Generally I’m a “story doesn’t matter I’m here for the builds” kind of player. But I recently got to thinking, story wise, why would the Black Iron Legion choose to work with either Kymon’s Chosen or order of Death’s Vigil?
Because if we are to take them at their word that both groups are of equal strength and would be equally beneficial, then it seems like it would be all downside.
Taking on any out side group is going to cost them in organization and support of this outside group. but that would be out weighed by the extra manpower this new group would add. But in this case by getting the help of one group they make an enemy out of an equally powerful group. Thus the benefit of the extra manpower would be nullified, and you’d just be left with the cost in organization.
Not to mention a new enemy mean new vulnerabilities and new places you have to watch out for.
where as allying with neither you at least get the small benefit of they may kill some Aetherials or Chthonians for you.
Both the Order and the Chosen have a considerable presence in the areas leading up to Darkvale and outside Fort Ikon. So, had the legion not befriended either of them, they’d have been the target of both of them.
The added manpower also doesn’t get nullified by the presence of the new enemy. I say this because your allied faction is able to send reinforcements to the Necropolis despite continuing to engage their personal nemesis.
Also, both of these factions tap into some powerful magics of questionable sources. It’s best to keep at least one of them in check instead of letting both of them run around like loose cannons.
They seem neutral to you unless you make a choice. As far as I can tell they only get mad at you if you choose one. I dunno that may just be in game mechanics. The game originally made you choose before you could progress. but after they added Savior’s Merit they had to make post Homestead areas available without choosing a side. So now you can choose to not pick a side and they stay neutral to you.
that only seems to happen because you helped them. So it feels like using that time and energy towards your goal would be just as, if not more, useful.
Yeah but then you get the other one at your back. instead of getting one magical helper and one magical enemy, surely it’d be better to just not bother.
In that case, it was also specifically Ulgrim. The Coven obviously knows him and your goal being his rescue was a large part of why they helped you. The Heart was just to make Garradia even talk to you in the first place.
One of my criticisms about that quest line is that both the Kymons and Deaths Vigil are neutral if no choice is made, which ive avoided making with several characters. Sure, you lose out on story and some quests, but theres no penalty for NOT choosing. Esp. if youre farming.
I’ve often thought that if you have any friendliness with the Black Legion, and you start out thru Blood Grove without making a choice, they’ll both attack you. PLUS the Chthonians and their allies. AND the Aetherials. AND the wild animals! Now everybody’s after you!
And if you happen upon a battle scene of say a dozen or more of them, they ALL come after you.
This would provide a further incentive to choose.
Huh. I didn’t know you could skip both of them and they will ‘both’ remain neutral. I thought you had to make a choice. Funny, I usually choose Kymon’s Chose because of their augments.
you used to, but after they added savior’s merit that opened up later warp points they had to make versions of those areas that didn’t require you to make a choice. I think all the “enemy faction” enemies are replaced with blood sworn cultists and all the “ally faction” npcs are replaced by black iron legion troops.
I used them when they were new, but stopped using them a while ago. the leveling in this game is fast enough without them, but I like questing and exploring in this game. I also like the idea of having to choose one to be an ally and the other your foe. So, I will keep doing that out of habit.