Boulder City Showdown is a sidequest in Fallout: New Vegas that involves de-escalating the conflict between a group of NCR soldiers and Great Khans in Boulder City.
Quick tips before you start the quest:
- Only start this quest if you are on neutral or better terms with both factions, otherwise, you will have to engage in combat.
- This sidequest is likely to be your first time interacting with the Great Khans. For this reason, it is important to complete this quest in the best way possible, otherwise, you will lock yourself out of their quests later on in the game.
- A Speech skill of 45 or higher is required in order to finish this quest peacefully.
- Finishing this quest peacefully will grant fame with both the NCR and the Great Khans, enough to be accepted by both factions.
Starting the quest
To start the quest, head to Boulder City, located just down the highway from Novac.
Once there, look for a person named Lt. Monroe.
He’ll tell you that Great Khans have taken over the town and ask for your help with freeing the hostages they took.
At this point, you’ll be able to tell him either that you want to negotiate with the Khans, or that you want to kill them.
It’s imperative that you select the negotiation option. If you don’t, and select the other option instead, the Great Khans will be hostile to you immediately as they spot you, regardless of your reputation with them.
Now you can leave the conversation with the Khans and enter the ruins of Boulder City through the door behind Lt. Monroe.
Negotiating with the Khans
Once inside Boulder City, head for the Great Khan hideout, located on the far left of the street inside a nearly destroyed building.
Once there, Jessup, the leader of the Khans in this area, will immediately speak to you.
Talk to him for a while, soon, you’ll get access to the “Let’s talk about settling things between you and the NCR.” dialogue option. Select it.
Here, you’ll have to pass a Speech skill check of 45 to convince them to release the hostages. Doing so will allow you to negotiate their free release with Lt. Monroe.
Once you’ve passed the Speech check, return to Lt. Monroe.
Lt. Monroe will tell you that he was instructed to kill the Khans, however, you can inform him that the Great Khans will release the hostages in return for their freedom. Select it.
You will have the option to bribe him to honor the deal, however, you don’t actually have to do it.
To convince him to release the Khans for free, simply select the “If you have any integrity, then you’ll honor the deal.” dialogue choice.
Selecting this dialogue option will finish the quest peacefully, giving you faction reputation with both the NCR and the Great Khans, as well as 300XP.
