I started to post this as a reply to one of two other threads, but the discussion was inviting a new line enough that I thought it better to post as a new topic. I reference some decks here, and I'll link the two threads I've been working from.

Cair Andros is absolutely kicking my tail. I tried Tracker's deck last night (or as close as I could get - only one core set), and a Denethor, Boromir, Imrahil deck I'll link to below over the last couple of weeks. I'm probably sitting 0-10 or so. While I want to just say, "What am I doing wrong?," I know I don't have enough details to share that would give anyone enough to go on. The encounter cards are just brutal to me - the enemies are strong, and are hard to eliminate in one turn. I seem to have a knack for drawing the "draw more" shadow cards capped with a "+1 for every shadow card," so one undefended attack from the enemy is regularly good at tossing a battleground, while defending it would effectively eliminate a hero or a precious ally. In neither of these decks have I been able to draw a lot of chump allies to feel like I had some to spare. When I'm not drawing the nasty enemies, I seem to be drawn to the card that gives 3 damage to all but one card type, which in a tri-sphere deck just seems to hurt no matter what's happening.

I give them kudos for presenting some challenging scenarios, and I really do like the mechanic (the reason I keep trying), I'd just like to hear what folks are finding works, both the decks they're liking, and how they're approaching the strategy.

Thanks for any help! Enjoying the challenge, but definitely feeling the challenge!

Here are the two threads with the decks I've used (modified as necessary to reflect only one core set):

http://www.fantasyflightgames.com/edge_foros_discusion.asp?efid=285&efcid=4&efidt=780939

http://www.fantasyflightgames.com/edge_foros_discusion.asp?efid=285&efcid=4&efidt=793975

Thanks!

Calrissian said:

This is really difficult one. Special in solo game. Even the mighty Dwarfes deck Thorin Company not really good agaisnt this quest. But with 2 players is more possible to win but still very hard. Never try 3 player game but i think suppose to be more difficult.

Best decks against this quest in my opinion is :Elrond/Beravur/Eleanor VIlya, healer, support deck and Boromir/Theodred/Beregond Eagle deck. Play very slow but quite effective against all HON quests.

I beat it on my first play through with a Legolas, Hama, & Beregond deck that was very eagles-heavy. (Support of the Eagles = OWNING Battle and Siege quests.)

Even so, I was only a few Threat away from getting eliminated and a bad combo of Shadow cards could have wrecked my day.

I've seen nasty Shadow Cards as the biggest contributing factor to failing at Cair Andros. A dedicated defender with Burning Brand is probably the best way to deal with that, but wasn't an option for my mono-tactics deck. Instead I minimized Shadow Effects by minimizing the number of attacks that enemies were making. I primarily did this via Legolas sniping them in the staging area via Hands Upon the Bow or via the Feint card. Hama, of course, allowing me to get multiple uses out of either of those.

Thanks to you both. I'm resistant to double-fisting, always trying to find a solo deck option.

I'll give the mono-tactics a try. I absolutely love the Eagles synergy for the battle/siege mechanic, but at least on these 10 playthroughs found it hard to generate the resources necessary to get the necessary cards in play (or had bad luck in getting them in drawn before the world collapsed). Monosphere instead of trisphere would help with that.

I'll keep pressing on! I'll be interested to see how much easier these quests feel after the next cycle.

Marvelous! Thanks!

Calrissian said:

Yeah, the biggest draw-back to the eagles is their cost. Unless you've got some solid resource-generation in your deck, they're pretty tricky to get out unless you're mono-tactics.