Good point to break away from the main plot? - Roleplay in New Vegas

[Alixen]

Grr. I'm being railroaded! ;)

 

I'm going through my first 'complete' playthrough of NV with a NCR-supporting character with a deep hatred of the Legion because of Nipton. Thing is; i'm one of those people that like their Fallout to be be open-ended. I want my character to 'live' in the wasteland. Spend in game months gambling, hunting Legion, scavanging and all sorts of other fun stuff that can't really be called plot progress. This character would effectivly just want to clean up the wasteland, and since enemies like the Deathclaws don't respawn, thats a strong possibility.

 

However, I can't, because since i'm roleplaying I have no ground to stand on to just go off and do my own thing. There is too much driving a Courier. In Fallout 3 it was different; even before Broken Steel the second you left the Vault you could decide that your character didn't WANT to find their dad because he abandoned them. Cue open ended roleplay-fun-fun time. If you loved your Dad and wanted to find him you could part ways with Madison after escaping the sewers; infact her dialogue is actually perfectly suited to giving you this choice. Your heartbroken and she acts like a domineering cow; perfect fuel for storming off. When they want you to go start huntng a GECK you could just beleive it was a fools errand and decide not to do it - little lamplight was placed in such a way that you had very little other reason to go there, and it took actual efforet or a perk to get in. If you wanted to become a Brotherhood member you could just buy Broken Steel later and play in a wasteland that was actualy a lot better off thanks to you; and with mods from here you could even do periodic Super-Mutant hunts in the ruins with the Lyons Pride.

 

In New Vegas i've been hounded by the plot since I started; the note Mitchell gives you clearly warns even the most careless or cowardly (so they either can't be bother/don't care about Benny, or don't want a repeat performance of their shooting) of Courier that its very likely/almost certain that if you DON'T persue Benny and the chip that bounty hunters will be sent after you. If this still isn't incentive enough Victor follows your the entire way, reminding you that you should be chasing the chip, and if you enter certain locations (Boulder City) the whole thing is shoved in your face again; in that paticular example with the knowledge that not only have you lost an expensive package, you have lot an EXTREMELY important mans package. Dare to step into Vegas? At least three different NPCs approach you; their questlines eventualy leading to the battle at the Dam. In FO3 you could at least just avoid entering Brauns Vault. Even if you ran into Madison, found Dads recordings, ect, the main plot would not progress without going there - and it could be rationalized easily. In NV I feel under constant pressure to 'find the chip!?!'. You stumble over the main plot wherever you go.

 

Some of this is assumption however; since i've actually only gotten as far as Boulder City on this character. However, other characters have just gone sraight to Vegas (killed the bots) and had a look around at which point I experianced the Benny encounter and talked to House; only for Vulps and an NCR rep to both try to imediatly recruit me upon exiting the casino. This character will of course go see the NCR questgiver - but if I read right following that questline will lead me straight towards the End.

 

Is there a suitable point in the story where you arn't under preassure (either through threats, constant encouragment from important NPCs, or personal goals [i.E. supporting the NCR]) to follow the MQ?

 

I can't even roleplay getting a companion properly/easily; other than Boone and Veronica, both of which are very specialized from a roleplaying perspective. Boone with his Legion hatred fits this character down to the ground and he is actually making her reconsider her Cherchez La Femme ways, but thats only on this character who hates the Legion just as much. Veronica could easily be seen as a BoS spy to most Couriers, including my current one, what with how she wants to 'get to know the factions' and asking probing questions. The one companion I really wanted from the start was Cass - she's just aimless enough to present a good companion for practically any Courier - except that if you are roleplaying and not metagaming you won't get her til fairly late in the game due to having to go to Vegas first. Raul? Who in their right mind assaults a super-mutant base? Arcade you again don't meet til you eventually make it to Vegas. Lily? Yes, i'm going to wander into any settlement int he Mojave with asuper-mutant in tow. As for the 'pet' companions they never interested me. =P

 

I now it sounds like i'm complainig witht he bit above - but its actually just me thinking aloud. Aside from the Cass thing i'm not bothered. Boone is an awesome character and companions and Veronica is sweet enough to win over most of my characters from an RP pov.

 

I know I could just use the mod here that lets you play after the ending; but not only would the 'timeflow' be disturbed. Quests would talk like everything was happening in the past. On top of that, I don't want this characters story to 'finish' before the Couriers veiled past is resolved in the DLC as it seems its going to be, and the DLC isn't exacly being released rapid-fire lol. So my only choice really is to put off the main quests ending indefinatly; prefrably at a point in the story that would fit a stalemate (of possibly a few ingame years) between the factions. I realise that from a storyline perspective thats already in place and the battle for the Dam has been one long stalemate. Problem is, the Courier breaks that in the favor of one faction with every quest they do.

 

Ugh. I'm considering retiring the character until all the DLC is released; and hopefully the game becomes open ended thanks to one of them. I think part of the problem was playing an NCR supporter. The NCR has one big goal - retaking the Damn, as soon as possible. Legion are happy to just wait out the NCR as long as it takes. Not sure about the indi path.

 

I suppose one possibility would be to kill Benny/go kill Caesar to get the chip back from Benny after he is captured; and pretend that I never got invited to speak to the Ambassador. Would that work? Also, what point in the story (and which quest) do you officially become a member of the NCR? And is it as a Ranger? Because that is my ultimate storyline goal for this Courier.

 

Advice and thoughts? =D

Edited April 11, 2011 by Alixen

[marharth]

Well if you enter Vegas at all three different people bug you.

 

The robot comes and says "Mr.House wants to see you!"

 

Then the legion guy, then the NCR. Its pretty much impossible to avoid them.

[evilneko]

I'm thinking after you kill Benny. Yeah, the Legion and NCR reps come to you afterward, but at that point you could easily just tell 'em to stuff it and walk off to do your own thing. That's the way I'm playing Blaze anyway. She doesn't care about the power struggle, she wants to get back home to DC. She'll probably return the chip to Mr. House and unless he's got some good arguments, will probably walk away at that point.

[drakeelvin]

You are right. Goodsprings may be the tutorial but the first chapter of the game is really the whole "They Went That-Away" from Goodsprings to Boulder, and I include meeting Mr House. The Ring-a-ding-ding quest will be on your list but I would say that after meeting House and before confronting Benny, that is the time to break with the main quest.

 

You can even do Talent Pool in The Tops without having to go near Benny.

 

I tried this myself once, walked out of the Lucky 38 and wandered off into the wasteland and I was level 30 before I ever went in to confront Benny over the chip. Spent all my time avoiding Benny and ignoring House.

 

The only problem with this approach is that it helps to know in advance how to walk the fine line with all the factions, to avoid main plot entanglements.

 

IIRC, the Ultra-Luxe/White Glove Society quest is the big one to avoid if you want to keep your NCR and Legion options open. It's OK to visit and gamble but don't do, "Beyond The Beef."

 

One cool benefit for me at least was that the three of us (Me, ED-E and Cass) got to kill all the ground floor security guards in The Tops and we avoided any collateral damage so everything was cool with the rest of The Strip. Just be darn sure you dont shoot any of the patrons!!! I loved the "FROM-MY-COLD-DEAD-HANDS" line I got to give to The Tops greeter. (Taking Benny out with an Anti-Materiel Rifle from the far side of the Casino and never having to hear his blathering was also priceless.)

 

Imho The Tops' greeter would not have demanded that The Thorns' Greatest Hunter hand over his weapons if he knew what was good for The Chairman, and if he had kept up-to-date with the latest editions of Wasteland Who's Who he would have realized it was he and not me who had just made the biggest (and last) mistake of his life. Heck, you would think my full suit of Power Armor should have given him some clue lol.

 

So yeah, it can be done and that was a fun game.

Edited April 12, 2011 by drakeelvin

[Alixen]

Thanks for all the responses. Some interesting stuff. Spent the last two play sessions exploring options.

 

It's actually pretty easy to make it to Vegas going north with some of my damage mods; though I often arrive almost full-body-crippled and in need of Followers medical aid. The raiders in the ruined town just above Goodsprings drop just enough loot that if sold will get you straight into the strip. Hardest part is sneaking past the Fiends alive. While i'm there its not too far out of my way visit the Crimson Caravan and get Cass' quest. Then its just a matter of going to see House, killing Benny to get the Chip, and returning it. Then, as evilneko points out, its pretty easy to justify walking out and heading back to Goodsprings to 'settle down' for a while.

 

It's all pretty easy to justify for most characters who are going indi-Vegas - House or No. Choosing to go with an NCR character really is whats causng the issue. As an NCR supporter she wants the Dam in NCR hands as quickly and efficently as the NCR themselves. I'm just going to have to roleplay that the ambassaor never contacts her til i'm ready to finish the game. I'll pretend that the head Ranger recruits her directly as a Vet Ranger (considering all you do in the game i'd say your plenty qualified) and then just do what strikes my fancy from an rp POV.

 

I still prefer how many different chances you had to bail out of the main quest in FO3; but glad to see it still isn't too hard for a roleplayer to do in Vegas either.

[minngarm]

Well with my first play through house sent me after benny and he got away, and then was approached by the legion rep. At which point it was not implied that it was a you have to come immediately to see him. But rather a open invitation so considering the vast ramafications(sp) of that encounter, the possibility of working for the legion, the fact that the legion can walk up in the middle of the day in the heart of House and NCR territories and could have easily knifed you then and there would sort of blow your mind. So some aimless wandering and time to recoup yourself while hunting for benny (as I do no t recall anything suggesting where he ran off too.) would fit in perfectly.