Newbie questions

[rakkasan25]

Ok this is like the 3rd time I've tried getting thru BGII. Always get pulled away for extended time. Anywho...With the non-linier play style (unlike IWD) I need some advice. My current party consists of me (ranger), Minsc, Jaheria, Yoshi, Aerie, and Nalia. I really want to get Iomen back into the party ASAP since I know yoshi dies when I get her.

1) Any particular level I should be at when trying to get thru spellhold?

2) Can/should I do all these interesting quests in chapter 2 (getting out of the prison but before paying the fee for the whereabouts of Iomen) or in chapter 3 (after paying). I don't want the rest of my party getting to advanced before picking up Iomen.

3) Currently I have only finished the quests of the keep, trademeet and umarhills/temple ruins (shadow lord) I have pretty much placed the game on hold until I decide what to do.

4) If I remove certain party members where do they go. For instance I would remove Minsc to get Valygar SPECIFICALLY to do the sphere quest without having to kill Valygar to do it. Can I do this with each npc just long enough to complete that particular quest and the get my original party member back?

thanks for the future assistance.

[Stats.]

No it doesnt rele matter what level you are at because the spell hold is around the middle of the game.

When you get rid of part members the go to specific points most of the npc's go to the copper coronet.

Imeon is at a decent level when you pick her up so its not that hard to get her back to the parties level

[Bloodstalker]

1. You should have no problem going to spellhold at this point in your game if you want to.

2. That would be a personal preference. As Stats said, Imoen rejoins your party at a higher level than she left as a way to keep her from being severely underpowered once you rescue her.

4. You have the option most times to tell a NPC to stay in the area you remove them from the part in, or sending them to the CC. In a couple cases, they will go to a different location, like Viconia will go to the graveyard, Jaheira to the Harper Hold and so on. In all cases, when you drop a character, they will tell you where to pick them back up. The only drawback to removing a character is that if you remove a character you are romancing, the romance ends.

[rakkasan25]

very helpful

Thanks for the replys and the assistance. One more thing is do I need the npc to fulfill the quests? I know it sounds stupid but for example I could do the Korgan quest and give him the book out of the kindness of my heart (and greediness for loot/XP) but not have him in my party right?

Beware spellhold for thy serious buttkicking (BOO says "SQWEEK!!!)

[estaze]

well, you can go to the Southern Tombs, where the book was supposed to be, and still loot it for items/XP, but the whole quest isn't there. If you have Korgan in you're party while doing it, the quest will not end in the tombs..

[moltovir]

SOME SPOILERS IN THE TEXT!
My advice: before you go to Spellhold, i would do the following quests:
-The Cult o/t Unseeying eye
-Windspear Hills
-The Bridge murders quest
-The Astral Sphere quest! (tiny spoiler This will give you adjatha the drinker +2 (immunity to charm and dominate), making Illithid a little bit easier, and you'll meet a lot of them in the Underdark.

This will get you some nice loot and maybe an extra level, making the underdark somewhat easier. Also, you can't return to the mainland for two chapters, so make sure you have bought everything you think you'll need, like the shield of balduran in the adventurers mart (Deirdre up the stairs), (spoiler) to make the Beholder Dungeon somewhat easier. If you want a challenge for your party, i suggest you don't buy it.

spoiler: make sure you go with saemon after spellhold, else you'll mis Sahuagin City, and thus the Cloak of Mirroring, the Silver Sword hilt and the Wave shaft!