To be fair to Larian, I’m not sure you’re supposed to like him necessarily. I can imagine his story is supposed to be sort of tragic but all I feel is that he’s tragically written.
I never really found the ‘lost powers’ story arc particularly interesting or believable. Does it imply that removing the tadpoles instantly reverts said companions to their previous levels of expertise? Or are the tadpole effects permanent so the companions have something like amnesia with regard to their prior knowledge? It’s just a narrative muddle. Perhaps Larian will resolve it but personally I just don’t really care for it.
As you said, with Wyll there is an obvious conflict with his supposed notoriety and his palpable weakness in combat. He comes across as a compulsive liar and there’s no way I’d hang around with someone like that, in reality or fantasy.
We're going to have the same problem again once Karlach becomes recruitable. A supposed /legendary/ fighter from hell, too good to /ever/ let go of. Unlike Wyll, who is a mere minion to some Devil... Karlach is one's personal champion.
Gale and Astarion have good excuses. Inexperienced Lae'Zel and Shadowheart (actual amnesia), I can't care about either. Minsk was a rock. Well, fine. But, Karlach? Wyll's a joke compared to her. I'd prefer it If by way of explanation some companions got special tadpole related powers. Or tadpole related problems! Surely, they don't take to every host equally well?
Whatever it is... Wyll and Karlach could do with a better excuse. Tadpole doesn't like the Devil magic, etc.
