In New Vegas, whether I do my Ratslayer run through Black Mountain or not, I like to do the tutorial, Primms sheriff quest with Meyers, do the Mojave Outpost quests, do the Correctional facility quests pro inmates and then go back to Goodsprings and fight for the town. Then I do it traditionally.
I do this so I can bump up Powder Ganger fame to Mixed when I free the two at the one camp with Boone and have NCR hit squads on me to get their loot. Of course I do get back on the NCR good side before Boone and stay out of Powder Ganger territory til then.