Craig Boone

Craig Boone (born 2255) is a former 1st Recon sharpshooter living at Novac, and one of Courier's possible compatriots in Fallout: New Vegas.

Background
The 26 year old Boone is a man with a troubled past. He was once a soldier of the New California Republic Army together with his best friend, Manny Vargas, a member of the prestigious 1st Reconnaissance Battalion, picked out at the firing range for his exceptional marksmanship skills. As part of the push into the Mojave, Boone was deployed to Camp Golf. He fought during the First Battle of Hoover Dam, as the frontline camp was hit by Legion attacks.

The battle with the Legion did not break him. It was a retaliatory expedition of the Republic a year later, in 2278, directed against the Great Khans. Following raider attacks on NCR settlements, the Army tracked down the Khans to Bitter Springs, a suspected stronghold. What they didn't know is that it was the Khans' main settlement. Boone's fireteam was deployed on Coyote Tail ridge. Their orders were to cut off any Khans attempting to escape Bitter Springs down Canyon 37, to prevent them from flanking the main force. They were to shoot on sight. However, the operation went wrong. when Khans started coming down canyon 37 in groups, the troopers noticed that they were women, kids, the elderly, with wounded Khans in tow. NCR command did not understand what was happening and ordered the troopers to fire till they were out of ammunition. They carried out the order.

What happened there broke him. Boone became a murderer, if not in the eyes of the Republic, then in his own. He left the Army when his tour of duty ended, sick of war, to try and start everything from scratch. He joined Carla, a beautiful woman he met on the New Vegas Strip on leave. She was talkative, charming, proud, everything Boone wasn't. She helped him forget. For a time, he was happy. Sometime in 2280, they settled in Novac, down route 93. Boone found a job as town watchman, together with Manny Vargas, the best friend who enlisted with him and also his spotter.

Boone never told Carla about Bitter Springs, though he really wanted to. And then, he could not. Legion slavers sneaked into Novac one night while he was on watch, and took Carla, pregnant with Boone's child. They knew exactly when and how to come in order to sneak by him. Boone knew he was set up. He talked to Manny about the disappearance. Their friendship ended instantly when his friend couldn't mask the fact her disappearance made him glad, as Boone's wife often clashed with him.

The distraught marksman took to the road, to track Carla down and save her. He found her at a Legion outpost southeast, near the Colorado River. She was being sold, with men bidding on her. The entire area was locked down, with legionaries swarming by the hundreds. Boone could only see one solution. He could not track her in Legion lands. He could not abandon her to the Legion. He took the shot. He hit.

He returned to Novac and resumed his duties as the town's watchman. He was apathetic, save for one emotion: Hate. Boundless hatred for the Caesar's Legion and the person who took his wife from him.

Quests

 * One for My Baby: Boone enlists the player's help to figure out who was responsible for organizing his wife's kidnapping. Fingering the correct suspect will enable Boone as a possible companion.
 * I Forgot to Remember to Forget: If the player manages to coax Boone's story out of him, Craig will eventually ask to return to Bitter Springs to face his past. The player then has the opportunity to help him overcome the traumatic experiences that defined his life.
 * Beyond the Beef: Boone, like other human companions, can be offered to Mortimer as a feast. Boone is in good shape and looks healthy, but a little gamey and rugged to the cannibal.
 * You'll Know It When It Happens: Boone will offer input on the likely assassination attempts against the President. Two are correct.

Effects of the player's actions
"Heh. Yeah. That was some kind of stunt we pulled. Whatever happens from here on out, we killed that prick in the middle of his fortress. Ought to give the rest of them something to think about."
 * Boone will protest against the mercy killing option and its suggestion during the quest Back in Your Own Backyard.
 * As long as Boone is the active companion and follows the player, Legion characters will remain hostile.
 * Boone will warn the player if their NCR reputation is negative or Legion reputation is positive. If the player further damages their standing with the NCR or improves their reputation with the Legion, Boone will leave permanently.
 * Boone will refuse to speak to the player entirely, if their NCR reputation is very negative or Legion reputation is very positive. This can be bypassed temporarily with any faction armor (except for the Legion's, of course).
 * Killing Caesar with Boone will prompt him to shout "Thumbs down, you son of a bitch." He will also remark on the kill when talked to and explain that ultimately it won't matter, as Caesar already has a succession line set up:

- Boone on the killing.

"Intel we had back in the NCR said they had a whole succession lined up. They'll replace him as soon as word gets out. The other thing I heard is that he wasn't really commanding the army anymore. Guess we made sure of that.

That just means we've got more work to do.

Yeah, it does. But we got these bastards pretty good today."

- Boone and the Courier.


 * If the player kills Oscar Velasco (who will attack if Boone is in the party), the sniper will remark: "Great Khan looks like. Guess he fought at Bitter Springs. Or saw it happen".

Other interactions

 * Boone will warn the player that they will shoot any Legionary they see when approaching Cottonwood Cove or Nelson. The player can release Boone at that moment or remark that it's not a problem, but a solution.
 * Boone is not amused when he is aimed at: "How about I aim my gun at you for a while, see how you like it."
 * Taking his beret does not amuse Boone: "I would really like my beret back, please."
 * Killing the Legion, however, does amuse Boone: "Wish there was more of them, I wasn't done yet"

Non-player character comments

 * Boomers: Keep your distance, soldier.
 * Brotherhood of Steel: Why is your friend there glaring at me like that? Did I bump into him or something?
 * Followers: That's a First Recon beret. They're the best marksmen in the NCR military.
 * Freesiders: Keep your guns to yourself and there won't be any trouble.; You're not doing yourself a favor by having him tag along. NCR aren't welcome here.
 * Great Khans: You know you're traveling with a fucking murderer?
 * Gun Runners: First Recon is a top-notch unit. They're always buying sniper rifles from us.
 * NCR civilians: NCR Rangers deserve all my praise.
 * NCR troopers: I wish I had a First Recon guy looking out for me.
 * NCR tourists: Is your friend one of those elite troops we've been hearing about?
 * Nightkin: Head voices say quiet man knows more than he says about horns!
 * Omertas: Big tough ranger better not start any trouble in here.
 * Outer Vegas denizens: Keep the Ranger on a leash around here.; Make sure the NCR dog behaves, you're in the Mojave now.
 * Powder Gangers: That guy's got cold eyes. Definitely ex-military.
 * The Kings: That friend of yours NCR? He looks like he's NCR.

Inventory

 * Boone's default outfit can be freely taken from him. He will not equip another one unless the player gives him one. Boone can equip any non-faction and NCR armor and clothing. Once I Forgot to Remember to Forget is completed, Boone will gain a default armor: The 1st Recon survival armor or the 1st Recon assault armor.
 * Boone works best with conventional firearms, either automatics or scoped semi-automatics.

Behind the scenes
Craig Boone was written by Eric Fenstermaker.

Bugs

 * If Boone no longer tracks targets and keeps holstering his weapon in combat, this may be the result of patch 1.2.0.31x resetting his AI package every 5 seconds.
 * An unofficial patch has been released. Subsequent official patches have also resolved this problem.
 * While switching equipment, the game will erroneously multiply the bonus from Boone's beret. This can be reset by taking his beret and returning it to him.
 * The beret is subject to standard inventory bugs, including disappearing from the list on transfer (it will still remain in his inventory).
 * Boone may switch to melee combat if damaged. This can be reset by changing his combat style manually to melee and then to ranged.
 * When enough points are gained for his companion quest, Boone will stop following the player temporarily and try to talk to them. Fast travelling away will result in Boone being left behind at the locale where the points were gained.
 * Authority glasses may glitch on Boone's face.

Appearances
Craig Boone appears only in Fallout: New Vegas.