The richest camp in the valley
Gothic 1 Remake Old Camp: Best Camp to Join & Map
The Gothic 1 Remake Old Camp is the first faction most players weigh, and for good reason — it is the wealthiest, most structured camp in the valley. This Gothic 1 Remake Old Camp guide answers the real questions before the walkthrough: is the Old Camp the best camp to join, where does it sit on the map, what build does it unlock, and exactly how do you join the Shadows?
The 30-second verdict
Is the Old Camp the best camp to join?
For most players the Gothic 1 Remake Old Camp is the best camp to join first — it is the beginner-friendly pick — but it is not for everyone. Here is the fast read before you commit a permanent faction choice.
Join the Old Camp if
- You are new to Gothic and want the cleanest, most forgiving start
- You want heavy plate armour and a clear rank ladder to climb
- Your goal is a Strength warrior or the Fire Mage path
Look elsewhere if
- You want bows, stealth and the freedom of the New Camp
- You are chasing the Swamp Camp's unique Templar spellsword
- You dislike rigid hierarchy and taking orders from Ore Barons
What the Gothic 1 Remake Old Camp is — Gomez and the Ore Barons
The Old Camp is the oldest and by far the richest settlement in the Valley of the Mines. It grew up around a fortified castle and is the only camp with a working trade deal: ore flows out to the King’s forces, and goods, weapons and comfort flow back in.
That deal is the Old Camp’s whole creed. Gomez and the Ore Barons sit at the top, the guards keep order in heavy armour, and everyone below them — diggers, Shadows, mercenaries — knows exactly where they stand. If you want structure, this is the camp that has the most of it.
- Ruler
- Gomez & the Ore Barons
- Creed
- Trade ore to the outside world for comfort and power.
- Where it is
- The great fortified castle at the heart of the valley, ringed by the ore fields.
- Signature
- Heavy plate armour and melee — and the route to the Fire Mage path.
Valley map
Where the Gothic 1 Remake Old Camp is on the map
The Old Camp sits dead centre of the colony, so it is the first camp most players reach. Here is how it maps against the other two factions you could join instead.
Old Camp
The great fortified castle at the heart of the valley, ringed by the ore fields.
New Camp
Hidden in the hills on the western shore of the valley lake, out the Old Camp's south gate.
Swamp Camp
Deep in the swamp; Baal Parvez escorts you there from the Old Camp's southern exit.
Build payoff
The build the Gothic 1 Remake Old Camp unlocks
Your camp is the gateway to your build, and the Gothic 1 Remake Old Camp opens two of the strongest routes in the game.
Heavy-plate Warrior
The Old Camp’s heavy plate and clear rank ladder make it the cleanest home for a Strength warrior — the safest first-run build in the Gothic 1 Remake.
The Fire Mage path
The Old Camp is also the route to the Fire Mages — widely cited as the cleanest way to reach the higher circles of magic if a mage is your goal.
If you already know the build you want, let it pick your camp. Compare every Gothic 1 Remake build to see which archetype the Old Camp suits best before you join.
How to join the Gothic 1 Remake Old Camp
Joining the Gothic 1 Remake Old Camp is not a quick handshake. You earn the trust of the Shadows, clear a level gate, then talk your way past Gomez.
- 1
Reach the gate and talk to Thorus
Thorus guards the castle gate and turns away anyone without standing. He points you at Diego — nobody joins the Old Camp until a Shadow vouches for them.
- 2
Get Diego to vouch for you
Diego agrees to back your candidacy, but only once you have earned the Shadows' trust. This opens the Admission to the Old Camp quest.
- 3
Work through Casting Shadows
Build a reputation with the Shadows by running their jobs across the outer ring — buying back Whistler's sword, running errands and proving yourself in the arena. Each win earns a recommendation toward your admission.
- 4
Reach Level 5
Admission is gated behind Level 5. Farm the outer-ring quests and a few easy creatures until you clear the threshold.
- 5
Pass Gomez's interview
With enough backing, you sit down with Gomez. Name contacts you have genuinely met from other camps — but never name the Sleeper sect's leader, or Gomez turns hostile and attacks.
The admission flow above is consistent across the major Gothic 1 Remake guides. The exact roster of Casting Shadows tasks varies between early write-ups, so treat any specific quest order as a guide, not gospel.
The alternatives
Old Camp vs the New and Swamp Camps
The Old Camp only makes sense next to what you give up. Here is how it stacks against the other two factions you could join instead.
| Camp | Playstyle | Join |
|---|---|---|
| Old Camp | Heavy plate melee · Fire Mage | Beginner-friendly |
| New Camp | Dexterity with bows and crossbows; the only route to the Water Mage path under Saturas. | Longest faction questline — the slow burn. |
| Swamp Camp | The Templar — two-handed swords paired with crowd-control magic (Sleep, Charm, Fist of Wind); the most unique class in the game. | Moderate — win over the Gurus. |
Want the full side-by-side — rulers, locations and how to join each one? Read the Gothic 1 Remake camp guide that compares all three factions in one place.
Read this before you join
Joining the Old Camp is permanent
Once you swear in, the Old Camp is your faction for the whole run. There is no respec and no switching sides, so the Old Camp locks your class options, your armour sets and the trainers you can reach. Treat it as a one-way door.
Quick answers
Gothic 1 Remake Old Camp FAQ
How do you join the Old Camp in the Gothic 1 Remake?
Reach the Old Camp gate and talk to Thorus, who sends you to Diego. Diego vouches for you once you earn the Shadows' backing through the Casting Shadows tasks, so run their jobs across the outer ring, reach Level 5, then pass Gomez's interview. You join the Old Camp as a Shadow with the Shadow armour.
What level do you need to join the Old Camp?
Level 5. Admission to the Old Camp in the Gothic 1 Remake is gated behind Level 5, so clear the outer-ring quests and a few easy fights before you expect Diego and Gomez to take you in.
What build does the Old Camp unlock in the Gothic 1 Remake?
The Old Camp is the home of heavy plate armour and one- or two-handed melee, and it is also the route to the Fire Mage path. If you want a Strength warrior or a fire mage, the Old Camp is the camp that unlocks that build.
Who leads the Old Camp in the Gothic 1 Remake?
Gomez and the Ore Barons rule the Old Camp from its fortified castle. Their creed is simple — mine ore and trade it to the outside world for comfort and power — which is why the Old Camp is the richest, most structured camp in the valley.
Is the Old Camp the best camp for beginners?
Yes. The Old Camp has the cleanest admission route of the three Gothic 1 Remake camps and leads to forgiving melee builds, so it is the usual first-playthrough pick. Choose it if you want structure, heavy armour and a clear ladder to climb.
What should you not say to Gomez when joining the Old Camp?
Do not name the Sleeper sect's leader as one of your contacts. During Gomez's interview you list people you have met from other camps — names like Lares or Mordrag are safe, but claiming ties to the Swamp Camp's leader makes Gomez turn hostile and attack.
Keep exploring
More Gothic 1 Remake guides
Gothic 1 Remake Guide
Ready to join the Old Camp?
Earn the Shadows’ backing, clear Level 5 and talk your way past Gomez. Decide on your build first, then commit to the Old Camp and start climbing the ranks.