Can You Take Companions to DLC in Fallout: New Vegas? A Definitive Guide
No, you cannot take your regular companions from the Mojave Wasteland into the DLC areas of Fallout: New Vegas. Each DLC is designed as a mostly self-contained experience. While this might initially seem restrictive, it’s a deliberate design choice that enhances both gameplay and narrative cohesion.
The DLCs of Fallout: New Vegas—Dead Money, Honest Hearts, Old World Blues, and Lonesome Road—each present unique challenges and storylines. Allowing your established companions to accompany you would potentially disrupt the carefully crafted difficulty curves, resource management aspects, and thematic focuses of these expansions. Imagine taking Boone, the expert sniper, into the survival horror of Dead Money; it would significantly dilute the tension and sense of isolation the DLC intends to evoke.
Instead of permitting existing companions, the DLCs often provide you with temporary companions specific to their respective environments. These characters are integral to the story and offer unique perspectives, abilities, and interactions that are unavailable in the main game. This ensures that the DLC’s narrative and gameplay remain focused and engaging, while also providing opportunities to form new bonds and experiences. Think of Dog/God in Dead Money, or Follows-Chalk in Honest Hearts – their stories are inextricably linked to the DLC and enhance your overall experience.
This approach isn’t just about gameplay balancing. It’s also about narrative integrity. Each DLC explores themes that are best experienced through the lens of isolation, forced collaboration, or confronting personal demons. Bringing familiar companions along would undermine these core elements, lessening the impact of the narratives. So, while you might miss your trusty sidekicks for a while, remember that this design choice is ultimately for the betterment of the Fallout: New Vegas experience.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Companions and DLC in Fallout: New Vegas
Here are fifteen frequently asked questions to give you a deeper understanding of how companions interact (or don’t!) with the downloadable content for Fallout: New Vegas:
Can I dismiss my companion before starting a DLC and then recruit them again afterward?
Yes, absolutely! This is the recommended approach. Before embarking on any DLC, it’s best to dismiss your current companions and send them to a safe location (like the Lucky 38 Presidential Suite, if you have it). Upon your return to the Mojave Wasteland, you can simply re-recruit them as if you never left. This ensures you don’t inadvertently lose them or their questlines.
Are there any exceptions to the “no companions in DLC” rule?
While you can’t bring your regular companions, the Lonesome Road DLC features temporary companions, ED-E (if you brought him to the Divide) and Ulysses who joins later. However, their roles are scripted and tied directly to the DLC’s main quest; you don’t have the same level of control or interaction as you would with your regular companions. You’re also “trapped” in the Lonesome Road DLC until you finish it.
What happens if I try to enter a DLC area with a companion?
The game simply prevents you from entering. You will get a notification message informing you that you cannot bring companions with you. You will need to dismiss them before you can proceed. The game will prompt you to dismiss your companion.
Do any of my companion’s perks still apply while I am in a DLC?
No, your companions’ perks are inactive while you are in a DLC area. This is another way the game ensures the DLC experience remains self-contained and balanced. Once you return to the Mojave Wasteland and re-recruit them, their perks will become active again.
Does my relationship with companions change based on my actions in the DLCs?
In general, your actions within a DLC do not directly affect your affinity with companions back in the Mojave Wasteland. However, there are some specific instances where completing a DLC can unlock unique dialogue options with certain companions, providing additional backstory or insights.
Does having Veronica as a companion affect my experience in Dead Money?
Taking Veronica as a companion before will not impact interactions with Elijah in Dead Money. After finishing the Dead Money DLC, you will receive an encrypted holotape that only Veronica can decrypt.
Does the order I play the DLCs affect my experience with companions later?
The order of DLC play mostly doesn’t affect companion interactions, with the exception of how the DLC’s content informs conversation with the companions after the fact. Some players believe that completing Lonesome Road last offers the most narrative closure due to its connection to the Courier’s backstory and its impact on Ulysses’s perspective. Also, some people suggest not doing Old World Blues until you’ve completed the main game or are close to it because the narrative is better appreciated with the main storyline context.
Can I send my companions to wait for me in a DLC location?
No, you cannot send companions to wait for you in a DLC area. They must remain in the Mojave Wasteland until you return.
Are there any mods that allow you to bring companions into DLCs?
Yes, there are mods available that circumvent the game’s restrictions and allow you to bring your regular companions into the DLC areas. However, be aware that using such mods can potentially disrupt the balance of the DLC and may introduce unforeseen bugs or glitches.
Does my reputation with factions in the Mojave Wasteland impact my interactions with DLC companions?
While your Mojave Wasteland reputation doesn’t directly influence the recruitment or behavior of DLC companions, certain factions present in the DLCs may react differently to you depending on your overall reputation.
Do the temporary companions in DLCs have companion quests?
Some DLC companions, like Dog/God in Dead Money, have questlines or storylines that intertwine with the DLC’s main narrative. Completing these quests can unlock unique rewards, dialogue options, and endings.
Is there any unique dialogue with companions after completing Lonesome Road?
Yes, completing the Lonesome Road DLC unlocks unique dialogue options with certain companions, particularly ED-E, due to the DLC’s focus on the Courier’s past.
Can you romance companions in Fallout: New Vegas?
First off, to enter a romantic relationship with your companion, you need to cater your actions and decisions to your companion’s unique preferences. By doing so, you’ll steadily increase their affinity towards you. But depending on the companion, these preferences can vary.
Can companions wear faction armor in Fallout New Vegas?
Companions will not wear faction armor except for a couple of exceptions (Boone will wear NCR Faction Armor and Veronica will wear Brotherhood of Steel Faction Armor). If you try to trade Faction Armor to your companion, they will drop it onto the ground.
Who is the best FNV companion?
The “best” companion in Fallout: New Vegas is subjective and depends on your playstyle. However, Veronica is generally considered one of the strongest due to her Power Fist weapon and ability to wear Power Armor. For RP purposes, Games Learning Society recommends Lily for players who want a tragic storyline with a character who is dealing with mental health issues. You can see more about their work at GamesLearningSociety.org.
While the inability to bring your established companions into the DLCs might initially seem disappointing, remember that this design choice is ultimately in service of creating a more focused, balanced, and narratively compelling experience. Embrace the challenge, explore the new companions offered within each DLC, and return to your Mojave Wasteland friends with new stories and perspectives to share.