Wind-Brahmin Wrangler[Non-game 1] or Tumbleweed Rancher[Non-game 2] is an unmarked quest in Fallout: New Vegas.
Quick walkthrough[]
| Unmarked Quest: Wind-Brahmin Wrangler | |||||||||||||
| Reach the Brooks tumbleweed ranch north of the Griffin Wares sacked caravan and enter the cattle pen on the north end. | |||||||||||||
| Speak with the nightkin "merchant" | |||||||||||||
| Pay him with "all" caps to buy a "wind-brahmin." | Refuse his offer. | ||||||||||||
| Attack and kill the nightkin. | |||||||||||||
| Reward: Stealth Boy (optional) | |||||||||||||
Detailed walkthrough[]
When one approaches the cattle pen at the north end of the Brooks tumbleweed ranch north of the Griffin Wares sacked caravan, a nightkin will uncloak itself and attempt to sell "wind-brahmin" to the Courier for the fee of all of the player character's caps. If his offer for a "wind-brahmin" is refused, he will become hostile. Further interactions, such as suggesting that the tumbleweeds are not in fact "doggies," will also result in the nightkin becoming hostile.
Originally, choosing to buy one without asking how much resulted in the nightkin giving the Courier a Stealth Boy for free. With patch 1.4.0.525, the nightkin no longer gives a Stealth Boy. After the patch, agreeing to buy a "wind-brahmin" without asking how much results in the nightkin taking all of the player character's caps instead.
Notes[]
- The nightkin will retain the caps taken in their inventory which become accessible upon death. Their Stealth Boy can also be taken at this point.
- The nightkin comments that the noises he hears are just those of his "brahmin."
Behind the scenes[]
During development, the team initially wanted to make it so that a tumbleweed "wind brahmin" purchased during this quest would follow the player character around, albeit at a great distance, so that the player would be unsure if it was in their periphery or not, to make them debate their sanity. Although that did not make it into the final version of this quest's interactions, a "wind brahmin" creature (itself just a tumbleweed) with a unique name remains in the game's files as cut content.[Non-game 3]
Bugs[]
The nightkin trying to sell you the "wind-brahmin" may not show up, but in an entirely different location (i.e. the Strip) and try to sell it to you. He can show up in any area of the game world later on, including the add-on exclusive areas. When he appears to you outside of Brooks tumbleweed ranch, there is a good likelihood that he will be hostile to non-player characters around him and club them to death before initiating his odd dialogue with the Courier. If you load the game, it seems that he may not appear again, which means you will probably have to deal with him elsewhere. [verified]
- This may also happen on PC. In fact he may even skip the dialog and suddenly appear right in front of you yelling: "I'll kill you!". This may also happen inside of a building. (e.g. one of your safehouses.)
If you kill the nightkin and come back a few days later, upon entering the pen you will hear the nightkin coming out of stealth but nothing will appear anywhere.[verified]- When initiating dialogue, if you accept the offer without asking how much, he will give you the Stealth Boy without taking any caps.[verified]
See also[]
References[]
Non-game
- ↑ Fallout: New Vegas Official Game Guide Collector's Edition p.290: "Free Quest: Wind-Brahmin Wrangler
Outside, step into the paddock where the WindBrahmins are gamboling about, and you’re surprised by a Nightkin. He asks if you want to buy the Wind-Brahmin. All of them. For all of your Caps. You can:
Kill this crazy Super Mutant, and optionally any “Wind-Brahmin” you don’t see eye to eye with.
Or part with all your Caps, and “own” a piece of the tumbleweed action. Naturally, bring a low number of Caps if you want a “bargain.”"
(Fallout: New Vegas Official Game Guide Collector's Edition Tour of the Mojave Wasteland) - ↑ As shown in the G.E.C.K.
- ↑ Interview w/Chris Avellone, Jason Fader, and other Fallout: New Vegas devs (2:38:20)
