Unique Encounter: A Trader and Guards

[stcaFylnO]

Location: In the unique encounter "A Trader and Guards", North of Modoc.

Event: I talked to the trader, he wanted me to buy some unknown weapon for $30K. I thought it was too expensive so I fooled around a bit, see below...

1) I opened the Barter dialouge, before accepting his deal. He had three Alien Blasters for $22k each ($67k total). I purchased at this discounted rate, then completed his dialogue.

2) I stole my money back as he was walking away, so the Alien Blasters were free!

3) I killed him and his guards and got two free 9mm Mausers.

I'm not sure what I'll do with them all, but I feel like I just won a lottery :)

[Maine Cheldan]

Woah... Alien Blasters are a lot more common in Fallout 2.

I once tried to barter with that merchant, but the dialogue screen was bugged and remained over the barter screen, so I didn't know what he could sell.

Well, you did won the lottery. You have three of what are considered (at least in Fallout 1) one of the best guns in the entire game. All you need now is two companions and you'll be able to mess around as you please.

Gee, all you need to do now to get an Alien blaster is to talk and barter with some merchant, while you needed high Luck to get one Alien blaster in Fallout 1. Apparently what can only be found in some weird looking metal remains in the south of California is actually commonly sold by merchants in the north...

[stcaFylnO]

I looked online and apparently we still need high Luck. First a roll is made for what weapon he sells (previously I had gotten crappy ones and didn't know he had blasters), then a Luck roll is made and if it fails, it re-rolls the blaster to something else, then the price is based upon Luck stat. I guess that is why mine were selling for 30k, but online they are listed as 10k with a 10 Luck.

Too many details online, so check this out, even the roll table is included and other ideas on how to get multiple blasters:
http://fallout.wikia.com/wiki/A_trader_and_guards

And that isn't all Maine Cheldan; I never realized it till yesterday, but it is possible to get multiple Red Ryder BB (LE) guns also. I started traveling between San Francisco and NCR to farm random encounters, but in the Bazaar, on the furthest left-hand book shelf, I have found 4 of those! Vic and Cassidy do pretty well with them. Also, that same shelf might spawn an ammo drop with ~700 BBs.

I never feel like my character is complete in F1 & F2, unless both guns are available. But now, it is possible to equip a whole squad.