How To Start Arcade Gannon Quest Requirements And Quest Guide
Arcade Gannon is one of the most compelling companions in Fallout: New Vegas, offering high medical utility and a deeply personal backstory linked to the Enclave. Triggering his personal quest, titled For Auld Lang Syne, requires players to build implicit trust while advancing far enough in the main storyline. Understanding these mechanics ensures you do not miss out on acquiring rare power armor and completing his narrative arc.
Recruiting Arcade Gannon and Building Initial Trust
To begin your journey with Arcade Gannon, you must first recruit him at the Old Mormon Fort located in Freeside. You can convince him to join your party by passing a Speech check of 75, utilizing the Confirmed Bachelor perk, or gaining high reputation with the Followers of the Apocalypse. Once he is in your party, Arcade provides the Better Healing perk, which boosts the effectiveness of all health-restoring items.
Building trust with Arcade relies on earning hidden trust points by visiting specific locations across the Mojave Wasteland. For instance, bringing him to the Crashed Vertibird, REPCONN Headquarters, or the Silver Rush allows him to share unique observations that grant trust. Respecting his opinion on faction matters, such as expressing disapproval toward Caesar's Legion, further solidifies his confidence in your leadership.
Main Storyline Progression Triggers
Accumulating trust points alone is not enough to immediately start Arcade Gannon's personal quest. You must also progress the main questline near its climax, right before the Second Battle of Hoover Dam. The quest triggers automatically when following the Independent route with Yes Man once key objectives are fulfilled.
If you choose to align with the New California Republic or Mr. House, you will need to accumulate at least five trust points before Arcade approaches you. However, siding strongly with Caesar's Legion will cause Arcade to refuse companionship entirely, making his quest inaccessible. Once both the narrative and trust thresholds are satisfied, Arcade will initiate dialogue to request your assistance.
Navigating the For Auld Lang Syne Quest Steps
When For Auld Lang Syne officially begins, Arcade asks you to reunite five surviving members of his former Enclave unit. Your map will highlight the locations of these scattered veterans across the Mojave Wasteland. Speaking to each individual allows you to convince them to assemble at the secret Remnants Bunker.
After gathering the veterans inside the bunker, you must decide whether they should support the NCR or Caesar's Legion in the upcoming battle. Additionally, Arcade will ask for your advice regarding his own future participation in the conflict. Depending on your dialogue choices, Arcade will either join the fight in specialized Gannon Family Tesla Armor or retreat to Freeside, leaving his armor behind for you.
Key Strategies and Common Pitfalls
A common issue players face when trying to trigger Arcade's quest is attempting to complete it too early in a playthrough. Because the quest is tied to late-game main narrative milestones, rushing through trust triggers early on will not immediately start the quest. Keep Arcade as an active companion while advancing major faction quests to ensure seamless progression.
Furthermore, wearing Caesar's Legion armor or maintaining a high Legion reputation can alienate Arcade during conversations. Equipping NCR disguise armor can temporarily bypass recruitment barriers, but maintaining a non-Legion alignment is the safest path to completing his storyline successfully. Planning your faction choices carefully allows you to fully experience one of the rich companion quests in Fallout: New Vegas.