My main problem with the quest in solo, apart from the one I mentioned already and which is true, can be dealt with, is that there are 3 Oliphaunts in the deck and unless you actually engage one and kill it, which is rather hard, any shadow or when revealed effect that puts any enemy other than an Oliphaunt under the Black Gate pretty much means reset. I would have liked it a lot more if there was some kind of limit to the number of Oliphaunts in the deck depending on the number of players. Otherwise, and considering my playthroughs of the other scenarios, it seems to me that they did not playtest this expansion in solo at all. The only one I've managed to beat so far is Shelob's Lair, which is admitedly a fun scenario, maybe my favorite one from this expansion.

My main problem with the quest in solo, apart from the one I mentioned already and which is true, can be dealt with, is that there are 3 Oliphaunts in the deck and unless you actually engage one and kill it, which is rather hard, any shadow or when revealed effect that puts any enemy other than an Oliphaunt under the Black Gate pretty much means reset. I would have liked it a lot more if there was some kind of limit to the number of Oliphaunts in the deck depending on the number of players. Otherwise, and considering my playthroughs of the other scenarios, it seems to me that they did not playtest this expansion in solo at all. The only one I've managed to beat so far is Shelob's Lair, which is admitedly a fun scenario, maybe my favorite one from this expansion.

Have you tried a Straight Shot, O Elbereth Gilthonial, or Helm Helm strategy against the Oliphaunts? It's a fun way to deal with them aside from loading up a strong hero with readying effects. I actually had a really great time with a Dunhere + Hobbits deck against this quest.

Actually I did kill an Oliphaunt with Helm Helm while playing my Rohan deck. It's kinda hard to pull off and I still lost, but it was really epic. I suspect Haldir a Haldir deck that uses Straight Shot might be much more reliable, but I haven't tried it yet.

Finally won the crossroads with Damrod, Leadermir and Sam !!!! I am still shaking

The three Oliphants got past the Black gate but I killed all the others. I used the Three Golden Hairs boon though at a point where I needed allies, in order for me to draw three cards (got two allies). Poisoned stakes with forest patrol where of great help killing two enemies without engaging or attacking them. Staff of Lebethron was of help too and above all my cards I would like to thank Visionary Leader and the only non ranger card I had, Ingold who was questing like hell (5 WP cause of my 4 Heroes always having resources and Visionary Leader)

After I killed the Harads I had a hard time cause of locations in staging area which I could not travel (I needed to reveal enemy from Crossroads which there was not, or angage one etc), but after a couple of Harads reapeared when I shuffled encounter deck, then it was ok

Won again with the same deck, a lot easier (much better score) but still had to play the Three Golden Hair Boon ... I tend to run out of cards on turn 5-6 and try to look for allies to play, even with the card draw that traps give, cause eventually you lose the traps. Maybe I must include some card draw that Lore have or switch Leadership Anborn with the Lore one.

Again Visionary Leader and Ingold where key cards on my game, Frodo had Sting, Hobbit Cloak, Mithril Shirt, Warning, Staff of Lebethron and two fast Hitch enabling him to defend against the Oliphants easily (eventually I killed two of them)

Using Frodo to tank the Oliphaunts is a good idea, I hadn't thought of that.

Won again with the same deck, a lot easier (much better score) but still had to play the Three Golden Hair Boon ... I tend to run out of cards on turn 5-6 and try to look for allies to play, even with the card draw that traps give, cause eventually you lose the traps. Maybe I must include some card draw that Lore have or switch Leadership Anborn with the Lore one.

Again Visionary Leader and Ingold where key cards on my game, Frodo had Sting, Hobbit Cloak, Mithril Shirt, Warning, Staff of Lebethron and two fast Hitch enabling him to defend against the Oliphants easily (eventually I killed two of them)

Please post the deck!

Won the Shelobs Lair on attempt two (attempt one was more to have a glance on quest cards and check how the quest works). Ok I nearly threated out but was more out of treachuries and doomed cards. Apart from this I had no problem on defending Shelob and Nazguls that appeared and generally had a good time. I'll replay it to make a better score cause it took 18 turns , that Cooney Boon helped a lot reducing my threat by two

Nice quest but after Crossroads it seemed easy

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The deck I used on Crossroads that eventually won two games (I changed 9 cards for Shelobs Lair)

Damrod

Faramir (Lead)

Sam

Frodo (Fell)

Allies (16)

2x Anborn (Lead)

2x Ingold

2x Biil the Pony

2x Warden of Healing

3x Ithilien Lookout (might help you discard a Harad enemy that might come from encounter deck)

2x Mablung

3x Ithilien Archer

Attachments (27)

3x Visionary Leader

2x Steward of Gondor

2x Dunedain Warning

3x Hobbit Cloak

3x Poisoned Stakes

2x Forest Snare (I believe it is not good on this quest so might swap it)

3x Ithiliel Pit

3x Fast Hitch

3x Staff of Lebethron

3x Ambush

Events (7)

3x Forest Patrol

2x Striders Path

2x Tighten our Belts

And offcourse the Boons etc. Both games I won I used the three Golden Hair Boon Card to draw three cards and reduse my threat (well, mostly I did it to draw the cards)

The idea is to get Steward of Gondor and Visionary Leader on Damrod. On my starting hand I look for on of these. I play traps when I have them and keep my Forest Patrol event to use with Poisoned Stakes, (they kill most of the enemies at once). Try to turn one of the Hobbits into a superpower defender with Fast Hitch, Hobbit Cloak, Sting, Lebethron etc

Ingold quest for 5WPmost of the time and with Mablung, Damrod and Sam you have an easy 15 quest power which can be boosted from other allies. Faramir, Anborn and sometimes Frodo with the Rangers attack

You need some luck on opening hand and it is not a bad idea an Oliphant to go on Black Gate on turn one so that you can prepare your deck for turn two

Thanks for the list. Which Frodo? There are three possible.

The new one whom you can spend a resource and exhaust the one ring to give +2 WP , ATT. It can be of use in this quest

Have a question. When a shadow effect targets a non objective attachment, can it target boons? Are they considered objective attachments?

They're not objectives... you can discard them unless they say "Permanent."

That has actually been one of my favourite uses for the Old Bogey-Stories boon from The Old Forest in my campaigns. I don't often feel the need for a mid-game mulligan (though sometimes it has come in very handy), but there are a fair number of attachment discarding shadows, so having an attachment which doesn't directly contribute to my board state makes it excellent fodder for those.

I have beat Journey to the Crossroads 2 handed campaign mode 3 times now now without getting a single enemy in the Black Gate.

Player 1; Legolas, Haldir with Valiant Warrior, Damrod.

Player 2: Idraen with Beyond all Hope, Sam Gamgee, Erkenbrand with the 2+ hit point from Black Riders

Frodo from the Land of Shadow

Using Ambush, HUTB, and Haldir's ability I can get a lot of attacks off before enemies attack. Erkenbrand defends with a few Dunedain Warnings and can effectively cancel all the nasty shadow effects. I run 3 feints and 3 Feigned voices as well, to blunt enemy attacks. Celebrian's Stone, Galadriel ally, SIlvan Refugee, The Ringbearer attachment that gives all hero's +1 wp, and Faramir ally, all provide enough willpower to successfully quest. It's been a blast, to conquer this quest because originally I was getting stomped, so I started my campaign all the way from the beginning introducing the new NM Black Riders, and these decks have been able to conquer all.

The new one whom you can spend a resource and exhaust the one ring to give +2 WP , ATT. It can be of use in this quest

I started to use the Frodo that can cancel encounter deck cards, because some encounter cards can force you to put an enemy under the Black gate, which can mean a fast end of game (in pure solo), and I use the Felloswhip card attachement that gives each hero +1 will power.

I've now posted a video in which Dunhere takes down some Oliphaunts. Check it out here.

Great play Seastan, really liked it