Getting into the glamorous Strip in Fallout: New Vegas is a crucial step in progressing the main storyline and accessing numerous quests, merchants, and high-level gear. However, it's not as simple as just walking through the gates. This guide will detail the various ways you can infiltrate this glittering, yet dangerous, location.
Methods to Access the Strip
There are several approaches you can take to gain entry into the Strip:
1. The "Honest" Approach: Completing the "For the Republic, Part 1" Quest
This is the intended path, involving a bit of legwork and diplomacy (or intimidation, depending on your play style). By completing this early main quest, you'll officially gain access. This method involves:
- Meeting with Mr. House's representative: This will set the stage for your journey into the heart of New Vegas.
- Gaining a reputation: Your actions throughout the quest significantly impact how you're perceived, affecting future interactions within the Strip.
- Proving your worth: You'll need to demonstrate your capabilities to gain entry and earn the trust (or at least the tolerance) of the Strip's powerful figures.
Pros: This is the most straightforward and narratively appropriate way to enter the Strip. You'll earn the respect of some key factions and open up various opportunities.
Cons: This method requires you to complete a significant portion of the main storyline before gaining access.
2. The Sneaky Approach: Stealth and Infiltration
For those preferring a more clandestine approach, stealth can be your best friend. This method relies heavily on your skill with stealth, sneaking, and lockpicking:
- Finding a secluded entrance: Explore the outskirts of the Strip; there are less-guarded areas you can potentially exploit.
- Utilizing stealth skills: Remain undetected by patrolling guards, and use shadows to your advantage.
- Picking locks: Numerous locked doors and gates surround the Strip, and successfully picking them opens up various pathways.
Pros: Allows you to enter the Strip early in the game without triggering any major conflicts.
Cons: Requires high skill levels in Stealth and Lockpick. Getting caught can lead to a very unpleasant encounter with the Strip's security forces.
3. The Violent Approach: Fighting Your Way In
This is the most direct, but also the most dangerous, method. Be prepared for a brutal confrontation:
- Engaging in combat: Directly confronting the guards at the entrances is a risky strategy.
- Overwhelming force: You'll need significant combat skills, weapons, and potentially companions to have any chance of success.
- Facing consequences: The consequences for this method can be severe, impacting your reputation and potentially leading to conflict with powerful factions.
Pros: This is the fastest way to get in, if you have the power to back it up.
Cons: Extremely high risk; you'll likely suffer significant damage and alienate many factions. This method is generally not recommended unless you're playing on a high difficulty and enjoy intense combat.
Choosing the Right Method
The best method for entering the Strip depends on your playstyle and skill set. If you prefer a more narrative-driven approach, complete "For the Republic, Part 1". If you're a stealth expert, use your skills to infiltrate. And if you're a fearless warrior, prepare for a bloody battle. No matter which method you choose, be prepared for the challenges that await you within the glittering confines of the New Vegas Strip.
