52 replies to this topic

[Itarilde]

Doesn't he get his quest when the romance is inactive, or is it different?

[princesspurpleblob]

If you don't romance Anomen, then you only get part of quests. Well, if you follow lawful path that is. I never took revenge when I wasn't romancing Anomen. What happened to me was, when I decided to take lawful way out with Anomen, he becomes a full knight but he never talks about the incident ever again. We never hear about the incident again from anyone, not even from Anomen himself. After a while, Sir Ryan Trawl comes and announces its time for Anomen's judgement and he either becomes a knight or not.

[Trick]

Hey, I step off this "Anomen is cool" bandwagon now.
I had him on the front line in TOB with the Crom Faeyr, he sorts of rocks, but he dies all the same, and who's gonna raise him? Duh! Clerics belong in the back, and in that prudent role I definitely prefer Viconia.

[Cal Jones]

Eh, I dispute that actually. Unless I'm playing Charname as a cleric, I take Anomen (even if his voice irritates me like a sandpaper thong). Why? He's a better fighter than Viconia, and he can make undead explode. She can only turn them to your side, which is no good to me as I want them dead, not temporarily on my team. Watching liches explode is far too much fun.
He always has a pretty impressive kill score during ToB - maybe you're not using him right.

[Galsic]

Hey, I step off this "Anomen is cool" bandwagon now.
I had him on the front line in TOB with the Crom Faeyr, he sorts of rocks, but he dies all the same, and who's gonna raise him?

My other cleric/druid! Yeah, I always have two priest types in my party. Either that or my PC. He always has a rod of resurrection handy.

Never been a big fan of Anomen's character. Never minded him much, either, though, and I can see why some people might have more respect/understanding of him than others.

However, I always appreciated what he could do for me on the battlefield. Yeah, CF and high-level turn undead make him a killing machine and he ain't too shabby as a healer. It's fun sending him in with blade barrier, too .

[Trick]

You have a point about exploding undead. Viconia's turning is quickly boring. There's also the better spell selection (unless "fixed") and high HP, and 2 attacks/round. Maybe I'll have Anomen in the back with a sling then. So OK I don't give up on him yet.
I don't like to use the rod of resurrection, and in TOB I sacked Jaheira. Anyway, she only has 2 L5 slots, and the best spell for her is Insect Plague, followed by Iron Skin.
So, in this situation, even if he hurts a lot (which he does), it's madness to send Anomen in melee. I also had trouble with his relatively bad saving throws.

... maybe you're not using him right.

Sure, I just explained.

[Cal Jones]

I usually have him dual wield CF and Flail of Ages. He's a juggernaut with that set-up.

[Galsic]

Maybe I'll have Anomen in the back with a sling then.

Well, there is the sling of seeking, I suppose...

But, no, I'd rather have him up front swinging that hammer around. It seems like a waste to have any fighter, especially one with Anomen's str and hp (even if he isn't the best tank in the game), hiding in the back (this is largely why I didn't pick up Mazzy for a long time). What you call madness is something I'm sure the great majority of players do with great success. And if he does die, again, I always have a second healer in my party. That may not be an option you give yourself, though.

[Trick]

That may not be an option you give yourself, though.

No, that's the problem.

[princesspurpleblob]

I personally prefer Anomen over Viconia. Viconia's got low strength which has restrictions on armors and shields. If I ever take her in party, I make her use sling. In comparison, Anomen can wear better armor and shield which means he does not die as easily as Viconia. This also means he can use some awesome weapons like Flail of Ages. And besides, how did you get him to die?! He is a healer after all. If he is low on health, use spells to heal him. Personally, my PC is always cleric 'cause I see advantage of being both melee/ranged dps and also healer at the same time.

[Shard]

I've never really had a problem with Ano, other then when I play a female character and don't use him because of said romance. I mean he can be an arrogant blowhard but at least he isn't like the narrow minded Kheldorn. I've also grown to really like the characters Mazzy and Valygar.

[princesspurpleblob]

Wow, in that case we are totally opposite I love Anomen to bits and Keldorn is close second. Meanwhile Cernd and Mazzy are my worst nightmares and Valygar is close third.

[Trick]

As a follow-up to my little problems, I'm trying now this way in TOB:
PC is leader with the Flail of Ages
Minsc is on the front with Celestial Fury, and AC -11 (with gauntlets of dexterity)
Anomen is on 2nd line with Crom Fayer. In fact, this weapon can be used from a distance, like a two handed sword.

I think this way we use 3 amazing weapons and Anomen is less at a risk. If Minsc dies, he dies, he's used to it (that is, when I play!)

Edit, not to bump the thread in the Troll realm:

I experimented some more, since "I'm not using him right".
In ToB, Anomen on the front line with the FoA and Jaheira or a Pally (I forgot about the bracers) in the rear to raise him if he dies: OK, but we feel Anomen's less than ideal THAC0, #attacks, even STR. I can understand the preference for the big hammer.
In SoA, Anomen on the front line with a full plate, the MoD, Shield of Harmony, he proves to be very useful. Jaheira in the back to raise, and throw the dagger +3. So we may forget about slings!
I would say now, after much experience, even if I can't use NPCs right, that Anomen is definitely a better tank than Jaheira, from beginning to end. In previous games, I would often have Jaheira in first line, Anomen as rear guard. Switching them proved beneficial.
The point still stands: if you have a cleric in melee, you must count on him dying and no reload nor rod.

Edited by Trick, 05 September 2010 - 10:09 AM.