Leveling by questing alone becomes more difficult beyond 20th level. The challenges are greater and the monsters are deadlier. But it’s not impossible . . . especially for a clever player with a well-prepared hero. In our previous article on Solo Play we covered the basics for solitary questing during the beginning levels. Here, we'll cover tactics for a more advanced character, including what one can achieve in Middle-earth while working alone to defeat the forces of the Dark Lord Sauron.

After completing the Quests of Book 1 and cresting 20th level, your hero’s best options for solo adventuring lead from the lands of Bree north and east into the rest of Middle-earth.

Solo Quest Hubs

Here is a list of the major solo quest areas for characters of 20th – 40th level. Many of these quests are of the slayer variety – killing large groups of animals or servants of the Dark Lord, with a few other quest types tossed in.

The Lone-lands

East and south of the Bree-lands are the Lone-lands, once part of the great Kingdom of Rhudaur in ancient times. With the rise of the Dark Lord Sauron, this now desolate region is home to wandering packs of Orc-kin and Goblins who regularly attack travelers on the Great East Road and leave burned villages in their wake. Solo Quests in the Lone-lands range from 20th − 30th level. That makes it the perfect place to play following your completion of the Book 1 Epic Quest.

Map of the Lone-lands region.

A day’s travel from Bree in the southwestern portion of the Lone-lands is the Forsaken Inn—the last outpost of civilization in this region. In addition to offering goods and services, the Forsaken Inn and environs offer many opportunities for questing.

The chef of The Forsaken Inn is Old Mugwort; his reputation as a cook is somewhat lacking, but he attributes that to hard times and poor supplies. Mugwort has several quests to offer—success with them will help purge the area of evil, while at the same time net supplies. These quests include driving Goblins from the Lone-lands (Enfeebling the Foe), slaying Wargs (Raising the Wargs' Ire), and defeating their leader (Drawing the Pack).

The Forsaken Inn.

Another Quest hub is Ost Guruth, an ancient fortress once belonging to the Kingdom of Rhudaur that is now under the control the Eglain. Located in the northeastern portion of the Lone-lands, Quests obtained in Ost-Guruth often branch north to Angmar and east to the Trollshaws.

Be sure to seek out Stanric of the Eglain, a supplier and arms merchant in Ost-Guruth who is attempting to organize a defense against the wild beasts roaming the Lone-lands. Stanric has an abundance of Solo Quests that involve retrieving spider venom to develop antidotes (Venom of the Ruin-stalkers), preventing a plague about to be unleashed by the Orcs (A Plague Upon Us), and hunting boars to help the Eglain prepare for a harsh winter (Well-Prepared).

The outpost of Ost-Guruth.