There are several levels of magic, called circles, and players can learn spells in a variety of schools, from fire magic to necromancy. Weapon skills range from one-handed and two-handed weapons to bows and crossbows. There are two basic attributes, strength and dexterity, which affect skills.

The character is developed as it progresses through the game. All players start out with the same appearance and starting statistics. The sect camp is putting all its' faith in 'The Sleeper', a god who they believe will free them from the barrier. Members of the new camp are working with a group of the mages trapped in the barrier to try and break through it. It is the camp that made the agreement with the King to exchange ore for supplies. The old camp is headed by Gomez, the Ore Baron. There are three different camps which players can join, the old camp, the new camp and the sect camp. Players can follow him for safety sake, as there are some monsters on the road and at the start, the character is very weak. After giving the introductory information, Diego starts heading towards the old camp. Diego is a guide of sorts and he describes the old camp in detail and suggests that the player visit the old camp to further talk with him. Upon awakening, the player is greeted by a man, who reveals himself to be Diego. His first encounter is with a group of bullies who punch him and he falls unconscious. After agreeing and pushed through the barrier, he falls into a small body of water and drags himself to land. He is asked to take a letter to the head of the fire mages in the old camp. The player takes on the role of a newly convicted, unnamed prisoner who is being sent through the barrier. Also, newly convicted criminals continued to be sent into the mining colony. In exchange for anything the prisoners desired, the king would receive his ore. The king needed his magical ore so he was forced to negotiate with the prisoners now in control of the mining colony. The prisoners took advantage of the surprise of the guards and seized control. Something went horribly wrong, though, and the mages along with a much larger area that expected, were trapped underneath the new barrier. In order to prevent this from continuing, the king sent his most powerful mages to construct a barrier to allow new prisoners in but let none out. The conditions were very poor and many prisoners attempted escape. Each person convicted of a crime, no matter what the crime is, is sent to the colony for the king.

In order to mine this ore, prisoners are sent to the mining colony. One special mine contains a magical ore that can craft unbreakable weapons. After so many years of battle, however, the kingdom is short of both men and weapons. Enemy after enemy is driven back and defeated. In the kingdom of Myrtana, war has been raging for many years.

Gothic 1 dead or knocked out