Arcade Gannon Quest in Fallout New Vegas: Troubleshooting and Solutions

If you're having trouble starting the Arcade Gannon quest in Fallout New Vegas, you're not alone. This quest, "For Auld Lang Syne," is crucial for those aiming for the "Wild Card" ending or seeking to build a relationship with Arcade Gannon. Here’s a comprehensive guide to troubleshooting and resolving issues related to this quest.

1. Quest Prerequisites:

Before starting the quest, ensure that you've met the following requirements:

• Level Requirement: You must be at least level 20 to start the quest. If you are below this level, you might need to level up before the quest becomes available.
• Faction Alignment: Arcade Gannon's quest is influenced by your alignment with certain factions. You should be neutral or have a positive reputation with the NCR or Caesar’s Legion, as your standing can affect the quest availability.
• Companion Status: Arcade Gannon must be your companion. If he is not currently in your party, you won't be able to start the quest. Make sure you have recruited him and that he is actively following you.

2. Initiating the Quest:

To start the quest, you need to speak with Arcade Gannon at the Old Mormon Fort in Freeside. Here are some steps to ensure you can initiate the quest:

• Location Check: Verify that Arcade is at the Old Mormon Fort. Sometimes, he may be absent due to random encounters or other game events. If he's missing, wait for a while or fast travel to another location and return.
• Dialogue Options: Engage in conversation with Arcade Gannon. He should offer dialogue options related to his background and the NCR. If these options do not appear, it might indicate that you haven't triggered the necessary preconditions for the quest.

3. Common Issues and Fixes:

Several issues might prevent the quest from starting:

• Quest Overlaps: Ensure that no other quests are interfering with Arcade's quest. Some quests can have overlapping requirements or conditions that may block each other. Check your active quests and complete or pause any that might be conflicting.
• Bugs and Glitches: Fallout New Vegas is known for its occasional bugs. If you suspect a glitch, try reloading an earlier save or using console commands (on PC) to reset Arcade’s quest flags. Commands like resetquest or setstage might be useful, but use them cautiously.
• Mod Conflicts: If you're using mods, they might interfere with the quest. Disable mods related to companions or quests and see if this resolves the issue. Re-enable them one by one to identify the conflicting mod.

4. Alternative Solutions:

If standard troubleshooting doesn’t work, consider these alternative solutions:

• Console Commands: For PC players, use console commands to force the quest to start. Commands like player.addquest can be used to manually start the quest. You can find the quest ID in Fallout New Vegas modding communities or forums.
• Save Game Editors: Tools like FNVEdit or save game editors can help in adjusting quest variables. However, this requires a bit more technical knowledge and should be used with caution to avoid corrupting your save file.

5. Tips for a Smooth Experience:

• Regular Saves: Regularly save your game to avoid losing progress due to quest bugs. This practice also allows you to revert to a previous state if something goes wrong.
• Consult Forums: Fallout New Vegas has a vibrant community. If you're stuck, forums like the Fallout subreddit or dedicated game forums can offer advice and solutions from other players who have encountered similar issues.

By following these steps and tips, you should be able to resolve issues with starting the Arcade Gannon quest and continue your adventure in Fallout New Vegas.