The three camps of Gothic 1

[Nikolai81]

The three camps of Gothic 1 have intrigued me in a way that factions from other games haven't been able to match. Out of curiosity I'd like to hear which of these three views you identify the most with, and if you have any alternative interpretations about the camps.

Imagine yourself in the shoes of the Nameless Hero after having recently arrived in the colony and paid your first visit to each of the three camps. You're considering which one to align yourself with.

1) The Old Camp is the clear choice. That's where Diego led me to, who was the first friendly face I encountered in the colony. It's also where I can earn a profit and get a "foot in the door" by delivering the letter to the Fire Magicians. Furthermore it's the power base of the colony, with the most commerce and entertainment (In Extremo!), and it probably offers the most luxuries as I work my way up the hierarchy. It seems to offer the best protection as well. Perhaps I can become an Ore Baron myself, and exercise my power over the peasants and miners. Security, discipline, entertainment, and opportunity for wealth and power by working the system; I'd be a fool to go anywhere else.

2) The New Camp is the clear choice. While the authorities over at the Old Camp are concerned with upholding the status quo and profiting from it by trading with the King, the people at the New Camp are actively seeking a way to free themselves from the barrier. Radical change and liberation is the only worthy end, given these circumstances. There seems to be far more freedom there for anyone strong enough to stand up to lowly thugs such as the "Rice Lord" and his men, than in any other camp. Lee's mercenaries and the water mages aren't decadent like the "Ore Barons" and fire magicians of the Old Camp seem to be, either. Nor are they drug-addled lunatics like the "gurus" and their mindless followers at the Swamp Camp. Freedom, good company, and a proactive approach to liberating myself, is the only way to go.

3) The Swamp Camp is the clear choice. At the Old Camp and New Camp I'm bossed around by authoritative fascists or lowly thugs, but at the Swamp Camp I'm welcomed with open arms and even offered a free ration of weed each day. Lester is one of the most genuinely friendly people I've met here, and his people require very little of me; I'm welcome to stay without working or paying protection money. They're deeply spiritual people, and their templars seem to be genuinely righteous warriors who's capable of protecting the camp; perhaps I can serve a good cause and save some lives by joining them in their patrols against the mine crawlers and swamp sharks. Besides, my intuition tells me that this Sleeper merits further investigation, and what better way to do it than as a member of the Swamp Camp.

Which line of thought do you identify the most with, and are there any good arguments I've missed so far?

P.S. I was hoping to be able to post a poll, but I didn't see an option for it. Oh well.

[Hellbilly]

P.S. I was hoping to be able to post a poll, but I didn't see an option for it. Oh well.

Only mods can do that on WoG. But anyhow, I added the poll.

[Khaled]

I don't really believe there actually was someone who joined the Sect Camp or the New Camp the first time they played the game. Anyway, if I am to select one of your line of thoughts I'll go with New Camp...yes, it's ok to have money, power and wealth, but it's better to get the hell out of that colony and explore the big world out there!

[KGS]

i'd go with the sect camp
blowing up an insane amount of magical ore would never sound safe to me, as NH says in G2 "you would have blown yourself sky high"
and in the sect camp you have an easy life and free weed

[Hellbilly]

I don't really believe there actually was someone who joined the Sect Camp or the New Camp the first time they played the game.

I did. I joined the Sect Camp, because I though the Sleeper was an interesting being and hoped I'd learn more about it that way... sadly, that wasn't so.

[SkullX]

I never knew I could join other camps till my 3d run or something, back in 2002...I was more or less kinda bad at english and understood the game hardly...maan that was so much fuuuuuuuun!!!!!!!!! me go play G1, bye.
Old players like us would give theyr ass to forget about the game and re-enjoy it, yep...true that...:(, im drunk.

[Dino]

The New Camp is my style.

[Jackseller]

I did. I joined the Sect Camp, because I though the Sleeper was an interesting being and hoped I'd learn more about it that way... sadly, that wasn't so.

I did too. I feel in my stead there.
The mystery of the Sleeper, the beauty of the place, the little houses in the trees, the ambient sounds, the freedom, the way to explore my path... all was there to attract me like a magnet. My favorite camp so far !

[LastKnownMeal]

Swamp Camp sounds like a good idea since its a nice community of free people not the cut-throats from the New Camp or annoying guards from the Old Camp (not to mention Mud).

[Khaled]

I did too. I feel in my stead there.
The mystery of the Sleeper, the beauty of the place, the little houses in the trees, the ambient sounds, the freedom, the way to explore my path... all was there to attract me like a magnet. My favorite camp so far !

I dunno, it looked dirty and dark and as far as I remember, the gurus were putting the novices to hard work. Oh well, maybe it's just me, I don't like swamps at all! The weed was good though!

[Ratamahatta]

I never knew I could join other camps till my 3d run or something, back in 2002...I was more or less kinda bad at english and understood the game hardly...maan that was so much fuuuuuuuun!!!!!!!!! me go play G1, bye.
Old players like us would give theyr ass to forget about the game and re-enjoy it, yep...true that...:(, im drunk.

well yeah, agree with that :) the first time I wanted to join new camp, but couldn't find out how and yep, I had no clue I had other options with that list of goods (or something like that, which I gave to Diego at once instead of Lares).
But sect camp was always for me like a holiday resort - the it feels when you entering first :)

[Nikolai81]

I joined the Sect Camp on my first playthrough as well. The main reason was that I was attracted to playing knightly kind of characters at the time, so I wanted to become a Templar like Cor Angar. It was hard to get a "knightly feeling" when surrounded by undisciplined, drug-addled good-for-nothings, though. The Old Camp offers more discipline and hierarchy, a knightly castle, and more suitable armors, though the people there aren't exactly "virtuous" in any sense of the word, and the game prevents you from committing to them long-term. I've played a mercenary of the New Camp in almost all my subsequent playthroughs.

In my opinion the mercenary camps always seem to have the best kind of atmosphere, as though PB has more passion for mercenaries than for the other factions. At least in Gothic 2, Gothic 3, and Risen. Besides, the Nameless Hero seems to have a mercenary kind of personality; so if I for example play as a fire magician, I feel like I'm playing a mercenary pretending to be a fire magician, which isn't very appealing to me. Likewise, if I become a Paladin in Gothic 2, I get comments like "knowing you, you'll tell people the laws to distract them while picking their pockets".

Gothic 1 is definitely the game where the three camps/factions are closest to each other in terms of quality and atmosphere.


Only mods can do that on WoG. But anyhow, I added the poll.

Thanks, appreciate it. The poll option colors even seem to match the factions relatively well.

[KGS]

i think G2 favors the mages though, in the form of more information late-game

[Volf]

I always preferred the Swamp Loonies in the East. Their camp looks the coolest imo, especially @ night. If I were thrown into the colony, I'd join the followers of the Sleeper, not truly believing but wanting to laze about and blaze the green weed. i'd spend a few years doing as little as I could and maybe learning a few wind spells, until i was strong enough to make my way past the swamp sharks to settle in the mysterious witches grove in the middle of the swamp. no one would bother me excluding the occasional blood fly, and i'd live out the rest of my days in pe:rolleyes:ace before my bones settled into the murky gloom of the marshlands, my legacy fading and ultimately remembered by no one.

[Ratamahatta]

Besides, the Nameless Hero seems to have a mercenary kind of personality; so if I for example play as a fire magician, I feel like I'm playing a mercenary pretending to be a fire magician,

IMHO you're absolutely right! :) like in g2 in quite a few quests there is always an option to get some extra reward (or even the way of quest completion) by convincing or threatening, even stealing $§p4

[SkullX]

If you'll get thrown in a prison and all that stuff you won't have a charity personality either, you'll just 'screw you...you're meat, *draws sword*'

[Maladiq]

Old Camp all the way. It just feels... right. The sect camp are a bunch of hippies, the new camp are a bunch of thugs. The Old Camp is the closest one can get to an actual city, and not just a gathering of people. Strict discipline and rules, the place with the best opportunities for a newcomer.

[CrashMorraKan]

New Camp. but i like the swamp camp the most to look at, in terms of view.

[attila3453]

I liked the Old Camp because it's the most organized of the three camps. The music really gives a sense of security. I especially liked being a fire mage.

[kojocel]

Funny, most impressive character in Gothic 1 is (for me), perhaps, Cor Angar, yet New Camp got my vote. Something about it makes me feel I'd go with them every time.

[.†.MikeL.†.]

Let's see.. I just got convicted for god knows what crime, I'm thrown in a prison where there's absolutely no escape from, I get bullied by 3 random people as a "welcome party" and I know I'm gonna spend the rest of my days in that hostile environment, I would certainly go to the Swamp camp, the people there are far more friendly than the rest and they have food and weed, the weed alone would be enough to keep me there since my life would virtually have no meaning anymore, might as well live it stoned and relaxed.

[Ratamahatta]

Let's see.. I just got convicted for god knows what crime, I'm thrown in a prison where there's absolutely no escape from, I get bullied by 3 random people as a "welcome party" and I know I'm gonna spend the rest of my days in that hostile environment, I would certainly go to the Swamp camp, the people there are far more friendly than the rest and they have food and weed, the weed alone would be enough to keep me there since my life would virtually have no meaning anymore, might as well live it stoned and relaxed.

well, it is probably depending on characters previous life before prison - if, let's say, NH was a criminal/murderer - after that 'welcome party' - he would definitely wanna be the same as those guys - gain some brutal power to act similarly with other newcomers and maybe as well to revenge those three guys.
or even he did some serious crimes in his past, but wants to forget it all finally - I believe sect camp is natural choice (with all benefits you've mentioned §prost )

[Nikolai81]

My Nameless Hero is native to Nordmar, and seeks to return to his homeland above all else. Consequently his goals are aligned with Lee's: break free from the barrier, then secure transportation to the mainland. Remaining a mercenary rather than aligning with the hated royalists/paladins proves challenging in Gothic 3 due to the race traitor aspect (even an orcish chieftain chastises you for working against your own race). However, I justify it by making the Nameless Hero exclusively loyal to the northmen of Nordmar, and by considering the royalists/paladins as weak and decadent traitors in need of replacement (hence putting Lee on the throne and furthering the interests of Nordmar). Besides, a northman would have great respect for orcish culture, which is tribalist and true to nature, and thus prefer them as neighbours rather than the likely imperialist and meddlesome Myrtanian King.

[oldcamper]

Old camp for sure, swampsharks are to tough for me :D

[SkullX]

Hey look, oldcamper chose old camp, who would have guessed?

[Andrewww]

For me it's the old camp for 3 reasons:

1. I like playing as a mage and it's the easiest path on becoming one.
2. They get regular supplies from the outside world. The mercenaries have to risk their lives stealing from the Old Camp and The Sect Camp is full of lazybones who'd rather starve than work.
3. The guards are pretty badass, especially Thorus.

[MikeLitoris]

For me its old camp. I just feel like its the most powerful camp there. Most people, awesome guard armors, ore barons, castle, trade with outside world. + the best music. I don't even know why they betrayed nameless, I always wanted to stay with them §cry

New camp are mostly dirty bandits with few exceptions and sect camp are stoners. Well, except templars, I have respect for them.

[Buckingham]

Old Camp 4 ever. You get the feeling of being safe while you have to pay protection :D

[lordhoff]

well, it is probably depending on characters previous life before prison - if, let's say, NH was a criminal/murderer - after that 'welcome party' - he would definitely wanna be the same as those guys - gain some brutal power to act similarly with other newcomers and maybe as well to revenge those three guys.
or even he did some serious crimes in his past, but wants to forget it all finally - I believe sect camp is natural choice (with all benefits you've mentioned §prost )

If revenge is the motive and/or getting out, wouldn't the mercenaries be the ticket? What better way for revenge then joining the opposition to the crime family/mafia (old camp) and the old camp is happy where they are and not seeking escape at all while the other two are. I always had a hard time RPing the mercenaries though.

[glumetzul]

After so many playthroughs I could pretend to like whatever camp but I guess the most valid choice is the one from when I started Gothic the very first time. And that was the Old Camp.

The New Camp is full of guys a lot stronger than you that just want to kick your ass. I guess that camp was designed by PB for experienced players looking for a bit of challenge. At a first playthough, getting attacked by the Rice Lord and his thug is simply nighmare and so is actually delivering his water.

As for the Swamp Camp, I remember when I first played Gothic that I was convinced the Sleeper was made up. Perhaps because every normal looking NPC in the game would call them "loonies". I guess only when I met Xardas I actually started believing that the Sleeper is a real thing. That being said, I couldn't consider joining them at that time. And I also was afraid that they will make me shave my head and wear those skirts around so it was a no go :)
PS: I also remember that while exploring the Swamp Camp for the first time I did see something that I thought resembled the Loch Ness Monster (it was a Swamp Shark) and I got so scared that I decided to leave for the Old Camp at once.

Old Camp had all the advantages I could get. If I was willing to pay protection money then I was safe. If I didn't pay I only had to stand up to a few diggers which is far more reasonable than Swamp Sharks or Rice Lord. And there is a clear way of climbing the social ladder and get myself a decent armor since I god invidet by Diego to join (more or less) in the first minutes of the game. The quests are easy - you can join the shadows without having to win a single fight except some molerats. Joining the Shadows was also the most obvious choice to access the Fire Magicians and that alluring castle. And also, the Heavy Guard Armor is the most bad ass looking in the whole game.

[Bastardo]

It would have been cool if the sect shaved the hero's head upon joining them as you imagined they would. But maybe they don't actually shave their heads and hair loss is a side effect of prolonged swampweed usage.

As for which camp I can identify the most with, I guess I'll go with New Camp, if only by principle. The Old Camp provides the most precious resource in the world to the kingdom which decided to lock them up in a valley and throw away the key, the Swamp Camp is waiting for some deity to zap their asses out of the barrier out of sheer awesomeness, while the New Camp is digging out that precious ore for themselves and instead of trading it for an easy life for those in charge of the camp, they're throwing it all in a freaking mound just so that one day they can go "Screw it, time to blow this up and see what happens.". Science, bitches!

[MrGookles]

The Sect camp's the clear choice my friend. An easy life, free weed and no jerks that would beat you up even for a pick axe! Not to mention... I'm not much up into working my ass off in some mine or delivering water to the workers in the rice fields.

[MikeLitoris]

What's wrong with delivering water? It takes maybe 5 min/day to give water to everyone and since Rice Lord is stupid he'll forget he already gave you water and give you water again. So you'll never run out of fresh water. And you can trade water for food and there you go, you have food too. And if you travel between camps every day you can go to swamp camp for your daily ration of weed etc etc :P

[FSCarver]

What's wrong with delivering water? It takes maybe 5 min/day to give water to everyone and since Rice Lord is stupid he'll forget he already gave you water and give you water again. So you'll never run out of fresh water. And you can trade water for food and there you go, you have food too. And if you travel between camps every day you can go to swamp camp for your daily ration of weed etc etc :P
It's not that hard to get an excessive amount of ore without using the water delivery bug.
At the end of the game I had 10K+ ore left, and more potions then I needed.

And I'd definitely go with the New Camp.
They wouldn't back stab you like some of the folks from the Old Camp, and I'd rather do something useful then smoking swamp weed all day at the Sect Camp.

[MrGookles]

Of course... blowing yourselves up is a great pastime nowadays, ain't it? At least at the Sect camp, we have the Templars to watch our back, not like in the New camp, where you can literally get kicked out of your hut by some asshole.

And plus... why walk towards the Sect camp and back again, risking to be bullied by the Rogues from the New camp or the Shadows from the Old camp, when you can simply stay at the Sect camp and enjoy a easy life.

[MikeLitoris]

What easy life? You get 3 tokes of swampweed per day. You have to pay for the rest. And to pay you need to earn money by working and doing something whole day. Would you really want to pick weed the whole day? Well, if that's the destiny you choose, fine. But some of us are more ambitious.

I'll stick to my 5 min/day of water delivering water at start. I'll trade the spare water for ore very cheaply so I'll become the most powerful(and probably only) water merchant in the colony. Of course I'll have to pick my customers. I'll mostly sell it to lazy people who are too lazy to go and drink water somewhere else.

I probably wouldn't want to take the melee route and learn myself to fight in close cause it is too risky. So when I get enough ore I'll pay Cavalorn to teach me hunting with bow, sneaking and trophy collecting. Then I'll become the biggest meat/skin/teeth/other trophies merchant and make myself really rich.

Then I'll start a hunting camp which is a mobile camp that travels through colony to seek prey, kill it and take its trophies. With time however, we'd get bored of being in colony and would start seeking for an exit and then we'd search for focus stones etc and exit the colony. In G2 the rest of us who survived would become Dragon Hunters.

[MrGookles]

... and then you'll wake up in the rice fields and realize, it was all just a good dream you had, after taking a toke from me, as I came to trade in Swampweed at the New camp. Oh well, you can still be the greatest rice picker there ever was! ;)

[MikeLitoris]

I felt burned for a moment, until I remembered I don't smoke/drink :p. And I especially wouldn't smoke/drink if I was in such unpleasant situation cause it would lower my concentration and ability to think properly. I'm not the kind of person to just go "fuck it all I give up I'm gonna smoke swampweed and do nothing to free myself".

Nice try though :)

[MrGookles]

What a poor sucker you are, you don't even have any alcohol in your blood.

Sooner or later, you'll realize that the New camp would be your grave. If not from the inside, you'd get hell of a lot of trouble from the outside. The Old camp for an example.

[lordhoff]

What a poor sucker you are, you don't even have any alcohol in your blood.

Sooner or later, you'll realize that the New camp would be your grave. If not from the inside, you'd get hell of a lot of trouble from the outside. The Old camp for an example.
Then again, nearly everyone in the swamp camp has a real problem in the end. If I really had a choice, I'd hide out and try to piggy tail a way out with whatever group has success in finding a way out. Wait, I'm the mover here. To heck with the camps, they can follow me! :)

[MrGookles]

Well, if you feel like you're another Lee, then go ahead. But don't you cry back to us in the Sect camp and demand to be treated equally as the other novices.