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Big Trouble in Big Town
Fallout 3

Big Trouble in Big Town

Guide to completing the 'Big Trouble in Big Town' quest in Fallout 3. Includes rescuing Red and Shorty from Germantown Police HQ, finding skill books, and defending Big Town.

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Guide to completing the 'Big Trouble in Big Town' quest in Fallout 3. Includes rescuing Red and Shorty from Germantown Police HQ, finding skill books, and defending Big Town.

Walkthrough
  1. 1
    First, help Timebomb at Red’s Clinic in Big Town if you haven't already (requires Medicine 45).
  2. 2
    Travel north to Germantown Police HQ. Kill Super Mutants outside and find a survivor's terminal.
  3. 3
    Circle around to the west side of the building and enter through the top floor door.
  4. 4
    Skill Book Detour: From the southern gates of Germantown Police HQ, head south through ruins to an intersection. Go west to a ruined house near a billboard and find a copy of Duck and Cover! on a wooden shelf.
  5. 5
    Head back to Germantown and go east from the southern gates, following suspended railroad tracks north to a collapsed train. Kill Raiders in the camp built into the train cars and find another copy of Duck and Cover! on the ground near a bathtub.
  6. 6
    Return to Germantown Police HQ. In the south-eastern room, find a terminal [Easy] and a safe [Easy]. Grab the note "Password for Lockdown Computer".
  7. 7
    Go to the room north of the terminal room, disarm the landmine by the door, and grab the D.C. Journal of Internal Medicine from the table.
  8. 8
    Head to the north-eastern corner room for loot. Take the stairs down to the ground floor.
  9. 9
    On the ground floor, disarm the landmine at the landing. Kill Super Mutants, including a Master or Overlord, to get the Germantown Jailors Key.
  10. 10
    In the classroom east of the jail cells, find a copy of Lying, Congressional Style on a desk.
  11. 11
    In the north-western corner, find the jails. In one cell, you will find Red.
  12. 12
    Red will mention Shorty was taken to the basement kitchen. Tell Red to stay put and find the exit to the basement. Grab the Pre-War Book by the computer in the jail.
  13. 13
    Go down to the basement. Take the first left to find the firing range. A door to the north [Average] contains a Fat Man, ammo, and a copy of Tumblers Today.
  14. 14
    Head west, kill Radroaches, and find a Super Mutant talking to Shorty. Kill the Mutant and loot the south-western room for a Nuka-Cola Quantum.
  15. 15
    Talk to Shorty and have him follow you. Return to the ground floor, gather Red, exit Germantown Police HQ, and fast travel back to Big Town.
  16. 16
    Talk to Red in Big Town for your reward. You can attempt a Speech check to get an extra 200 Caps, but you will lose Karma.
  17. 17
    Offer to help defend Big Town. Your skills determine what you can teach them (e.g., Explosives for a minefield, Science for robotic defenders, or Small Guns). The guide assumes you teach them Small Guns.
  18. 18
    Head outside with the Big Town folks. Shoot at the stacked targets to train them.
  19. 19
    Defend Big Town against two waves of two Super Mutants.
  20. 20
    After the fight, talk to Shorty to receive the Lucky 8 Ball, which increases Luck by one while in your inventory.
Tips
  • The Super Mutant harassing Shorty is leveled and may have the stats of a Super Mutant Overlord, but will still have normal Super Mutant gear.
  • The Fat Man is a powerful weapon that launches Mini Nukes. Use it with caution due to its destructive potential and high ammo cost.
  • Be careful not to hit the Big Town residents with explosives during the defense, as it can depopulate the town.

Reward: Lucky 8 Ball (increases Luck by 1), Caps, Karma, and the completion of the

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