Which level is "normal" when going to the underdark

[blabla1]

I have left the Spellhold and went through the portal in the underdark.
my charakters are about lvl 13, is that enough?

I wonder a bit because when I read the help section on how to defeat the mind flayers a lot of items and spells I dont posses were mentioned.

(btw what would have happened if I wouldnt have used the portal to get to the underdark and instead taken the offer of the sailor (forgot his name) that brought me to the island in the first place?)

thx!

[fable]

What spells don't you have, that were mentioned? And who's in your party? A little explanation would help.

[Grombag]

You can do just fine with level 13.

Handy items against mindflayers would include: (spoilers highlight to read)

Spoiler

spells of summon undead -> are sold at the druegar merchant south west on the main underdark map. Clerics have a level 3 equilevant.
scrolls of invissible stalker -> not sure if the merchant has those, but are probably sold back in Athkatla (somewhere :mischief: )
Shield of harmony -> makes you imune to alot of mindflayer tricks (not all though), Reward for clearing the druid grove
Potion of genius -> available at temples, not sure if available in the underdark
Chaotic commands -> level 5 priest spell (if you have a cleric or druid you have it available)
green stone amulet -> in the beholder dungeon (also pretty nasty)/

Saemon (sailor) spoilers higlight to read:

Spoiler

This way I really got annoyed of him
You must steal the pirate king ship. He will find out show up a battle will follow (this is the only way of getting him killed that I know of, not sure what happens later though). You leave and get boarded by Githyanki. After you beat them Sahuagin will board the ship and sink it. You are taken to their city where you must do some more quests and end up in the underdark after all.

[blabla1]

thx for the answers!

things that were mentioned that I dont have:

first someone talked about having AC -14, my best char has -8.
summon invisible stalkers, mordenkainens sword.

I cleard this mindflayer dungeon now but it basicly they can easy defeat my hole party in just seconds.
what are they using that kills immedeatly?

and some items I missed mentioned in the beholder strategy section:

Cloak of Mirroring
CE Shield of Balduran
Arbane's Sword
someony mentioned using a fire elemental, mine got simply held and slaughtered without achieving anything. (but the fiend did a great job for me)

[Nimiety]

Mindflayers drain intelligence with each hit - more powerful ones take 4 per hit, lesser ones still 2, so dumb guys die quickly.

Interesting thing to note - they can't see invisible creatures, so if you block them with two invisible bodies, say, in a doorway into a room, the rest of the party can attack with ranged weapons. There's still the problem of being charmed / dominated, but at least you're not being hit.

N...

[fable]

Interesting thing to note - they can't see invisible creatures, so if you block them with two invisible bodies, say, in a doorway into a room, the rest of the party can attack with ranged weapons. There's still the problem of being charmed / dominated, but at least you're not being hit.

You can also use the Boots of Speed to outrun an attempt at domination. The spell has a visual element, so as soon as it takes off, I typically send a party member running away from it. Eventually, the spell dissipates in midair. So Blabla1, if you have the Boots of Speed, that's one good way to deal with mindflayers.

[Silvaeris]

You can also use the Boots of Speed to outrun an attempt at domination. The spell has a visual element, so as soon as it takes off, I typically send a party member running away from it. Eventually, the spell dissipates in midair. So Blabla1, if you have the Boots of Speed, that's one good way to deal with mindflayers.

Haha, talking about thinking with one's feet

Anyhow,you worry too much about what other people "want" your party to look like and act like. I bet you wouldn't even notice you don't have this or that, if you didn't read it on the network. I learned the hard way that basing on FAQ's , ultimate powergamer party guides etc., often clouds one viewpoint on the game. You know how and why you created your party, and you also know what strenghts or weaknesses it does possess, and how to utilise them in combat. Cope with new environment and enemies, treat it like a chess game, and I'm more than sure you will manage

PS. when all fails, RUNNNNNNNNN from the domination

[GawainBS]

I think the best bet would be a Cleric or Druid with Chaotic Commands. It's safe and chances are that you have one of those two classes.

[Celacena]

it depends

there are two schools of thought - some people like to get Imoen back ASAP and others leave it later.

personally, I do the bulk of the quests BEFORE rescuing Imoen, and so I am often pretty high level before going after her. I am presently doing Watcher's Keep - the guardians did not think I was up to it but I persuaded them. even though my highest level was Anomen at 13 (& I've swapped to Viconia now) I have managed the levels despite my multiclass F/M/T being levels 12/11/10 (I recall) - the key is knowing strategies and (sometimes) a little luck. at those levels, demon knights etc are a bit of a handful, yet I have just done the Twisted Rune guys. A couple of scrolls DID come in handy for that, as the cognoscienti will appreciate!
even the multiple demons are defeatable, but having lost Jaheira to a lich imprisonment and Cernd to family responsibilities, I have decided to back away from going further in WK until I have dealt with Firkraag and can get Carsomyr for the presently-domesticated Keldorn. then we can go after the Holy Avenger and get +1 to stats from the machine.