Another Dang Cowboy Build Guide (Spoilers)

[Ranger Tully]

Howdy pardner,

This here is one of them written word guides on how to play as a mean son-of-a-gun in that there post-apocalyptic Wild West of Nevada. If ye've spent any time in the Wasteland chatting up dem fine folk out there you'll find that there be a lot of cowboys wanderin' around and if you aren't sure on how to act like one then I'm yer fella to sort everything out.

Now I'm not goin' to be holdin' yer hand the entire way. You've gotta think for yerself pardner! But I am goin' to give ye some quick pointers though that you've got to decide what to do with.

Since this is a wordy thing I'm going to divide it into two different parts. The first part is a long mess of explanations and clarifications on why you should be doin' what yer doin'. The second part is for them lazy cowboys out there who just want a quick little list of laundry to fold. With that being said, let's get on the trail!

Part 1:

SPECIAL: Sure, everyone's special these days. But that don't mean yer gonna be puttin' them points in there willy-nilly. Lemme give you some tellings on what to do!


Strength: 3-6: the first thing and already you've gotta make a choice here: do ye want to have them convenience or do ye want squeeze every drop outta yer points? What's important to know is that to use every gun a cowboy's gonna use you only need 6 strength. But this here New Vegas is full of many ways to increase yer strength as you play along. With one of dem implants and a certain perk from a certain Old Blues DLC ye can get 6 strength easy-peasy. And the .357 Magnum Revolver will satisfy all yer needs for the first part of the game. Especially if yer lucky and get yerself a Lucky.

Perception: 5-7: yer gonna need 6 points for a few of dem very useful perks. But if yer a perfectionist like me yer gonna be wantin' to put 7 points first and buy an implant later. Why? Cuz I like me some Christine, that's why. You need 8 Perception to fully understand what that broad be waving to you. Alternatively ye can just be poppin' them mentats to get a sage's understandin' for a little while. It be givin' you +2 perception

Endurance: 4-8: this here be that leftover stat if yer askin' me. It really depends on how many implants yer goin' to be buying and how much yer skulking in the shadows like a dang Varmint.

Charisma: 1-3: now I know what yer thinking. Three points in Charisma? Did you sniff one too many of dem jets? Why yes I did fella, but there's also a reasonin' here. If ye want to be min-maxin' the game, get 1 charisma. But if yer like me and ye want to be playin' with a certain blonde-headed bimbo and a certain ginger firespit, then puttin' a few points in charisma will make dem every so slightly more useful. Besides, with 3 charisma and an implant yer at least semi-competent in one of dem talks. A Cowboy with a speech of 100 and 1 charisma never made no sense to me!

Intelligence: 5-7: now this one's gonna depend on how much studying ye've done in yer youth. Most of us are only of average intelligence and will make do with that. But if yer one of them studious types, then you may have gotten a bigger brain than the rest of us. Either way, the Wasteland ain't gonna be too kind on dem stupid fellas.

Agility: 5-9: if heaven forbid ye find yerself in a pistol fight then it's useful to be an agile son-of-a-gun who can stick their pistol into another fella's head first. Now if yer wantin' to be talkin' about dem min-maxin', sure, put more of dem points in here. But I'll be betting a shot of wiskey and some fish stew on the fact that even a 5 is more than enough. Especially if ye buy one of dem implants to get a certain varmint-skulking perk!

Luck: 7-9: now this here depends on the type of weapon ye'll be using. Gunslingers will be wantin' to put more points than one relying on a good ol' fashion lever-action rifle. But even those fellas will be wantin' to put enough points in here to get dem lucky shots! And to clean the houses belongin' to mister House!

Traits:

Now this here be dem special little effects ye'll be puttin' in yer fancy Cowboy build. Technically speakin' ye can be choosin' any of them, but I reckon ye'll be wanting a few good options:

Built to Destroy: Now this here is a trait that's all for dem fellas who be wanting to maximize their critical hits. Ye'll be getting a solid + 3% chance to score a critical hit, but at the cost of cleanin' and fixin' yer gun a whole lot more. Jury Rigging is a must-perk here! It's a must-perk anywhere really...

Good-Natured: If yer like me and ye be wantin' to talk more than shootin' this here perk is for you! Get +5 points in every skill ye'll be fancyin' at the cost of losing -5 points in six skills ye'll only be using a few of. Seems like a fair trade to me!

Kamikaze: This one's for dem V.A.T.S. users out there. Ye become a bigger pansy, but yer also be able to keep on shootin' with that there fancy Pip-Boy magic there!

Small Frame: Same principle really. Yer a bigger wuss out there when gettin' shot, but those of ye who be wantin' to be extra agile will get a kick out of this perk.

Skilled: Now hold on. Ain't losing 10% of all yer XP a bad thing? Not if yer the perfectionist type and ye'll be exploring every nook and cranny for dem delicious quests. New Vegas's got more than enough of them quests to keep ye going until the end of the game. Especially if ye also take Loghan's Loophole, but I don't be recommendin' that!

Skills:

If ye wanna be livin' in the wasteland yer gonna have to start getting specialised. A Jack of Trades may be better than a master of one, but if yer a master of three to five ye'll be shooting Jackie here dead ev'ry time! So what should ye be learnin' in yer spare time? Lemme give you some options:

Barter: this here be for dem smooth cowboys who be knowin' how to get every last cap out of a trader. It's got its uses to be sure, but it ain't the be-all and end-all if ye ask me.

Energy Weapons: laser and plasma? Do I look like one of dem scientist fellas to you? I'll be wantin' some hot lead instead!

Explosives: now don't get me wrong. Knowin' how to handle dem dynamite sticks is damn handy when ye've got a few angry geckos comin' yer way, but I wou'dn't prioritise this one to much. A few points will make you more solid than a darn diamant.

Guns: Atta boy, now we're talkin'. Every cowboy worth his caps will be wantin' to know how to handle a gun in a large scale gunfight. Whether yer getting a fancy pistol or a mighty rifle stick, ye'll be wantin' to invest in this here skill heavily.

Lockpick: Now I won't be knowin' why yer carryin' a lot of dem bobby pins that be belongin' in a little girlie's hair, but either way: they're good and useful for when a stick of dynamite won't be enough to crack open a safe. It's yer choice whether ye be wantin' to invest heavily in this or only sporadically.

Medicine: Now doctors are some fine fellas out there, but they also enjoyed a fancy and extensive education. Yer a bloke wanderin' a desert, where did ye pick up some healin' skills?

Melee Weapons: Now carrying a hatchet or a knife when ye'll be needing to cut a steak of a brahmin is always a good idea. But don't get it twisted. If ye've been wantin' to learn how to fight with sticks extensively ye'll be wantin' to join Caesar's Legion instead of my school of Westerns.

Repair: Yeehaw, learn to make sure yer guns are nice and shiny. This here is a perk ye be wantin' to specialise in heavily. When yer guns be lackin', ye'll be dead. Even the most average-like cowboy can keep his gun in a condition them angels be singin' of.

Science!: Do I look like a nerd to ye? Sure, some of ye be havin' dem big brains, but most of us will be wantin' to focus on other things instead.

Sneak: Hot dang dem skulking varmints be annoyin', but hot diggity dang this is so useful to be pulling dat switcheroo in yer opponents. Now don't get me wrong, this ain't really skulking around for long. It's more about dem strategies, right? Make sure yer startin' a fight in the right conditions.

Speech: If ye be wantin' to be one of dem hippies, this here skill is the one ye'll be wantin' to focus on most of all. Sure, most people will give you their stuff if they be dead, but ye'll find out that some fellas will only divulge their fancy words if yer words be extra fancy.

Survival: If yer wanderin' the Wasteland knowing how to cook a bean stew with a helping of Gecko steak is the best way to win friends. And to stay alive. Ev'ry cowboy has been known to build his own campfire to keep himself dur'ng the night. Best learn to use them flint and timber.

Unarmed: If ye wantin' to get in many saloon brawls then knowin' how to use yer fists is the best solution to any conflict. But when I think about it ye'll find that a gun is usually a better idea.

Perks:

Now we're going to focus on what makes yer cowboy cowboy-like. A few of these fancy perks are essential to any cowboy. Here they are:

- Rapid Reload
- Educated
- Cowboy
- Hand Loader
- Jury Rigging

With these dang powers ye'll be a hardy son-of-a-gun explorin' the wasteland at yer leisurely pace. But of course yer potential runs much deeper. But this is where you be wantin' to make a choice. What kind of cowboy are ye fixin' to be? Because there are three options far as I can see:

1) Gunslinger:

- Gunslinger
- Silent Running
- The Professional
- Finesse
- Better Criticals

2) Rifleman

- Sniper
- Commando
- Demolition Expert

3) Shotgun Guard

- Shotgun Surgeon
- And Stay Back!

And of course a few handy perks that everyone'll be wantin' to take a look at:

- Pack Rat
- Strong Back
- Burden to Bear
- Comprehension
- Adamantium Skeleton
- Light Travel
- Tunnel Runner
- Nerves of Steel
- Them's Good Eatin'
- Tribal Wisdom
- Home on the Range
- Intense Training

That's it! Ye've reached the end of the first part. With all this here information ye'll be sure to create yer own spankin' new Cowboy build. But for those of ye who've not read any of this and just went to the lazy part of this build, here's the second part of this wordy cowboy guide.

Part 2:

Now this here part is for all y'all lazy son-of-a-guns who're gonna be wantin' to just get a list to copy like a damn non-thinkin' man. Keep in mind that I'm be using that there fancy J.Sawyer mod to change gameplay a wee bit. That's why the perks only go to lvl 34. Ye can fill in the rest of them as you play along:

S: 3 (+1)
P: 5 (+1)
E: 6
C: 3 (+1)
I: 7 (+1)
A: 8 (+1)
L: 8 (+1)

Dem +1's be dem implants. Put the point from the Lonesome Road DLC in either Agility or Luck dependin' on yer need to be scoring lucky shots.

Tagged skills:

Guns
Speech
Survival

Traits:

Skilled
Good Natured

Perks:

lvl 2: Rapid Reload (AG 5, Guns 30)
lvl 4: Educated (IN 4)
lvl 6: Comprehension (IN 4)
lvl 8: Gunslinger
lvl 10: Cowboy (Guns 45, Melee 45)
lvl 12: Silent Running (AG 6, Sneak 50)
lvl 14: The Professional (Sneak 70)
lvl 16: Adamantium Skeleton
lvl 18: Hand Loader (Repair 70)
lvl 20: Jury Rigging (Repair 90)
lvl 22: Light Step (PE 6, AG 6)
lvl 24: Finesse
lvl 26: Better Criticals (PE 6, LCK 6)
lvl 28: Them's Good Eatin' (Survival 55)
lvl 30: Home on the Range (Survival 70)
lvl 32: Shotgun Surgeon (Guns 45)
lvl 34: And Stay Back! (Guns 70)

Weapons:

Ranger Sequoia
Hunting Shotgun
.357 Magnum Revolver/Lucky

Armour:

Rattan Cowboy Hat -> Desert Ranger Combat Helmet -> Elite Riot Gear Helmet
Caravaneer Outfit -> Desert Ranger Combat Armor -> Elite Riot Gear

And that's it. Now go out there and have fun playin' this here game. I love it, you love it, now we can cosplay together like a couple of dang cowboys. Yeehaw!

[Disgruntled Cuttlefish]

I'd like me a splash of whiskey, to wash the trail dust off my gullet and keep my singin voice in fettle.

[Ranger Tully]

Killary Hinton eredeti hozzászólása:

I'd like me a splash of whiskey, to wash the trail dust off my gullet and keep my singin voice in fettle.

If whiskey's yer poison I know me a fine gal who'll be wantin' to make yer acquantice. She chugs whiskey like a fiend chugs down jet, if yer gettin' my meanin'.

[Crowcreek]

Nice guide. Can the Ranger Sequoia be stolen or pickpocket ?

[Ranger Tully]

Crowcreek eredeti hozzászólása:

Nice guide. Can the Ranger Sequoia be stolen or pickpocket ?

There are three ways to get a Ranger Sequoia:

1) Get it by killing a NCR Veteran Ranger (or hope one dies near you)
2) By pickpocketing or looting it off of Ranger Hanlon (it's a quest)
3) Installing a mod that spawns it somewhere.

[Crowcreek]

NCR Tully eredeti hozzászólása:

Crowcreek eredeti hozzászólása:

Nice guide. Can the Ranger Sequoia be stolen or pickpocket ?

There are three ways to get a Ranger Sequoia:

1) Get it by killing a NCR Veteran Ranger (or hope one dies near you)
2) By pickpocketing or looting it off of Ranger Hanlon (it's a quest)
3) Installing a mod that spawns it somewhere.

Thank you. I don't feel right by looting the legend Kris K . Suggestions ?

The mod ? I can do that but I never played with mods on this game and all I see is gamer's having crashes.

[Ranger Tully]

Crowcreek eredeti hozzászólása:

NCR Tully eredeti hozzászólása:

There are three ways to get a Ranger Sequoia:

1) Get it by killing a NCR Veteran Ranger (or hope one dies near you)
2) By pickpocketing or looting it off of Ranger Hanlon (it's a quest)
3) Installing a mod that spawns it somewhere.

Thank you. I don't feel right by looting the legend Kris K . Suggestions ?

The mod ? I can do that but I never played with mods on this game and all I see is gamer's having crashes.

Well, I don't think you can get a Ranger Sequoia in the Vanilla game without pissing off the NCR then. I believe killing a NCR veteran ranger results in a huge rep loss, maybe even to the point you'll get shunned.

Well, I'm currently running a game with about 35 mods, 1/3rd of those being mods that improve graphics and are thus pretty big all things considered. The only problem I really have is the occasional lag as I walk from one place to another.

That being said, this isn't Skyrim. You can't just slap 100 mods unto this game and expect it to work. Because New Vegas is a very old game and, worse, made on an even older game engine you need to be very careful and be somewhat selective in the mods you pick. There's only a select amount of memory you can use, so I personally stick to mod fixes and graphical overhauls, with a few mods sprinkled in-between to improve my gameplay. Like adding a Ranger Sequoia in the game without having to kill NCR folks.

If you're interested in modding I recommend you take a look at the following very long guide. Following it step-by-step will ensure you can install a few mods without any performance drops: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cPo5pDT3bKA

Anyway, the mod I'm using is this one: https://www.nexusmods.com/newvegas/mods/61212?tab=files