When to go to Watcher's Keep?

[jpmlovell]

I'm playing BGII, on my world map Watcher's Keep is available for travel to, but I thought ToB was the end of BGII? Once you've started it do u have to complete the whole expansion? What level do u need to be?

[instar]

If you're playing SoA, you can go to Watcher's Keep any time during chapters 2,3 and 6 (I recommend 6, because some of the battles there are insane). When you actually complete SoA, you will _then_ start the expansion.

[Silvanerian]

I'd suggest you leave the keep be until you're at least 13th level.
And no, you don't have to do all the levels at once, you can go in, clear out the first level and then move on with the game plot.

I'd warn you against going beyond the 2nd level until at least you've come out of the Underdark, as it's quite difficult from the 3rd level and on, and you gain too many XP - which renders the rest of SoA dull.

-Sylvanerian

[Phantom Lord]

In my actual game I tried it with a lvl 13-14 party (which consists of 3 members only, Korgan being the only fighter).

The first two levels went fine, but in the third I was simply too weak (especially to deal with the Baatezu and the Thiefling party).

You should go there soon anyway, because some good items can be bought outside (eg potion case, firetooth and short sword of mask) and at least the first level is quite easy. You can leave the tower almost anytime you want and go back later, so you should simply try how far you can get and maybe return later for the lower levels.

[jpmlovell]

Thanks, I think I'll go do the first level before I set off for the aslym

[Bruce Lee]

Isn't there a bug of some sorts where foebane doesn't drop if you are not high enough level?

[Curdis]

Watchers Keep should be your first stop once out of the starting prison.

>spoilers<

The Ammo Belt is just too important to your enjoyment of the game to have to wait for it. I had no problem picking up Foebane with a party that did this. If it is/was a bug perhaps the latest patch has fixed it. I didn't stay to finish watchers keep at the time but the ammo belt (and to a lesser extent the potion case are required equipment). - Curdis

[elusive_knight]

I did all of the first 2 levels (inc. killed the cromatic demon) with a 8-14 lvl party. nice and simple

[Nuldaan]

In my most recent game, I went to Watcher's Keep in Chapter 3. I finished all the city and wilderness quests in Chapter 2. Then I moved to Chapter 3, did Linvail's tasks and went to the Keep before taking the boat.

I didn't have too many problems with the Keep except on Level 5...you'll see what I mean when you get there. I don't think I'll be doing Watcher's Keep in SoA anymore though. Finishing the keep levelled my characters so much that I walked through the rest of the game. Even the final fight was a complete joke with the overpowered characters I had.

[UserUnfriendly]

could be done at lower levels, using cheese, project image animate dead can win alomst all battles in 1, 2 ,3 but you WILL need a killer party in 4,5. or jan, taken up to 3 million or so xp. skile traps0demogorgon.

I had jan up in lv 20 thief, and using project image trapped the heart seal and demogorgon. project image will over ride the trap limits and will not trigger demo gorgon spawn.

currently playing sorc, no jan this time. bad battles...

[Morlock]

Possible spoilers ahead:
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*

I found the Demogorgen much less challenging than the party on the floor above him.(I forgot their names)
That was the hardest time and most reloads I have ever used. It was the most chalenging fight in the entire BG series - including what was to come with Melisan. I got there at insane difficulty, after about 30 reloads (I kid you not) I gave up for the night- not before lowering the difficulty and still failing uterly. The next day I came with renewed energies and again at insane level tried again. After about 10 tries I got lucky and they failed their saves enough times for me to win.
I am not hurrying back there.