“BE WARNED, INTRUDER! YOU ARE IN THE PRESENCE OF THE MIGHTY THINK TANK OF BIG MT, THE COLLECTIVE GENIUSES OF... WE...”— Doctor Klein, when first meeting the Courier
Welcome to the Big Empty is the first main quest in the Fallout: New Vegas add-on Old World Blues.
Quick walkthrough
| Main Quest: Welcome to the Big Empty | |||||
| Arrive at The Sink balcony. | |||||
| Take the elevator to The Think Tank. | |||||
| Agree to help the doctors. | |||||
| Reward: Variable XP If skill checks are passed: Various ammunition, a Sonic Emitter, a K9000 Cyberdog Gun, and Caps | |||||
| Leads to: All My Friends Have Off Switches, X-2: Strange Transmissions!, X-8: High School Horror!, X-13: Attack of the Infiltrator!, Sonic Emitter Upgrade | |||||
Detailed walkthrough
After being teleported to Big MT, the Courier will be standing on the balcony of the Sink, facing outwards towards the expanse of the Big Empty. Enter the nearest door into the Sink. Proceed to the elevators. Enter the right elevator to go to The Think Tank. Note that this is the only elevator that can be used at the moment. Due to an overwhelming feeling of pacifism, the Courier won't be able to draw a weapon in the Think Tank. This is so they will not be able to harm the doctors, which is a failsafe put in place after an attack on the Think Tank by Elijah, which led to Dr. 8's voice module being damaged, and the destruction of the Big Empty's multiple train tunnels. When the Courier approaches the doctors, they will address the Courier, and the Courier will learn about Big MT, the various changes they have made to their body, and about Doctor Mobius.
After agreeing to help the doctors against Mobius, they will assign the Courier to the Sink Central Intelligence Unit.
Through various conversation options, the Courier will be able to talk the doctors into giving various items to help in the Courier's quest. The scientists give the Sonic Emitter - Revelation. With an Energy Weapons check of 50, more ammunition for it will be given. With a successful Guns check, also of 50, the scientists also give the Courier the K9000 Cyberdog Gun; with a Guns check of 75, more ammunition for it will be given. Other items include Doctor's Bags, Stimpaks, Bottle Caps, and various skill magazines, after successful Barter checks of 25, 50, 75, and 90.
Quest stages
Notes
- The Think Tank cannot be exited until the quest is finished.
- If no dialogue is skipped, this sequence can take up to 30 minutes, depending on what the player says.
- The new perks Brainless, Heartless and Spineless are added the moment the Big MT is entered. The pop-ups telling the player that the perks were added will not appear until the dialogue with the doctors, but the perks will be in the Pip-Boy and will be fully functional.
Bugs
Upon spawning on The Sink balcony at the beginning of the quest, the game may freeze. Restarting the system, and reloading the autosave will take the player right back to The Sink balcony. There is very strong, almost stand-still lag. Resetting the PS3 will usually fix this problem.- The lag does persist, but only if the player returns to or remains at the balcony. Reloading the save and/or restarting PS3 does not seem to help. There is always stand-still lag, even when trying to look around. Entering The Sink will usually fix this issue.
Avoiding the lag issues mentioned above all-together can be achieved by saving and reloading the game immediately prior to teleporting via the downed satellite.
Gallery
The balcony, starting point in the Big MT.
The Think Tank, with balcony at the top.
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