cant decide which faction

[Golden Boy]

are there any pros or cons for each faction?

i think the paladins are pretty cool but most people online say that the mercenaries have the best armor + weapons in the end.

im not sure if they mean vanilla gothic 2 or with the expansion.
which should i pick as a first timer? because in my next playthrough i want to play as a fire mage.

[Bilgot the Heartless]

Paladins have access to simple runes like healing or some attacking runes.
True that mercenaries have the best armor but for the best 2h sword you need to learn blacksmithing, additionally without spoilers in the end game you will be able to make a really nice potion (If I am not mistaken it's +10 strenght and +10 dexterity) and only mercenaries have a access to resources to make 2 of these potions.

I would say just take what you prefer, there are unique quests/dialogues for each fraction.
If you want to be able to learn paladin's magic then take a paladin, if not, take what you want.

[Oneeyed]

I dont get why mercs are so liked. They have nothing better than paladins. On the contrary paladins have some spells while mercs have none. Also mercs have not better armor or weapons at the end.

Mercenary is a pure fighter. You can skill bow, crossbow, 2-hand or 1-hand and they have no advantage over paladins whatsoever. But they get a certain potion twice.

Paladins have access to an armor as good as the best merc armor and they can use the same weapons as mercs. In addition they can learn a few paladin spells. Paladin is awesome in classic version because of the damage spells they have. But in gold version all the monsters have much higher armor/resistance which make the paladin combat spells mostly useless. Still they have nice healing spells. Also if you have the paladin armor you can do in harbor town as you please without any repercussion mostly. You can use all weapons as the dragon hunters do.

I played all 3 factions a lot and I have most fun with paladins - then mages - then mercs.

But at the end it comes down to taste. Mages are cool if you find out what all the spells do. If you rely on just pure direct damage spells mages are very hard to play.

For me the real decision is not paladin or merc or mage but 1-hand, 2-hand, ranged or magic because every weapon/damage type has its own difficulty in many situations.

[Golden Boy]

Originally posted by Oneeyed:

I dont get why mercs are so liked. They have nothing better than paladins. On the contrary paladins have some spells while mercs have none. Also mercs have not better armor or weapons at the end.

Mercenary is a pure fighter. You can skill bow, crossbow, 2-hand or 1-hand and they have no advantage over paladins whatsoever. But they get a certain potion twice.

Paladins have access to an armor as good as the best merc armor and they can use the same weapons as mercs. In addition they can learn a few paladin spells. Paladin is awesome in classic version because of the damage spells they have. But in gold version all the monsters have much higher armor/resistance which make the paladin combat spells mostly useless. Still they have nice healing spells. Also if you have the paladin armor you can do in harbor town as you please without any repercussion mostly. You can use all weapons as the dragon hunters do.

I played all 3 factions a lot and I have most fun with paladins - then mages - then mercs.

But at the end it comes down to taste. Mages are cool if you find out what all the spells do. If you rely on just pure direct damage spells mages are very hard to play.

For me the real decision is not paladin or merc or mage but 1-hand, 2-hand, ranged or magic because every weapon/damage type has its own difficulty in many situations.

im playing the gold version and are they really that nerfed?

Originally posted by Bilgot:

Paladins have access to simple runes like healing or some attacking runes.
True that mercenaries have the best armor but for the best 2h sword you need to learn blacksmithing, additionally without spoilers in the end game you will be able to make a really nice potion (If I am not mistaken it's +10 strenght and +10 dexterity) and only mercenaries have a access to resources to make 2 of these potions.

I would say just take what you prefer, there are unique quests/dialogues for each fraction.
If you want to be able to learn paladin's magic then take a paladin, if not, take what you want.

why are the anwsers split? so do they have the best armor and weapons or not?

[Bilgot the Heartless]

Originally posted by Golden Boy:

Originally posted by Oneeyed:

I dont get why mercs are so liked. They have nothing better than paladins. On the contrary paladins have some spells while mercs have none. Also mercs have not better armor or weapons at the end.

Mercenary is a pure fighter. You can skill bow, crossbow, 2-hand or 1-hand and they have no advantage over paladins whatsoever. But they get a certain potion twice.

Paladins have access to an armor as good as the best merc armor and they can use the same weapons as mercs. In addition they can learn a few paladin spells. Paladin is awesome in classic version because of the damage spells they have. But in gold version all the monsters have much higher armor/resistance which make the paladin combat spells mostly useless. Still they have nice healing spells. Also if you have the paladin armor you can do in harbor town as you please without any repercussion mostly. You can use all weapons as the dragon hunters do.

I played all 3 factions a lot and I have most fun with paladins - then mages - then mercs.

But at the end it comes down to taste. Mages are cool if you find out what all the spells do. If you rely on just pure direct damage spells mages are very hard to play.

For me the real decision is not paladin or merc or mage but 1-hand, 2-hand, ranged or magic because every weapon/damage type has its own difficulty in many situations.

im playing the gold version and are they really that nerfed?

Originally posted by Bilgot:

Paladins have access to simple runes like healing or some attacking runes.
True that mercenaries have the best armor but for the best 2h sword you need to learn blacksmithing, additionally without spoilers in the end game you will be able to make a really nice potion (If I am not mistaken it's +10 strenght and +10 dexterity) and only mercenaries have a access to resources to make 2 of these potions.

I would say just take what you prefer, there are unique quests/dialogues for each fraction.
If you want to be able to learn paladin's magic then take a paladin, if not, take what you want.

why are the anwsers split? so do they have the best armor and weapons or not?

Mercenaries HAVE the best armor if you look at stats but just slithy better than paladins armor so you shouldn't take a choice only because +5 stats there or there.
As for weapon I am not sure if 2h magic, dragon sword is the best in NotR or in classic version. Anyway it is good and to get this you need to learn blacksmithing from one guy and I don't think he will teach you when you are a paladin and again it's only like +5/10 stats there or there.

[Oneeyed]

Originally posted by Bilgot:

Originally posted by Golden Boy:

im playing the gold version and are they really that nerfed?


why are the anwsers split? so do they have the best armor and weapons or not?

Mercenaries HAVE the best armor if you look at stats but just slithy better than paladins armor so you shouldn't take a choice only because +5 stats there or there.
As for weapon I am not sure if 2h magic, dragon sword is the best in NotR or in classic version. Anyway it is good and to get this you need to learn blacksmithing from one guy and I don't think he will teach you when you are a paladin and again it's only like +5/10 stats there or there.

Best merc armor is

heavy dragon hunter armor 150 melee /150 ranged/100 fire /50 magic protection

Best paladin armor is

paladin armor 150 melee /150 ranged /100 fire /50 magic protection

So how is the merc armor any better?

And yes the paladin combat spells in gold version arent any good if you ask me

[Bilgot the Heartless]

Originally posted by Oneeyed:

Originally posted by Bilgot:

Mercenaries HAVE the best armor if you look at stats but just slithy better than paladins armor so you shouldn't take a choice only because +5 stats there or there.
As for weapon I am not sure if 2h magic, dragon sword is the best in NotR or in classic version. Anyway it is good and to get this you need to learn blacksmithing from one guy and I don't think he will teach you when you are a paladin and again it's only like +5/10 stats there or there.

Best merc armor is

heavy dragon hunter armor 150 melee /150 ranged/100 fire /50 magic protection

Best paladin armor is

paladin armor 150 melee /150 ranged /100 fire /50 magic protection

So how is the merc armor any better?

As I don't want to install the game to just check stats so I believe you did it I was pretty sure that heavy dragon hunter armor has +5 or + 10 more fire protection and it would make logical sense.

[Oneeyed]

Originally posted by Bilgot:

Originally posted by Oneeyed:

Best merc armor is

heavy dragon hunter armor 150 melee /150 ranged/100 fire /50 magic protection

Best paladin armor is

paladin armor 150 melee /150 ranged /100 fire /50 magic protection

So how is the merc armor any better?

As I don't want to install the game to just check stats so I believe you did it I was pretty sure that heavy dragon hunter armor has +5 or + 10 more fire protection and it would make logical sense.

You can easily look up the stats on the web if you want to e.g. on www.mondgesaenge.de or here (scroll to the end of the list):

https://gothic.fandom.com/wiki/Armors_of_Gothic_II:_Night_of_the_Raven

[Golden Boy]

and what about story quests, do they differ? does the plot slightly change?
do I have to kill my old friends from the prison mine when I join the militia?

I have read that you do more dragon related quests when you join the mercs and orc related quests when you join the militia.

[Bilgot the Heartless]

Main story is the same without any suprises, there are some differences in Fractional quests, dialogues. If you will be a dragon hunter you will have quest with lizardmen because they will keep puting dragon eggs around Khorinis (and this is what is needed for a potion i was talking about) and if you will be a paladin there will be orcs warlords around Khorinis and quest with getting their rings to lord Hagen. So this is what you have read about orc/dragon related quests.

[Golden Boy]

Originally posted by Bilgot:

Main story is the same without any suprises, there are some differences in Fractional quests, dialogues. If you will be a dragon hunter you will have quest with lizardmen because they will keep puting dragon eggs around Khorinis (and this is what is needed for a potion i was talking about) and if you will be a paladin there will be orcs warlords around Khorinis and quest with getting their rings to lord Hagen. So this is what you have read about orc/dragon related quests.

oh cool thanks, so i do not need to fight the other faction right?

[Bilgot the Heartless]

Originally posted by Golden Boy:

Originally posted by Bilgot:

Main story is the same without any suprises, there are some differences in Fractional quests, dialogues. If you will be a dragon hunter you will have quest with lizardmen because they will keep puting dragon eggs around Khorinis (and this is what is needed for a potion i was talking about) and if you will be a paladin there will be orcs warlords around Khorinis and quest with getting their rings to lord Hagen. So this is what you have read about orc/dragon related quests.

oh cool thanks, so i do not need to fight the other faction right?

No, mercenaries and militia/paladins don't like each other but there will be no open war or some hard, moral decisions :)

[Golden Boy]

Originally posted by Bilgot:

Originally posted by Golden Boy:

oh cool thanks, so i do not need to fight the other faction right?

No, mercenaries and militia/paladins don't like each other but there will be no open war or some hard, moral decisions :)

thank you

it is still a hard decision for me lol, the city is cool and being a honorable knight sounds cool af.

but the mercenaries are old friends and way nicer to me

[lionhart]

Originally posted by Golden Boy:

but the mercenaries are old friends and way nicer to me

The mercenaries are cool, and I think Lee is the best leader out of all the faction leaders. One big drawback with the mercenaries, though, is that they make you pay for all of your armor upgrades. The heavy dragon hunter armor costs 20,000 gold. You also have more opportunities to earn gold as a mercenary, and some people say that balances it out in the end, but you do need to save as much gold as possible throughout the game so you can afford the best armor at the end.