Around a week before the Courier awoke from their coma following the ambush by Benny,[1] Ringo was traveling with a caravan heading for the New Vegas branch office of the Crimson Caravan Company,[2][3] when they were attacked by a raiding party of Powder Gangers east of the town of Goodsprings heading along the Interstate 15 close to Jean Sky Diving.[4][5] According to Ringo, his group put up a token resistance, with himself taking out some of the convicts before being forced to flee into the mining town, alone.
With the permission of Trudy, the local bartender and de facto mayor, the caravaneer was allowed to shelter and lay low at an abandoned gas station. Knowing the Powder Gangers' savage reputation, however, Ringo expects the worst, for the convicts thirsting for blood and for Goodsprings to hand him over to save themselves, leaving him tense and on edge since.[6][7]
A short while after the Courier awakens, Ringo is proven right, as the leader of the group he escaped from, Joe Cobb,[8] comes to town and makes threats around the Prospector Saloon of burning down the town if they don't turn Ringo over. While Trudy shoes the ruffian away afterward,[9] Ringo's fears lie more with Cobb's muscle making good on their threats and forcing the townsfolk to throw him to the wolves, in a matter of time.[10]
Run Goodsprings Run: The Courier can choose to team up with the Powder Gangers to help take over Goodsprings. As part of this quest, Ringo must be killed.
If one helps Ringo and later finds him at the Crimson Caravan Company near New Vegas, he will give the additional 150 caps, for a total of 250 along with the 100 he paid in advance for saving his life. When asked what he will do next, Ringo states he has been assigned to lead the first major caravan to New Canaan as part of the Crimson Caravan expanding its operations into Utah.[11]
If one agrees to help Joe Cobb at any time or has a bad reputation with Goodsprings, Ringo refuses to accept the Courier's help.[12][13] If Joe Cobb's quest is started while helping Ringo, he will confront the player and tell them he doesn't want their help anymore.[14]
If Joe Cobb is killed at any time prior to the final fight during Ghost Town Gunfight, they can tell Ringo about the deed, but he explains that it doesn't really change the situation he's in.[15]
If he is killed during Ghost Town Gunfight or Run Goodsprings Run, one will not incur Karma loss nor will their reputation with the NCR be affected.
Ringo will turn hostile if the Courier has a negative reputation with the NCR or if they are wearing armor of the NCR's enemies. Killing him will result in reputation loss against Goodsprings.
If a companion kills Ringo, the player character will not lose any reputation or Karma and will complete the objective for Run Goodsprings Run.
If one kills Ringo while he is still in Goodsprings after Ghost Town Gunfight, next time said player talks with Sunny Smiles, she will speak as though he had died during the gunfight.
If one talks to Ringo before talking to Trudy, they will need to pass a 20 Speech skill check to learn what he is doing there.
There is no dialogue option to inform Ringo or anyone in the Crimson Caravan about the destruction of New Canaan after finishing the Honest Hearts add-on, and he will always state that he's being sent to build trade relations with the Mormon settlement in Utah when asked at the CCC compound.
Behind the scenes[]
His name and appearance may be a reference to the Ringo Kid from the 1939 film Stagecoach, played by John Wayne.
↑The Courier: "I overheard your argument. What was that all about?" Trudy: "It looks like our little town got itself dragged into the middle of something we don't want anything to do with. About a week ago, this trader, Ringo, comes into town. Survivor of an attack, he says. Bad men after him, needs a place to hide. We figured he was just in shock, so we gave him a place to lie low. We didn't actually expect anyone to come after him." (Trudy's dialogue)
↑The Courier: "What do you do around here?" Ringo: "Oh, sorry. I thought everybody knew already. I'm a trader with the Crimson Caravan Company. I'm, uh, staying in town for a bit." (Ringo's dialogue)
↑The Courier: "What do you do around here?" Ringo: "Like I said, I'm not from Goodsprings. I'm a trader with the Crimson Caravan Company." (Ringo's dialogue)
↑The Courier: "Why are the Powder Gangers out to get you?" Ringo: "My caravan was on the return trip from California and heading back up to the company branch in New Vegas when we got jumped. Not even a 'drop your weapons and hands up' before the bullets started flying. We put up a good fight, but there was too many of them. I took a few of the bandits down before I ran, so I figure their friends are out for revenge." (Ringo's dialogue)
↑Ringo: "That's close enough. Who are you, and what do you want with me?" (Ringo's dialogue)
↑The Courier: "What are you going to do about the Powder Gangers?" Ringo: "I'm going to lay low for as long as I can, assuming the town doesn't throw me to the wolves. I've got no chance against the gang on my own." (Ringo's dialogue)
↑The Courier: "How many powder gangers are out there?" Ringo: "At least a dozen, I'd say. And that was just the group that attacked us. For all I know, they've got a lot more friends lurking around." (Ringo's dialogue)
↑Joe Cobb: "I'm done being nice. If you don't hand Ringo over soon, I'm going to get my friends and we're burning this town to the ground, got it?" Trudy: "We'll keep that in mind. Now, if you're not going to buy something, get out." (Joe Cobb's and Trudy's dialogue)
↑The Courier: "Did you know there's a man named Joe Cobb looking for you?" Ringo: "Yeah. He doesn't look very tough, though. I hear he's afraid I'll shoot him down from one of the windows when I see him, and he's right. I'll have a much bigger problem once his friends show up. There's no way I could handle all of them in a gunfight." (Ringo's dialogue)
↑The Courier: "So what's next for you?" Ringo: "I'm getting ready to run a caravan up towards Utah. There's a town called New Canaan which is supposed to be pretty prosperous. The Crimson Caravan doesn't have any branches out that way, so it'll be up to me get to things started." (Ringo's dialogue)
↑The Courier: "Maybe I can help." Ringo: "I saw you being awfully friendly with Joe Cobb, so no thanks." (Ringo's dialogue)
↑The Courier: "Maybe I can help." Ringo: "No thanks. I think we'd need some of Goodsprings on our side, and I hear you're not exactly friendly with them." (Ringo's dialogue)
↑Ringo: "I heard about what's been going on in town. Our deal's off. I can't trust someone like you to watch my back." (Ringo's dialogue)
↑The Courier: "A man named Joe Cobb was looking for you, but I killed him." Ringo: "Err, thanks, I guess. Cobb wasn't the problem, though - I could've handled him if he ever found me. Cobb's friends are the bigger problem, and when he doesn't get back, they'll be coming here for blood. There's no way I fight can them all." (Ringo's dialogue)
There is no dialogue option to inform Ringo or anyone in the Crimson Caravan about the destruction of New Canaan after finishing the Honest Hearts add-on, and he will always state that he's being sent to build trade relations with the Mormon settlement in Utah when asked at the CCC compound.