When to add ToB

[Casserole]

I played BG2 SoA many years ago and recently purchased ToB. I plan on playing from start again as I have forgotten enough to be considered a newbie. Plus, my old saved games are long gone anyhow.

So, I was wondering when I should install ToB; at the beginning or should I wait for some later point in the game? Are there any advantages/disadvantages to just installing everything first and then creating a new game?

Thanks.

[galraen]

One of the advantages in installing it straight away is that you'll have access to High Level Abilities in SoA, which you won't if you install it at the end. You probably wont trigger the HLAs until the underdark, unless you're soloing or only taking along one henchperson. In my experience with a four man/woman team you should start getting HLAs as soon as you enter the underdark. Spoiler highlight to read

Spoiler

the fighter HLA's Deathblow and Greater Deathblow are very useful when fighting Mindflayers and Beholders!

End of Spoiler

[kmonster]

I recommend installing ToB even before starting the game. Some details are improved even in SoA if you do so.

[Darth Malignus]

Spoiler about equipment:

Spoiler

Some walkthrough I once read claimed that in SoA without ToB you could equip a Ring of Protection +2 along with the Red Dragon Scale Armor. Apparently that´s impossible to do in ToB, so installing ToB after doing that was recommended. I don´t use that, though, since I´m not going to bother about reinstalling the game every time I start a new game.