Watchers Keep.

[jimbowan]

I am about to enter the final few areas of The elven city and face Irenicus. I thought I would go down to check out Watchers Keep which has been on my map the entire game..but with no quests linked to it. I notice it is in the TOB walkthru (which I do have installed) Will it affect the ending of SOA if I sidetrack and finish it first? or is that the link between SOA and the expansion?

[Curdis]

jimbo-wan,

Watcher's keep is an 'optional' dungeon which is common to both TOB and SOA. You don't have to do it at all to complete the plot elements.

It does however contain some very neat stuff and is good for XPs and can be done in either SOA or TOB.

I do it early in SOA to get the ammo belt which takes so much of the unnecessary hassle out of the game. - Curdis

[UserUnfriendly]

just the logistical stuff alone is immense...

ammo belt, potioncase, quiver of plenty+tulgan bow, firetooth, best bow in game including short bow of gesen!!!
andurisval, the best fire sword in game!!! gauntlets of really hard weapon whacking, and staff of ram!!!

awesome staff, worth trip entierly.

[Robnark]

...and that's not to mention the unholy amount of experience you can obtain from - usually not too challenging - enemies and tasks. every member of my party got their special abilities in there, and my best equipment is largely looted from the harder enemies.

[Invincible121]

where abouts is watchers keep?
Do you need to have TofB installed to get to it?
I have got SoA installed and i can't see it on the map.

[Mirakai Starnight]

gotta have TOB installed.

I would suggest tackling it at chapter six after you exit the underdark, for as curdis says the awesome stuff and exp. Cool thing is you don't have to complete it, just go as far as you can manage, go back to the regular game, come back in a few levels or with some better gear and you will slowly but surely chip away at it. Plus if you don't get it done you can come back to it in the expansion and finish it then.