Anomen and Haer'Dalis are cool.
sandmanCCL
Member Posts: 1,389
Stop the hating. 
Anomen is a blowhard but whom you can teach the error of his ways. I think that's a pretty cool concept for an NPC. Also, he's voiced by Rob Paulsen which is instant win. NARF!
Haer'Dalis is probably the deadliest NPC you can bring in your party, and he says funny things. Also, voiced by Michael Bell, one of the most prolific voice actors ever, though he's mostly in incidental roles rather than recurring ones.
Anomen is a blowhard but whom you can teach the error of his ways. I think that's a pretty cool concept for an NPC. Also, he's voiced by Rob Paulsen which is instant win. NARF!
Haer'Dalis is probably the deadliest NPC you can bring in your party, and he says funny things. Also, voiced by Michael Bell, one of the most prolific voice actors ever, though he's mostly in incidental roles rather than recurring ones.
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Comments
Absolutely can't agree about Anomen. His storyline is pretty cool and has a fair amount of depth. Personally I think players like @Dragonspear deserve a medal (or a special in-game achievement) for putting up with him as long as they do.
(BRB gonna roll an evil Assassin. First RP assignment: Chunk Anomen before even talking to him.)
Rob Paulsen...
bowties are cool
Anomen is an arrogant jerk
Haerdelis is just a jackass whom all the chicks dig, so i must hate him with a fiery passion on principle >.>
Anomen is pink. Im sorry but thats too much.
I will probably pick up Anomen in my BG2:EE game. I want to see what happens in his epilogue if he fails his trials.
Where do I start:
Ah yes good ole Anomen.
For the record, I've completed a game with him fully, including his romance. And frankly, in no uncertain terms he is a privileged, arrogant, misogynistic, chauvinistic arrogant . The problem isn't so much how he compares when it comes right down to attributes and abilities.
Pros:
-He has one of the better strengths in game
-he can actually reach grand mastery (which I didn't know during my playthrough)
-comes with a rather decent starting shield.
Con:
-As a cleric he ONLY starts with 12 wisdom. Sure he backs that up with a good strength score but still his wisdom is terrible. Although it won't matter as much in the late game, (if you go the good route with quest he goes up to 16 Wis, which is equal to Aerie), but it is very helpful for a healbot early. Furthermore, while the other 2 clerics are weak in the strength and con department, at least the former is REALLY easy to fix in BG2. Every other belt you come across has a strength bonus on it. There is still only 1 pair of Gauntlets of Dexterity however.
No sorry, his biggest problem is his personality. And sure it gets a little better after his quest, he starts apologizing to people like Keldorn, but overall putting up with him and making him the sole female romance option. Just Argh. I spent most of my entire game wanting to shove either Carsomyr or the Purifier up his backside and then holding him out to Firkragg to turn him into a Cleric Kabob. Maybe its just because I just can't stand people like him IRL, and furthermore if you snap back at him too often the romance ends. At least now when I play with him from now on I can tell him to shove it.
Even Mazzy isn't as grating, and I was really getting tired of her constant treatment of Valygar. I don't know, maybe I'll change my mind on both of them when I run them with other party members and tell them how I really feel. But if females don't get some serious romance option increases in BG2 I'm going to be grumpy. Anomen's so irritating even Anomen's hand wouldn't romance him. True story.
Deep breath, that wasn't so bad now was it.
...
They need to get DiMaggio to do some evil dwarf thief NPC for BG2. "Anyone wanna kill all humans? Hee hee hee."
I guess I view games and NPCs differently than the norm. Obviously there are characters I like because of personalities, but I'm kind of equal opportunity. I like giving everyone a shot to see what they can do. Anomen is a total beast in battle and I kind of like the blowhard writing. They did an excellent job with it. I don't need all my NPCs to be goofy, lovable dorks like Minsc. It's something I kind of fault current-day BioWare on. Jack was good in ME2 but they ruined what made her a good character by making her too... accessible?
All the NPCs in BG2 are pretty awesome but I've frequently been impressed by the raw beatdown I'm able to do with Anomen. And to whomever said Gauntlets of Dex: It's a shame there's only the one pair because it makes using Anomen and Keldorn in the same group less than ideal which is a shame because they play off each other rather well, but the only other NPC who really desires them is Korgan. I don't see many Anomen parties rolling with Korgan, although maybe I should give that a true because that seems fun. He's got borderline perfect stats once he passes his trial.
I think my gripe stems by how chauvanistic he is, and yet he's the only female romance option. But if you shove it in his face like you want to do you can't romance him. I THINK that's where most of the hate stems from. Honestly, I'm willing to play with him again, I just won't take the crap anymore cause I've done the romance bit.
That said, Korgan (Axe/Hammer) and Anomen (Flails) sounds like a really interesting and powerful melee duo.
Boo will bring the popcorn.
Rumor is Flail of Ages with a shield loses to Carsomyr. Or at least that's what I've heard.
Anomen I intensly dislike. Horrible romance aside, he is insufferable lying braggart (I don't believe he performed ANY of the deeds he claims he did. Oh, sure, Anomen, you were slaying hordes of Hillgnasher giants with your pals when you were just level 7, huh? So why are you fleeing in panic at the mere sight of one dragon now, when you're 10+ ?).
The breaking point for me was his reaction to the kidnappers' quest.
He's not without flaws, but it's interesting with a fundamentally good guy who still isn't without rather unpalatable flaws like pride, inferiority complex and lust. I also like how he's malleable and has a development curve rather than staying mostly the same throughout the adventure.
Haer'Dalis seems a little too slick and smarmy for my tastes, but I also don't have a whole lot of experience with him.
In terms of number crunching, he's crazy good and actually ends up being the best Cleric in the game (I'm sorry Viconia, I really am!). Mainly because his fighter levels work well in conjunction with Cleric buffs and Clerical weapons, a few extra low level bonus spell slots isn't that great when you're late SoA. But I suppose the one thing Viconia does have is innate magic resistance, and with enough effort, you can get her to 100% and beyond.
Haer'dalis - one of my favourites characters, this guy will always be in my team
As for the romance aspects... I'd rather have a treesome with both a Krogan and Korgan than enduring Anomen's personality.
I've gotta say it, I don't mind Anomen. I agree he was well written and having different personalities is part of the gamut. Like real life, his douchebag behaviour was all covering his feelings for the way he had been treated.
He does get better later, if he passes his test or not.
I do agree a lot of the ire was lack of choice though, especially given how much work was put into the other romances. Definitely looking forward to new options.
I never cared much for Haer'dalis one way or the other. Perfect for whiney Aerie. Maybe I lack the appreciation for bards
There is a difference between a character written in such a way as to come across unsympathetic, and a character who wasn't supposed to be, but still comes across that way.
Scene I
Nighttime in the wilds. A young wild elf tends to the fire, and is approached by a man in full plate. A condescending look on his face.
Anomen: This quest is hardly a challenge for one of my skill.
CHARNAME: Is that right?
Anomen: Why I once defeated a group of sixteen Ogre Mages singlehandedly without breaking a sweat, and armed with only a pointy stick.
CHARNAME: That's very impressive. I remember When Minsc, Imoen and I fought our way to the Gnoll stronghold...
Anomen: I find it difficult to believe that a women could accomplish that feat.
CHARNAME: Your so dreamy.
-End Scene-
This is why I hate Anomen, for purely RP reasons. I could care less if he is a good fighter, he is an arrogant sexist d-bag and so is tossed from my party. He may get better later, but I'm not putting up with his BS now in the off chance that he will become tolerable at some point.