Skip to content
The Goodsprings Tutorial
Fallout: New Vegas

The Goodsprings Tutorial

Complete the Back in the Saddle quest in fallout new vegas by helping Sunny Smiles, learning survival skills, and clearing Geckos.

By ···10 min read·Multi-source verified
1 reading this guide  

Complete the Back in the Saddle quest in fallout new vegas by helping Sunny Smiles, learning survival skills, and clearing Geckos.

Walkthrough
  1. 1
    From Doc Mitchell’s house, head north-east to find the Goodsprings General Store and the Prospector Saloon.
  2. 2
    Enter the Saloon and speak with Sunny Smiles. Ask her about getting to Primm to receive a map marker and advice.
  3. 3
    If you ask about work, she will mention a safe in the old school-house and give you a Locksmith’s Reader magazine, three Bobby Pins, and the Goodsprings Schoolhouse Safe note.
  4. 4
    You can also get the map marker for Sloan and learn about the NCR and Caesar’s Legion conflict by continuing the conversation.
  5. 5
    Ask Sunny Smiles to teach you survival skills; she will agree to meet behind the saloon.
  6. 6
    Follow her outside where she will give you a Varmint Rifle and 30 rounds of 5.56 ammo.
  7. 7
    She will instruct you to shoot bottles. Aim with [L1] (PS3) or [L2] (Xbox 360) and shoot with [R1] (PS3), [R2] (Xbox 360).
  8. 8
    Crouch by pressing down on the [Left Analog Stick] to stabilize your shots. [Square]/[X] (PS3)/(Xbox 360) reloads your gun.
  9. 9
    After demonstrating competence, Sunny will ask for your help clearing Geckos from the water supply. You can choose to end the tutorial here or follow her.
  10. 10
    Follow Sunny south/south-east to the first well. She will discuss Geckos and suggest stealth.
  11. 11
    Sneak around a rock and attempt to snipe a pair of Geckos. If they detect you, let them approach Sunny so she can assist.
  12. 12
    After the Geckos are dead, Sunny will offer you 60 rounds of 5.56 ammo if you agree to continue helping.
  13. 13
    Proceed to the second well with Sunny, where you will face a trio of Geckos without the benefit of stealth.
  14. 14
    Follow her to the third well, where a Goodsprings Settler is being attacked by two Geckos. Saving her will improve your Goodsprings reputation and earn you three bottles of Purified Water.
  15. 15
    Once all Geckos are dealt with, Sunny will reward you and offer further training in living off the land, starting the quest By a _Campfire on the Trail_. You can accept or decline.

By a Campfire on the Trail:

  1. If you accepted the quest, your goal is to find a Broc Flower and a Xander Root.
  2. Xander Roots can be found near the Goodsprings Schoolhouse on the south-western edge of town, near a tree stump. You will need to fight Giant Mantis Nymphs to get them.
  3. Explore the schoolhouse and defeat five Giant Mantis Nymphs inside.
  4. In the south-western corner of the schoolhouse, you can find an [Easy] safe and an [Easy] terminal. Hacking the terminal unlocks the safe.
  5. To pick locks, rotate the bobby pin until the lock turns from vertical to horizontal. If you guess incorrectly, the bobby pin will click and take damage. If a bobby pin takes too much damage, it breaks. You need a sufficient Lockpick score to attempt difficult locks.
  6. To hack terminals, you select a word. If any of the letters in the word are correct, they will be highlighted.
Tips
  • Following Sunny to the wells will teach you where the springs are, a good source of water in Hardcore Mode and healing items in any mode.
  • You can maximize XP gain by hacking the terminal in the schoolhouse and then leaving without unlocking the safe.
  • The Goodsprings Schoolhouse can be a good place to store loot after clearing out the Giant Mantises.

100% Human-Written. AI Fact-Checked. Community Verified. Learn how AntMag verifies content