Going abroad

Remove all ads!

I just wondered , what would be a good level to leave and go save Imoen at Spellhold. What level should I be?
Take in consideration that I only have a 4 character party (change that to five in the future , namely Sarevok being the fifth).
Are there any quests I should do before I leave? Are there quests I can't do anymore when I return?

Currently I'm Kensai lvl 9 /Mage lvl 11 , others: Korgan nearly lvl 12 , Viconia lvl 12 and Yoshimo lvl 13.

 

<Possible spoiler>
What level you are doesn't really mater...as long as you can sneak around using hide in shadows or invisability, and fight off a few pirates. Just remember that once you're done with Spellhold and the pirate island (I forgot it's name), you either have to proceed to the underdark or you have the option to take a swim to a different city before you have to go to the underdark...so make sure you can handle killing drow patrols.

<Spoiler>
If this your first time though the game, then I'm sure you'll want to add Imoen to your party...otherwise you'll be thief-less.

Now how fast to fly though the chapters is a different story, because going too soon will cause some big trouble with some of the romances.

 

Either head for Spellhold ASAP or forget about taking Imoen with you. Her experience level doesn't take into account your party's (or at least not to very high levels) and she's a drag if your other party members are level 15+ and she's only at 11.

 

Kinda true... on the other hand it can be fun to have your powerful party as the protectors/vanguard of a more fragile lady friend.

 

None of the quests are vital, and all could be done when you come back. So it doesn't really matter. My advice is at least get everyone equipped with some half decent armour and weapon. But the most important thing is to keep your own interest up. If you're bored, go to Spellhold, or else you might quit the game or restart (which I'm sure many of us have done).

 

There really is no "good level" to go save Imoen, because the difficulty in Spellhold (like in most dungeons) is adjusted according to party level. That lich you fight when you're a super-powerful level 15 party just won't be there if you rush to Spellhold with a level 9 PC. And by the time you get to chapter 5 you're probably powerful enough to handle things, even if you did rush.

Kitrax, why would going to Spellhold early cause trouble with romances? The lovetalks don't occur in underground areas anyway, so the romance will probably be on hold until you reach chapter 6. I once rushed and was romancing Viconia, and her romance proceeded just fine.

 

If you intend to use Imoen, go ASAP! She'll have 400.000 xp no matter your level. If you go later, you won't use her higher wizard spells until the game is nearly finished.
It is possible to go there with 400.000 xp yourself but it's hard. There are tough monsters in Spellhold, and you'll be happy to have some +3 weapons.
The best trade-off to me is to do DeArnise and the CC, so you have the most valuable Flail+3 and Azur Edge, then fight Bodhi. It should lead you to Spellhold with 500.000 xp.

 

What's the CC?

(And what's the gamer obsession with acronyms? I have it too, but I wonder where it came from).

 

Copper Coronet.
There is a quest you can get if you manage to convince the owner to let you enjoy the 'other attractions'.

Hey, its bad enough we have to read those long names but we gotta spell em too? After having played SoA multiple times .... oops.

 

ASAP.

She's an important part of the story, and I would think that someone who you grew up with, someone you treat as a little sister, would take priority over any other quest put to you in Chapter 2/3.

 

Here is a quote taken directly from the SP 'Romance Guide':
"Remember that romance related quests (spawns) wouldn't take place in chapters 4, 5 and 7. This means i.e. if you haven’t finished with Terminsel’s second appearing in chapter 6 – Jaheira romance will never get to its proper ending!!!"

 

yeah, but if you leave for spellhold early, chapter 6 will be one long chapter (if you plan on completing most, or all, sidequests).

 

I could do the Jahieira romance this way, things were stopped in the underdark but all events triggered when we came back. The only part you can't avoid doing before you go abroad is bringing back the poisonned man in the HH. (oops)