Should You Side With Auntie’s Choice Or The Order Of The Ascendant In The Outer Worlds 2

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Navigating the complex ideological divide between Auntie’s Choice and the Order of the Ascendant presents one of The Outer Worlds 2’s most impactful strategic decisions. These competing organizations don’t merely disagree—they’re actively preparing for armed confrontation based on fundamentally opposing worldviews. As the player, you possess the unique opportunity to mediate between these factions, forge a temporary alliance, or deliberately provoke both sides for alternative outcomes. This guide reveals comprehensive strategies for managing these relationships, though be prepared for significant narrative spoilers regarding faction dynamics.

The diplomatic arc encompasses multiple interconnected missions that determine your standing with both organizations. Understanding this quest chain’s structure is essential for achieving your desired outcome:

• During the pivotal main quest “Friends in High Places,” your confrontation with Augustine de Vries demands careful attention to delegate safety. Successfully protecting all representatives creates the foundation for resumed negotiations later in your campaign, while any casualties may permanently close diplomatic avenues.
• Following “Friends in High Places,” your navigation options expand to three key destinations: ACS Undisputed Claim, the religious enclave of Cloister, and the industrial hub of Praetor. Each location offers unique faction interactions and preparatory opportunities.
• The subsequent primary mission—”A Computation with the Computronic Cerebrum”—challenges you to secure control over the Archive on Cloister. While this objective can be pursued independently, obtaining preliminary support from either Auntie’s Choice or the Order significantly alters mission difficulty and available resources.
• Engaging with faction representatives unlocks additional side quests that serve as prerequisites for audiences with Auntie Cleo (leading Auntie’s Choice) and Ruth Basar (commanding the Order). Completing these missions according to your strategic preferences also activates “An Equitable Arrangement,” a crucial diplomatic endeavor.
• The climax of this diplomatic arc occurs when Cleo and Basar initiate a remote video conference. Your dialogue selections during this critical conversation determine whether peace prevails between the organizations. Successful mediation earns you valuable assistance during your Archive infiltration and provides crucial support in the game’s final area beyond the point of no return.

Strategic Note 1: Investing in Speech skill development before the negotiation sequence unlocks specialized dialogue options that dramatically increase your diplomatic success rate. Aim for at least 60 points in Persuasion or Intimidation to access the most favorable outcomes.

Strategic Note 2: Eliminating excessive numbers of faction-aligned NPCs or troops will severely damage your reputation with that organization. More critically, assassinating essential characters like faction leaders triggers permanent hostility, eliminating any possibility of future cooperation.

Advanced players should consider that faction reputation operates on a hidden points system where each hostile action deducts from your standing. Neutralizing non-essential guards typically costs 5-10 reputation points, while killing named characters immediately sets reputation to -100, making reconciliation impossible. For optimal strategic flexibility, complete faction quests non-lethally whenever possible.

Successfully brokering peace between Auntie’s Choice and the Order yields tangible gameplay advantages throughout the remainder of your campaign. During the Archive infiltration sequence, you’ll receive combat support from both factions’ military units, significantly reducing encounter difficulty. In the final game area, this alliance provides additional firepower, specialized equipment, and tactical options unavailable to players who failed the diplomatic resolution.

Alternative approaches include deliberately sabotaging negotiations to maintain independence or strategically aligning with one faction while eliminating the other. Each path offers unique rewards and narrative consequences, encouraging multiple playthroughs to experience all potential outcomes. The combat assistance alone can reduce completion time for endgame challenges by 25-30% compared to going solo.

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