Gothic 1 Remake Camp Choice Guide | Which Camp to Join

This guide will help you choose the best camp for your Gothic 1 Remake playthrough – the Old Camp, the New Camp, or the Swamp Camp – and walk you through completing each camp’s storyline.

Which Gothic 1 Remake Camp Choice Should You Make?

The camp you choose at the beginning of Gothic 1 Remake affects how the story ends. It also impacts which fighting styles are easiest for you to use, depending on the weapons and skills offered by that camp.

So, why bother with a camp in Gothic 1 Remake? It all starts with delivering a letter to the Fire Mages. To do that, you need access to the castle within the Old Camp, and the only way to get inside is by pledging your allegiance to one of the three main groups: the Old Camp itself, the Swamp Camp, or the New Camp.

Each of the three main camps offers unique benefits tailored to different combat preferences. Players who prefer close-quarters fighting usually choose Old Camp, those skilled in archery generally head for New Camp, and magic users typically favor the Swamp Camp.

It’s best to finish as many quests as possible for each of the three camps before making your choice. Once you join a camp, you won’t be able to complete quests for the other two.

You can actually lose the chance to join a faction surprisingly early, even before formally choosing one. This often happens when completing the last missions for both the Old Camp and the New Camp – see those sections for details.

After finishing the initial quests for each of the three camps, save your game. This allows you to revisit those storylines after completing the main game and explore different choices without replaying the beginning.

The Minimum Level Requirement for Joining a Camp

To join any of these three camps, you need to be at least Level 5 and have finished all the required quests. Completing those quests, including the battles involved, will likely get you very close to the necessary level. If you’re still below Level 5 after that, just practice fighting wild creatures until you reach it.

How to Join the Old Camp in Gothic 1 Remake

One of the simplest things you can do early in Gothic 1 Remake is join the Old Camp. It’s easily accessible and doesn’t require much exploration, making it a great way to learn the basics of the game.

How to Get to the Old Camp

At the beginning of the game, you’ll find the Old Camp by following the main path – it’s easy to spot! It’s situated right in the middle of the map.

How to Join the Old Camp Faction

In Gothic 1 Remake, you can join the Old Camp faction by finishing five quests for NPCs and an additional quest specifically for Diego.

Speak with Diego

During the day, you’ll often find Diego hanging around the castle gates. He can direct you to other important contacts who can give you tasks to improve your standing. After speaking with Diego, be sure to find other people in the Old Camp to get more quests.

Whistler’s Sword

You’ll find Whistler resting on a bench close to the market. He wants to purchase a sword from Fisk, but Fisk refuses to sell it directly to him. Whistler asks if you could buy the sword for him and offers you 100 Ore as payment.

Head to Fisk’s shop and ask about a good sword, but don’t say where you heard about it. He’ll tell you it costs 110 Ore. You can either pay the extra 10 Ore yourself, or ask Whistler for another 10 Ore to cover the cost. Once you buy the sword, bring it to Whistler – that finishes this task.

A Ring for Fingers

Now, you need to get a ring for Fingers. Talk to him and he’ll ask you to steal one from Scatty. To do that, you’ll have to pick his lock – you’ll need Lockpicks for this. You can find Lockpicks in chests along the road between the Exchange Zone and Old Camp, or you can purchase them from merchants.

After that, go to the Arena entrance. To your left, you’ll see a house on the hill marked with a spear above the door and a red banner with a golden sword on the left. This is Scatty’s house. Go inside, open the locked chest, and then give the ring to Fingers.

Fighting in the Arena

After that, you’ll need to win a battle against an opponent in the Arena. Kirgo is the simplest fighter to defeat, and getting some one-handed weapon training from Scatty will make it even easier.

First, talk to Kirgo. Then, defeat him in battle at the Arena. After the fight, speak with Scatty – you’ll receive experience points as a reward.

The Vanished Warder

Okay, so I just talked to Sly, and he’s worried because one of the guards – Nek – has gone missing. He suggested I ask Snaf the cook if he knows anything. Now I need to head out of the Old Camp through the south gate and go southeast. Apparently, there’s a little cave over there with some Molerats in it, and…a body. Sounds cheerful! My next job is to clear out those Molerats, then check both the corpse and the cave for anything useful.

Go back to Sly and talk to him. Show him the amulet you found on the body – that will finish the quest.

The Cult’s Recipe

To finish things up, Dexter needs to get the Cult’s recipe from the Swamp Camp. You’ll need Lockpicks for this part, just like before.

Find Baal Parvez – he’s usually around Dexter – and let him guide you to the Swamp Camp. He’ll offer to take you there, so accept his help and travel with him.

After arriving at Swamp Camp, look for signs showing a potion bottle – they’ll lead you to the alchemy lab. Inside the lab, you’ll find a chest. Carefully sneak over and pick its lock to get the recipe. Then, head back to the Old Camp and give the recipe to Dexter to finish the quest.

Test of Faith

Talk to Diego, and he’ll give you another job called “Test of Faith.” Basically, you need to head to the mine, pick up a supply list, and return with it without letting the New Campers get their hands on it.

You need to give the list to Lares if you want to join the New Camp. While it doesn’t seem to cause any problems if you do it in the Old Camp, it’s best to go ahead and do so just to be sure.

Head to the mine and talk to Ian to get the list. Then, give it to Lares – doing so keeps the possibility of establishing a New Camp available. Finally, deliver the list to Diego.

All Quests Completed

Once you’ve finished everything, talk to Diego. He’ll recommend you to Thorus, who will then allow you to continue. You’ll encounter some Guards during your journey, but they won’t stop you.

Gomez isn’t available right now, so you’ll need to talk to Raven first to get an introduction. After that, you can approach and speak with Gomez. Don’t forget to save your game beforehand!

Okay, so you need to chat with Gomez. He’s basically gonna size you up, asking what skills you’ve got to offer the Shadows. Seriously, don’t even think about lying to him! He’ll instantly know and… well, let’s just say you’ll fail the conversation pretty quickly. If you play it straight and the talk goes well, he’ll send you back to Raven to start getting assignments.

How to Join the Swamp Camp in Gothic 1 Remake

Getting into Swamp Camp is a bit harder than Old Camp, and about as difficult as New Camp. It’s not always clear what you need to do to join, but we’re here to help you understand the requirements!

How to Get to the Swamp Camp

You can reach the Swamp Camp by walking, just like the New Camp. But, a faster way is to speak with Baal Parvez in the Old Camp. He can give you a ride directly to the Swamp Camp.

I highly suggest getting the Colony Map before you go. You’ll be traveling far east, and it’s easy to lose your way out there.

Traveling to the Swamp Camp can be dangerous, but don’t worry – Baal Parvez is a strong fighter who can take care of any enemies you meet. Plus, you’ll still get all the experience points as if you defeated them! If you stay with Baal Parvez, you’re guaranteed to reach the Swamp Camp safely.

How to Join the Swamp Camp Faction

After arriving at the Swamp Camp, head directly to Lester and speak with him. When you ask about the Brotherhood, it will begin the quest called “Admission to the Swamp Camp.”

Once you’ve finished up, ask Lester to guide you to Cor Kalom’s lab. Remember the way so you can return by yourself later. When you reach the stairs, talk to Lester – he’ll let you know the lab is upstairs.

Lester will mention that Fortuno, who handles supplies, is close by. You can chat with Fortuno each day for a free snack – three Swampweed rolls! These are great for quickly regaining your magical energy (mana), so find him right away and make it a daily habit.

Go up the stairs and speak to Cor Kalom.

Speaking with Cor Kalom

Head upstairs and talk to Cor Kalom. If you want to become a member of the Brotherhood, let him know. He’ll explain that you need to prove yourself to four powerful figures, the Baals, but you won’t be able to directly communicate with them.

Go back downstairs.

Returning to Lester and Getting Baal Namib’s Support

Head back downstairs. You’ll likely find Lester waiting. Talk to him and ask, “How can I get a meeting with your leader?” He’ll tell you that the only way to reach Baal Namib is to pretend you’ve abandoned your old beliefs.

Have Lester guide you back to the main gate. Once he returns to Baal Namib, he’ll be standing where he was when you first arrived at the Swamp Camp. Talk to him—he’ll respond using all capital letters. When prompted, choose the option “BROTHER LESTER, I RENOUNCED THE OLD GODS!”

Baal Namib will explain that you’ve received a vision from the Sleeper. If you talk to him further, he’ll offer his support. This completes one step of five! You’ll also gain experience for completing this task.

New Souls for the Brotherhood

Go back to the staircase at the base of Cor Kalom’s lab. When you’re facing the stairs, look for a tree with two blue lanterns hanging in it. Walk towards that tree, then turn right and cross the bridge.

Up ahead, you’ll find a tree with a bridge circling it. If you go to the left, you’ll see Baal Tondral giving a sermon to his students. If you approach him, he’ll start talking to you right away, and will tell you he senses a powerful fire within you.

He’ll admit you can talk to him, and then say you need to prove your worth. If you ask him how, Baal Tondral will explain he’s looking for people to join the Swamp Camp.

Speak with Melvin, who is listening to Baal Tondral’s sermon with the other new recruits. He suggests Dusty from the Old Camp would be a great person to recruit. Now, head back to the Old Camp and find someone to join us.

Even though Baal Parvez cleared out a lot of enemies, be careful on your return trip to the Old Camp – you’ll probably still find hostiles. Take it slow and remember to save often! While you’re heading back, try to collect loot; you’ll need at least 100 Ore for the quest if you haven’t gathered enough yet.

Once you return to Old Camp, locate Dustry and talk to him. Let him know you’ve spoken with Melvin, and he’ll explain that the guards suspect he’s planning to escape and are demanding a bribe of 100 Nuggets.

Once you collect 100 Nuggets, let Dusty know you’re ready to leave. Go through the southern gate of Old Camp – make sure it’s not the northern one! When you try to exit, a guard will ask where you’re headed. Tell him, “We’re just going for a walk. Here’s a hundred nuggets,” and he’ll let you continue.

You’re now guiding Dusty, just like Baal Parvez once guided you. Use the Colony Map to find your way back to the Swamp Camp. Dusty isn’t a strong fighter and will run away if he takes damage, so try to avoid battles whenever possible or end them quickly before he gets hurt.

Once you return to Swamp Camp, take Dusty straight to Baal Tondral. Let them meet, and he’ll give you a recommendation – just two more gurus left to find!

Swampweed Harvest

The next big task at the Swamp Camp is called “Swampweed Harvest.” You’ll get it from Baal Orun, but you’ll need to get his attention first. To do that, you’ll have to finish a quick quest beforehand.

Ghorim’s Replacement

To start getting Baal Orun’s attention, complete the quest called “Ghorim’s Replacement.” From Baal Tondral’s hut, look around until you spot a bridge near a tree – it leads back towards Cor Kalom’s hut. To the left of that bridge, you’ll find another hut. Walk towards it, then turn left and follow the path.

Okay, so you just keep walking straight until you can’t miss this huge tree. Then, take the path to the left. After a little bit, you’ll see some folks grinding up herbs under this kind of flimsy wooden shelter. You need to talk to Ghorim there – he’s really frustrated because he hasn’t had a break in two days! Apparently, someone named Harlok was supposed to come and cover for him, but Harlok’s been avoiding his duties.

Go back to the stairs below Cor Kalom’s hut and find Harlok. Threaten him with a beating if he doesn’t start working, which will cause him to attack you. Defeat him in a fight, and then, once he’s back on his feet, tell him to get to work.

Follow Harlok back to the mashing area. Speak with Ghorim, and he’ll thank you for the help.

Continuing with the Swampweed Harvest

Once you’ve assisted Ghorim, approach Baal Orun. He’ll be pleased to hear about your help and will then ask for your assistance with the Swampweed Harvest. Baal Orun is a bit difficult to deal with, so be sure to choose the indicated response option when he speaks to you.

To continue your journey, you’ll need to travel to see Balor in the southwestern part of the area and Viran in the southeast. Be careful – the swamp can be very confusing! Here are some important places marked on the map to help guide you.

Start by visiting Balor in the southwest – he’ll happily share his Swampweed with you. Next, head to Viran in the southeast, but be prepared for a task. He won’t give you any Swampweed until you eliminate all the Bloodflies within a 20-pace radius.

Defeat all the Bloodflies near Viran, and then report back to him. He’ll let you know if any are still alive. Once they’re all gone, head to Cor Kalom and deliver the Swampweed you’ve collected.

Head back to Baal Orun’s mashing area. He’ll offer his support and give you a Sleep Scroll as a thank you – just one guru left! Keep that scroll handy, because you’ll need it later in the next big quest.

Impressing Baal Cadar

This last step is pretty straightforward. Find Baal Cadar – he’s standing under an awning close to Cor Kalom’s lab – and use the Sleep Scroll on one of the Novices nearby. Successfully casting the scroll will earn you his help.

Returning to Cor Kalam

Now that Baal Cadar has joined your team, you’re backed by four powerful gurus. Go back to Cor Kalom and tell him you’ve successfully gathered them, and he’ll officially welcome you to the Swamp Camp.

How to Join the New Camp in Gothic 1 Remake

Okay, so there are a bunch of ways to get into New Camp, but honestly, most of them are kinda annoying – either you’re running around doing favors for people or shelling out cash. But I found this one super easy way in that doesn’t require much hassle at all. Trust me, it’s the best route!

How to Get to the New Camp

There are several ways to reach New Camp in Gothic 1 Remake, but the simplest is like having someone guide you. Start by talking to Thorus, who’s standing near the gates of the Old Camp. When you speak with him, choose the dialogue option: “How about you test me? See if I got what it takes?”

Thorus will disagree, but you’ll be able to offer help. Say, “All right, but there has to be something I can do for you.” He’ll protest again, giving you another choice: “Whatever you need done, I can handle it.” Then, choose “I’m ready for that job you mentioned.”

Once you’ve explored all your choices, Thorus will ask you to convince Mordrag to leave the camp. He’s unable to do it himself, so it’s your job to get Mordrag to depart, which will begin the quest called “Out of Sight.”

Head to the market and talk to Mordrag. When you speak to him, choose the option “You have a problem,” then follow it up with “Say I wanted to join you guys. Could you help me?” Be careful not to select any other options, as that might start a conflict. After that, you can choose “Take me to the New Camp,” and Mordrag will leave right away.

This begins the “Admission to the New Camp” quest. Follow Mordrag as he travels to the New Camp. You might run into enemies during the journey, but Mordrag is strong enough to deal with them. He’ll also let you get past the Blackmailers on the bridge, though they will try to demand money from you every time you cross it in the future.

Once you arrive, Mordrag will give you a ring that lets you enter the New Camp. This ring is crucial because it’s how you’ll meet Lares, and handing it over to him will show your commitment to joining the faction.

Like I mentioned earlier, there are multiple ways to enter New Camp, even just walking through the main gate. But ultimately, you’ll want to be able to talk to Lares to join the faction. Mordrag’s Ring helps you skip a lot of initial tasks and get right to that point.

How to Join the New Camp Faction

Okay, so if you want to join the New Camp, you’ve gotta do some work for Lares, who’s in charge of the bandits there. Just a heads-up though – they’ll need that supply list Diego asks you to grab from the mines. Don’t forget it if you’re planning on joining up!

Speak with Lares

After reaching New Camp, continue straight on the main road. Follow the hill upwards until you spot a large wooden building situated on a lake. Turn left, and you’ll find a small town located inside a huge cave.

You need to find a man called Lares. Stay to the left side and keep going until you spot two bandits standing near some stairs. They’ll attempt to block your way, but you can get past them just by talking to them.

Lares won’t grant you an audience unless he believes you’re worthy. If you haven’t obtained Mordrag’s Ring or Diego’s List, you’ll first need to complete some tasks around New Camp to prove yourself. The journey with Mordrag is practically free, so it’s a good idea to do that one first.

You can also gain Lares’ favor by getting the supply list from the mine for him through Diego’s “Test of Faith” quest. Either completing this quest or delivering the list will improve your standing with Lares, but doing both will impress him even more.

Talk to Lares and tell him you want to join the New Camp. He’ll explain that you need to earn your place by completing some tasks, and he might ask you to deliver a shipment of Swamp Weed to Baal Isidro as part of the quest “A Piece of the Pie.” Regardless of how the conversation goes, be prepared to do extra work for him.

A Piece of the Pie

In the “A Piece of the Pie” quest, your goal is to sell a lot of Swampweed. But figuring out how to actually complete the quest isn’t straightforward – you’ll need to gather some extra clues first.

Okay, so I talked to Lares, and now I need to head over to that big pile of ore in the middle of the cave at New Camp. Apparently, there’s a guy named Baal Kagan hanging around – he usually sits on a bench near one of the braziers. If I can find him, he’ll give me a quest called “Canvassing Customers.” It sounds like I’ll be selling some Swamp Weed samples to folks around New Camp for it.

Explore the cave and chat with various characters like Bandits and Mercenaries. You can sell them the samples you’ve collected for 10 Ore each. Once you’ve finished selling, go back to Baal Kagan – he’ll then offer you three different rewards to choose from.

I’ll take the nuggets. (100 Ore).
Help me join the Brotherhood.
I want the scrolls. What do you have on offer?

Select your reward. If you decide to join the Swamp Camp, you’ll receive the “Dreamcall (Prepared)” item and some advice on how to persuade Baal Tyon.

Alright, let’s continue with the “A Piece of the Pie” quest. To enter the Tavern, you have three choices.

Join one of the New Camp sub-factions.
Pay the guards 100 Ore.
Sneak in via the second-floor window on the right side.

Early in the game, 100 Ore is a difficult challenge and best avoided. You can enter through the window on the right, but you’ll need to use the same window to exit. If you try to leave through the front door, the guards will become hostile, understandably upset that you entered secretly.

The best thing to do is go to the “Free Mine” and join the miners there – you’ll even get some free armor as a bonus! To get there, leave the tavern and turn right (or left immediately after leaving the New Camp cave). Then, follow the path that goes uphill and keep walking straight.

Okay, so on the way, I’ll probably run into some Scavengers, those annoying Molerats, and maybe a Wolf or two. But honestly, even if I’m not great at fighting, I should be able to take them down with a good melee weapon and some blocking. It’s a bit of a trek, but I’ll eventually get to the Free Mine.

The guard will let you continue past him. You don’t have to go deep into the mine—just follow the left path a little way and talk to Swiney. If you tell him you want to dig, he’ll give you Digger’s Dress.

Digger’s Dress isn’t very strong armor, but it offers some protection and doesn’t cost anything. Buying similar armor in the Old Camp would take over 300 nuggets! Plus, wearing it shows everyone you’re a miner aligned with the New Camp.

Head back to the Tavern and talk to the guard. Just tell him you’re a miner – he’ll believe you – and he’ll let you inside. This gets you free armor and saves you from having to pay the 100 Ore entrance fee.

Inside the tavern, you’ll find Baal Isidro on the right. If you don’t already have one, first buy a Rice Schnapps from the bartender. Then, speak with Baal Isidro and choose the options listed next.

How about I sell that swampweed for you? For a cut.
Hey, how about another round? I’m buying. (Requires Rice Schnapps)
Hey, there’s something you should know. Baal Kagan wants to replace you.
Mhh, give it a think. Fifty-fifty, and I sell the rolls for you.

This begins the quest “The Herb Merchant.” Go speak to Cipher, who’s also in the tavern, and sell him the swampweed for 400 Ore. Then, give half of that money – 200 Ore – to Baal Isidro to finish the quest.

You’ve successfully sold the Swampweed, but now you owe Lares 400 Ore and only earned 200. Instead of going directly to him, it’s a good idea to finish ‘The Herb Merchant’ quest first – that way you’ll also get the experience points from it.

You can earn a small profit by buying Green Novice from Baal Isidro and Baal Kagan and selling it to the mercenaries at camp – usually 3 or 4 Ore per item. If you’re short on Ore, you can sell other collected items to the merchants in New Camp to make up the difference.

Go back to Lares and give him the 400 Ore you owe him. When you ask how things are going with the camp, he’ll send you to see the “Rice Lord” who’s located near the rice fields at the entrance to the New Camp.

Thirsty Farmers

You’ll find a man named Lefty near the Rice Lord. He’ll ask you to help by carrying water to the farmers. If you agree and start the deliveries, he’ll want you to do it daily. If you refuse to help at any time, he’ll become aggressive and attack you.

You don’t have to worry about serious trouble if you challenge Lefty – you can beat him without any lasting negative effects. Winning this fight will impress Lares, and getting rid of Lefty will solve a problem. Just don’t kill him.

After you beat Lefty, talk to him and mention the farmers need water. He’ll promise to handle the situation, which completes the quest.

A Few Drops Too Much

Head over to the rice fields and talk to the Rice Lord. Offer to assist him, and he’ll mention that Silas at the Tavern could use a hand – this will begin the quest called “A Few Drops Too Much.”

Return to the tavern and find Silas. He’ll explain that Rayk has a drinking problem and ask for your help. Talk to Rayk yourself. You can choose to fight him, or you can offer him a drink – either a Beer or Rice Schnapps – and talk to him outside, where he’ll share what’s bothering him.

Now that Rayk has left the tavern and stopped causing trouble, go speak with Silas and let him know the situation is resolved. After that, head back to the Rice Lord.

Up to His Neck

Once you let the Rice Lord know you resolved the issue at the Tavern, he’ll request you locate his foreman, Bran, which begins the quest called “Up to His Neck.”

If you’re looking for Bran, your best bet is to head to the rice fields and talk to Malon. Here’s what you need to tell them:

I’m looking for Bran. Any ideas where he might have gone?
Because I’m asking you nicely?

He mentioned Bran went to a cave by the pond. You can either check out the cave, or skip it. It’s worth going, though – you’ll get around 90 experience from a good battle there.

Heading to the Cave (Optional)

To get to the lakeside cave, leave New Camp through the main gate by the rice fields. Follow the road past the few buildings just outside the camp, and you’ll find a cave with a man named Renyu waiting near the entrance.

Let him know you’re trying to find Bran. He probably won’t understand, and will direct you to speak with Jacko inside the cave. Expect a possible fight – it could quickly become one against two opponents.

If you try to speak with Jacko, he’ll instantly become aggressive. If you’re good at fighting, you can easily corner and defeat him, earning 90 experience points and some valuable items he’s carrying. However, it’s not necessary to kill him.

Go back and talk to Jacko – he’s willing to now. He’ll explain that Bran owed him money and together they planned to steal from the hidden storage area in the Tavern’s basement. We need to go to the Tavern right away.

Where to Find Bran

Head to the Tavern, regardless of whether you visited the lakeside cave. Go around back and dive underwater near the fishing pole – you’ll see a small cave right below the surface. That cave leads directly into the Tavern’s cellar.

Okay, so I headed down into the Tavern’s basement and found a body with a note on it – the “Tavern Warehouse Corpse Note.” It basically suggested Silas, the bartender, might know something about what happened. So I went back upstairs and talked to him, but he swore he had no clue about Bran’s disappearance and said he definitely didn’t do anything to him.

Once you’ve finished talking to Silas and have no more questions for him, head back down the hill and speak with the Rice Lord.

Returning to the Rice Lord

Return to the Rice Lord and inform him about Bran’s fate. He will express his gratitude for your assistance and offer to speak on your behalf to Lares.

You’ve already completed several tasks: retrieving Lares Mordrag’s Ring, defeating Lefty, helping Isidro, and aiding the Rice Lord. However, there’s still one final requirement before you can join New Camp.

The Raid

After finishing everything else, talk to Lares once more and start ‘The Raid’ quest. This involves a simple ambush of an Old Camp supply caravan.

Be aware that once you finish this task, you won’t be able to become a member of the Old Camp. This is a permanent decision.

Once you finish this quest, talk to Lares to start the process of joining the New Camp faction.

2026-06-16 04:52