Anders - EXPLOSIVELY Hot!!!

I headcanon that Varric is with the Inquisitor when meeting the Avvar shaman and when he returns to Kirkwall he tells Hawke to take Blondie on a field trip there for some...spiritual release.

I'm getting a sunglasses theme.

This perhaps would be the best solution for both of them, if Anders considers it safe (I don't think, he wants to risk him), but, Justice's presence (as I know) slow down the process of taint. True: if Justice remains with him, Anders still must moderate his anger, and abstain from drunkenness.

But: if Vengeance already a demon, then must exorcise, but... I suppose, if Anders wants to kill Vengeance, then Vengeance would kill him – or at least try to kill. Their mind in one, Justice/Vengeance know his thoughts, just as he know, what Justice/Vengeance thought.

I don't think class matters, really. You don't necessarily have to be anti-mage to gain rivalry. You can be against his merger with Justice, or even go along with demons in some limited scenes and still acquire rivalry*. A good way to accrue a lot of R is to be pissed when he loses control and almost kills the mage Ella, which you can be even if you support mages and like him generally.

It might be somewhat difficult if you want to flirt in Act 1 and also learn about Karl, since that will net a LOT of friend points. In that case, if going for rival, you will have to make up with it in other areas.

Whether F/R, you should decide on the type of romance. Friend is supportive, not just of mages, but of Anders himself as a person. Rival is darker, and more about obsession. Anders wants to die on the rival path; it's really not a good place.

I happen to like the rival path for a non-romance play because of how it all plays out in the game, way more dynamic than the other followers. But I don't think it plays well for the romance, this goes for Hawke as well. One scene in Act 3 has Anders ranting about something, and Hawke is like, "I love you ." It just seems nonsensical with everything else going on.

I do suggest seeing the rival path at one point, but if going for romance, choose friend.

As for class, you can come up with any reasons why a non-mage would friend him. You have Bethany (seeing his dynamic with her is a bonus), and of course there was Dad, Malcolm, who are both mages. If you want to play mage and go for rival, you can use the idea that, sure, mages like Malcolm and Bethany (and yourself) are "the good ones," but Anders himself shows why they can be trouble.



* An example of this is with the demon who attempts to make a deal in the Deep Roads. My roleplay in that scene is that there really doesn't seem to be an alternative in the moment. That demon is really the only lead you have, otherwise you might just keep wandering around down there. That's an easy +10 R from both Anders and Fenris. You can also say of Merrill's use of blood magic, "Well, it did help," even if you don't support blood magic or demons in a general sense. There is a LOT of room to be gray in the game, but you have to be willing to (1) game the system, (2) pick options you might not pick otherwise, (3) switch out followers so that you achieve the correct amount of points for a given scenario. For example, when going for rival, if you really want to allow Feynriel to go to the elves, don't take Anders for that quest.

I do highly recommend looking through the DA wiki while questing to have the best results for your desired outcome. And of course, once you have him locked in at full friend or rival, you don't have to worry about switching things around if you want to take your boyfriend everywhere, so try to do it as early as possible.

Rivalmance with him incredibly cruel, and a mere sexual attraction (my opinion). But there are many fans, who think, this is the only way with him, because rival!Hawke just wants to "fix" him... 

Mage or warrior: 

I played both, true naturally only friendship. Both my best character were sarcastic/aggressive, the different was, how they treat the companions and the npc-s. 

I felt warrior and mage different.
The mage was mostly sarcastic with every companion including Anders. He was his buddy, he sees his flaws, and he loved him with the errors, but he was teased for them. He did not show his emotions, but supported him all (purple answers mostly – sandwich-boy).
The warrior was more emotional toward the companions (he was Fenris' friend for example), he loved Anders without criticism, he admired Anders (blue answers), and in Anders, he saw the hope of saving Bethany from the Gallows. He was hot-headed and direct toward the npc-s. He was a bit crazy, but I really liked to play as he.

Yes. The rivalmance's about that: your cause is a bullshit, your "demon" is evil, but he gets you a sexy tortured gaze, so I want sex with you. Your whole life's a mistake, but I'll say to you, what is the right thing, and I'll "fix" you. The rivalmance is about: who will control Anders: Hawke or Justice/Vengeance, but not himself. Creepy – but some people love it, and think, that's the only way.
I see especially evil, if Hawke –in "love"– force him to fight for the Templars –and for the Annulment!–, because this will redeem him... I just see similar, as someone would be able to force Fenris to crush a slave rebellion, for showing, where his place is. I think, many people think, that this isn't true, because the mages aren't slaves, but no matter: Anders feel, that the mages are slaves.

anders friendmance - a summary:

Yes!

Anders always looks best when he's backlit by flaming chunks of Grand Cleric Elthina.

The only thing that would improve the above picture is if Fenris was replaced by Sebastian, with tears streaming down his face.