Having played through the entire set of 1-19 storylines in Nova Praetoria, Imperial City and Neutropolis (more than once), I've made a few discoveries.
1.The
Moral High Ground badge simply requires the completion of 5 moral choice missions. There is no requirement for you to actually change sides (loyalist/resistance) during these moral choice missions, so there is no requirement to "betray" either side at any time.
What this means is that it is possible to earn the
Moral High Ground badge after completing all 4 story arcs in Nova Praetoria ... regardless of which choices you made at the end of each of those arcs (although, you will need to switch alignments in order to get them all).
So how is it possible to get a badge that requires 5 choices out of 4 story arcs in Nova Praetoria?
Simple. The Tutorial has a moral choice towards the end (loyalist/resistance) which COUNTS towards your 5 choices ... and 1+4=5 (right?
). So the moral (choice) of the story is, always run the Praetorian Tutorial ... and not just because of the
Avid Reader badge is obtainable during the Tutorial.
2.It is not (strictly speaking) "necessary" to change your alignment "every single time" in order to "do all the things" in Nova Praetoria, Imperial City and Neutropolis in order to access ALL of the story arcs. And since the
Moral High Ground badge does not require you to CHANGE alignment in order to earn it (reaffirming "counts" too) it is possible to choose a path through Praetoria which "betrays" your current alignment only 1/2 the time (rather than every single time).
This distinction has knock on consequences later on.
The Resistance (Warden) story arc in Neutropolis (Aaron Walker -> Penelope Yin -> Dark Watcher) will have Calvin Scott make a
personal appearance in the moral choice at the end. If you choose Loyalist, you'll have to fight Calvin Scott personally (and you won't get to defeat him no matter what you do, he'll "escape" like a Sentai Villain every time). The consequence of this choice is that Calvin Scott will NEVER speak to you again under any circumstances. Calvin Scott DISAPPEARS from your list of Contacts (so you can't call him). If you walk up to him in the Resistance Base in Underground Neutropolis, he won't talk to you. What this means is that if you "betray" Calvin Scott IN PERSON at the end of the Resistance (Warden) story arc in Neutropolis, that bridge is
BURNED ... permanently.
Needless to say, not everyone is going to think that's "ideal" (for reasons various and sundry), since that's a No Take Backs™ (without rerolling) type of result.
So if you're the type of Player who still wants to "do all the things" in Praetoria (which does NOT have any opportunities for Flashback via Ouroboros!) but you don't want to be following a "Betray EVERY TIME" type of path, here's an alternative route you can take through the story arcs of Praetoria.
Resistance (Warden)Nova Praetoria
- Robert Flores -> Tunnel Rat -> Doctor Arvin
Imperial City (do Resistance Warden first)
- Jessica Flores -> Luke Larson -> Doctor Steffard -> Seer 1381
Neutropolis
- Aaron Walker -> Penelope Yin -> Dark Watcher
=====
Resistance (Crusader)Underground Nova
- Ricochet -> Splice -> Jack Hammer
Underground Imperial
- Hatchet -> Beholder -> Vagabond -> Wardog
Underground Neutropolis (do Resistance Crusader first)
- Crow -> Helix -> Calvin Scott
=====
Loyalist (Responsibility)Nova Praetoria
- Chief Interrogator Washington -> Cleopatra
Imperial City (do Resistance Warden first)
- Interrogator Kang -> Alec Parson -> Investigator Whitworth -> Chance McKnight
Neutropolis
- IVy -> Praetor Tilman -> Anti-Matter
=====
Loyalist (Power)Nova Praetoria
- Deputy Assistant of Information -> Warrant -> Reese
Imperial City
- Mr. G -> Transmuter -> Tami Baker -> Praetor Sinclair
Neutropolis
- Dr. Hetzfeld -> Bobcat -> Neuron
=====
Resistance EndNova Praetoria (1-9) = Resistance (Crusader) -> Resistance (Warden) -> Loyalist (Power) -> Loyalist (Responsibility) ->
RESISTANCE!Imperial City (8-14) = Resistance (Warden) -> Resistance (Crusader) -> Loyalist (Power) -> Loyalist (Responsibility) ->
RESISTANCE!Neutropolis (15-20) = Resistance (Warden) -> Resistance (Crusader) -> Loyalist (Power) -> Loyalist (Responsibility) ->
RESISTANCE!=====
Loyalist EndNova Praetoria (1-9) = Loyalist (Responsibility) -> Resistance (Warden) -> Resistance (Crusader) -> Loyalist (Power) ->
LOYALIST!Imperial City (8-14) = Loyalist (Power) -> Resistance (Warden) -> Resistance (Crusader) -> Loyalist (Responsibility) ->
LOYALIST!Neutropolis (15-20) = Loyalist (Responsibility) -> Resistance (Crusader) -> Resistance (Warden) -> Loyalist (Power) ->
LOYALIST!
Point being that there's more than 1 path through Praetoria which allows you to "do all the things" and "earn all the badges" (and merit rewards!) from completing all of the story arcs in 1-19 Praetoria.
Choosing to be a Loyalist in the Tutorial means that Provost Marchand is your "secret" Contact, so an outcome where Calvin Scott "never trusts or talks to you again" isn't a problem.
But if you chose Resistance in the Tutorial and Calvin Scott IS your "secret" Contact, then betraying Calvin Scott (in person!) at the end of the Resistance (Warden) arc in Neutropolis MIGHT BE a problem for you (as a Player) since if you choose Loyalist in that mission, Calvin Scott will cut all ties with you ... permanently. So having an option where you can stay in Calvin Scott's good graces "for all time" is probably an attractive notion for you.
As a reminder for anyone who is interested in avoiding "lockouts" when doing these alternative pathing options through Praetoria:
- On Rebirth, in Nova Praetoria, Inspector Washington can be killed in the Loyalist (Responsibility) arc in the confrontation with Cleopatra (moral choice mission) without causing any problems with the Loyalist (Power) arc. Originally on the Paragon Studios servers this WAS a hazard, but a different NPC Contact is used during the Deputy Assistant of Information's story arc to avoid this issue of pathing through the story arcs at such low levels with no way of knowing (in advance) that this could become a problem.
- Do Resistance (Warden) BEFORE Loyalist (Responsibility) in Imperial City.
Doctor Steffard (3rd Resistance Contact) is Cutter Cain that Interrogator Kang brings in during the start of the Loyalist (Responsibility) arc. So if you do Interrogator Kang first, Doctor Steffard won't be accessible and you'll "break the chain" for the Resistance (Warden) arc such that it cannot be completed. Note that you can do the Resistance (Warden) arc while your alignment is Loyalist. - Do Resistance (Crusader) BEFORE Resistance (Warden) in Neutropolis *IF* you are going to choose Loyalist at the end of the Resistance (Warden) arc.
Calvin Scott is the final contact in the chain of the Resistance (Crusader) arc in Neutropolis, so if you complete the Resistance (Warden) arc and choose Loyalist you'll "break the chain" for the Resistance (Crusader) arc such that it cannot be completed.
