NCR Ranger Combat Armor

"If I live to earn the Black Armor, I can die happy."

- NCR soldier

The NCR Ranger combat armor (also known as the black armor), and the Ranger helmet is a set of armor in Fallout: New Vegas and on the cover of the graphic novel All Roads. They are worn by the New California Republic's veteran rangers.

Characteristics
A military-grade armor originally used by L.A.P.D. riot squads, this combat outfit is typically worn with a matching military helmet with built-in low light optics, a combinaton IR/white light lamp and gas mask. It is traditionally worn with the Desert Rangers' traditional duster (with the NCR Rangers' insignia on the left flap) and a set of rodeo jeans.

Its creation was based on the Desert Ranger combat armor for the NCR Veteran Rangers after the merge between the Desert Ranger and the NCR Rangers in 2271. It provides better protection than the NCR Ranger combat armor, but the NCR has no way to recreate it.

It is often referred to as the Black Armor and is considered to be one of the most valuable and awe-inspiring items in the entire Republic.

Despite the name, it is unrelated to the standard combat armor.

Variants

 * Desert Ranger combat armor, the armor of the Desert Rangers before they merged with the NCR Rangers. It has 22 DT for the body and 5 DT for the helmet. It is found in the Stone Bone cave in the add-on Honest Hearts. This is the best medium armor in the game in terms of Damage Threshold.

Locations

 * This armor can be found on NCR Veteran Rangers throughout the game in NCR occupied areas (e.g. Camp Golf, the NCR Ranger Safehouse, Ranger Station Bravo, Camp Forlorn Hope, etc.) or if the player becomes hated by the NCR and Ranger kill squads are sent. These Rangers have to be killed in order to retrieve their armour - silent kills are recommended if the player wishes to stay friendly with the NCR.
 * With a high enough reputation with the NCR, Col. James Hsu may give the player a key to the NCR Ranger Safehouse. Inside are a set of NCR salvaged power armor, NCR Ranger patrol armor, and the NCR Ranger combat armor, alongside a hunting revolver, assault carbine, and trail carbine. All of these items are found in rather poor condition.
 * It can be obtained easily by using the Mister Sandman Perk at Camp Golf.
 * Using the Ratslayer may be helpful if you have a high enough Guns skill.

Bugs

 * There is a clipping problem while wearing the armor with most rifles. While the weapon is holstered, it will appear to partially be in the trench coat. Same can go for the Ranger helmet; hair will partially be seen in the back depending on the hairstyle and shape of your character's head. The clipping issue occurs due to pistol-grip rifles holstering differently to stock-grip rifles, pistol-grips holster to armor while stock-grip ones holster to the player's body, causing the clipping.
 * This can be fixed by first equiping a NCR Ranger patrol armor and then equipping the NCR Ranger combat armor. After you have done this the armor will keep the new weapon-stance that originally the NCR Ranger patrol armor has. Another way to fix this though is to stand still and holster your weapon (this means that you should not be moving in any way).
 * This armor has a faction bug. Whenever you gain fame or infamy while wearing this armor your normal reputation will be reset, leaving you with only the reputation you have just aquired. However, if you still want to wear the armor regardless of the risk here is what you have to do.
 * 1) Save your game.
 * 2) Whenever completing a mission for a particular faction DO NOT WEAR THIS armor. Switch back to a factionless armor when gaining fame or infamy so that you dont gain any reputation while wearing it.
 * 3) Whenever fighting a faction, switch to factionless armor and when done switch back to it.
 * 4) You may fight anyone with this armor that is not part of a faction (fiends).
 * However; faction reputation may reset after long periods of time. This actually is incorrect in some cases, and only adds to your reputation while wearing the armor. Example, you could be idolized by NCR without the armor, but "liked" by them while wearing it.


 * The helmet from this armor might be bugged if you decide to pick it up in the NCR Ranger safehouse. If you pick the helmet in there, you might not be able to repair it wth any vendor (confirmed for the 1.3.0.452 PC patch as well).