When to go to Watcher's Keep

[wise grimwald]

On a related note, I have also discovered that you can use the storage containers and shelves on WK's first floor, and anything you place in them will appear in ToB. So, it's also handy to be able to use it for storage as well.[/QUOTE]
Does that just apply to first floor, or others as well?

[wise grimwald]

I've not done that, but I had wraiths/shadows/shadowfiends appear on the machine level and the seal level - with a very high level cleric, they would wake you up and pooff! disappear at a few K a time.
bone fiends sound better for mining.

I had a way of xp mining in BG using the flesh golem cave - I'd oust members from the party but make them stand in a particular place, blocking the narrow entrances to the little room. I'd then get a long weapon, eg staff, spear or 2 handed sword and sleep. almost every time I'd get woken up by golems, my reach was longer than theirs and they could not get past the party members who were treated as neutral objects. I could get level after level with a bit of patience. xp mining is far harder is BG2 or rather has a lot more risks.

A lot more dangerous, but much more fruitful for xp mining is using Lum's machine and getting the answers wrong!

[dragon wench]

Does that just apply to first floor, or others as well?

I have no idea at all. I have found the first floor to be convenient for a number of reasons, so I've never tested any of the others.
Though, I'd be just as interested to know the answer to that, has anyone here tried it out?

[Saros]

I have no idea at all. I have found the first floor to be convenient for a number of reasons, so I've never tested any of the others.
Though, I'd be just as interested to know the answer to that, has anyone here tried it out?

Yes, all of the stuff stored in containters in WK(or sold to Sister Garlena) in SoA will be available in ToB later. Of course, if you dump items on the ground, then they will disappear unless they're quest items of some sort. But of course, the first level is best because it has the most conveniently placed containers near the entrance. Only lvl 4(machine of LtM) has some containers which are also close to the entrance.

The most important items which have to be stored there are Drizzt&co equipment, to avoid the mad wild mage Malchor Harpell.

I've just completed WK again in a no-reload insane, in chapter 3, with six-person arcane-heavy party(PC Invoker, Edwin, Haer'Dalis, Aerie, Jan and Jaheira), and it was still too easy to my liking. Maybe should try it right after Irenicus' Dungeon...

A lot more dangerous, but much more fruitful for xp mining is using Lum's machine and getting the answers wrong!

Thanx. I play a no-reload so that is out of question! And by the way, there is plenty of experience scattered around. For instance, in the end of Chapter 3, my PC had already hit the xp cap(8 mil), and all of the rest party members were with 4,2 million xp points each. So, I guess that in early ToB they all would've hit the xp cap.

Same here. First time I did the skinner quest early and saw that Bone Golem show up, I reconsidered and thought it best to come back another day. The Temple Ruins, however, are really annoying. Those two Liches with company are often too hard a challange for my low level party.

@Saros: pretty much spot on, there.

Attack them with a single character, armed with a +3 weapon(you may use the Enchant Weapon spell to create one if you have none, is needed for the Greater Mummies which are immune to +2 and less weaponry), who has read a scroll of Protection from Undead. There is your free xp.

BtW, the Shade Lord is considered an Undead and cannot see through invisible units. Attack with one protected from Undead character while the rest are concealed.