I paid the Shadow Thieves when I had 24K gold. I think this was a mistake now, because from what I've read it seems that I'm miles into the game, compared to where I've taken the romance, which isn't anywhere near as far advanced.....
So how long did you generally spend on each chapter? Did you try and finish every sub-quest?
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Quitch
"Well since you asked, I would like to register a complaint. I want to kill a dragon. Right now. No, don't look. Go kill one now. Go find one and kill it. Right now. That would be SO cool" - Lilarcor
How long did you spend on each chapter?
How long did you spend on each chapter?
Past: Ascension
Present: The Broken Hourglass
Future: Return to Windspear, Imoen Relationship
"Perfection has no deadline"
Present: The Broken Hourglass
Future: Return to Windspear, Imoen Relationship
"Perfection has no deadline"
First time through, I hooked up with the Shadow Thieves early, and whipped through the game. Second time through, doing as many subquests as I could, I was still in Chapter 2 at the time that I had finished the first game. As long as you're in Athkatla, you can spend as much time as you want on the early chapters. Alternatively, you can do sub-quests after you return to Athkatla from the Underdark. 

Don't worry about messing up the romances. In the game where I attempted to finish the game as quickly as possible (24 days, including all side quests) my romances were working fine up to the end...I didn't complete them, but they would have if I just stopped to wait.
Romances seem to be largely dependent on real-time rather than game-time. So, if you pause the computer, go do something else for an hour and come back, you're likely to get another romance dialog within 5 minutes.
Romances seem to be largely dependent on real-time rather than game-time. So, if you pause the computer, go do something else for an hour and come back, you're likely to get another romance dialog within 5 minutes.