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When to do Watcher's Keep?

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krunchyfrogg
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When to do Watcher's Keep?

Post by krunchyfrogg »

I'm really not sure when to do this. I wanted to wait until I was in ToB, since I wanted Sarevok in my party.

Well, now I'm here, but can't really decide where along the way to do the keep. Will I be powerful enough to tackle the keep after facing Gromnir (I think that's the earliest you can go in ToB)?

Should I wait longer?

It seems like there's never really a point in the story where you're "supposed" to go there, so I'm just wondering when my fellow IWers check out the keep.

TIA
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Xandax
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Post by Xandax »

Watcher's Keep is actually "plugged" into the normal BG2 as well, which means you can access it in the SoA story as well as in the ToB story.

My personal preference is to tackle Watchers Keep just before going to battle Irenicus in the elven city or shortly after exiting the Underdark. Although it is an "odd time" when viewed in light of the story, I don't see any other time in the story being more "sensible" unless rather early (chapter 2 when gathering money to go after Imoen, but then you are waaay to low level and ill-equipped :D ).
At that time in the story I remember it being something of a challenge.
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Dedigan
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Post by Dedigan »

There is no point where you're supposed to go there.
Once you've hit ToB, you can go from top to bottom without really stopping. I usually had Watcher's Keep done before I even got to the end of SoA. The top couple of levels were possible for low level characters, the next couple were possible for mid level (~15) characters, then once you get special abilities, the lowest levels are easy.
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Post by Bloodstalker »

I usually just head there right after the whole initial thing with Saradush is settled. I suspect the difficulty may adjust slightly if you take a lower level party, say for instance, you do it before ToB, but I'm not certain about that.
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Thrain
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Post by Thrain »

you get less spawns. if you go there at too low a level, you lose on of the good weapons on the first level.
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Post by MasterDarkNinja »

you get less spawns. if you go there at too low a level, you lose on of the good weapons on the first level.
Really, I'll have to remember that.

I usually level up a bit in chapter 2 then clear out floor 1 (to get the bags and unlimited arrow cases, I usually solo now so I really want all the bags I can get as soon as possible) then I leave and return as early in TOB as I can and finish it.
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Post by fable »

I go early, admittedly just to get the containers. They're worth it. :D Then I leave, and come back much later, when my party won't be reduced to iron filings on the floor.
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Post by Da_venom »

i usually go there before i go to the underdark ;)

then at least i have a a challenge there

i mean the suahgin city is a real laugh just like porno island

and when you get out of there nothing is a real challenge either because your jsut too strong -.-

oh wel glad tactics and improved battles were introduced :)
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Post by krunchyfrogg »

[QUOTE=Da_venom]i usually go there before i go to the underdark ;)

then at least i have a a challenge there

i mean the suahgin city is a real laugh just like porno island

and when you get out of there nothing is a real challenge either because your jsut too strong -.-

oh wel glad tactics and improved battles were introduced :) [/QUOTE]
What's Porno Island?
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Da_venom
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Post by Da_venom »

brynlaw ;)
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krunchyfrogg
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Post by krunchyfrogg »

I don't get it.
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Post by Luis Antonio »

*ahem topic ahem*

I like going to WK right after or right before going to the underdark. Because I like to face Irenicus with a high level party (I'm almost always playing his improved version for the hell of it, so I kinda need Time Stop). Going right before the udd, I get a lot of cool habilities versus the improved sahuagin, even though its really hard to get by the statues and the guardians without the high level spells cheeses. The maze level is not that hard, but there you'll surely have some of your lower level characters perishing with wail of the banshee or with bleeding damage.

If you plan on going to the wk before udd equip your party with +3 weapons to avoid the "I cant hit anyone" problem. Once inside the keep you'll be supllied with a couple of the best weapons you can possibly want in the vanilla game, so dont worry.

After the underdark you already have tons of ubber weapons... equalizer, the mace that destroys golems if save is failed, harbringer (a good alternative for those who dont like the sentient sword) and of course unholy avenger.
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Da_venom
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Post by Da_venom »

[QUOTE=krunchyfrogg]I don't get it.[/QUOTE]

brynnlaw is small..

and there are harlots everywhere -.-

now what is it that you don't get?
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krunchyfrogg
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Post by krunchyfrogg »

There's one whorehouse. A porno is a movie, not a whorehouse.

There are sailors everywhere. Why do you think they go there in the first place?
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fable
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Post by fable »

Can we stay focused on the reason for this thread, guys? :rolleyes:
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SP101
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Post by SP101 »

I often do Watcher Keep just before killing Bodhi / Entering the Elven City...

These are (supposed to be) though battles... so *CHARNAME* might be interested of acquiring a few artefacts from this dungeon, wich he could use against Irenicus and Bodhi.

That's just my opinion. I find it too early to go there before rescuing Imoen... and the only other occasion is the Chapter 6 (or you could wait to ToB...).
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boo's daddy
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Post by boo's daddy »

[QUOTE=fable]I go early, admittedly just to get the containers. They're worth it. [/QUOTE]
This sounds like a good plan to me. I am in the Underdark now and getting fed up with all the "cannot give item, inventory full" nonsense. Having done all the quests possible prior to Spellhold, doing Level 1 of the Keep will give me something else to do in Chapter 6.

I agree that it makes sense from an RP perspective. Having spent 60-odd days chasing Irenicus, another couple getting tooled up for the "final" battle would make a lot of sense.

Pity they don't do a +3 hamster cage.
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krunchyfrogg
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Post by krunchyfrogg »

[QUOTE=boo's daddy]This sounds like a good plan to me. I am in the Underdark now and getting fed up with all the "cannot give item, inventory full" nonsense. Having done all the quests possible prior to Spellhold, doing Level 1 of the Keep will give me something else to do in Chapter 6.[/QUOTE]
You can always get the "no bottoms" patch from sorcerersplace.net. This makes all gem bags, scroll cases, and the bag of holding unlimited in the number of appropriate items in them.
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boo's daddy
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Post by boo's daddy »

Thanks for the suggestion. Will have a look for it (and a mac version!) :)
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Lady Morgana
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Post by Lady Morgana »

I did watchers keep just before rescueing Imoen because I wanted the purifier
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