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

i tend to go after completing the seige camp. it's convenient as well since you are powerful enough to make it through.
Depending on how high your party's level is, you can visit the keep safely. Post your characters and their stats.

Hmmm...I am starting Throne of Bhaal (finished it many times before but long ago), and I remember entering it quite quickly. Like "Lord" said, you shouldn't have a problem with it. When finished with Shadows of Amn, your party should be strong enough to face the place. I would imagine if you can kill Gromnir and his minions, then the Watcher's Keep will be beatable--challenging (which is good anyway) but beatable. To be safe, though, I would make sure a lot of resistant spells are available, as well as some good potions, just in case...Lots of evils lurking in there...

I've decided to give it a shot right after facing Gromnir. Right now, I'm about to release the Chromatic Demon (do I sense a battle?) Krunchy: Fighter/Mage/Cleric 16/15/17
Jaheira: Fighter/Druid 19/14
Minsc: Ranger 22
Keldorn: Inquisitor 22
Imoen: Thief/Mage 10/21
Sarevok: Fighter 20

Imoen just got Cure Light Wounds and Larloch's Minor Drain. I think that's pretty cool!

I've bounced out of this place about 12 times already to see if that annoying imp can make me some new crap!

i did it straight after gromnir. its my first time in TOB, so it was quite fun and chanlenging in some parts, while easy in others

You will probably be able to take on all of the Keep, but remember if you get stuck you can always abort and come back later.

Krunchy...Ah yes, with Keldorn and Sarevok, you've got two good tanks. Do you have that cool sword for Keldorn (Carsomyr, I think it's called)? Boy, that's a great sword! Kicks butt against evil--part. liches! That weapon right there should help you with Watcher's Keep...Do Saravok and Keldorn argue with each other? I can't remember...been so long....

Sarevok has argued with all of my NPCs. I have been told that I need to take him at least once because his banter is great. I'm loving it so far!

Sarevok is a great NPC. The only reason not to take him would be roleplaying. Would a good aligned PC allow himself to trust someone of the likes of Sarevok?

I do parts of watcher's keep at different times. When I feel like I can't do a level, I go and come back later.

Well... A good PC believes in the potential good of all, yes? Family, trust, forgiveness... A neutral PC, on the other hand, would have a harder time justifying it, I think.

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Wow, my "believing in redemption" of Sarevok paid off! I just got him to become Good, and I'm not even done with the Keep yet!
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End spoilers

nice. I see that it *is* justifiable to have Sarevok in your party.

One can raid the first level of the Keep of a few minor treasures shortly after starting SoA, while avoiding any true threats.

I do that everytime, since the keep has a few minor magic baubles lying about on the first level that don't have vampiric mists guarding them. (Most important of these to certain party members are a certain pair of bracers....)

Well I am replaying SoA. I never finished ToB and in WK I had never before been past the Chromatic Demon. I have an SoA Chapter 3 party, and I decided to take on Watchers Keep just before leaving for Spellhold.

Has been a tad tough [img]smile.gif[/img] , but I am through to some Cambion near the end of Level 3 that wants me to play some game. He has the last gem I need but I keep getting beat up so I just popped in to search for some clues. Haven't decided yet whether the best form of defence is attack or not. It is really a pisser carrying around all this stuff that could be upgraded by Cespanar but not by Cromwell - I bet those White Dragon scales I just found make some wicked armour (sigh)

Well I got through level 3 [img]smile.gif[/img] - but died 20 secs into level 4 (sigh) so I think that it is time to head back to the Docks and see if I have levelled enough to play tag with Kangy or the Twisted Rune before going to spellhold ;) . I got maybe 2-2.5 levels on each character while down the keep, so that was pretty cool.

You really need to be able to beat Lich's before you try the deeper levels of WK. If you can't beat Lich's yet,, then don't go past L2 of WK.

Don't worry - I am sure I should have Kanggy's measure - despite having no access to Freedom scrolls - just haven't tried yet. I am through level 3 now, and I thought that was easier than battling Kanggy last time. And I have enough in the way of weapons to hurt him now. I did laugh at someones suggestion for getting past the Demon Wraith just before the last guy that gambles with you. Gate in a Deva [img]smile.gif[/img] (like I can do that with a Chapter 3 SoA party - riiiiiiiiiight [img]smile.gif[/img] )

Yes, the white dragon scales make killer armor.

Armor that is wearable by thieves too :D

Oh, and ElfBane, any gonzo can beat a lich if they walk up, let him get his protection from magical weapons on, quickly run away and out of sight (too easy, they move so slow) and wait for that to run out, then walk back up and sling azuredge at them until they fail their save.

Oh, and Davros, I hope for your sake that you did not install the Tactics mod. The Improved Twisted Rune will eat you alive. Finally beat those bastards, thanks to a good spell trigger of three Spell-50ed fireballs *cast by a level 16 or 17 sorceress* that took out the beholder and two assassins and hurt the fighter guy severely. 3 people died in this, but once I got down to the last person *the staff holder, who actually uses it this time* I got my cleric to resurrect my sorceress and then had her use the remaining two charges in my rod of resurrection to raise the other two, then sent Layene the staff holder a nice thank you bomb :D *fireball* Killed her, and now I hold the Staff of the Magi in CHARNAME's hands. By golly I hate that Horrid wilting casting lich ><

Well I haven;t got the tactics mod installed, but my level 3 party romped through there very easily. Only 1 death - Jahiera who I thought was tucked away nicely but instead did a swan dive into a stray beholder blast and the stun wouldn;t dispel fast enough so I could shift her out of the Horrid Wilting field.

Into the Underdark now - only guy that gave me a mild amount of trouble was that mage that you free from imprisonment. I didn't go in buffed and summoned and he imprisoned 2 - the only people that could cast freedom or use a scroll - sigh. Once back on the surface I am going to head back to WK and start level 4