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Nellis' location is discreet and well-defended, most accessible by a cracked and cratered road littered with signs suggesting that entrance in to the area is strictly forbidden to all outsiders. The front gate is vigilantly guarded day and night by a howitzer team. Nellis Air Force Base's main entrance can be approached from two different locations, with the most notable one being via the old road leading east from [[Fields' shack]]. Approaching from this direction the player character will encounter [[George (Fallout: New Vegas)|George]] who provides the [[Courier]] with [[Nellis artillery timing details]]. The second approach can be accessed by the unmarked [[Train tunnel (Fallout: New Vegas)|Train tunnel]] (that has a very hard lock) location east of [[Raul's Shack]] which avoids the dangerous artillery range entirely. |
Nellis' location is discreet and well-defended, most accessible by a cracked and cratered road littered with signs suggesting that entrance in to the area is strictly forbidden to all outsiders. The front gate is vigilantly guarded day and night by a howitzer team. Nellis Air Force Base's main entrance can be approached from two different locations, with the most notable one being via the old road leading east from [[Fields' shack]]. Approaching from this direction the player character will encounter [[George (Fallout: New Vegas)|George]] who provides the [[Courier]] with [[Nellis artillery timing details]]. The second approach can be accessed by the unmarked [[Train tunnel (Fallout: New Vegas)|Train tunnel]] (that has a very hard lock) location east of [[Raul's Shack]] which avoids the dangerous artillery range entirely. |
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| − | Upon entrance to the base, the most obvious structures are the control tower and [[Nellis hangars|hangar]]s, to the west. Two runways stretch parallel to the east, occupying a majority of the bases' territory. |
+ | Upon entrance to the base, the most obvious structures are the control tower and [[Nellis hangars|hangar]]s, to the west. Two runways stretch parallel to the east, occupying a majority of the bases' territory. The [[Boomers]] have made good use of the land between them, converting a parcel into an irrigated farm plot. The pipes are connected to an inaccessible shack, implying they have access to reclamation facilities. North of the farm is the [[Nellis array]], which provides power for the entire facility via solar panels. Along the northeast corner of the fencing is an unlootable graveyard. |
One hangar houses the remaining parts of a [[B-29 Superfortress|B-29 bomber]], while the other is used to house the [[Virtual reality|VR]] terminals, used to train pilots. The building also serves as a mess hall and storage area. During the day, several important members of the Boomers can be found gathered here. |
One hangar houses the remaining parts of a [[B-29 Superfortress|B-29 bomber]], while the other is used to house the [[Virtual reality|VR]] terminals, used to train pilots. The building also serves as a mess hall and storage area. During the day, several important members of the Boomers can be found gathered here. |
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Revision as of 22:40, 18 September 2013
“Here we have prospered and multiplied. Here our mighty guns destroy any savages that may try to harm us even before they can reach our gates!”— Pete
Nellis Air Force Base is a location northeast of New Vegas in the Mojave Wasteland. It is a pre-War air force base that once was the United States Air Force Warfare Center and, after the war, became the home of the Boomers, a xenophobic group who were former occupants of Vault 34.
Background
In 2077, during the Great War, Nellis was struck by several atomic warheads,[1] killing all the inhabitants and leaving the base highly radioactive. Over the following decades, wastelanders avoided Nellis because of their fear of the radiation.
In 2231, the Boomers came across Nellis Air Force Base and settled there after sojourning the wastes looking for a new home. Their Pip-Boy Geiger counters indicated that the base was radioactive, but not dangerously so, unbeknownst to the wastelanders.[1] Since settling, they've been using the base's remaining defensive structures and their own stockpile of heavy arms, retrieved from Area 2, to keep any strangers from setting foot anywhere nearby.
Layout
Nellis' location is discreet and well-defended, most accessible by a cracked and cratered road littered with signs suggesting that entrance in to the area is strictly forbidden to all outsiders. The front gate is vigilantly guarded day and night by a howitzer team. Nellis Air Force Base's main entrance can be approached from two different locations, with the most notable one being via the old road leading east from Fields' shack. Approaching from this direction the player character will encounter George who provides the Courier with Nellis artillery timing details. The second approach can be accessed by the unmarked Train tunnel (that has a very hard lock) location east of Raul's Shack which avoids the dangerous artillery range entirely.
Upon entrance to the base, the most obvious structures are the control tower and hangars, to the west. Two runways stretch parallel to the east, occupying a majority of the bases' territory. The Boomers have made good use of the land between them, converting a parcel into an irrigated farm plot. The pipes are connected to an inaccessible shack, implying they have access to reclamation facilities. North of the farm is the Nellis array, which provides power for the entire facility via solar panels. Along the northeast corner of the fencing is an unlootable graveyard.
One hangar houses the remaining parts of a B-29 bomber, while the other is used to house the VR terminals, used to train pilots. The building also serves as a mess hall and storage area. During the day, several important members of the Boomers can be found gathered here.
Quonset huts and shacks provide living quarters, medical and educational facilities on the west side of the base. Pearl and Loyal have their own homes, while the rest of the Boomers make do with segregated barracks. Also, the Boomer Museum is located amongst the eastern Quonset huts. Of note is a bio-diesel storage hut near the crane and tracks, giving the player a hint of what the Boomers are capable of, despite their isolation.
Buildings
Inhabitants
- Argyll
- Boomer munitions manager
- Jack
- Lindsay
- Loyal
- Pearl
- Pete
- Raquel
- Mini Boomers
- Boomer teacher
- Boomer chef
- Janet (if the quest Young Hearts is completed)
Notable loot
- Nellis Air Force Base snow globe - inside Nellis Boomer museum.
- Howitzer firing mechanism - in one of the gun cabinets inside Nellis workshop
- Duck and Cover! inside Pearl's barracks among the books on the hanging bookshelf behind the sofa. Must be stolen.
- Dean's Electronics inside Loyal's house on the table. Must be stolen.
- Fat Man and 3 mini nukes - can be pick-pocketed from a Boomer while they are sleeping in one of three tents south-east of the Mess hall & munitions storage hangar. Alternatively, the Boomer can be stealthily killed (without loss of reputation) for the weapon. Two more mini nukes can be found on the bottom floor of the Nellis array on the shelves. Another mini nuke can be stolen from the Boomer's munition store. It is inside a wooden box on the top shelf.
- Thump-Thump - can be found in the Nellis array generator building bottom floor next to a skeleton and to the left of the ant mound.
- The base bio-diesel refinery has 102 maize inside. Located north-north-east of the Nellis Boomer museum.
- Sunset Sarsaparilla star bottle cap x2 - found on the north-eastern most table in the mess hall among other bottle caps.
- A key to a locked gun case (very hard) in the armory of Vault 34 that can open the gun case for the pulse gun can be found in a filing cabinet in Pearl's barracks.
- Several suits of combat armor can be stolen from the hangar where Loyal is found during the day. They are in metal boxes marked as armor case.
- There are at least 9 skill magazines on the base, including 6 in the Nellis schoolhouse (3 on the teacher's desk and three more in the desk). Copies of ¡La Fantoma!, Patriot's Cookbook, and Tæles of Chivalrie can be found in the Boomer museum.
Related quests
Notes
- On the way there (before the bombardment) a man named George will make a wager on the Courier getting back alive. His wager is 300 caps. If the player passes a Barter check at 40, the player only need to give him 200 caps. However, passing the Barter check actually nets the player less caps on the wager (600 vs 400).
- Optionally, upon returning back after the bombardment, if the player passes a Speech check at 60 and threaten to have the Boomers change their target trajectory, George will add another 100 caps to the waged sum initially agreed. In other words, if the player passed the Barter check above and only paid 200 caps for the wager, the player nets a profit of 500 caps by passing the Speech check and if the player waged the full 300 caps, George will hand them 700 caps.
- There are several methods of getting past the artillery:
- The artillery will always fire on the Courier, regardless of Sneak skill or Stealth Boys, so run at all times.
- On Hardcore mode, the player's companions are likely to die if they follow the player, so have them wait outside the perimeter until the player has made it through.
- When getting to Nellis AFB, closely follow the rock wall on the left after going into the artillery field. Do not stop moving. As the player approaches the corner where the fence meets the rock wall the shelling will stop. Follow the fence to the entrance.
- Turbo can be used as well, making the Courier run faster than the artillery shells. The downside is that the player need to have several hits of Turbo and of course there is the risk of addiction.
- Another way to easily get through is to hug the right rock wall as the player enters from the road. Run as fast as possible towards the railroad doors (locked very hard). Once the player reaches the railroad doors, turn around and continue hugging the right rock wall up the railroad tracks. This will eventually lead the player to the fence. Turn left and hug the fence until the player reaches the main gate.
- Mentioned railroad doors come from some underground tracks which can be accessed from an entrance south-east of Raul's shack (skill 100).
- Another simpler (yet more expensive) way is possible if the player has a high enough DT or hitpoints. This involves stocking up on stimpaks and using the hotkey wheel for easy access. Start by sprinting straight towards the fence as soon as the player leaves the little canyon and use the stimpaks when the player is hit. A high-level character can do this without expending many stimpaks.
- If the player give Jack scrap metal, it increases the Courier's fame with Nellis. If the player gives enough (about 50 units), the player gains instant Idolized status with Nellis Air Force Base.
- If the Courier kills the Boomer that has the Fat Man, he/she will eventually respawn, possibly being a source of infinite Fat Mans and mini nukes. The respawn sequence takes about 3 to 5 in-game days.
- If the player looks at the screen of the Virtual reality pods from the outside, images of Tranquility Lane are shown, just like in the Hidden Valley bunker.
- There is a Brotherhood of Steel paladin in the ruins of the town, who will normally have been shelled to death by the time the player has reached him. It is interesting to note he is not hostile even whilst wearing NCR faction armor.
- In the far north east corner of the Base is a makeshift graveyard. As with all graves, barely audible whispering can be heard if the Courier stands above them without the radio on.
- Although they won't bomb the player once introduces oneself or anyone wearing a Boomer flight/jump suit, mini-Boomers can occasionally be seen leaving or returning to the base while bombs rain down.
- The VR simulators in the second hangar cannot be used.
- If the player has Veronica Santangelo with them when Pete narrates the Boomers' history, she'll comment on the similarities between them on the Brotherhood. The Boomers recognize her affiliation to the group.
- If the player tells the guard the player ran through the artillery field, people will comment on it.
- With Cass as a companion, Boomers will walk up to her and say, "Whatever you're selling, we have plenty of it."
- With ED-E as a companion both Boomers and the Mr. Gutsies in the base will comment "I can take care of your robot problem. Just saying."
- This location has by far the most children in the game with a total of 8.
- There are patrolling Mister Gutsy units around the base.
Appearances
Nellis Air Force Base appears only in Fallout: New Vegas.
Behind the scenes
- Nellis Air Force Base was named in honor of Republic P-47 Thunderbolt Pilot 1st Lieutenant William Harrell Nellis, who was killed in WWII during the famous Battle of the Bulge after flying 70 missions and being shot down twice before.
- The real world Nellis Air Force Base has a large solar panel array allowing it to be almost completely self-sufficient in terms of electricity.
Bugs
The guard that opens the gate may stand with his back turned and will not interact with the player.[verified]
- This can be fixed by opening the console (~), selecting the gate by left clicking it and type unlock into the console, this will unlock the gate and allow you to walk in initiate conversation with the guard yourself and proceed normally from there.
- Shelling may continue when near the Nellis fence and just inside the base.[verified]
- At times the textures and layout maps fail to load correctly, leaving any character or robot that wanders into the afflicted area stuck in the ground if it reverts to normal.[verified]
- There is a greenhouse that has planks nailed to the main door. The player may activate it, but nothing happens.[verified]
- If the gate to the entrance of the air base is left open, some of the mini boomers may walk out and get attacked by the mortars. They don't die or even get affected by the missiles, they just keep walking and never come back. When the player walks with them the mortars do not fire, but if 2 - 5 steps are taken away from them, the mortars will begin firing again. This for some reason can lead to the mortars firing huge distances, potentially all the way to the outer walls of New Vegas and beyond.[verified]
- At times, the guards at the front gate or in guard towers will randomly attack the player, even at accepted status.[verified]
- Boomers will pile up just inside the west entrance/exit door of Mess Hall & Munitions Storage, vibrating and stuttering off of each other. Companions get 'lodged' inside the cluster upon entrance, and it takes several minutes for them to work free. Sometimes upon exit the Boomers will all 'burst free' and exit at the same time as the Courier & companions, to then roam the base normally.[verified]
- Sometimes, after completing most or all of the quests for the Boomers and then making a trip back to the Base, you may incur a random infamy gain with the Boomers for no reason in particular. None of the Boomers will be hostile towards you, and no evidence or bodies of what could have happened can be found. (It could possibly be caused by the completion of Heartache by the Number and choosing to kill Alice McLafferty, which in turn can turn Janet from the Young Hearts quest (if you chose to have her come to NFB) hostile and force the Boomers to put her down at your expense).(Tested on Xbox, when approaching the museum infamy is gained, entering the museum triggers Pete to enter dialogue, in which he complains that the player walked off without listening to his speech.[verified]
- If you go near the base, discover it, and leave without approaching the Boomer who was shooting at you, Raquel will appear later at some point (usually after fast traveling) and asks you to go meet Mother Pearl. You will be forced to go back to the base with her to see Mother Pearl.[verified]
- Female Boomers at Nellis AFB may have facial hair despite being female.[verified]
- Sometimes no one ever comes to the gate, leaving the rail tunnel the only viable entrance; this requires picking a locked (100) door.[verified]
- Sometimes when outside Nellis, you will spot Boomer children walking toward the base, and the Nellis Bomber will start shelling them for some reason. After this he will continue shelling the fair corner of the wrecked village in front of Nellis.[verified]
Gallery
Closeup of the entry monument
The Nellis Vault boy
References
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