The Lonesome Drifter

The Lonesome Drifter is a solitary singer and guitar player camped out north of El Dorado Gas & Service in Fallout: New Vegas.

Background
The Lonesome Drifter was born in 2253 in a small town in Montana. His childhood was marred by the sudden departure of his father, a real "mysterious feller" even while he was with his mother. As a result, his mother was forced work her fingers to the bone in order to provide for the family as the Drifter mastered the guitar. However, she eventually buckled under the burden. To help her, the Drifter found work in Montana's coal mines at fifteen and worked the black seams until his mother passed away after a life of hardship. Angry and frustrated, the Drifter packed his guitar and the Mysterious Magnum, the only mementos of his father, and took to the road to find him and get some answers.

For years he traveled the wasteland, not knowing what he would do if he found him. Ask questions? Punch his clock out? He did not succeed in his search, but found numerous audiences for his singing talents across the wasteland, including the Dead Horses at Zion Canyon, where his singing charmed a young tribesman. By 2281, however, he started to tire of the nomadic lifestyle, realizing that his quest will likely end in failure. Camping out on the shores of the El Dorado Dry Lake, the Drifter is pondering his options and getting ready to settle down.

Quests

 * Talent Pool: The Courier has been tasked to recruit an act for Tommy Torini's Aces Theater located within The Tops casino.

Effects of player's actions

 * After recruiting him for the Aces, he can be seen at 10 PM and plays the songs "Streets of New Reno," "Home on the Wastes" or "New Vegas Valley."

Other interactions

 * If the Courier passes a Barter check of 50 during the quest Talent Pool, he will give them his Mysterious Magnum.

Inventory

 * * Added to his inventory after giving Tommy Torini's business card to the drifter in Talent Pool.

Appearances
The Lonesome Drifter appears in Fallout: New Vegas and is mentioned in the add-on Honest Hearts.

Behind the scenes
Joshua Sawyer stated in a forum post that he wishes they had time to hard code the Mysterious Stranger to turn on the player character if attempting to use V.A.T.S to kill the Lonesome Drifter.

Bugs

 * If the player character kills or is caught stealing from him, they will lose reputation from the Strip, even if the Lonesome Drifter hasn't yet been recruited in the quest Talent Pool.
 * Sometimes when it is his time to perform on stage, he will play his guitar and the music will play as normal, but he will not leave his seat.
 * After completing Talent Pool, if one kills The Lonesome Drifter, the cycle in which The Aces Theater runs on will be broken. Whoever performs onstage next will do so constantly, meaning nobody else will EVER perform except them.
 * Sometimes he will start running randomly in the El Dorado Dry Lake.