Craig Boone is a miserable guy. If you’ve spent more than five minutes in Novac, you know exactly who I’m talking about—the guy sitting in the mouth of a giant dinosaur with a sniper rifle and a permanent scowl. He’s arguably the best companion in Fallout: New Vegas, but getting him to actually open up to you? That’s the hard part. The Fallout New Vegas Boone quest line isn't just a simple "go here, kill that" objective; it’s a multi-stage emotional breakdown that requires you to navigate the darkest parts of the Mojave Wasteland.
Most players stumble into "One for My Baby" early on because they want that sweet Beret (+1 PER, +5% Crit Chance, why wouldn't you?). But the real meat of his story is "I Forgot to Remember to Forget." It’s a quest that many people actually break by accident because they don't understand how the "History Point" system works behind the scenes. You can't just talk your way into his heart. You have to prove you hate the Caesar’s Legion just as much as he does.
The Novac Betrayal: One for My Baby
When you first meet Boone, he’s grieving. His wife, Carla, was kidnapped by Legion slavers, and he’s convinced someone in the sleepy town of Novac sold her out. He gives you his beret and tells you to bring the culprit out in front of the Dino Dee-lite gift shop while he's on duty.
Don't just pick a random NPC. Seriously. While you can trick almost anyone into walking in front of that dinosaur, Boone will eventually find out if you lied, and he’ll refuse to travel with you. To do it right, you need to break into the floor safe in the Novac registration office. Inside, you’ll find a Bill of Sale. It’s a cold, hard document proving that Jeannie May Crawford—the "nice" lady running the motel—sold Carla Boone to the Legion for a handful of caps.
Once you have the note, talk to Jeannie May at night. Lead her out to the spot. Put on the beret. Wait for the gunshot. It’s brutal, but it’s the only way to kick off the Fallout New Vegas Boone quest progression.
The Hidden Point System: Earning Boone’s Respect
This is where people get frustrated. You’ve finished his first quest, he’s your companion, but he won't talk about his past at Bitter Springs. You can’t just spam the "talk" button. You need to earn 5 "History Points" by performing specific actions against the Legion while he is actively in your party.
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If you already cleared out the Fort or killed Vulpes Inculta before recruiting him, you might have screwed yourself. Here is how the points actually break down:
- Killing Vulpes Inculta: If you see the guy with the wolf hat in Nipton and take him out, that’s 1 point. If you wait and kill him at the Strip later, it’s still a point.
- The Camp Forlorn Hope Mission: Killing the Legion ears or taking out the various Legates during the "Restore Hope" questline can net you 2 points.
- Nelson: Killing Dead Sea, the commander at Nelson, is worth 2 points. This is usually the easiest way to power-level Boone’s loyalty.
- Camp McCarran: If you interrogate Silus and kill him, or help the NCR sniff out the spy (Captain Curtis), you get a point.
- The Fort: Killing Caesar himself is a massive 2-point gain.
Honestly, the easiest route is usually Nelson plus Nipton. Just make sure he’s standing right there with you when the killing happens. After you hit the 5-point threshold, Boone will eventually stop you for a chat. He’ll look even more depressed than usual and mention Bitter Springs. That’s your cue.
Bitter Springs and the Weight of the Past
Bitter Springs is a sore spot for the NCR, but for Boone, it’s the center of his trauma. During the massacre, he was part of the 1st Recon team that fired on fleeing civilians—elders, children, the sick—because of a massive communication breakdown.
When you arrive at the Bitter Springs Refugee Camp, you’ll need to talk to Captain Gilles. She’s overwhelmed. To progress "I Forgot to Remember to Forget," you have to help the camp out. This involves finding extra supplies and dealing with the Great Khan snipers nearby.
But the climax happens at Coyote Tail Ridge. Boone wants to spend the night there, overlooking the site of his greatest shame. He expects a fight, and he’s right. Legion raiding parties will attack the camp from multiple sides. You have to defend the refugees.
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The Choice: Vengeance or Peace?
At the end of the night, after the smoke clears and the Legionaries are dead, Boone will ask you how he should feel. This is the most important part of the Fallout New Vegas Boone quest because it determines his ending slide and his unique armor upgrade.
If you tell him "You're a soldier, you did what you had to," or "It’s a war, people die," you are nudging him toward his 1st Recon Survival Armor. This path is about him accepting the brutality of his actions and moving on, albeit as a somewhat colder person.
If you tell him he should be sorry or that he can't make up for what he did but can try to be better, he gets the 1st Recon Assault Armor. This path is more about him seeking redemption.
Which one is better? Honestly, the stats are fairly similar, but the survival armor looks a bit more "wasteland rugged." Most players choose based on how they want Boone's story to end. Do you want him to find a weird sort of peace, or do you want him to remain a hardened killer for the NCR?
Common Glitches to Watch Out For
Let's be real: this is an Obsidian game from 2010. It’s buggy.
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Sometimes, even if you have the points, Boone won't trigger the dialogue. If this happens, try fast-traveling to a major NCR hub like Camp McCarran or the Mojave Outpost. If you’ve accidentally killed too many Legion targets without him, you might run out of points to earn. In that case, your only option on PC is using console commands (specifically set "00096bce".nHistoryPoints to 5).
Another common issue is Jeannie May Crawford not following you to the dinosaur. Usually, this is because she’s stuck in a pathfinding loop in her house. Just wait until 10:00 PM and try again.
Moving Forward in the Mojave
Once the Fallout New Vegas Boone quest is officially marked as complete, you have the most loyal sniper in the game at your side. But remember, Boone has a zero-tolerance policy for the Legion. If you try to walk into the Fort to talk to Caesar for the main quest, Boone will start shooting. He doesn't care about your "diplomacy."
If you're planning a Legion playthrough, Boone is not your guy. He will leave you the second your reputation with the NCR drops too low or your Legion fame gets too high.
Actionable Next Steps for Your Playthrough:
- Check your progress: If you haven't started "I Forgot to Remember to Forget," go to Nelson and kill Dead Sea with Boone in your party. It's the fastest way to trigger the 5-point threshold.
- Scout Bitter Springs early: Clear out the nearby cave of Great Khans before starting the final defense; it makes the night-time ambush much easier to manage.
- Manage your gear: Once you get Boone's upgraded armor, give him the All-American (found in Vault 34) or the Anti-Materiel Rifle. With his "Spotter" perk and a high-end rifle, he will literally kill enemies before you even see them on your compass.
- Finalize your faction: Decide now if you're sticking with the NCR. Completing Boone's quest makes him a powerhouse, but he’s a liability if you’re trying to play both sides of the war for too long.
Boone isn't looking for a friend, but by the end of his journey, you're the only person left in the world he actually trusts. Just don't expect him to smile about it.
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