GameBanshee Forums

When would be the best time to break off from the main story and go to ulgoths beard/that tower thing, Should i do it before i report to the flaming fist guy and he sends me to candle keep, or should i do it after i escape candle keep but before i return to baldurs gate, or can i actually go all the way to where im about to chase after serevok though the thieves guild and just let him have a 2 week headstart then come back and find him in that temple

You can do the expansion areas at any time until before you meet Sarevok for the final fight. I wouldn't do them before chapter7, your last suggestion sounds good.

I'd do it anytime after the Candlekeep catacombs, or just before you return to Candlekeep depending on how powerful your party is. Durlag's Tower is possible at as low as a level 5 party, but its tough.

The Ice Island (Shandalar I think his name is, in Ulgoth's Beard) is a tad easier than Werewolf Island and Durlag's Tower, and I usually do that earlier to grab a few nice items and experiance.

I like to do all the possible quests in the game. So I usually do all the maps except Durlags Tower before I go through Cloakwood. Then after that I'll do everything in Baldur's Gate except the Iron thrown and Seven Suns and Flaming Fist Compound. Then I 'll do all the expansion pack stuff and come back to the city. I like to do the whole find out whats going on and chase him down in sequence.

I did my game just like Jordoo, I think:

--Chapter 5 starts, and the great city of BG is now open (at this point all my dudes were above 89k XP, the cap without TotSC installed).

--Do all city quests that have nothing to do with the main storyline.

--Do all TotSC quests, with Durlag's Tower as the finale (and at some point in the Tower, all my dudes were at max 161k XP, the cap with TotSC installed).

--Go back to the city and do the main storyline, finishing Chapter 5 to lead into Chapters 6 & 7 (bummer, all that XP for nothing).

The end of Chapter 5, and Chapters 6 & 7, have a nice flow, and it'd seem strange to break the story's momentum with the expansion areas. Since I did all the other quests, and kept the same group the whole way, my dudes had plenty of levels to handle Durlag's Tower.