Anyone else frustrated with the difficulty?

[Me1034]

So, ummm.. Wow... Am I the only one who thinks this game is really, really hard? To the point where I feel like there's a definite pay wall to finish the first quest? I'm definitely no spring chicken when it comes to these games. I have the real LotR LCG and have battled through it's tough scenarios. But this seems much harder. I bought the Shire pack to start and then I bought the Prince of Mirkwood and Steadfast companion packs in game with valor points. I've played with the slightly better cards in those packs and tried several strategies. Just seems overly difficult and I don't feel like buying the full gambit to find out if it gets more fun. Anyone else having the same experience? 

[William Shakesman]

The community guide for the first quest with the starter deck helps get you in the mindset of the game. It's a little bit ass-backwards but blocking is just a better play than attacking in a lot of situations; Sauron is gonna hit you anyway. Unless an attack action will prevent a Sauron attack or you truly must control to whom you deal damage to, controlling where he attacks AND getting the counter-attack in is just a better play.

That mindset change is enough to make the first quest doable with the starter deck. Well, that and triggering the super moves from the fate meter.