Ancient Staff

[wallydubbs]

No. Whilst having mercenaries is required in the Frozen Horror if you expect to have any form of success, I feel Mage of the Mirror should be more privatized. It's not as difficult as Frozen Horror and thematically speaking, Millandreal is kidnapped so leading an army through Glenis Fen will sound alarms and endanger the girl even further. Penetration would require a small group to rescue Millandreal.

The quests would still be insanely long, but they're more manageable. And I'm not requiring the Elf to wield the Ancient Staff all the way through, he can always pull it out when facing a spellcaster, it would help protect all other heroes from affliction and damage causing spells.

[wallydubbs]

I suppose you're adding the close equivalent of 3-4 mercs in either case (the remake rules allow you TWELVE!), that is bound to help!

Actually, no. Although Frozen Horror absolutely requires mercenaries; Mage of the Mirror, although difficult, can be done without mercenaries. Lowering Ogre Body Points, giving the Wizard 4 spell sets and adding a 5th hero are all good ways to go about it. The Elven hero possessing the Ancient Staff wouldn't have to weld it as a weapon through every quest and could just pull out when up against a spell caster if he/she chooses.

As unforgiving as the Giant Wolf can be, one additional way I make the later quest easier for the heroes is to hand out the Elven Bow of Vindication early. I allow the heroes to find it in Tormuk's Guests in the weapons rack, before the assault on Glenis Fen, since the final 4 quests of this pack the heroes can't (or shouldn't) be allowed to go to the Armory.