2 articlesChoosing a camp in Gothic 1 Remake is one of the biggest decisions in your playthrough. You can join the Old Camp, New Camp, or Brotherhood/Sect Camp, and each one has its own quests, trainers, armor, story, and general “would I survive living here?” energy.
Your faction choice is permanent, so do not rush it. Before joining anyone, explore as much as possible and do quests for all camps first. You can get a good feel for each faction before locking yourself in.
Also, make a manual save before joining a camp. That way, you can reload later and try the other factions without starting over.
Quick Camp Recommendation
| Camp | Best For | Main Strength | Main Weakness |
|---|---|---|---|
| Old Camp | New players, fire mages, crossbow users | Convenient, rich, strong mage path | Hostile people, protection money, lots of scams |
| New Camp | Two-handed melee builds, mercenary fantasy | Great warrior path, freedom-focused story | Early quests can feel weaker, less visually impressive |
| Brotherhood / Sect Camp | Hybrid builds, battle mages, atmosphere | Best vibes, early magic, cool armor | Possible magic limitations, dangerous surrounding areas |
Things to Know Before Joining a Camp
Before you join any faction, the best advice is simple:
Gothic 1 Remake: Combat System ExplainedJun 6, 2026Explore as much as you can first.
You can do a decent number of quests for multiple camps before committing to one. This is especially useful for new players because it lets you meet the major characters, understand each camp’s personality, and see which faction actually fits how you want to play.
Your camp choice is permanent, so it is a good idea to make a separate save file before joining anyone. That way, you can reload later and try another faction without starting completely from scratch.
A good old-school way to experience Gothic is:
- Do every quest you can before joining a camp.
- Make a manual save before choosing a faction.
- Join one camp and finish the game.
- Reload the save.
- Join another camp and repeat.
That is honestly one of the best ways to see everything Gothic has to offer.
In the early game, you should mostly explore around the Old Camp first. The areas nearby are generally more manageable for low-level characters. If you are running into enemies like molerats, scavengers, bloodflies, green goblins, and other small creatures, you are probably in an area you can handle with enough patience.
It will not always be easy, especially while you are still learning the combat system, but it is doable.
If you want to visit the other camps early, look for NPCs who can guide you there. This is much safer than wandering off alone and getting turned into swamp food.
Old Camp
The Old Camp is the most beginner-friendly faction and probably the first camp most players will visit. It is led by Gomez, who controls the Old Mine and the ore shipments to the king.
This camp is rich, powerful, and has the most traditional faction progression. You start at the bottom, work your way up, and can eventually become a Shadow, then later a Guard or Fire Mage.
Why Join the Old Camp?
Join the Old Camp if you want the most convenient start. It has easy early quests, lots of merchants, strong trainers, and a clear path for new players.
It is also a great choice if you want to become a Fire Mage or use crossbows. In the original game, the Old Camp had one of the strongest magic paths and gave good access to crossbow training.
Why Not Join the Old Camp?
The people here are awful.
You may have to deal with guards demanding “protection money,” and if you refuse, they can make your early game miserable. The Old Camp is useful and powerful, but it is also one of the most hostile places in the colony.
Join the Old Camp if: you want an easy start, Fire Mage path, crossbows, and a classic faction experience.
Avoid it if: you hate being bullied, scammed, or treated like a walking ore pouch.
New Camp
The New Camp is controlled by rogues, mercenaries, and Water Mages. Their goal is to gather enough ore to destroy the barrier and escape the colony.
Basically, they are building a giant magical bomb. Pretty reasonable, honestly.
This camp is rougher and less strict than the Old Camp. There is more freedom, but that does not mean everyone is friendly.
Why Join the New Camp?
The New Camp is likely the best choice for two-handed melee builds. In the original Gothic, it gave faster access to two-handed weapon training compared to the Old Camp, making it perfect for players who want to become a mercenary with a big weapon.
It also has one of the most logical faction goals. The people may be thieves, but their plan actually makes sense: collect ore, blow up barrier, leave.
Why Not Join the New Camp?
The early quests can feel less exciting than the other camps, and visually, it may not be as memorable as the Old Camp’s castle or the Brotherhood’s swamp.
Getting there alone early can also be dangerous, so use an NPC guide if possible.
Join the New Camp if: you want a two-handed warrior build, mercenary armor, and a practical escape plan.
Avoid it if: you want the flashiest camp or the easiest beginner route.
Brotherhood / Sect Camp
The Brotherhood, also called the Sect Camp, is the weirdest and coolest faction in Gothic. They live in the swamp, worship a god called the Sleeper, and make money by selling swamp weed to the rest of the colony.
Other camps think they are strange. They are probably right. But the atmosphere here is incredible.
Why Join the Brotherhood?
The Brotherhood is best for hybrid builds, especially if you want to mix melee combat and magic.
In the original game, this camp gave early access to magic, making it great for battle mage or warrior-mage playstyles. You can also become a Templar, which comes with some of the coolest armor in the game.
The quests here are also more unique, since you need to impress the gurus before they even take you seriously.
Why Not Join the Brotherhood?
The main downside is magic restriction. In the original, the Brotherhood could not reach the highest circles of magic, so it was not ideal for pure mage builds.
The swamp area is also dangerous for new players. Depending on where you go, you can run into lurkers, swamp sharks, bloodflies, lizards, goblins, and even worse enemies if you take the wrong path.
Join the Brotherhood if: you want early magic, hybrid builds, Templar armor, and the best vibes.
Avoid it if: you want the strongest pure mage path or hate dangerous swamp travel.
Best Camp for Each Playstyle
| Playstyle | Best Camp for You |
| Beginner | Old Camp |
| Fire Mage | Old Camp |
| Crossbow User | Old Camp |
| Two-Handed Warrior | New Camp |
| Mercenary Build | New Camp |
| Hybrid Battle Mage | Brotherhood |
| Best Atmosphere | Brotherhood |
So, Which Camp Should You Join?
Honestly, all three camps are worth joining.
The Old Camp is the safest and most convenient choice, especially for new players and Fire Mage builds.
The New Camp is perfect if you like two-handed melee, mercenaries, and the idea of actually doing something practical to escape the barrier.
The Brotherhood is the best pick if you care about atmosphere, unique quests, early magic, and becoming a cool swamp warrior-mage with tattoos and Templar armor.
If you are still unsure, do not overthink it too much. Gothic is at its best when you follow your curiosity. Explore each camp, talk to people, do their quests, and see which group feels the most interesting to you.
Just make a save file before joining.
Seriously.
Future you will thank you.
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