i really wanna know cuz i dont want to fight the vampires!

slight spoiler
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It doesn't matter, which side you take. If you take Bodhi's side, you fight the thieves, if you choose the shadow thieves, you fight Bodhi.The rewards are al little bit different. But in the end, there is no difference which side you have chosse.

what are the rewards for each?

...And you have to fight the vampires, eventually, just not in chapter 3. Note, if you side with Bodhi, the Shadow Thieves may actually offer a *tougher* battle. Vampires can be dispatched relatively easily when you have a cleric with such high level spells as False Dawn. The very best thieves include some very decent mages who can walk over a good party that underestimates 'em.

What else is good for dispatching vampires if your highest cleric is level 5 and doesn't have false dawn?

I actually never worked for Bodhi, so i cannot help you there (I think, you get an elven chain mail+1, which you can loot from your prime target and some other stuff). Working for the shadow guild earns you the amulett of power (protection against level drain !!) and some other stuff, which i cannot remember quite now. And don't forget the Mace of Disruption, when you are in the grave yard.

@fable: ...."And you have to fight the vampires, eventually, just not in chapter 3" I wanted to express this with "In the end there is no difference which side you choose" ;)

i routinely side with bodhi now, dropping off keldorn or mazzy temporarily so they won't leave when i join (they're silent on the matter when they rejoin). whether thief or vampire, the end is the same: you get to spellhold.

advantages of siding with vampires: you get the mace of disruption early (great for the umar hills); you can get a +3 throwing axe that you can NOT get working for the thieves; you only fight in the vampire crypts once, sparing you the boredom and redundancy of doing it twice; the fights in the guild are far more challenging, varied, and fun than smiting down the undead; no more vampire ambushes in the city at night; the satisfaction and notoriety of taking down the largest thieves' guild this side of waterdeep.

advantages of siding with thieves: you get the amulet of power and +2 ring of protection earlier than with vampires; you will have potential but unneeded allies versus the vamps when you return from spellhold.

some people claim that siding with the thieves nets you more xp, but i'm willing to bet money that the difference, if there is one, is less than 5k. and don't buy into the b.s. argument that one side is "good" and the other is "evil"; that's like saying the mafia are good guys compared to serial killers.

winner, imo: the vampires. and if you want the thief stronghold, do the maevar quest etc before choosing a side (iow, don't go to the graveyard at night with more than 15k in your pocket).