
You are correct which is surprising as that's exactly the way I feel about her. She's ok, but I usually ditch her as there are many NPCs I prefer to take.
Immoen... Wow, so immature, like Aerie... So devoted and caring, like, well, like, a sister! What a cute voice, especially in 1 beginning... Oh la la... As i remember, there was a mod back in the day, adding Imoen Romance... Rawwwrr! She was a nice, pretty nice burden i would always happily carry with me throughout the series. In 2, i was pretty pissed with her not progressing as a thief, dying easily (even Sarevok made fun of her and resurrection at temples) and not having a romance story. So in my second *then* playthrough, i used her soul, and replaced Imoen with him.
And those who talk rubbish, first of all it is a game, Imoen is a sister in law, Bhaal is a crazy evil pimp who filled a harem half the sword coast large with women from all races, and last but not least, her ending betrays hints of being sad and unfulfilled because we had another love interest with either viconia, jaheira or aerie.
All I can really say is that I'm sort of sad that the Imoen Romance mod appears dead. It may not have been the most well-executed in so far as blending in writing-style wise, and people might get icked out about the supernatural half-sister thing - but the setup (fall for the childhood friend who you've been through intensely traumatic experiences with, only to find out after you've acknowledged and accepted your feelings that you are potentially siblings...hijinks ensue) is both plausible and a literary trope.
I've always kept Imoen in my games; my current playthrough will be the first time I don't, and that's just because I'm using the new NPCs to experience their stories and interactions. I like the BG2 Imoen more than BG1...the touch of darkness in her from what she's experienced just makes her continued optimism that much more powerful.
I felt really bad kicking Imoen out in my BG:EE run. She's designed as part of the team, and it feels strange not having her as an active part of the story. I'm wondering what the situation will be when I find her in Spellhold with no room to take her into the group. Hope she's got some teleport spells handy.
All I can really say is that I'm sort of sad that the Imoen Romance mod appears dead. It may not have been the most well-executed in so far as blending in writing-style wise, and people might get icked out about the supernatural half-sister thing - but the setup (fall for the childhood friend who you've been through intensely traumatic experiences with, only to find out after you've acknowledged and accepted your feelings that you are potentially siblings...hijinks ensue) is both plausible and a literary trope.
Not all that dead yet after all. There are still attempts of fixing the beta of Imoen Romance v2.0 and even to try and finish the elusive ToB part. I, for one, can't think of a mod I'd love to see more for bg2 (and ee, if possible). Well, maybe Return to Windspear, but thats probably not gonna happen (Fingers crossed the devs make a DLC for that).
If it's the Imoen mod I tried, it's horribly hammy and throws a lot of "shocking" relevations at you from the get-go. No sense of pacing at all. Reminded me of badly written fan-fic, but I suppose it's matter of taste. To be fair, I never finished it since the writing really bothered me.
All I can really say is that I'm sort of sad that the Imoen Romance mod appears dead. It may not have been the most well-executed in so far as blending in writing-style wise, and people might get icked out about the supernatural half-sister thing - but the setup (fall for the childhood friend who you've been through intensely traumatic experiences with, only to find out after you've acknowledged and accepted your feelings that you are potentially siblings...hijinks ensue) is both plausible and a literary trope.
Not all that dead yet after all. There are still attempts of fixing the beta of Imoen Romance v2.0 and even to try and finish the elusive ToB part. I, for one, can't think of a mod I'd love to see more for bg2 (and ee, if possible). Well, maybe Return to Windspear, but thats probably not gonna happen (Fingers crossed the devs make a DLC for that).
Eh, the last iteration of 'v2.0' doesn't even install due to some pretty sloppy work in the tp2. My hopes are not high.
Imoen was raped imo. I never knew it until now because i always abandon her. The dryads says to her he touched you to didnt he? She confirms and they are his concubines. Dont know how much clearer it could be.
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(I only occasionally take Yoshimo).
...in a passionate, loving way...
(Oh well, I actually quite liked Imoen in both BG games)
Baldur's Gate always liked to tell me I cared about Imoen, but seemed reluctant to spend a lot of time actually making me care about Imoen. Maybe it's better in TOB (I've never actually played it), but that's awfully late to make up for lost time.
Still no actual proof or serious implied "rape" for Imoen. She was cut, blasted by spells, and had her mind opened up to things she didn't want to see, however (such as Khalid dying).
(There was a fan-mod that gave her a romance and a friendship path, if I remember correctly, where the author decides to spring a "I was raped by duergar dwarves" convo on you out of left field, which was both sad and hilarious, mainly due to the inept writing.
And those who talk rubbish, first of all it is a game, Imoen is a sister in law, Bhaal is a crazy evil pimp who filled a harem half the sword coast large with women from all races, and last but not least, her ending betrays hints of being sad and unfulfilled because we had another love interest with either viconia, jaheira or aerie.