Joining the Old Camp in Gothic 1 Remake is not a quick handshake and a membership card. It is a multi-stage process that asks you to earn real trust from several named characters before Diego will vouch for you and the castle doors open. Expect to run quests across the entire outer ring, visit the Old Mine, and make at least one trip to the Swamp Camp before you ever sit down with Gomez.
The two quests at the heart of this process are Admission to the Old Camp and Casting Shadows. Casting Shadows is the one that matters most: it tracks your reputation with the Shadows and determines whether Diego considers you ready. This guide covers every required task in the order that makes them easiest to complete, plus the exact dialogue choices you need when you finally stand in front of Gomez.
Thorus guards the castle entrance
What do you need to do before speaking to Diego?
When you first arrive at the Old Camp and approach the castle gate, Thorus will stop you and explain the situation plainly: you need someone on the inside to sponsor you. That person is Diego, who you already met at the very start of the game. His shack sits right next to the castle gate, so finding him takes about ten seconds.
Speak to Diego and he hands you the Casting Shadows quest. From this point, your job is to work through the outer ring, completing tasks and quests that each result in a named character recommending you to Diego. Ask Diego regularly how your reputation stands so you know how many votes you still need.
You must reach at least level 5 before Diego will consider you ready, regardless of how many quests you have completed. If he still calls you too green after finishing everything, focus on gaining experience before returning.
Every quest required to complete Casting Shadows
Whistler's Sword (start here)
This is the fastest task on the list. Head right from the castle entrance and follow the path past Gravo's shack until you find Whistler sitting outside on a bench. He gives you 100 ore and asks you to buy back his sword from Fisk in the nearby market. Fisk will ask for 110 ore, so bring a small amount of extra currency if you want to complete the transaction cleanly.
Here is the thing most players miss: you can keep both the ore and the sword. If you swindle Whistler and complete the other tasks, his annoyance does not block your entry into the castle. Diego actually respects the move, and 100 ore is genuinely useful early in the game.
The Vanished Warder (find Nek)
Near the north gate where you first entered the Old Camp, look for Sly. He asks you to track down a missing guard named Nek. Leave through the south gate and check the cave on the right side of the area outside. Inside you will find Nek's body. Take his amulet and bring it back to Sly to earn his recommendation.
Nek's cave south of the camp
A Ring for Fingers (lockpicking test)
Find Fingers in the outer ring, tucked into the small nook between Scatty's hut and the castle wall, just before the arena. He wants proof of your practical skills before he will train your lockpicking. Specifically, he asks you to steal a ring from Scatty's hut next door. Complete the theft and Fingers adds his support.
After Fingers vouches for you, improve your lockpicking skill with Dexter. Better lockpicking makes the Cult's Recipe quest significantly easier.
The Cult's Recipe (Dexter's job)
Dexter operates in the market area on the south side of the Old Camp, among the cloth hangings. He needs an alchemy recipe stolen from the Swamp Camp. The safest way to make that trip is to find Baal Parvez, who usually hangs around the campfire to the right of the castle entrance. He will guide you there without you getting torn apart by the wildlife.
The recipe sits in a chest next to Kalom. Crack the lock, grab it, and return to Dexter for his recommendation.
Out of Sight (Thorus's task)
Once you have made reasonable progress on the other tasks, keep pestering Thorus at the castle gate for work. He will eventually give you the job of removing Mordrag, a New Camp merchant who sits on a bench east of the market area in the south of the Old Camp. You have three options:
- Escort him to the New Camp: Mordrag leaves willingly and later gives you a ring. This is the recommended path.
- Fistfight: Defeat him without killing him and he disappears.
- Duel to the death: Grants the most experience points.
If you have the fire bolt spell from the Price of Magic quest and a mana potion or some swamp weed to regen mana, the fight is manageable. Rob Mordrag before telling him to leave and you can pick up a Spike Mace and a Longbow. Report back to Thorus when done.
Mordrag near the market area
Arena fight with Scatty
Speak to Scatty at the bottom of the arena and challenge a fighter. Kirgo is the easiest opponent and you will usually find him in the middle of the arena during the day. Train your strength with Diego beforehand if you can. Winning one fight is enough for Scatty to put in a good word.
If you have fire bolt available, a hit-and-run approach against Kirgo works well. Keep moving, cast when he is open, and avoid trading blows directly.
Test of Faith (Diego's mine errand)
Ask Diego directly for a task and he sends you to the Old Mine in the northwest of the map, identifiable by the two small watchtowers on the colony map. Before you leave, talk to Diego thoroughly and ask about the background of the job. That conversation gives you a code phrase you will need underground.
Inside the mine, descend through several levels until you find Ian sitting at a table with Alberto. Tell Ian that Diego sent you, and he hands over the supply list immediately. Bring it back to Diego to complete the task.
You can optionally show the list to contacts in the New Camp for additional rewards before returning it to Diego. This does not prevent you from completing the quest.
Before heading to the mine, find Graham, threaten to rough him up, and he will hand over a map with the route marked. It saves time navigating the area.
How to convince Gomez and officially join the Old Camp
Once Diego confirms you have enough votes and you have hit level 5, he sends you into the castle. Inside the main hall you will meet Raven, who escorts you to Gomez.
The conversation with Gomez requires you to name four contacts from other camps you have encountered, such as Lares, Mordrag, or Lester.
Do not choose the option about chopping Gomez's head off to prove your fighting ability. He will kill you on the spot. Do not name Y'Berion as a contact either, since Gomez recognises it as a lie and attacks immediately.
All other dialogue choices are safe. Work through the conversation and Gomez accepts you into the Old Camp. As a reward you receive the Shadow armor, a significant experience point bonus, and additional ore.
The Gomez audience in the castle
Quest order summary
The quests above can overlap and some can be tackled in parallel once you are moving around the camp freely. The order above goes roughly from lowest risk to highest, which keeps you from hitting a wall early.
For more help with the game, the Gothic 1 Remake guides collection covers everything from lockpicking to fast travel. Gothic 1 Remake sits firmly in the RPG games category where faction choices carry real weight, and picking the Old Camp over the alternatives locks in a distinct story path, so make sure this is the faction you want before committing.