I remember the first time I stumbled into the Big MT research crater. My Pip-Boy was flickering, Geiger counter clicking like mad, and those creepy floating robot spheres started scanning me. That's Old World Blues for you - equal parts hilarious and terrifying. If you're planning to dive into the Fallout NV Old World Blues DLC, buckle up. This ain't your typical Mojave adventure.
Old World Blues stands out as the quirkiest, most science-gone-mad expansion in Fallout New Vegas. Released in 2011, this DLC transports you to the Big Mountain research facility where you'll encounter sentient appliances, collect bizarre weapons, and uncover some of the wasteland's weirdest secrets. The Fallout NV Old World Blues experience is like a 1950s sci-fi B-movie come to life - and I mean that in the best way possible.
Key Facts at a Glance
Release Date: July 19, 2011
Recommended Level: 15+ (Trust me, you don't want to come here underleveled)
Main Quest Duration: 6-8 hours (Double that if you explore everything)
New Companions: The Sink's AI personalities (not traditional followers but incredibly useful)
Unique Feature: Your own fully customizable player home - The Sink
Getting Started with Fallout New Vegas OWB
Getting into this madness is simple enough. Once you've installed the DLC, tune your radio to the Mysterious Broadcast signal. This triggers the quest Fly Me to the Moon which leads you to the drive-in cinema northeast of Vegas. Watch that screen and boom - you wake up sans brain and organs in the Big Empty.
Pro Tip: Bring at least 5 Stimpaks, a decent energy weapon, and DO NOT come here before level 15. Those robo-scorpions hit like trucks. Learned that the hard way when I wandered in at level 12 and got vaporized in about 30 seconds.
Essential Gear to Bring
- Energy weapons (laser/plasma) - most enemies here have energy resistance
- Radiation meds (Rad-X and RadAway) - some areas are extremely radioactive
- Repair kits - you'll find amazing gear that needs fixing
- Speech skill of 50+ - helps with the quirky scientists
- A sense of humor - this DLC doesn't take itself seriously
Main Quests and Walkthrough
The core storyline of Fallout NV Old World Blues centers around getting your stolen organs back from the mad scientists who run this place. Yeah, you read that right - your brain, heart, spine, and more are all walking around in jars doing science experiments. Only in Old World Blues!
| Quest Name | Objectives | Key Rewards | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Welcome to the Big Empty | Meet Think Tank, explore Big MT | 250 XP, access to The Sink | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| On the Brain | Recover your stolen brain | 750 XP, Brain's perks | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Heartache by the Number | Retrieve your kidnapped heart | 750 XP, Heart perks | ★★★☆☆ |
| All My Friends Have Off Switches | Discover the X-8 facility secrets | 1000 XP, X-8 Data | ★★★★☆ |
| Who's Brain is it Anyway? | Confront Dr. Mobius | 1500 XP, unique weapon | ★★★★★ |
The writing in Fallout NV OWB is genuinely brilliant - filled with laugh-out-loud moments and clever references. My personal favorite part? The ongoing battle between Dr. Mobius and the Think Tank, played out through increasingly ridiculous audio logs. It's darker than it first appears though, with some genuinely disturbing backstory if you dig deep.
Side Quests Worth Your Time
- Come Fly With Me: Help a traumatized stealth suit find purpose
- Field Research: Hunt dangerous creatures for science!
- A Brain's Best Friend: Reunite a cyberdog with its owner
- X-8: Explore the brutal testing facility
Don't rush these side quests. The stealth suit one? Ended up becoming one of my favorite companions in the whole game. And those cyberdog parts? Worth every minute spent hunting down those pesky nightstalkers.
Weapons, Gear and Loot Guide
This is where Fallout New Vegas Old World Blues truly shines. The gear here is some of the most creative in the entire Fallout series. From guns that shoot lightning to stealth suits that talk to you, it's an equipment paradise.
Elijah's Advanced LAER
Damage: 40 per shot
Location: Higgs Village
Special: 50% critical damage bonus
Christine's COS Silencer Rifle
Damage: 52 per shot
Location: Y-0 Research Center
Special: Integrated silencer
K9000 Cyberdog Gun
Damage: 25 per shot
Location: FIDO quest reward
Special: Fido recognizes you as friend
Stealth Suit Mk II
DT: 14
Location: X-13 facility
Special: Auto-Stimpak, stealth field, talks to you!
Perks and Traits Unique to OWB
What makes Fallout NV Old World Blues special isn't just the gear - it's the permanent upgrades you get:
- Brainless: +2 Intelligence, -1 Charisma (after recovering your brain)
- Heartless: +20% poison resistance, -1 Charisma
- Spinal Tap: +5% critical chance, -1 Charisma
- Bio-Comm Mesh: +10% critical chance when wearing armor
That Charisma penalty stings a bit, especially if you're playing a smooth-talker. But the trade-offs? Totally worth it in my book. That critical chance boost has saved my hide more times than I can count.
Enemies and Challenges
Let's talk about what wants to kill you in Big MT. The Fallout NV OWB enemies are creative nightmares:
| Enemy | Weaknesses | Danger Level | Special Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Robo-Scorpion | EMP weapons, pulse grenades | ★★★★★ | Comes in multiple sizes - watch for queens! |
| Nightstalker | Fire, headshots | ★★★☆☆ | Fast and travel in packs |
| Lobotomite | Any weapon really | ★☆☆☆☆ | Former researchers, now mindless |
| Trauma Harness | Energy weapons | ★★★☆☆ | Heals nearby enemies |
| Cyberdog | Ballistic weapons | ★★☆☆☆ | Can sometimes be avoided |
Survival Tip: Those robo-scorpions? They're the real deal. First time I encountered one, I emptied an entire plasma rifle clip into it and barely scratched it. Pulse weapons are your best friend here - bring plenty of ammo or prepare for a world of pain.
Exploring Big MT: Key Locations
The Big Empty is divided into several bizarre research facilities, each with unique challenges and rewards:
The Sink - Your Personal Hub
This is your base of operations - a fully customizable apartment with six AI personalities running appliances. Upgrade each for special benefits:
- Auto-Doc: Free healing and cybernetic upgrades
- Book Chute: Generates skill books daily
- Light Switch: Crafting station for weapon mods
- Sink: Creates purified water and useful chems
X-8 Research Center
This place messed with my head - literally. X-8 features a memory den where you relive combat scenarios. Complete them perfectly for unique rewards. The hologram enemies here can't be killed conventionally - you need to destroy their emitters.
Y-0 Research Center
Vertical nightmare filled with traps and radiation. Home to Christine, a character connected to Dead Money. Bring Rad-X and watch for floor traps - lost a good character to one of those.
The Thorn Yard
Outdoor area filled with dangerous plants and creatures. Harvest unique ingredients here if you've got the Survival skill. Watch for spore carriers - they explode on death.
The Good, The Bad, and The Weird
After spending dozens of hours in this DLC, here's my honest take:
What I Love:
- Brilliant writing full of dark humor
- Some of the best gear in the entire game
- The Sink might be the best player home in any Fallout
- Permanent character upgrades that matter
- Perfect blend of sci-fi and horror
What Could Be Better:
- Enemies can feel bullet-spongey at times
- The Charisma penalties hurt social builds
- Navigation can be confusing in some facilities
- Not enough interaction with the Think Tank after main quest
Is it the best Fallout DLC ever? That's tough. Dead Money has a better story, but Fallout New Vegas Old World Blues has more replay value. The gear alone brings me back every time I start a new playthrough.
Personal Favorite Moment: Discovering the toaster that just wants to burn the world. His psychotic rant had me laughing for five minutes straight. Only in Old World Blues could a kitchen appliance be one of the most memorable characters!
Old World Blues FAQ
When should I play Old World Blues?
I recommend level 20-25. The enemies here are tough, and you'll want good gear before tackling the Big MT. Story-wise, it fits best after Dead Money but before Lonesome Road.
Can I leave and come back later?
Absolutely! Finish the intro quest to get access to the transportalponder - a device that lets you teleport between Big MT and the Mojave anytime. Just don't leave before getting it!
Is there a level cap increase?
Yes! Each Fallout New Vegas DLC raises the cap by 5. With all four installed, you can reach level 50. Old World Blues alone gives you access to levels 30-35.
What's up with all the talking appliances?
They're AI personalities created by the Big MT scientists. Each has a distinct personality based on their function. Upgrade them at The Sink for practical benefits like free healing and crafting stations.
Are there multiple endings?
Sort of. The main resolution is similar, but your choices affect which scientists survive and what happens to Mobius. There are also several ways to handle your "organs" - each gives different bonuses.
Can I keep playing after finishing?
Yes! Unlike Dead Money, you can return to Big MT anytime after completing the main quest. All locations remain accessible, and you can finish side quests at your leisure.
Tips from a Big MT Veteran
After multiple playthroughs of Fallout NV Old World Blues, here are my hard-earned tips:
- Upgrade the Sink's Central Intelligence first - he gives you access to vendor functions
- Complete the Field Research quest early - the perk rewards are amazing
- Explore EVERYWHERE - some of the best gear is hidden in unmarked locations
- Don't skip audio logs - they contain backstory, humor, and sometimes passwords
- Save before confronting Mobius - there are multiple resolution options
- Craft weapon repair kits - unique weapons can't be replaced if broken
- Take the Heartless perk if you plan to fight Cazadores later - poison immunity is huge
Old World Blues isn't just another DLC - it's a love letter to classic sci-fi with that signature Fallout dark humor. Whether you're here for the amazing gear, the hilarious writing, or just to get your brain back, Fallout New Vegas OWB delivers one of the most unique experiences in the entire franchise.
Still remember my first time stepping out of the X-2 facility into that purple-hued night, lightning flashing over the crater rim, with the Think Tank bickering over my Pip-Boy. No other game expansion has stuck with me quite like this one. For all its quirks and occasional frustrations, Fallout NV Old World Blues remains a masterpiece of DLC design - weird, wonderful, and utterly unforgettable.
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