No you cant leave or switch once you joined either faction ever. That also goes for bandits, once you joined them you cant be recruited by the Inquisition anymore.

Originally posted by Razorhunter:

No you cant leave or switch once you joined either faction ever. That also goes for bandits, once you joined them you cant be recruited by the Inquisition anymore.

It's possible to defect from the bandits to the Inquisition. Simply complete the initial quests and, as soon as you're sent to the port city, work for the Inquisition there. You'll then receive a letter of recommendation and can complete the initial quests in the Volcano Fortress and finally become a member.

But apparently, it's not possible the other way around. I returned to the Volcano Fortress and told them that the port city was under bandit control. They simply accepted it, and the test was passed.

No you cant leave the Bandits faction. What youre talking about means you didnt even join them, you have to work for them in the harbor before you can actually join them. So no you cant leave or switch any faction once you joined them.

Originally posted by Stranger:

I was forcibly recruited by the Inquisition and wanted to switch sides in the port city. I completed all the tasks for the bandits and received a package for the Don. However, when I tried to hand it in, no one wanted to talk to me because I'm part of the Inquisition.

I once managed to give the package to the Don even after having joined the Order, but it broke the game. Neither faction fully recognized me as one of their own, and neither would give me any armor upgrades after the first chapter.

remember to join the bandits because this is the only right path

You don't get the package if you're a recruit.

Originally posted by Razorhunter:

No you cant leave the Bandits faction. What youre talking about means you didnt even join them, you have to work for them in the harbor before you can actually join them. So no you cant leave or switch any faction once you joined them.

Yes you can. Joining the Bandit faction is done by accepting the Don's initial invitation in the swamp. It doesn't mean that you have to stick with him. Once you get to Harbor Town you can remain essentially neutral for quite awhile before needing to choose which side you want to complete missions for. I've changed sides numerous times. But, you can't do the Inquisition missions then abandon them for the Bandits later without breaking the game.

Originally posted by dolmore:

Yes you can. Joining the Bandit faction is done by accepting the Don's initial invitation in the swamp.

That is not correct. You do not officially join the bandits until you deliver Scordo's package to the Don.

Originally posted by lionhart:

Originally posted by dolmore:

Yes you can. Joining the Bandit faction is done by accepting the Don's initial invitation in the swamp.

That is not correct. You do not officially join the bandits until you deliver Scordo's package to the Don.

I originally got this game when when it first came out on disc and played that way for years before the Steam version. In the original you could still join the Inquisition after delivering the package to the Don, but it hoses up the main story line so badly that it wrecks the game. I haven't tried it on the Steam version, so maybe it got patched out.

Originally posted by dolmore:

I originally got this game when when it first came out on disc and played that way for years before the Steam version. In the original you could still join the Inquisition after delivering the package to the Don, but it hoses up the main story line so badly that it wrecks the game. I haven't tried it on the Steam version, so maybe it got patched out.

I have only ever played the Steam version but I started playing back when it was first released, before any of the recent patches. As I mentioned earlier in the thread, I did once manage to "join" both factions by exploiting a bug but it broke the game. It was a long time ago but I think this was the sequence of events:

1) Complete the bandit camp quests and talk to the Don.

2) Go to Harbor Town and complete it in favor of the Don. Get the package from Scordo.

3) Go to the monastery and get conscripted into the Order BUT you still have Scordo's package in your inventory.

4) When you are able to leave the monastery, go back to the bandit camp and give Scordo's package to the Don to join the bandits.

5) Return to the monastery and complete the initiation ceremony to join the Order.

If you do all of that, you have technically joined both factions but it messes up the game because neither side will give you armor upgrades any more (although if I recall correctly, it is still possible to complete the main quest, it's just very difficult to do without good armor).

Originally posted by lionhart:

Originally posted by dolmore:

I originally got this game when when it first came out on disc and played that way for years before the Steam version. In the original you could still join the Inquisition after delivering the package to the Don, but it hoses up the main story line so badly that it wrecks the game. I haven't tried it on the Steam version, so maybe it got patched out.

I have only ever played the Steam version but I started playing back when it was first released, before any of the recent patches. As I mentioned earlier in the thread, I did once manage to "join" both factions by exploiting a bug but it broke the game. It was a long time ago but I think this was the sequence of events:

1) Complete the bandit camp quests and talk to the Don.

2) Go to Harbor Town and complete it in favor of the Don. Get the package from Scordo.

3) Go to the monastery and get conscripted into the Order BUT you still have Scordo's package in your inventory.

4) When you are able to leave the monastery, go back to the bandit camp and give Scordo's package to the Don to join the bandits.

5) Return to the monastery and complete the initiation ceremony to join the Order.

If you do all of that, you have technically joined both factions but it messes up the game because neither side will give you armor upgrades any more (although if I recall correctly, it is still possible to complete the main quest, it's just very difficult to do without good armor).

That's pretty much how I did it with minor exceptions. Since you only need to complete four mission in Harbor Town to gain favor with the bandits I did those, got the package for the Don, delivered it, but didn't tell Scordo. Then I did enough missions to gain favor with the Inquisition and when it also triggered the "Speak With Scordo" mission I forced him out of town instead to get the invitation to the Monastery. So you're right in that it's technically not changing sides but joining both factions. That seemed to screw with the game logic and pretty soon the dialogue options to continue the main quest stopped triggering for both factions.

Originally posted by dolmore:

That's pretty much how I did it with minor exceptions. Since you only need to complete four mission in Harbor Town to gain favor with the bandits I did those, got the package for the Don, delivered it, but didn't tell Scordo. Then I did enough missions to gain favor with the Inquisition and when it also triggered the "Speak With Scordo" mission I forced him out of town instead to get the invitation to the Monastery. So you're right in that it's technically not changing sides but joining both factions. That seemed to screw with the game logic and pretty soon the dialogue options to continue the main quest stopped triggering for both factions.

I don't think I ever tried it the specific way you are describing. The main point is that if you want to try and join both factions you must let the Order conscript you before you give Scordo's package to the Don. Once you give him the package, you are officially one of the bandits and the Order will refuse to accept you after that.

Originally posted by Razorhunter:

No you cant leave the Bandits faction. What youre talking about means you didnt even join them, you have to work for them in the harbor before you can actually join them. So no you cant leave or switch any faction once you joined them.

You are wrong. You can join the bandits before going to harbour town. You just need to head straight to the swamp at the beginning of the game. Take a left after You meet Jan
https://risen.fandom.com/wiki/Jan
"Jan urges the you to head to the swamp and look for jobs there. He can show you the way to the Bandit's camp or the way to Harbour town."
This was the first way i ever played the game I took jan's advice & never went further than the farm after getting bad vibes from the farm guys. He said the were brain washed so I believed him and they gave me the creeps, though they were decent men. I went straight back to the swamp which has only 1 set of young stingrats protecting the entrance. You do quests, join then get sent into harbour town as a spy of sorts. Have fun playing this masterpiece of a game.

You can obtain the bandits version of the free robes you get however they are very expensive for your level and I usually only get them for RP purposes. It's the leader of the foremen/workers, who is pretty much the first quest giver you should go to.

Originally posted by Mithridates VI Eupator:

You can obtain the bandits version of the free robes you get however they are very expensive for your level and I usually only get them for RP purposes. It's the leader of the foremen/workers, who is pretty much the first quest giver you should go to.

Thats not a faction related armor tho