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Update 27 ? Played Twice, Just For You

So yeah, due to some errors in FRAPS taking screenshots and video of a Firefox window I got to play this little section twice

Incidentally I looked at one of the videos and discovered that evidently some uh, interesting things happen while New Vegas is running.



(or at least FRAPS thinks so)

ANYWAY

I could have summarized what happens in cartoon form or something but I chose a different option.

I chose to throw on god mode and replay it.

Courier AWAAAAAAAAAY



A quick distraction:



Veronica will actually always ask for a dress. There is a special reward for doing this with two items, but you can get her response with any dress.



This will not trigger the reward (it's an Unarmed move so we wouldn't use it anyway, but hey)



She's happy nonetheless.

We add her back to the party and do a quick trek back to the bunker to spend the SM chips.






We grab a fuck TON of useful medicines and weapon repair kits. In the real playthrough I took a trip to Julie Farkas and gave her about 10 each of Med-X and RadAway so she liked us enough to give us access to her stock of temporary skill magazines. I also gave her some Fixer.



In this playthrough the Gun Runners Vendortron didn't have the last upgrade for the Anti-Materiel Rifle, but in the real one it did. It's the Custom Bolt and it gives a 20% firing rate increase.



I trek back to Primm to pick up ED-E again.

Also, look!



The Vikki and Vance Casino is open! Time to get banned from it!

BUT FIRST



HE'S STILL HERE!



Look at his lil mouth it's smaller than his nose!



Anyway this goes on, I broke the bank at Vikki and Vance. It's by far the smallest one, banning you at a scant 2500 chips. The reward tiers are 20 caps, a Stealth Boy, and a suit of Reinforced Leather Armor. I mostly did it for completion's sake.



We head back out of Primm.



Hey, these guys again!



They were here the other playthrough as well, but this time he didn't talk to me through a rock from a hundred yards away!



I wander around the Primm area a bit, finding the Prospector's Den a short ways to the southeast.



It's been taken over by the Jackal Gang and all the prospectors are dead.



These guys died much more glitchily the first time, actually going through the floor entirely and disappearing.



wait yessss



shit yesssss (there was more than one pair total the first playthrough leading to A Thing you will see later) but I'm just happy I got to show myself finding any.



Anyhow we head double-inside, kill the gang members inside. There's nothing particularly noteworthy except for a copy of Tumblers Today and a Sarsaparilla Star cap that is chilling on a checkerboard.



I go back outside and to the East.



Turn North at the train tracks.



Keep heading North til I hit this thing.



Star Cap!



Here we are.



Then mostly East again.



Primm Pass!



Primm Pass is a dangerous place for low level Couriers actually.



There's SUPPOSED to be a Blind Deathclaw in it, who due to their extremely high perception will pretty much always notice the player ? but it's not here. Either time. It has apparently been known to wander off to be friends with other deathclaws at a nearby even more dangerous area so maybe that is what happened.



Harper's Shack is on the other end. There is a wealth of crap to craft with and a single Star Cap inside.



I heard all this happening and hoped that the Blind Deathclaw had just found its way to something but it was actually just some golden geckos.



I keep on wanderin' and find Gibson's Shack.



It's roughly here. It's connected to Veronica's quest and so I'll be back, but for now it has one interesting thing.



There's a finger held to the wall with a machete!



Keep on wanderin', kill a fuck TON of little scorpions.



And a couple big ones!



There's a dead wastelander by a big rock who has yet another Star Cap.



After yet more wandering, we come to Hidden Valley.



There are several bunkers in the area, but this is the one we want!



As you see.











Otherwise you just have to pick a lock, or yell a passphrase you can get from the holotapes you find on Brotherhood patrols.



But since you came in with Veronica, I'm inclined to cut you a little slack. Just behave yourself and we won't have any problems, okay? Oh, and the Elder's going to want to talk to you. He's on the second level. Just take a right once you get down there.



A bit hard to see, but Ramos points to his right with his thumb, which is actually towards his office. Decent emoting for Gamebryo!

Note that this plays out very differently if you don't have Veronica with you. You end up with another bomb collar put on your neck by a Brotherhood Elder (which gets removed really quickly).

It's lucky for them that Courier has Veronica along then, because I think he may just have killed them all if he found himself with another bomb collar

Anyway there's about fuck and all to do in the bunker right now that isn't talking to McNamara so hey off we go.



After giving the matter some thought, however, I've decided that an outsider could be of use to me right now. However, I will not force you to help us. Should you refuse, you will be allowed to leave here, though you'd remain Veronica's responsibility.



I'll help you.



In exceptional cases, teams are sent out to investigate sites or retrieve materials deemed too important to ignore. Three such teams have gone missing recently, and the news of their disapparance has not yet been widely spread to avoid undue concern.



I think I already found one of your patrols. Both Paladins were dead.

While that is disheartening news, there remains hope that the other two patrols may still be found alive.

I'll begin looking immediately.



The shielding of the bunker prevents us from actively tracking them, but their positions should show up on your map once you get to the surface. Should our worst fears become realized, please bring back all three of the holotapes from the patrols. Otherwise, bring our brothers home. I've given the order that you be given access to some of the equipment our scouts and patrols have scavenged over the years.



Again, this goes rather differently because Veronica is around to (presumably) vouch for us. That conversation is where the main Brotherhood questline stops caring whether or not Veronica is present though.

We get accosted by yet another guy with a request. The Brotherhood can't do shit on its own anymore, apparently. Come to think of it, it really didn't do shit on its own in 1 and 2 either, and while they sort of did things in 3 they also more or less sucked at it until the player showed up. Also, you may recognize McNamara and Hardin as two names that Elijah bitched about as incompetents a little while ago!



Name's Hardin. I'm the Head Paladin of this chapter, and I think we might be able to help each other out. I don't know what the Elder talked to you about, but I can tell you this chapter is in trouble, and he's at the center of it. Are you willing to listen to what I have to say?

Sure, go ahead.



Morale has plummeted as time has gone by, and many of our current paladins haven't even seen combat outside of training simulations. And all becouse of the Elder's explicit order that no one be allowed in or out. The only way things will change is if a new Elder is installed.

What about Veronica? She seems to come and go as she pleases.



If the Elder could manage it, he'd shut them out as well, and all in the name of security. Which is why we need to replace him.

Have you tried bringing this up with the Elder yourself?



He refuses to see that our isolation is slowly weakening us. Aside from being our duty, going out on missions is what kept us strong. And because he fails to see that, he must be replaced.

And I suppose you'd nominate yourself?



I'd gladly support another candidate, but no one else has the courage to step forward and make the attempt, so it falls to me. I would put this chapter back on the right path, if I could just assume leadership.

How do you propose to do that?



The people who are most likely to know how it could be done are also some of McNamara's strongest supporters, so they refuse to help me. Which is why we're having this conversation. An outsider such as yourself would arouse less suspicion asking questions about such matters.



In short, you're in a perfect position to help me. Will you at least think about it?

I want no part of this.

I half expected you to say that. In which case, I'll continue to pursue the matter on my own.



This is actually a 100% valid route that locks you out of precious few things. I recall it bugging out Veronica's quest in the past so I didn't take it. It looks like this fixed or I just imagined it because Veronica's quest is buggy as shit anyway. Even if it's not possible to run out of triggers anymore since there are more permanent ones than you need now

Also there is an unmarked quest involving the merchant of the Brotherhood and finding a missing laser pistol. I have never once completed this quest without cheats because the generic paladin you turn it into always likes to stop sitting at his desk and be unfindable so I use spawn a copy of him vv





Also she is selling ballistic fists, which are a sawed off shotgun strapped to a glove and pressure plate. It's pretty metal. She also sells Greased Lightning, the unique Power Fist variant added by GRA. It has a faster attack effect.



This guy sits at the desk right across from Knight Torres. However he fuckin loves to just up and vanish right after you talk to him to find out Initiate Stanton checked out the pistol.

Anyway I didn't complete this quest further than this yet, maybe I will some day, who knows. It nets you some Brotherhood faction fame and a tri-beam laser rifle.

I set off to find the other two patrols.



One is actually really close to Hidden Valley.



Doop de doooo



Oh eww, centaurs.



Including FAVORITE CENTAUR MOE



The patrol is in the bottom of a heavily irradiated crater.



The next is waaaaaay up in the northeast corner of the map!



I fast travel to the New Vegas Medical Clinic and get movin' to the northeast, making a brief stop at this red pip on the compass.



There's a mad brahmin attacking these peaceful mole rats you guys



Unless you are really lucky/good at sniping the brahmin will probably kill a couple mole rats at Mole Rat Ranch, but you can save them. It's not scripted or anything, just a guaranteed encounter.



About this time I started abusing my god mode by firing ARCHIMEDES II everywhere to watch the big pretty laser. Pictured: Veronica bugging out slightly, this line is related to her quest but we haven't properly started that yet!

So we follow the road and get forced into dialogue with this guy.



Now that I've got your attention, might you be interested in a little information? It'll cost you, but it's well worth the investment.




I've made some cash from gambling, and some cash from... reclaiming goods that are no longer being used. Now do you want my help or not?

Thanks for the warning. What's going on past those signs?

Oh lordy lordy, you haven't heard of the Boomers? What rock have you been living under?



Is there a way to get past?

There is a way, and I'll tell you... for a little wager?

Wager? Let's hear it.

Wel,l I know the secret to get past. If you give me the caps, I'll tell you. If you make it back alive I'll double your money!




You've got yourself a bet.

Okay, here you go. That page has the details, but it's all in the timing as you move from building to building.






This is, obviously, much harder on Hardcore mode where stimpacks work over time and don't fix crippled limbs. HOWEVER I'm a lazy arse and am not playing on that mode



Also this particular step is 100% required on Hardcore mode, where your companions are pretty much guaranteed to die permanently here. I do it anyway just because.

Now then. OFF WE GO



FUCKING OW



Whew.

In the real playthrough I burned a number of my surplus stimpacks and a doctor's bag on running in a straight line like a psycho but this time god mode



Man there are few worse things to point at someone as close to you as Courier is than a rocket launcher but okay.

How the hell did you survive that bombardment?

I didn't run through all that artillery to hear your stupid questions.

Are you even human? Some kind of mutant?



Do you really think I'm scared of a punk like you?



CAMERA WHIPS TO THE LEFT



All right. Lead the way.

Follow close ? and mind your behavior.

TELEPORT



Pearl is the first Boomer who doesn't have something in the way, so I will comment on it now. Look at her necklace ? it's a stereotypical tribal bone necklace but with bullets instead of bones. The Boomers all have these - I think it's a neat touch that Obsidian gave their clothes.

I've been waiting a good five years for an outsider to come along and visit!

You didn't exactly roll out a red carpet!

Those howitzers of ours aren't just for entertainment, child! Explosive ordnance is what keeps the savages at a distance.



How might I be of assistance?

Oh, so many ways! Small ones to begin with, so we can get used to what it's like to have a sav- outsider around and about. Should that go well, it may be you can help in big ways, too. We'll have to see.






this is the god knows how many-th time I have played this far into the game and the first time I notice that typo in the subtitling

My youngers think our guns can keep out the world, but I think we need to let it in, just a little, or become its victim. You're that little bit of the world, child. Welcome to Nellis.

Where do I start?



Raquel could use help with the bug problem, Doc Argyll has wounded he's tending to, and Loyal and Jack might be looking for help with some repairs. Or you could just go see Pete at the musem and hear the story of our people. All you have to do there is listen.




I will finish this quest later! I only went this far in because it stops the Boomers ever shooting the fucking Howitzers at us ever again and we have to come back here eventually so might as well get the getting blown the fuck up over in one go, y'know?



Plus it makes actually getting to the corpse of the Paladin who appears to have taken a Howitzer shell to the face without benefit of god mode/a billion instant-acting stimpacks much more convenient



Here are the three holotapes, by the way:

Nellis AFB/Boomers:



Black Mountain:




REPCONN HQ




As a bonus, fun with god mode + ragdoll + exploding cars


Let's not forget to cash in our bet with George (and tell our companions to follow us again)



I believe you said you would double my money.

Yep, here are your caps.

That was 600 caps.



Dickbag

Turnin' in the quest:



Yes, here are their holotapes.

They were all dead, then. I suppose I'm not surprised. We have few friends in the world above, and many enemies. But we must turn our minds to other matters. When I sent out those patrols, I also sent three Knights out on scouting missions.



I want you to contact these scouts and gather their reports. Like the patrols, they have devices on them that will enable you to track them. When you find them, tell them you're my representative and ask them if the bears are still hunting. That should get them to talk to you.



This point (and having learned about the Brotherhood's Codex) is what you need to get McNamara removed, incidentally ? by ordering the Knights directly (and in fact secretly) he violated the proper chain of command. Being Elder makes you in charge, but it doesn't give absolute power, you still gotta relay shit properly.



One of them is actually, uh, incredibly close by. Let's head to him first, shall we?



How's it goin, NCR Prison. Still depopulated, I see!



I'm Elder McNamara's representative. He said to ask if the bears are still hunting.

You speak truly, for it is unlikely that an outsider would know both the Elder's name and that passphrase.



The facility was run by the NCR for a time, but the prisoners overcame their guards and now use the prison as a base from which to conduct raids. What puzzles me is why these men have been allowed to run wild for so long unchecked. Why has the NCR not retaken this place?



I follow the mountain range around the manual way to the scout near Nipton, encountering a couple things along the way. Like these two Powder Gangers in a cave mouth/overhang thing!





Heheheh.

Nothing else eventful happens though so here's the next guy!





is it just me or do these guys all have the same face

Elder McNamara sent me as his representative. He asks if the bears are still hunting.

Strange that the Elder should send an outsider, but I suppose he has his reasons.



That such an act could occur so far west is nearly unthinkable. The NCR has forces in all directions, and an outpost scant miles west from here. That they have not responded to this violence shows either an unwillingness or inability to properly defend their borders, which is telling.



More or less directly underneath him (okay not that directly but it's really close) is an overhang with some coyotes.





This Hidden Supply Cave (part of a different quest) is close by as well.



Walking Box Cavern is close by as well.



Walking Box has some nightstalkers in it and a statically placed batch of their eggs for yet another quest. I got some fun sneak attack criticals with the anti-materiel rifle and explosive rounds in there but nothing much else.



Oh, and I do finish this off for a total of +6% damage against Abomination type enemies which is pretty nice to have.