When to start Ivory Sanctum in Act 3?

[Chester]

On my 2nd playthrough, but my 1st was Azata, so I didn't have to wait for the Queen. I'm a Lich this time and I know once you finish things in Ivory Sanctum you have to wait a month for the Queen to arrive. I'm nearing the end of Act 3, still have Wintersun, Blackwater, Areelu's Lab, and Ivory Sanctum unfinished (and probably a few quests that haven't shown up yet, like Hellknight stuff or Dragon burial ground). A few demon armies still on the Crusade map too.

I was planning on leaving Ivory Sanctum until last, but then if I have to wait around for a month doing nothing that's probably going to tank my Crusade morale and also be really boring. Should I do it now (or after Areelu's Lab)? Should I try to max my Crusade stats first, since that's part of the "Middlegame" quest? They're all really low since I've been mostly blazing through Act 3 (my Ziggurat isn't even finished yet). Just wondering what the best way to plan for the month waiting period is.

[forkofspite]

In my first run (aeon), I thought the Ivory Sanctum was the point of no return, so I held off as long as I could. After completing the Ivory Sanctum, I was able to progress on the following during the wait:

Seek and Ye Shall Find
A Noble Intent
The Imposter
Seeking Forgiveness
The Wayward
The Price of Knowledge
Middlegame

The queen arrived just before completing Middlegame, so I made her wait a bit. Crusade morale was never an issue.

YMMV, of course.

[Super Cosmic Space Magnet]

Areelu's Lab is the easiest of the group, then Wintersun, and lastly Ivory Sanctum. Blackwater is the hardest, and arguably isn't even worth attempting unless you are supremely confident and well prepared for the high AC regenerating enemies.

[Chester]

Originally posted by forkofspite:

The queen arrived just before completing Middlegame, so I made her wait a bit.

So you can make the Queen wait when she arrives? You don't have to head out immediately?

[Silyon]

Personally, Ivory Sanctum is always the last thing I do because completing it sets into motion the end-of-act events. You technically have some time between completing it and the Queen showing up, but I'm cautious of running out of time to get quest-related stuff done and prefer not risking it, just spend those weeks doing last-minute decrees and building up forts.

Strictly speaking you can do the Ivory Sanctum at any point after Wintersun. It's mainly a question of if you're leveled enough to handle the encounters in it and if you're going for completion or not.

[forkofspite]

Originally posted by chester.longdon:

So you can make the Queen wait when she arrives? You don't have to head out immediately?

Yes. It's essentially the same mechanic as the Gray Garrison in Act 1 where you talk to Irabeth to initiate the assault. In this case, you talk to the Queen when you're ready. Selecting the option to start gives the point of no return warning.

I have no idea if you can wait indefinitely.