Scavenger Hunt: Tips for under level getting around Middle-earth- with a guide and MC

[Macdui]

EDIT: The intent for the thread was to provide proven routes for well quested capped chars to guide under-level, content restricted, travel restricted chars around Middle-earth for completion of at least one of each year quests, specifically with reflection Pool quest drop off points in mind. My results are with a now F2P level 30 hunter with no content purchases.

However there's so much inaccurate info being spouted in /world chat and on these forums stating opinions as fact that are just misleading and making people give up the hunt. People are trying to pickup quest lines because they "can't" share a solo instance...

Summary:

Sharing any Reflecting Pool instance
Apart from the now hacked Ost Guruth Reflection Pool every reflection pool quest can be "shared" with another. So long as one character has the option to travel others can be taken too. There is no level, quest prerequisite or content requirement for this helped character. Only that the character is at the reflecting pool and if solo can handle any killing the quest might require.

Fellow quests are easiest: fellow up, leader starts instance and travels, the rest click on the pool and "travel" too.
Solo quest come in two varieties. Both require leader to not be in a fellow initially.
Easier type: Leader selects instance, travels then (usually) immediately leaves instance, invites other char to fellow and that char clicks on the pool and pops up the instance Travel and enters alone.
Other variety requires that before the second char uses the travel option that pops up the leader must drop from the fellow.
So leader starts and travels inside, leaves instance, invites other char, that char clicks pool to pop the travel now, then leader drops from the fellow and only then the other char uses the travel now to enter.

MC Stable rides
The other thing people think is impossible is that you can enter Moria, Caras Galahon, Mirkwood and After-battle Osgiliath without quest completions. Use MC stable rides, not often directly but if you have Mithril coins and want to get somewhere to complete hunt objectives there is no content, quest or level restriction. Just the cash and your helpers ability to keep you alive there.

End of summary 15 May 2017
END EDIT


SPOILER ALERT

In the first few years the reflecting pools have reminded us that where you start on can be different to where you end up.

I haven't come across any level restriction preventing a low level joining and travelling if someone else can start the encounter. It has to be a fellowship encounter in most cases. You just need to be at the pool, getting to the pool might be the biggest headache ofc if really under level. But if you are really under level and positively must complete the Scavenger overall deed then use Mithril Coins to horse travel to any location but Twenty-first Hall in Moria.

Mordirith's Fall and Fire and Ice reflecting pool quests are a couple of examples in the early years. Mordirith's Fall importantly drops you in Gath Forthnir, see later.

I can't remember where every reflecting pool quest might take you but in the coming years of the scavenger hunt we will have to get further afield.
If we can test out various pools and their quests and where you get dropped at the end we can ease the process for those with level challenged toons and those that are happy to/bullied into helping them.

Gate of Shadows: Up by and the Main entrance to Cairn Dum And Urugarth.
Limit of summon/travel is level 30. 30 and above can be summoned inside, there's a horn there too.
Under 30:- fellow travels to Aughaire does the Mordirith's Fall (again) instance. Drops you in Gath Forthnir.
You are the other side of the Kill Zone that Book 6 completion nullifies.
Your guide takes you through Bogbreath's domain to the narrow high path toward the Gate of Shadows. Stealth spiders are annoying. At the end of the path guide kills everything between you and the gate, once clear jump down to complete Gate of Shadows.

Nar's Peak: Enedwaith. For under 40 (travel rescriction) It's a pain killing stuff across 2 landscapes for an under level toon.
Instead use one MC on Stable ride to Lhanuch from South Bree, down the hill and across the road is the reflecting pool.
Your guide starts up Instance: Attack on Zudrugund, you join them. Park yourself at the start until fellow calls you up, or move up as each objective is made. On completion you are in Zugrugund, step outside for Nar's Peak and 2 Remembrances

Moria: No level restriction. You can be Straight out of Archet. One MC stable ride to Stanground, One MC Stable ride to Thinglad. This should be enough to ride your horse away from any agro on the way to Moria's exit portal, and your entry to Moria, if wary take any addition MC rides closer to Moria. Have guide ride in front if the place is entirely new to you. What you do there and how you survive is up to you.

Lothlorien: Same as Moria. There is no kill on sight by the elves any more but friendly mobs will attack. But you are free to roam and do hunt quests. Entry to the city is one of two ropes to the left of the main door just over the bridge from the stable master.

Please contribute confirmed routes, don't speculate, test and confirm. Check if it's a fellow instance if it drops you in a hunt friendly area.

My test are with a F2P char, now, level 29 with no bought content. Ideally should be the easy route for all, not a killing feast or rezz through route.

Mac

[Arnenna]

Nice thread Mac, sorry I missed it.

I'm happy to test out the reflecting pools and bring findings in here.

[Herwegur]

Great thread, thank you! This possibly inspires me to bring another alt through some of these quests, who is even lower in level than my main.

Can anyone please confirm (no speculation but by experience) if there is indeed a way to get to the Prow of Minas Tirith for a very underlevel toon?

I heard something about using Belfalas housing stable, but it takes you to the siege version of Minas Tirith and I wonder if there is a confirmed way up the very top. It would be nice to have this info in this thread as it's on subject.

[Polymachos]

I heard something about using Belfalas housing stable,

that's correct -

but it takes you to the siege version of Minas Tirith and I wonder if there is a confirmed way up the very top. It would be nice to have this info in this thread as it's on subject.

You'll have to run through all the tiers, because your level is too low for the stable master, but it works. For a shortcut, you can jump down from the prow (and gain the title the Flighty)


Greetings, Polymachos

[Rugongrod]

On my level 20 I talked to the housing broker in Bree, was ported to housing, exited east gate, took horse to MT (it was before siege), 1 MC coin to Master's tier and then found way to prow from there, jumped from prow, got the title, died and retreated to Bree. Took all of 5 minutes at most.

[Polymachos]

FYI: I have seen the remembrances at the tip of the prow, in both the before and the after battle Minas Tirith (on different characters, of course).


Greetings, Polymachos

[Arnenna]

FYI: I have seen the remembrances at the tip of the prow, in both the before and the after battle Minas Tirith (on different characters, of course).


Greetings, Polymachos

I can confirm the remembrances are in both. I took a mule through yesterday and as she doesn't have the stables open on all tiers (because she quested MT before the insta horses were removed), I took her into after battle and used the fast horse to get to the top circle. Remembrances were there on the after battle prow, jsut as they are in pre-battle version.

[Arnenna]

Week Four is here.

Trifles: Calls for Rescue skirmish, with minimum level 65 to open via a quest.
Orc Clans: Calls for Burzthrang Orcs - Mirkwood.

So, I guess we look for workarounds on the third option - Aragorn.

This is not possible without a guide, as it calls for defeating foes in Annuminas, but first look, it's possible for lower levels with an escort to handle defeats.

I'm on my way out, but will take a deeper look into it later.

[Macdui]

Spoiler alert again. If you want to make you own way...

Week Four is here.

Trifles: Calls for Rescue skirmish, with minimum level 65 to open via a quest.
Orc Clans: Calls for Burzthrang Orcs - Mirkwood.

So, I guess we look for workarounds on the third option - Aragorn.

This is not possible without a guide, as it calls for defeating foes in Annuminas, but first look, it's possible for lower levels with an escort to handle defeats.

I'm on my way out, but will take a deeper look into it later.

Yup, wasted some time killing some orcs until I realised some were impossible with a F2P 30 hunter.
Skirmishes were a no go. Didn't have 'em and if I did to low.

My F2P account char is down to 9 MC so did it without spending any:

Aragorn
The tricky bits, even with a 105 hunter guide:

Aragorn's Pavilion - In After Battle - Having a toon with Talk to Sam in Rivendell seems to be still the way into After Battle without spending a couple of MC. I had prepped a crafting alt for the task a couple of days ago.

Statue in Pelargir - I rode from Belfalas housing and took my time and swam just off the coast all the way to Linhir where the local reflecting pool is. Guide opened up Instance Even in Darkness fellow. Joined and hid in back. Drops you at the Camp of the Grey Host camp outside Pelargir. Guide clears a few riders from landscape and lowbie times a dash into town, avoiding the roaming War-band. Didn't test any of the others at the reflecting pool, that just seemed right, another might land you in town. OR MC stable rides South Bree to Dol Amroth then Pelargir.

Pippins Brooch No it's not the jewellery you found in one of the buildings there. It's at 50.1S 56.2W.
Belfalas Housing West exit to Dol Amroth then ride along the road to The Path of the Dead, two remembrances along path through, the last (damn them) outside the other end. Wasted half an hour looking for it inside. On exit clear close orcs and start the ride. Going along the right bank of the river all the way to Snowborn. Guide went ahead to find the Brooch and scout a safe stopping point. The pond at the end of the stream to the west is ideal. Lowbie takes the ride avoiding any ranged mobs, good luck, when near to the brooch jump the stream and head for the pond and safety. Then head east to brooch killing ahead. However got poisoned as main was clearing the house I "knew" the brooch was in, dashed through the door to get away but both hunters curing poison couldn't clear it and her health dropped to a couple of hundred. Only when I retreated to the pond to regroup did I realise these are not the jewels we're looking for.

OR MC rides to nearest town and kill to brooch.

I continued on to:
Picking Flower From the Brooch made my way north then to the river and swam around to the bridge into Great River. Rode the road Gollum was on into Lothlorien to pickup Flower.

Other tasks were straight forward by comparison.

Fellow quests from reflecting pools still have no minimum level requirement to join so possibly a better option than travelling under level toons if you can find your orcs in any. E.g. One Hope Remains Aughaire reflecting pool for Gash-hai. The Burzthrang Orcs are in an Instance: A Cornered Foe as well as landscape so the reflecting pool would provide under levels with the kills if SSG act on the Mirkwood access. The reflecting pool is not so far into Mirkwood as the landscape mobs as well.


Mac

Edit: SSG temporary fix for Mirkwood access, at least for the orcs quest this week(year) might be a Mirkwood Reflecting pool copy plonked somewhere outside Mirkwood, may want to change the landing zone on completion/defeat though.

[Macdui]

Fellow quests from reflecting pools still have no minimum level requirement to join so possibly a better option than travelling under level toons if you can find your orcs in any. E.g. One Hope Remains Aughaire reflecting pool for Gash-hai. The Burzthrang Orcs are in an Instance: A Cornered Foe as well as landscape so the reflecting pool would provide under levels with the kills if SSG act on the Mirkwood access. The reflecting pool is not so far into Mirkwood as the landscape mobs as well.

I spend 5 MC from the Collection Panel to get my level 54 into Ost Galadh to tag a run into a Cornered Foe from the reflecting pool. Sadly it's Solo only. You can do the old trick we used at Ost Guruth (before it was "fixed"). Guide opens and enters the solo instance, leaves and invites the noob, noob goes in to the instance alone. At 54 the mobs are 64 and in pairs. Had to use very creative use of 3 accounts and multiple starts of the instance to eventually get the 10 kills. 54 has to be the LOWER limit on the orcs quest unless you are going to guide your noob further into Mirkwood.

Mac

Extra Rope into Caras Galadhon does not work if not on the Heights & Depths quest from prior year.

[Macdui]

This on paper looked to be the easier and quicker one to do for under level. Didn't want to go through all the reflections to find one I couldn't complete if it turned out to be solo and riding around lakes in hostile areas could be taxing.

I still use an alt with Year 2 Talk to Sam to get into After-battle. With no word from SSG, is it the only way in without spending MC or am I missing another way in?
For the solo instances use the guide to start the instance, enter, leave, invite n00b, n00b goes in, guide drops out of fellow. Guide starts and runs own version of instance.

Once in Henneth Annun rather than take ride along the road to Osgiliath and onto the Pavilion had guide open up Mourning The Dead at the reflecting pool. Two reasons, one to Mourn Snowmane (doesn't work ) and see where it dropped on completion (outside Aragon's Pavilion ). The instance takes so long (lots of dead to mourn) that it'd be quicker riding. If you were running with a real low level maybe the better route but clear around the reflecting before starting and stay in cave until instance is ready to enter then dash to pool.

Having got bored with the Belfalas ride to Dol and on to Paths of the dead to get to Eowyn I tried the Dol Amroth Reflecting pool and did Instance: Ruthless Dead choosing the fellow version and had low level char park at the start until it was cleared. It drops you next to Eowyn in Dunharrow for /thank. Now Dunharrow is where the Westfold Reflecting pool is and Instance: Soothsayer is idea for getting over to Woodhurst and into Entwood without a long ride across West Rohan. Leave Soothsayer pressing auto run as there might be mobs close by, you run into town. Then it's just a case of riding up the hill and into Entwood and up to the far North West for a drink. Whilst you are in Entwood take the path back to the South East corner and you use the Ent there to port to Flooded Isenguard for the meal in the Gatehouse.

The other objectives are easily done, for Year 5 Tales completion - level 30 hunter F2P account no content purchases.

Mac

EDIT Changed Instance: Paths of the Dead for Instance: Ruthless Dead sorry

[Macdui]

A Trap for the Creature reflections

It is a solo instance but sadly the normal method of opening a solo instance for another without the option doesn't apply for this quest as it doesn't hold the instance open for a bit after you leave.

I tried leaving at various points to see if the instance would be held and after killing the orc I briefly got the instance up for the lowbie to travel once but failed because chars were still grouped. Doing the quest wouldn't be an option at lvl 30 and no quest pack for the region. EDIT: See later post for Update on how to start up the solo instance for someone.

Had no issues with the solo The Fellowship Departs but for The Ties That Bind it requires fighting lvl 48 mobs so too much for my level 30. By this point I was on CD to start another instance so quit.

Potentially the Bodies of Water is on a par with the Moria quests in previous weeks so is doable, but with the relatively easy Merry quest complete for the deed I'm satisfied to wait for next week's Year 6.

Mac

[Rufkin]

A Trap for the Creature reflections

It is a solo instance but sadly the normal method of opening a solo instance for another without the option doesn't apply for this quest as it doesn't hold the instance open for a bit after you leave.

I tried leaving at various points to see if the instance would be held and after killing the orc I briefly got the instance up for the lowbie to travel once but failed because chars were still grouped. Doing the quest wouldn't be an option at lvl 30 and no quest pack for the region.

Had no issues with the solo The Fellowship Departs but for The Ties That Bind it requires fighting lvl 48 mobs so too much for my level 30. By this point I was on CD to start another instance so quit.

Potentially the Bodies of Water is on a par with the Moria quests in previous weeks so is doable, but with the relatively easy Merry quest complete for the deed I'm satisfied to wait for next week's Year 6.

Mac

Was it possible to get your level 30 into Entwood for that portion of Merry's scavenger hunt? If so, how? The bodies of water is doable, but it is so much more time consuming.

[Arnenna]

Was it possible to get your level 30 into Entwood for that portion of Merry's scavenger hunt? If so, how? The bodies of water is doable, but it is so much more time consuming.

I'm thinking of going for the Merry line on my level 62 alt on Crick, but Entwood access is something I have to try and work around. I'm not sure she could get around all the uruks around the east wall lake, and she would have a few problems getting to the Gilraen. She is doing it all without guides so far, but looks like she may need one this week.

[Arnenna]

Soothsayer is idea for getting over to Woodhurst and into Entwood without a long ride across West Rohan. Leave Soothsayer pressing auto run as there might be mobs close by, you run into town. Then it's just a case of riding up the hill and into Entwood and up to the far North West for a drink. Whilst you are in Entwood take the path back to the South East corner and you use the Ent there to port to Flooded Isenguard for the meal in the Gatehouse.


Mac

Is the Ent available for a level 30 alt? It's a long while since I did flooded Isen and Entwood content, but when it launched, the travel ents only appeared after doing some of the questlines.

[Catburg]

Was it possible to get your level 30 into Entwood for that portion of Merry's scavenger hunt? If so, how? The bodies of water is doable, but it is so much more time consuming.

Re the bodies of water how far apart are the remembrances spread out and are they easy to find?

[Arnenna]

Re the bodies of water how far apart are the remembrances spread out and are they easy to find?

They aren't too bad, and mostly around the edges of the lakes apart from a few. Evendim is where they are most scattered, with some around Tinnudir and others at Eavespires and on the shore at Tham Habad. At the Waterworks, they are all around the toad infested waters by the vile maw. Nen Hithoel in the East Wall is a bit tricky, with Uruks standing very close to some.

[Rufkin]

Is the Ent available for a level 30 alt? It's a long while since I did flooded Isen and Entwood content, but when it launched, the travel ents only appeared after doing some of the questlines.

I had to do the quest-line on a level 105 alt to gain access. The Huorn next to the Ent in Flooded Isengard is present, but you cannot use it until you've finished a few level 95 quests. I'm wondering if it's possible to bypass with a captain or a summoning horn...

Re the bodies of water how far apart are the remembrances spread out and are they easy to find?

They really aren't that difficult to find, except Evendim as Arnenna said already. Once you find one if you are near a border just go the other way and you'll find the rest easily. Most lakes had at least two extra even. My comparison is the 1-2 hours traveling around ME for those lake rememberances and the 30min - 1 hour for Year 5's Merry scavenger hunt, if you have the travel capability. Merry's hunt is so quick, but you need access to Entwood. As a person with 5-10 characters that I want to do this on, and many more that will also do it if I find the time, I want to take the fastest route.

[Catburg]

I had to do the quest-line on a level 105 alt to gain access. The Huorn next to the Ent in Flooded Isengard is present, but you cannot use it until you've finished a few level 95 quests. I'm wondering if it's possible to bypass with a captain or a summoning horn...



They really aren't that difficult to find, except Evendim as Arnenna said already. Once you find one if you are near a border just go the other way and you'll find the rest easily. Most lakes had at least two extra even. My comparison is the 1-2 hours traveling around ME for those lake rememberances and the 30min - 1 hour for Year 5's Merry scavenger hunt, if you have the travel capability. Merry's hunt is so quick, but you need access to Entwood. As a person with 5-10 characters that I want to do this on, and many more that will also do it if I find the time, I want to take the fastest route.

Thanks for this information

Rally horns, so I assume Captains too, can summon people into Derndingle and flooded Isengard who don't have access from prereq quests. What the level limit is, if any, on the summonee I don't know.

[Macdui]

Was it possible to get your level 30 into Entwood for that portion of Merry's scavenger hunt? If so, how? The bodies of water is doable, but it is so much more time consuming.

Yes

Dol Amroth Reflecting pool and did Instance: Paths of The Dead choosing the fellow version and had low level char park at the start until it was cleared. It drops you next to Eowyn in Dunharrow for /thank. Now Dunharrow is where the Westfold Reflecting pool is and Instance: Soothsayer is idea for getting over to Woodhurst and into Entwood without a long ride across West Rohan. Leave Soothsayer pressing auto run as there might be mobs close by, you run into town. Then it's just a case of riding up the hill and into Entwood and up to the far North West for a drink. Whilst you are in Entwood take the path back to the South East corner and you use the Ent there to port to Flooded Isenguard for the meal in the Gatehouse.

After doing the Ruthless Dead instance from Dol Amroth reflecting pool everything slipped nicely into place. I got lucky. [Edit: Belfalas housing west side to Dol Amroth route]

Is the Ent available for a level 30 alt? It's a long while since I did flooded Isen and Entwood content, but when it launched, the travel ents only appeared after doing some of the questlines.

Certainly the Ent from Entwood to Flooded works for a level 30.

I had to do the quest-line on a level 105 alt to gain access. The Huorn next to the Ent in Flooded Isengard is present, but you cannot use it until you've finished a few level 95 quests. I'm wondering if it's possible to bypass with a captain or a summoning horn....

Perhaps it's like Moria, maybe no one considered coming the reverse route to be an issue as when implemented there was no possibility as the content wasn't in game to do it.

Thanks for this information
Rally horns, so I assume Captains too, can summon people into Derndingle and flooded Isengard who don't have access from prereq quests. What the level limit is, if any, on the summonee I don't know.

You can ride into Entwood from 3 places in in the region as well as port via the Ent after questing (look at Entwood Map), it's just that Woodhurst was the easiest. Up behind the Meadhall and up the path to the right, where the Soothsayer lives in her cave to left. The Soothsayer reflecting pool was key in avoiding all landscape mobs esp with the mounted and ranged mobs all over the region. Guide will start Soothsayer, leave instance, fellow up and noob jump in, it's all drama inside.

Everyone seems to be remembering how you originally got to a place not how you can get to these places now.

It was where reflecting pools drop you off at the end that inspired the thread, as well as Arnenna questioning my motives, we're over that now

Mac

EDIT Changed Instance: Paths of the Dead for Instance: Ruthless Dead

[Macdui]

It's still in my mind to run the hunt on a char fresh out of the starter zone during the last weeks of the hunt but what keeps coming back into my mind is the tedious walk I'm going to have to do to NW Forochel in Year one Need to find a group reflecting pool maybe, any ideas?

Hopefully I'll have a route planned and enough of my capped characters positioned around Middle-earth ready to assist with pool quests opening and killing stuff.

Mac

[Macdui]

In the early Years I did Moria with brut force killing everything on radar, you needed to, walking everywhere. The Reflecting pools have been key to getting around so maybe should investigate more of them esp in Moria. The Westfold reflecting pool in Dunharrow was perfect in getting a number of objectives done and Ruthless Dead perfect to get there to use it.

Not sure that any others will provide this level of help but keep an eye out.

Mac

EDIT Changed Instance: Paths of the Dead for Instance: Ruthless Dead

[Macdui]

A Trap for the Creature reflections

It is a solo instance but sadly the normal method of opening a solo instance for another without the option doesn't apply for this quest as it doesn't hold the instance open for a bit after you leave.

I tried leaving at various points to see if the instance would be held and after killing the orc I briefly got the instance up for the lowbie to travel once but failed because chars were still grouped.

Tried this again. The key was speed and the sequence.

Guide starts it up and proceeds to grabbing Gollum then leaves instance, invites other char, that char clicks on reflecting pool to get the travel option on screen, leader drops from fellow only then other char travels.
Many other solo reflecting pool quests allows the invited char into the instance while still grouped, a few don't so the original char has to drop from group before the "travel now" is used.

I noticed a few in other threads were having difficulty finding the start of the quest arc, this might get around that.

Mac

[Macdui]

I'm thinking of going for the Merry line on my level 62 alt on Crick, but Entwood access is something I have to try and work around. I'm not sure she could get around all the uruks around the east wall lake, and she would have a few problems getting to the Gilraen. She is doing it all without guides so far, but looks like she may need one this week.

The Uruk-hai are all too close to the Remembrances around Nen Hithoel. I swam across to the deserted side of the lake but there are none there. I suppose your class might be important, if you can range hit melee mobs from the water you might be able to kill or lead 'em in a circle to pick up a rememberance then scarper back into the lake.

Gilraen I'd go from Belfalas east exit and the long slow swim around the coast to Linhir, then a dash to the lake and swim out to middle to drop agro.

A lot depends on if you are in a red zone or not. Ride off the agro if not and swim if it is red. My hunter with around 4k morale did survive the odd hit from purple mobs a 61 should mostly be fine if you keep moving. It's ranged mounted mobs that I make a point of avoiding and neutral mobs not on radar that go red as I pass.

If you hang around Eowyn and wait for peeps doing /thank, ask them if they can start and leave a soothsayer open for you. Might take some explaining if they don't know the technique though. I don't have any chars at this level, only 50+ craft alts and haven't quested on any since mid teens. I'm only playing the 54 cook as I have 2 cap hunters and she was geared for some rifting. The 1900 morale F2P hunter did get a teal set of level 30 armor to help her out a bit.

Ofc if you progress on any toon be prepared to spend MC at some point on stable rides as you simply "must" complete. I wouldn't want to get to year 10 and find too many obstacles.

Mac

[Merridew]

Tried this again. The key was speed and the sequence.

Guide starts it up and proceeds to grabbing Gollum then leaves instance, invites other char, that char clicks on reflecting pool to get the travel option on screen, leader drops from fellow only then other char travels.
Many other solo reflecting pool quests allows the invited char into the instance while still grouped, a few don't so the original char has to drop from group before the "travel now" is used.

I noticed a few in other threads were having difficulty finding the start of the quest arc, this might get around that.

Mac

Thank you for this work around. I think I finished this quest back in 2010 and I was not able to get the quest re-triggered. Another player finished the quest line today up to the part where the instance was granted. He got into the instance. Started the quest to grab gollum and then invited me to group. I clicked on the reflecting pool and the instance "travel now" came up. I was able to enter the instance and trigger the quest from there. I went ahead and completed the instance and got the update for Year 5 scavenger hunt. My friend did not even have to leave the fellowship. It still updated. So at least for me it appears this quest can be done in fellowship also.