I've gone as far south as Mojave Otpost and just returned from Nipton. and discovered 15 places as far north as, and including, Goodsprings.



I am considering remaking my character. I feel like I've been playing for a LONG time (I open every object and search every corner). I think I'm doing the main quest line. But if I were to remake, I would want to get to "the strip" as soon as possible.

I wouldn't want to do all this exploring, Majove, Nipton action.

Is it possible to skip all these south places until later in the game?

yes, but there is no scaling here. The encounters between Goodsprings to Novac might be really easy for a higher level character. Keep in mind that if you complete the MQ, the game ends, so be sure to complete all side/free quests you want to do before completing the MQ.

Yes I have just done it..... Start game, take every item from Doctors House and sell for sim packs / and some 9mm ammo, get 9mm Pistol + scope.

Run up to graveyard, look towards vegas, pick a route over the top of the hills / cliffs, dont run on the road but aim to move along the top of the cliffs.

Drop down when you are forced to via invisible walls, and run, run, run, run, and run again towards vegas.

You will get attacked by them small bugs (yellow things) when your energy gets less then 50% use sim packs but keep running!

You will (I did) get chassed by "baby" deathclaws but they cant keep up with you.

People will fire lasers at you, bur keep running!

I am now walking round the outside of vegas as a level 3

Oh that's cool man. I should try that.

Where do I get that "Scope"?

I've seen some people get to the Strip at level 1, by doing a route like the post above or taking the longer, safer one in the east. You can use the money/items you start with to gamble and do whatever you wish.

If you do this, I highly recommend getting 4k in the Atomic Wrangler or Strip so you can buy an Intelligence implant as early as possible. Doesn't really make a big difference, but 15 skill points is basically the equivalent of a level.

The scope mentioned is a random possible item from Chet, one of many weapon mods he sells (vendors restock every 72 hours). But if you're looking for some fun, get a stealth boy somehow, and go to the Broc Flower Cave along the east road just before Novac (search in The Vault or elsewhere for a specific location). You can find the Ratslayer (vermint rifle with all upgrades) there, an amazing item to have early in the game if you're going guns.

In the starting town, you (I did) buy it from the store, I got it, so I could use it to scout ahead a little bit during safe(ish) moments on my run......

Also, in Sloan, you can steal a set of binoculars really easy. Those help to do advanced scouting.

Oh yeah, if you want to use Binoculars, there's a very simple mod in the new vegas nexus (and this forum's mod section) that greatly improves their effectiveness. They're very useful when you're doing a route that involves dying if caught.