Completed a bunch more content in Fallout 3 recently. The other day I did the Krivbeknih quest and destroyed the book, because I am not helping crazy occultists. Obadiah Blackhall was unsurprisingly displeased with my choice and told me basically that I should not criticize things that I don't understand and walked away.

Little did he realize what was coming to him. Mariah taught him a rather painful lesson.

I sure am!


In fact; I have just now boarded Rivet City in prep for the journey. Sold some stuff at the market and now I'll re-explore the rest of the ship. Always fun to go look at it

Have fun storming the castle!

I used to love reading the reviews on Point Lookout in Google Maps. They used to be filled with comments about mirelurks, tribals, and so on. But it has been so long since Fallout 3 that those reviews have dropped to the bottom.



5.56 vs Deathclaws? Maybe you should try to arm up. Bottlecap mines, .44 Magnums, and Fat Men are excellent Deathclaw hunters.


Blondie is teh L33T!



A fitting end for a Cthulhu Cultist.

Oh it's no problem. Cho has a few explosives, he already used some mines and grenades! ... 5.56 ammo does just fine against those beasts, especially since Cho got his new Hechler & Koch replica gun!

Problem is, he already wasted a lot of his ammo on random encounters as the C-team traveled from The Citadel. He left Citadel with just over 750 rounds, now he's down to about 200. I just have to add a vendor into Minefield, so he doesn't have to go all the way back to Megaton.

5.56? .44 magnums? Bottlecap mines even?

Learn from the Hobo, he went against a deathclaw with a dart gun - and won.

The Dart Gun is overpowered. It automatically cripples both legs on a hit anywhere. Then they can never reach you.

Persephone fights Deathclaws with a sword

It's definitely overpowered but on the other hand, its schematics aren't easy to find unless one purchases them or reads online where to find them, so it's a fitting reward that it's a powerful weapon.

I just fired up the Hobo's game again and found him right at outskirts of Old Olney, so those pics from above were taken about two years ago, when I played his game for the last time.

Today together with Dogmeat he ventured deeper into the infested town and fought deathclaws with shishkebab, mines, grenades, railway rifle, dart gun and of course his trusted hunting rifle, so he used every weapon from his arsenal of lethal weapons except binoculars.

The Hobo also left some handy stuff for any children that might come to Old Olney in the near future like Cho for instance . He placed the stuff inside a crate to one of the ruined houses east of Old Olney. This stuff can be found here.

The last thing the Deathclaws heard was "Haw Baw!"


I have been listening to the HPLHS radio drama The White Tree today. One of the characters made me think of Renee. Sheriff Morpain. That sounds like a future character!

Ha ha you two are cracking me up! .. Good to see THE Hobo back. Time for some popcorn.

Yes Sherriff Morpain sounds like a funny name. I'd use it if I didn't already have a list of names to get to. Stay tuned for Linda Hand, for instance.

We're getting the remains of Florence this weekend, so this means even more rain and drizzly weather. And I only play Fallout if it's sunny. No sunny weather though until Wednesday.

There is silence now in Old Olney.

No longer can one hear deathclaws stomping around.

"But they'll come back," the Hobo says to Dogmeat, who happily barks in return. "They always do. First from eggs, then they grow up and then they climb up from sewers. I can feel them beneath us, blasted hooligans."

The Hobo feels sad as he's leaving Old Olney. He can feel souls of too many adventurers that died in this place, some from his world and some from the other worlds. He feels a soul of a young girl called Marge who had entire life ahead of her but fell under claws of death. The Hobo can't explain how but upon feeling Marge's soul he knows that she was from some vault. The Hobo was also born in some vault but the only thing that remains from his vault dwelling days is a PipBoy on his left arm.

Then he senses another soul - an evil, foul being, a devil impersonated. The Hobo's head hurts as he's overwhelmed by monstrosities this snake creature had committed but if the Hobo could sense his soul, it means he's dead. And this is good. The Hobo puts his backpack down and opens it - he wants some beer but in a backpack full of random junk from all over the wasteland, from tin cans to mini nukes with everything like magazines, pool balls, metro tickets, vacuum cleaners, pencils and other junk in between, it's hard to find anything. Finally, he finds an unopened bottle of freshly irradiated beer. He opens the bottle with a lighter and quickly throws the bottle cap away as it were on fire. The Hobo knows that wealth makes people unhappy so he never carries more than one bottle cap. But he always has one just in case he needed to pay for some thing. Not that this is going to happen because the Hobo doesn't trade with anyone. As he's leaving Old Olney behind, Dogmeat is faithfully following him, curious where his master will take him now.

Let's hope that snake like soul stays dead!

Whoa, he only carries one bottle cap at a time?! See, I thought he carried all that stuff around so he could trade it!

Aww, a reference to Marge. I remember you telling me long ago, Lopov, that THE Hobo has some sort of extra sensory perception. Something mysterious about him.

Until necromancers come to the Capital Wasteland, he'll stay dead but then...who knows?

Yep because more of them bring bad luck. The Hobo didn't trade with anyone up until now but then again, he didn't meet any traders yet, so he might do some trading in the future, probably exchanging junk for junk.

Yep, not even I fully understand this sixth sense of his, but he can perceive some visions from the past, also from the future, he can also sense whether some person is good or evil.

If Dogmeat hadn’t gotten lost and the Hobo didn’t go searching for him, Cynthia would still be a slave. But because Dogmeat had gotten lost and the Hobo went searching for him, Cynthia wasn’t a slave anymore.

At first the Hobo didn’t pay any attention to the group of three women and one man that had just passed him, but when his eyes spotted an exploding neck collar on one of the women, he immediately thought of “Slaver scumbags!”

The first slaver he killed with his latest acquisition, the ballistic shotgun, for the second one he felt like something fiery is needed, so he resorted to the shishkebab and for the third one the hunting rifle was sufficient.

After some tinkering with Cynthia’s slave collar the Hobo successfully removed it and made Cynthia free again.

“Thank you,” Cynthia siged with relief, as the Hobo unclasped the collar.

“Don’t thank me,” he grunted. “Thank my dog. He got lost. So I went after him.”

“Oh…but thanks anyway! I can’t believe you knew what needed to be done to remove the collar.”

“I didn’t,” grunted the Hobo. “But what else did you have to lose except your head?”

Baffled Cynthia didn’t know whether the Hobo was bluffing or not, but then she smiled, because what only mattered in the end, was that she wasn’t a slave anymore.

Good job, H0b0. Now go take your bath.

---------------------

"You've made your last delivery, kid."

The man wearing a loud checkerboard jacket had said this. When? Some time ago. That stupid man in his stupid white and black jacket, along with a couple other thuggish-looking rascals, were the last thing she remembered. What happened? Where am I? she asked herself. Still alive, apparently. Which was a good enough answer, of course. Her head pounded though. All she could see was some sort of bright light. Maybe this was THE light...the one everybody said they saw as they were passing ... over to the other side.

"You're awake," said a voice. Male. Older. "How about that?"

"Les? Les??? Is that you?" she asked, then tried to sit up.

"Whoa easy there!" the male voice responded. Definitely not Les. "Easy. You've been out cold for a couple days now."

"I have?"

"Why don't you just relax. Get your bearings, Miss. Have yourself some water. We got the most pure water ya know, right here in town."

"Where is Les? Who are you? What happened to our caravan?" she asked desperately, clearing her eyes so she could get a look at the man.

"Why don't we just start with your name? Can you tell me your name?" He said kindly. With concern.

"Linda," she whispered.

"Huh? Linda? .... Linda what? Have ya got a last name? Need ta put it down for ma records."

"Linda Hand."

"Heh," the man grunted, then spat. "Can't say that's what I'd-a picked for ya, but if that's your name that's your name."
"That is my name," she said with surety. She looked around the room, thinking. Saw some shapes lying on other beds, shapes which cut striking figures in the gloom.

"I'm Doc Mitchell. Now I hope you don't mind, but I had to go foolin' around in your noggin just a little, not sure if I got anything out of place. how'd I do?" As he said this. he handed Linda Hand a clipboard.

"Well yes, I am obviously female," she said, looking down at Mitchell's notes. "Can I have more water please?"

Doc Mitchell handed her a glass of some of Goodsprings' finest, while a door in some other room openeed without a word.



"I am Caucasian, yes you got that right. Brown hair, blue eyes. Oh, I am twenty-four."

"Well, got most of it right anyway," Doc replied. "Stuff that mattered, anyway. Okay," he said, standing up. "Let's see if we can git you on your feet," he said, plucking Linda by the shoulder. "Good. Why don't you walk down to the other hand.... err... I mean the other side of the room, over by the Vig-o-matic."

Linda's balance wobbled as she tried to stand on her own. She then got a headrush.

"Take it slow now. It ain't a race."

She managed to cross the room, her bare feet whispering across the floor. She walked slowly. She walked approximately twenty feet, yet it felt like three days had passed to do so.

"Lookin' good so far. Go ahead and give the tester a try. We'll know right away if ya got all yer faculties."

Linda did so, thinking back. She'd never been the strongest of her group, she's always had just average luck. Not the best, and not the worst. But her abilities for perceiving things, knowing things, and just getting around were slightly above average; hence, these were her strong points, why and how she had made it this far in life. Most of all, she was good at just talking to people though. Helping them. Lending them a hand. And being able to simply communicate in her pleasant, yet firm, manner had always been her best asset.

But she felt troubled. There had been a few others who'd joined Linda Hand and her brother, Les Havva Hand, a couple days before. She and Les had been on their way into the heart of Vegas. Her brother had always been quite an entertainer, and was hoping to launch some sort of postwar career there. But then.... what?

"That man in the checkerboard jacket, that's what," Linda answered her own question.

"Yeah, that's a pretty standard score there," the doctor said, breaking Linda's reverie. "But after what you'd been through..."

"Hey, this water's pretty good," Linda interrupted. She took another sip. drinking some of the best water she'd ever tasted, mostly because it had no taste. "Can I have some more?"

She looked back to the beds with the figures on them. Saw who she thought were Karen and Mark, the two others who they'd been traveling with across the desert. But no Les. Les Havva Hand was nowhere around. Doc Mitchell confirmed: He'd only taken in three.

Once per month is more than enough.

A hearty welcome to Linda Hand! Mojave is always in need in lending a hand.

I like that you wrote up the entire starting dialogue, throwing some additional words in between like Doc complimenting Goodsprings' water even before Linda could say a proper word.

I am guessing that Karen is Aboucha? And Les is Linda's brother? Is Mark M'Words?

That was a nice intro to the game, with the addition of two others, and a missing third. Now Karen has a quest to find Les. Maybe she will have someone to lend her a hand on the way?

Arrgh, so many little mistakes! Sorry about that. I'm out of practice. I just combed through and fixed what I could though.

After spending two days at Rivet City, I am now onboard the vessel that will take me to Point Lookout. Ticket is purchased and tomorrow it will rain lead in the murky swampland.


I hope Renee knows how to duck

I'm in Point Lookout now and blimey, krikey O'Reily, I've actually found no less than three things I haven't discovered before!


Thing #1 - A hidden box of shotgun shells behind some clipboards in the bank close to the pier. It was left alone.

Thing #2 - A lever-action rifle and a box of ammo on the road close to the wrecked truck. The rifle was left alone but ammo was taken.

Thing #3 - Two stimpaks and two boxes of ammo by the wall to the Ark and Dove Cathedral. Stimpaks was left alone but the ammo was taken.


I'm not sure if I actually missed these items before or if I have found them but didn't bother. But it does feel that I've overlooked them. Can't fathom how though

Today I went on the special safari in the north-east area of Lookout. The other two were still there even though the wiki said they should disappear when you leave the safari, something I did last year. Oh, well.

I felt quite unprepared this time despite knowing I would participate again. No mines, and the guns I brought along either did too little damage or took too long to reload. If Bethesda had done the weapons right and not capped it at 250 rounds, the minigun would have been much more useful.

After the safari I just ran around the swamp, killing whatever I encountered. It was especially fun dropping missiles on the swampfo'hk around the entrance to the basement ritual site. I also visited the detention camp and a few other key places around the map. Then I decided to call it quits and after just one day in the swamp I am now back in the Capital Wasteland and my Megaton home, with Gunny guarding the entrance together with Deputy Weld as usual.


Thus conclude the 2018 Fallout 3 season. Well met in 2019!

I get a feeling that sooner or later you'll stop going to Point Lookout altogether, just like Lothran doesn't go to the Shivering Isles anymore.

Maybe you're right. The novelty has worn off quite a bit with both places. Lookout was really only fun first time around.

You didn't miss or overlook these items. They were dropped by Ally Gator, most likely. Either that, or you're new here. In that case, welcome friend! My name's Renee.

-----------------------------------




*POP!*

Pipboy App ON, Date: 03.22.78, 15:26

I am in Olney Paperworks right now, typical creepy place full of deathclaws. Hate the things. This has been a virtual campaign, too. I mean, like a siege, or whatever they used to call battle fronts back in the day of the Great War. Place is huge. What the hell did they used to do here anyway? Probably make paper, as the name suggests? Who knows? Not I. I just work here, as they saying goes. Break.

Like I said though, it's been a virtual siege. Ran out of ammo for my specialized Citadel gun, but we got really lucky. Some guy, some old duffer from Bigtown moved into Minefield with his wife. Moved there, and is setting up shop, right in one of the old houses I cleared. So we got lucky because all I had to do was do some buying and selling from him. Did not have to go all the way [censored] back to Megaton. Break.

Another useful thing though. Apparently I have some sort of admirer out there in the Wasteland. Guy goes by name of "the hobo", like, that's what they call him. Some old guy wearing commie pinko clothes, or something, he met up with one of my companions while they were holed away in Minefield, and told him there's a chest just outside of Olney with all sorts of useful stuff in it. I thought this information would be false, but the guy was right. Chest was full of stuff. Hope I meet this hobo guy some day, but apparently he's quite the wanderer.

unidentified male voice: Hey, I'm bored around here. When are we gonna get going?

Yeah, sorry about that. You guys are the heavy infantry, like I said. I'm better at stealth. That's why I got you here though, for heavy-fire power and backup. No offense. You'll see plenty of action once I lure some *unidentified word* back here. If I let you come with me as I'm sneaking around, you'll just bungle it all up No offense.

unidentified male voice: DAMMIT!

Hey, you know, you shouldn't smoke. It can kill you faster than deathclaws.

unidentified male voice: Whatever, Cho.

*CLICK!*

Pipboy App OFF Date: 03.22.78, 17:01

THE Hobo's Trunk of Surprises

Olney Paperworks has a new CEO

And a disgruntled employee

Exit Strategy

Incoming!

You can take this job and shove it

*BAM GASP!*

rawr attack

He lost and I won

The Cho Zen Wan is back!

I think that is the CEO of Claw Incorporated...

Love the face of that deathclaw behind the dust cloud.

Looks like it was a hostile takeover.

That CEO doesn't look like he's open to business suggestions.

Nice action pics, love the one with the CEO covered in smoke because he stepped on the mine.

The Hobo was glad to help but the pic of his trunk is missing.

I'm glad my boss isn't the same guy who ran Olney Paperworks

Just call Cho if you have problems with your boss. He'll set him up a mine.

To the Mojave Wasteland we go! Now that I've finally tried Fallout: New Vegas again and I am really enjoying it this time around, here are some screenshots of my Courier.

A New Adventure

Trouble Brewing

Game Face

Recon

Legion Shootout

Lights in the Distance

I've Waited a Long Time for This

Happy Trails? Uh Oh...

Killing Joe Cobb and his crew is always satisfying.

Game Face is a great action shot.

Great shot of Vegas in the distance.

I was expecting to see Benny's head separated from his body.

Happy Trails! Hope Mariah is locked and loaded!

Hey this is fun! We're both in the Mojave this weekend!

What's her name? She's got a very cute "game face".

That was a really interesting story for Vault 11. Very unique. I was wondering what exactly was coming, then suddenly Veronica and I are being shot by lasers and the doors hadn't even opened yet! Died probably 8 times at least before I was able to find a way to survive. I went to the side with the turrets and Robobrains first to avoid the Sentry Bots. I took the turrets out as quickly as I could, and the Robobrains were actually pretty easy. Then I would go back and forth behind the wall to shoot the Sentry Bots.

Yeah, I wish I could've finished Benny off more brutally, but I couldn't have any weapons on me. And my unarmed is really low, so I had to punch him a lot.




Her name is Mariah. I just really like the name for some reason, so I have it for all of my Fallout characters (1, 3, NV, and 4).

Sure Raiders, Mariah is an interesting choice. It makes me think of the singer at first, and maybe Mariah Carey's fame lives on 250+ years after fact, but other than that, Mariah is actually not a common name, at least where I live.

I really wanted to post a picture with this next story (since that is what WE want) but my email keeps not receiving it. Tried two email addy's actually. As we last saw, Linda Hand had just arrived to the Mojave and got patched up by Doc Mitchell. But the good doctor only has so much room for patients, and Linda needs to find her brother anyway.


---------------------------------------------

Date: October 20, 2281, late morning.

She had been walking around for hours, dazed and worried. Where had her brother gone? What had happened to him?

It was night when Linda Hand left the care of Doc Mitchell, maybe twelve hours before. She had rushed around, searching for anybody whom she could to speak to. Finally found some folks over at the Prospector Saloon, Goodsprings' premier drinking establishment. Its only drinking establishment, actually. She'd spoken to a couple of settlers there, and had gleaned some information. Seemed like half the people in town knew who'd attacked the Hand'caravan, but nobody knew a thing about an overly extroverted man named Les.

With nobody else to turn to, Linda decided to follow a matter-of-fact Goodsprings settler named Sunny out into the dark of night. Sunny gave Linda a rifle. Cheap, yes, but out here, any rifle which worked and did not jam was a good rifle. Sunny then taught Linda a few tips on how to handle a firearm (stuff Linda already knew) and also gave her some valuable ammunition. Can't turn ammo down out here, can ya? Finally, Sunny led Linda out into the Mojave, where the pair of ladies shot several geckos.*

All of that had taken place hours ago. By now it was almost noon, and Linda was supposed to be looking for some ingredients for Sunny: a "broc flower" and a "xander root", whatever those are. Too bad Karen Aboucha was not awake yet; she might know this sort of stuff.

The great fire in the sky was now fully in the air, birds circling the desert, occasionally diving for mantises. Linda decided Sunny's mission could wait. She then went into the surplus store, eager to get rid of the blue outfit Doc Mitchell had given her; this outfit made her feel like she was rather overdressed. Bought some leathered armor instead, which would offer more protection, and also help her blend in with the Mojave's scenery. But being leather, this also meant it was dark, and dark clothes have a tendency to gather more heat than lighter items. Still, there was no way she was going back to reclaim that goofy Vault 21 jumpsuit.

"Hey, you!"

A familiar face popped into view out of a side street. Linda almost jumped, stunned out of her reverie.

"Stand back!" Linda unholstered the pistol given to her by the doctor. "Or I might just teach you a lesson!"

"Linda, it's me," said Karen. Karen Aboucha, the stranger who'd joined the Hands on their way from Oregon to Nevada.

"Oh, sorry Karen. Getting kinda woozy out here. It's the sun. And ... everything that's happened." Linda looked down, saw she was still holding her 9 iron. Holstered it. "Sorry. Well it looks like we both survived whatever happened to us out there. Somehow. What do you remember? Anything?"

"No, not at all," Karen answered. "We was attacked, This I know, but no, no memory of how."

Linda stared down at the old asphalt below. Asphalt which had once been brand-new and sniny.

'Say, whatcha gonna do?" Karen asked. "You gonna go to Vegas? Marc is going there. You know, the guy who also was with me? He wants to go there, you know, maybe get some caps and get lucky."

"I ... I don't know. I don't know what I'm gonna do, Karen. I can't stay here though. I got to know ... I have to find my brother. And everyone's saying the men who attacked us are not too far from here. So for me, that's the first step. Finding them, so I can find Les. You coming?"

"Pfft, 'fraid not," Karen replied. "I kinda like it here, you know? Deep well water, protected by limestone aquifiers, that's why it's so pure. You cannot find such a thing; so rare. I have no family no more, and no where to go. And Marc, well he is kind of a douchebag, as you may have noticed eh? Anyhow, I think I'll stay here awhile."

Linda Hand could see in Karen's penetrating eyes that she was serious.

"Te deseo buena suerte, seniorita," Karen added before walking away. "I wish you good luck, Linda."

"Hey Karen wait! .. Um. Do you know what a broc flower looks like? Or a xander root?"

Some stay behind and some push on. While Karen seems to be happy at Goodsprings, Linda seems to be a more adventurous type. I like that comment about any rifle being good as long as it doesn't jam - very true.

Yes! I think that's much more true in the Mojave than the CW.

------------------


*POP!*

Pipboy App ON, Date: Saturday, 03.28.78, 11:46 AM

Another update from the C-team. Cho here, with all four of my Citadel team. Just taking a break here just outside the Citadel before we head on north back to Olney. Yeah, we had to come all the way back here, mostly because of ammo. My new, specialized assault rifle does the job, but man this [censored] gets thirsty for some five fifty-six. ... That guy up in Minefield? Totally cleaned him out. Went to Megaton, Moira barely had any five fifty-six in stock, imagine? Good news is we've taken care of all the deathclaws up in Olney, as far as I know. We've been laying serious siege upon the Enclave up there too. Break.

It's good we came back though, I just got a ...... oh [censored]!

unidentified sounds, Pipboy App cannot decipher! .... 10 seconds....20 seconds....

Damn! That was quick! Looks like another super mutant wanted to maybe join the ranks of the Citadel? Silly mutant, shows up here with a rifle, it's like "Ready! Fire! AIM!" was his philosophy.

unidentified male voice: Hey Cho, you honor us with your presence. And why are you talking to your arm?

Hey I'm weird. I talk to my arm sometimes.

*click!*

Pipboy App OFF, Date: Saturday, 03.28.78, 11:54 AM



The Chosen One

Mutie not so smartie

Suicide by C-team!

Pew! Pew!

Mutie Interrupted

Mutie very Dumbie!

If Cho didn't talk to his arm, we wouldn't have anything to read about.

Pew Pew is a name of one of the unique weapons in New Vegas, and it's also an energy weapon.

The Cho Zen Wan!

Great action shot in Taking the Heat!

Really cool green energy wreathing the plasma pistol

I have just started a new playthru on Fallout NV. It has been several years since I last touched it and I am determined to hit level 50 and finish all the DLC's- two things I have yet to achieve.

Jackson Bird has emerged from the pits of despair and is determined to find out just who is this man in the daisy suit. Strange robots and many helpful locals have pointed him towards Novac. Jackson loves to do things his own way so decided to take the scenic route to Novac via Hidden Valley and Black Mountain. The Super Mutants took offence at his sight seeing and put their Centaurs on him. Jackson killed one and jumped away from the other two. Nasty brutes!

Jackson is currently investigating rumors of ghouls up at the old REPCONN building.

Not sure what faction he will side with. I can feel an undercurrent of evil in this character, so we shall see.


**

Several things I have noticed about NV. The audio and atmosphere is absolutely top notch. As are the weapons. Obsidian can certainly teach Beth a thing or two about designing weapons. Beth have had 2 or 3 chances to design a game with fun weapons and have failed every time.

I've only recently hit Level 50 for the first time ever - with Blondie.

It never gets old starting a new character in New Vegas, of all Beth games I like the beginning of NV the most and I never use a default start.

Of all "shortcuts" the route via Black Mountain is probably the safest as long as you avoid deathclaws that can lurk close to the foot of Black Mountain and avoid some high-leveled muties that spawn the further you move up the mountain. Looks like Jackson was just fine, though. Where are pics?

I think WW is on Xbox?

Welcome Jackson Bird (cool name). May all your travels be ... well .... not really "safe". But .. er....

Lopov knows that I am playing on 360, but he still likes to stir me about it.

Jackson Bird was named after a cricketer here in Australia (a sport that nobody else on this site understands ), he is a fast bowler that played in the test team several years ago but has been missing recently. I decided the reason was that he paid a visit to Vegas and never returned.

Jackson has cleared out REPCONN and has raided the place of all the valuables. He is a crafty and devious type of character with a high intelligence (7) so he decided to negotiate a settlement where all parties left the building to him. He fired the rockets off the great beyond as was glad to see the last of all of them. Unfortunately Jackson's science is lower than 55 so no modifying the flight plans.

He has now hooked up with the ganger boys in correctional facility and is quite impressed with their set up. The big boss man, Eddie, has given him a job to hunt down a former member called Chavez.


***


It is so nice to have the Fallout 3 ghouls back in the game again. They screamed at me from the darkness and it sent chills down my spine. Their design is 1000 times better than the flopping ragdolls in FO4.

Indeed.

I wonder how devious Jackson Bird will handle the end of Eddie's quest. If you've done it before, you know what I'm talking about, otherwise it'll be interesting to see which side will Jackson choose.

I don't like deathclaws of Fallout 4 because they remind me of dinosaurs and they're not fearsome at all, but I like ghouls. Firstly, because they can scare the sh.it out of you when they jump from behind, and secondly because "you gotta shoot them in the head" to bring them down for good. I remember that Logan once shot a ghoul in its leg and it fell on the ground, Logan thought it's dead, so he holstered his weapon and began walking away, when he heard some odd noise behind. As he turned around, the legless ghoul was now crawling towards him. He quickly fired another shot but it was a neat surprise, especially because back then I didn't know that ghouls can't be killed that easily.

Yes, cricket is something I know nothing about. Jackson Bird sounds familiar though.

I also don't know anything about those quests you've just described, which is a GOOD thing. Means there's so much to look forward to.

We have crickets here in America. They make a lot of noise, but get quiet once you get near them. We don't try to make them into a sport though. Crazy Aussies...

Date: Sunday, October 21, 2281, late morning.

The lady followed the other lady. Linda Hand followed Sunny Smiles, that is. And Sunny's dog Cheyenne followed both of them. Back to Goodsprings, back to Prospector Saloon, where it was cool. Being originally from Oregon, Linda was not used to all this heat yet, and wearing a full leather armor suit was not helping much. Sunny wore similar armor, yet somehow was not breaking a sweat.

But first, she decided to stop by Goodsprings General Store to see if Chet, the store's merchant, had a shovel for sale.

"You looking to buy some supplies?" Chet squeaked.

"Do you sell any shovels? I noticed something interesting up at the graveyard and..." Linda stopped in mid-sentence, embarrassed. Though there was no law against grave-digging for at least a couple hundred years now, certainly her intention might be seen as questionable, here in this respectable town. But she had to know. She had to know if her brother was up there. And buying a shovel would be the first step.

Chet did not seem to mind as Linda suddenly fretted. "Can do," he said.

He did not have a shovel. Nor did he have anything cooler to wear, out in the hot sun. So Linda relegated herself to perhaps spending the rest of the day in Goodsprings' saloon, where hopefully nobody would object if she snoozed the day away in one of the place's booths.

She does not get a chance to nap though. As she walks through the door, she finds the saloon's bartender in the midst of an argument with some greasy-looking fellow. And pretty soon, Linda Hand decides to get involved.

That's a neat quest Linda's about to undertake. Maybe some scenes will be familiar because SubRosa and me would occasionally post screenies of events that occur during this quest.

There's probably some shovel to be found in or around Goodsprings or just wait for the squealing merchant to refresh his inventory, he sells one most of the time.

Ah, any screenies you've posted in the past have been long-forgotten by my long-ravaged brain, which is a good thing. I have no idea what's to come, really.

I am pretty stoked about it. It is rather complex. Linda was able to get some aid from the doc but Chet and Pete have both refused, which makes sense. Pete in particular is worried about Linda not being able to handle explosives, especially. Linda is siding with Ringo though she doesn't entirely trust him either. But she didn't like the way that Power Ganger guy came busting into Trudy's establishment.

Ironic, but Karen managed to buy a shovel from Chet just before I rolled Linda, in fact, that shovel became Karen's favorite weapon.

That explains why Linda couldn't buy it!

You need to have an Explosives skill of at least 25 to get Easy Pete's help, and think a Barter of 25 for Chet. Plus a Speech of 25 for Trudy. If you scour Goodsprings and look in every mailbox and container, you can find some skill magazines that will temporarily boost your stats. I think there might be a Barter one in the old school (but maybe it was a Computer one), and I know at least one or two Speech ones are in the mailboxes.

Yes, thank you. Linda's going to figure it out. She's thinking of buying a magazine to make her seem more knowledgeable about Explosives especially. She's a Libra too, she'll consider all her options. She's got an impatient streak, but she won't just rush in.

I love this game.