Prologue: Goodsprings

The prologue in Goodsprings serves as your introduction to the Mojave Wasteland, teaching you fundamental survival skills and setting the stage for your quest. Here, you'll learn basic combat, resource gathering, and interact with key characters who will guide your initial steps. Your actions in Goodsprings also begin to shape your reputation.

Your journey begins with Sunny Smiles, who teaches you basic survival skills. She will direct you to Trudy for information about your attackers. You will also clear geckos near Goodsprings.

Initial steps in Goodsprings:

Basic Training with Sunny Smiles: Sunny will give you a Varmint Rifle and 30 rounds of 5.56 ammo. She instructs you to shoot bottles to practice aiming (L1/L2) and shooting (R1/R2), and to crouch (Left Analog Stick) to stabilize shots. Reload with Square/X.
Clearing Geckos: After demonstrating basic competence, Sunny invites you to help clear Geckos from the water supply. This is a good opportunity to learn where the springs are, which are a source of water in Hardcore Mode and healing in any mode.
Saving a Settler: If you are quick, you can save a Goodsprings Settler being attacked by two Geckos at the third well. Saving her rewards you with three bottles of Purified Water and improves your reputation in Goodsprings.
Living Off the Land: Sunny will offer further training in living off the land, starting the quest By a Campfire on the Trail. This involves finding a Broc Flower and a Xander Root. Xander Roots can be found near the Goodsprings Schoolhouse, along the southwestern edge of town, often guarded by Giant Mantis Nymphs.
Doc Mitchell's Examination: After these initial tasks, Doc Mitchell will administer a word-association test and a Rorschach test to set your Tag! skills, which receive a +15 bonus.