Novac

Novac is a town in the Mojave Wasteland in 2281.

Background
Before the Great War, this community was a small hamlet built as a refueling and restroom break along Highway 95. Presently, the faded, cracked concrete and peeling buildings give the sense of depression; indeed, Novac is little more than a lonely desert highway motel, a small brahmin ranch and multiple surrounding buildings that have been fortified for the protection of its inhabitants. Watching over them is the landmark of the area: a giant dinosaur statue named "Dinky" biting off the top of "The World's (2nd) Largest Thermometer." The interior of Dinky also serves as the settlement center (a converted gift shop from pre-War times, with a sniper's nest in Dinky's mouth).

Dinky is the "attraction" that drew in tourists from both post and pre-War. Most of the locals are friendly folk, though most aren't trusting of outsiders. They appreciate the protection of the NCR, but are afraid of what's going on at the REPCONN test site up the road. The local law enforcement, Ranger Andy, is unable to investigate due to an injury, and periodic intrusions by feral ghouls and the odd Viper from the hideout down the road. Novac relies on the water merchants that frequent it.

Layout
Novac consists of a residential area with several houses, including Jeannie May Crawford's house, the McBride house, No-bark's shack and a house with settlers living in it. There are 3 bungalows inside the motel compound as well, where Ranger Andy and Cliff Briscoe live, with one of the bungalows being boarded up.

The main part of Novac is the motel area. Here one can find the Dino Bite gift shop, eight motel rooms and the Dino Dee-lite front desk, where they can buy a motel room for 100 caps from Jeannie May Crawford. Alternatively, she will give the Courier a room free of charge once they attain Accepted status in the town. Cliff Briscoe will give this room instead if Jeannie May Crawford dies, likely during the quest One for My Baby.

The Dino Dee-lite motel room the Courier can acquire is located up the stairs on the immediate left after entering the motel compound. Inside it is a bed and storage facilities that are safe to store items in. Also, in the bathroom of the motel room is a first aid box.

Across the street from the motel is a gas station with some spare parts, a workbench and a reloading bench. The closest campfire is a modest distance to the northwest: from the motel head northwest, passing the water tower. About an equal distance beyond the water tower one will see a small radio tower on a hill; the campfire is in a cave just beyond that.

There are two graves one can open with a shovel beside one of the residences that runs parallel to the motel's main building, as well as a kitchen tent that traveling merchants rest in front of. Near the grave site is a shanty that contains a usable workbench. As with all graves, walking near them will trigger faint, ghostly whispering.

Appearances
Novac appears only in Fallout: New Vegas.

Behind the scenes

 * The thermometer is likely inspired by the "World's Tallest Thermometer" in Baker, California, marking the real world's record for hottest recorded temperature - 134 F (57 C) measured there in 1913.
 * The Dinky the T-Rex closely resembles the real world Tex the T-Rex, located at the Shan-Gri-La Prehistoric Park and Museum in Henderson, Nevada.
 * Novac was the first cell developers constructed, because it is better to not build tutorials around areas that will end up being destroyed, also because of game engine fluctuations.

Bugs

 * If you push Manny Vargas or Boone onto the teeth of the dinosaur and then do a Ranger Takedown on him, he will fall off of the dinosaur, and then fly back up.
 * After the 1.6 patch, sections of the motel will not load properly, leaving working doors hanging in empty space.
 * Items stored in the player's hotel room, in the wardrobe & footlocker etc., can be lost with the original junk contents replacing them.