Chomps Lewis is the foreman of the Quarry Junction mining operation for the New California Republic in the Mojave Wasteland, recently forced out by an infestation of deathclaws and sheltering in the nearby worker town of Sloan in 2281. He appears in Fallout: New Vegas.
Background[]
Around the turn of the 2280s, Chomps was employed by the New California Republic as the head foreman of the limestone quarry at Quarry Junction; the material mined there was subsequently sent to a concrete mixing yard near Boulder City with the finished product ultimately going to constructing fortifications for NCR Army positions in their war against Caesar's Legion.[2][3] He allowed Snuffles the mole rat to remain in the workers' camp after she randomly appeared sometime around August 2281, seeing that her docile nature contributed to morale.[4]
However, around late October 2281, the quarry workers found themselves in a difficult situation when members of the Powder Gangers, formed in the wake of the mass breakout at the NCR Correctional Facility to the south, attacked and in the process stole their entire supply of dynamite.[5] While forced to wait around for new dynamite shipments, Chomps believes it was the resulting lack of noise that attracted a pack of deathclaws to invade the quarry, fully pushing out the workers and taking it over as their nest.[6] With the quarry workers hopelessly outmatched, Chomps orders them to remain in the relative safety of the adjacent worker town of Sloan, where morale plummets day by day as they wait for the situation to be resolved, either by their government or a miracle out of the desert.[7][Non-game 1]
Due to the losses in manpower and work justifying pay due to the quarry's shutdown, Chomps has only been able to keep his men around by operating on the side as a middleman distributing drug shipments for the Great Khans;[Non-game 2] the transactions are two-fold for Chomps as his contact, Melissa is also his daughter, born from Chomps' romance with her late mother who was a Khan herself. Though he is not fond of her path in life, he is content that it brings Melissa happiness and she is making her own way in the world.[8] His drug-running also has Chomps involved with Private Tyrone, his supplier within the Army's ranks. Recently, however, Tyrone failed to make a delivery due to increasing suspicion from his Army superiors;[9] with Chomps seemingly unaware of this and thinking he was cheated, it has soured their "working" relationship.[10][11]
Outside of his private affairs, Chomps also has a low opinion of the republic's current state in the 23rd century, particularly his employer's insistence on paying its workers in dollars instead of caps which he sees as unfair due to NCR currency's unpopularity out on the frontier but knows that it is a necessary evil to make a living.[12] He also has a dim view of New Vegas and the casinos of the Strip, viewing it as little better than a place for a man to lose his monthly wages, that continues to lure in suckers who believe they can turn their lives around, but rarely if ever do.[13]
Interactions with the player character[]
Interactions overview[]
| Interactions | ||
|---|---|---|
  |
This character starts quests. | |
  |
This character is involved in quests. | |
Quests[]
- Don't Make a Beggar of Me: The Courier is sent by Melissa Lewis of the Great Khans to get a drug shipment from Sloan, but when it's discovered missing, they have to go to Chomps to find out the whereabouts of the drug pusher Tyrone.
- Claws Mended: Chomps rewards the Courier if they are successfully able to heal Snuffles the mole rat's injured leg with a high enough Medicine skill level.
- Claws Out: Chomps warns the Courier about the deathclaw infestation at the nearby quarry, advising that only the toughest could enter and kill the pack leaders.
- Power to the People: Chomps provides the reward if the Courier is successfully able to repair the town's malfunctioning generator with a high enough Repair skill level.
Effects of the player's actions[]
- Chomps has two different greetings for the player character depending on the direction that they first approach Sloan from:
- He has a different response when starting the unmarked quest Claws Out and agreeing to eliminate the deathclaws, depending on the player character's level:
Inventory[]
| Apparel | Weapon | Other items | On death |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prospector outfit Construction hat |
Sledgehammer | Note to Tyrone |
Notes[]
- Due to standing in an open, unprotected position and being within walking distance of several deathclaws, if it happens that one is lured close to Sloan and spots the quarry workers there, it is highly possible for Chomps to be killed.
- If approaching Sloan at night, Chomps possibly may not be in his usual spot.
Notable quotes[]
- "Hold up, there are deathclaws all over the damn place north of here. I'd turn back if I were you."
- "I can't believe that an entire pack moved into the quarry, I thought that bad luck only happened in Vegas."
- "Can't believe anyone actually made it through from the north being with all the deathclaws at the quarry."
Appearances[]
Chomps Lewis appears only in Fallout: New Vegas.
Bugs[]
- Sometimes, the player may find that Chomps has vanished from Sloan, despite the time of day or if the player fast travels to the town. If this is not due to his death, the player can find him again by doing the following: Standing in front of the mining office front door, turn so that your compass is between northwest and north. Walk forward (you are going past the pile of tires and to the left side of the machine shop). Chomps should be right in front of you/just behind the machine shop walking against a cliff wall. Due to the geography of this area, Chomps blends into the background and his radar icon seems to place him as the worker inside the machine shop meaning many players mistake his icon for the other non-player character. [verified]
- Chomps Lewis may leave Sloan and head to Hidden Valley if bark scorpions appear in Sloan. He will remain there in the same spot, even after the player or himself kills the bark scorpions. [verified]
References[]
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Non-game
- ↑ Fallout: New Vegas Official Game Guide Collector's Edition p. 383-384: "Sloan"
"A camp of mining shacks off the Long 19 was once a place where workers earned a good living. That was until the Deathclaws moved in. You're likely to enter the place traveling along this freeway, and you'll be stopped by Chomps Lewis; who's still the foreman of this small settlement. He tells you to loop around via Primm [4.17] if you want to avoid a mauling. You can as him about New Vegas, and the operation: They make cement for the NCR using the limestone quarry. Ask him more detailed explanation. You can then begin Free Quest: Claws Out. Chomps also has a Letter to Tyrone, which is useful during the Side Quest." - ↑ Fallout: New Vegas Official Game Guide Collector's Edition p. 383-384: "Sloan - Mining office"
"Upstairs is where there’s a haul to Sneak out with; two trunks behind the picnic table are likely to be filled with Caps, and there’s more inside the safe [Average]. There’s also a suitcase by the side of the desk upstairs too. It has nothing of worth unless Side Quest: Don’t Make a Beggar Out of Me is active. Then the lack of drugs allows you to quiz Chomps about it."
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