The Unlikely Candidate — The Outer Worlds Walkthrough
"The Unlikely Candidate" is a side quest in The Outer Worlds that often involves a humorous and slightly absurd situation, requiring You to help an individual who is not typically suited for the task at hand. This quest offers a chance to engage with the quirky side of the Halcyon colony.
"The Unlikely Candidate" is a side quest that can be found in Emerald Vale or another settlement, depending on your progression. The core of this quest involves assisting an NPC who, for whatever reason, finds themselves in a situation where they need to perform a task they are clearly unqualified for. This could range from delivering an important message to defending a location, all while being hilariously out of their depth. It's a quest that highlights the often-comical nature of life in the Halcyon colony.
Quest Giver and Initial Setup:
You'll typically encounter the quest giver in a prominent area of the settlement. They will be in a state of mild panic or confusion, explaining their predicament. For example, you might find a nervous individual who has been tasked with delivering a sensitive package but is terrified of leaving their current location, or perhaps someone who needs to prove their worth by completing a dangerous errand they are ill-equipped for.
Objectives and Progression:
The objectives will vary based on the specific scenario, but they generally revolve around enabling the "unlikely candidate" to succeed. This could involve:
- Escorting the NPC: You might need to travel with them to their destination, protecting them from any threats along the way. This often involves clearing out enemies that stand between you and your goal.
- Retrieving items for them: They might need specific items to complete their task, such as a key, a tool, or a component. You'll need to find these items, which may be in guarded areas.
- Completing the task on their behalf: In some cases, the NPC is so incapable that you end up doing the entire task yourself, acting as their proxy.
- Persuading others: You might need to use your dialogue skills to convince other NPCs to help the candidate or to overlook their shortcomings.
Example Scenario:
Imagine you meet a timid shopkeeper who has been tasked by his superior to retrieve a rare artifact from a nearby abandoned research facility. He's terrified of the creatures and potential traps within. Your role would be to accompany him, clear out any hostile wildlife like Canids or Spriggans, disable any security measures using your Hack skill, and ultimately retrieve the artifact. The shopkeeper might offer commentary throughout, expressing his fear and awe, making the journey more engaging.
Skill Utilization:
This quest is a great opportunity to use several skills:
- Combat Skills: Essential for protecting the NPC from enemies.
- Persuade/Lie/Intimidate: Useful for navigating dialogue with other characters or convincing the NPC to proceed.
- Hack/Lockpicking: May be required to bypass security or access areas.
- Medical/Science: Could be used to heal the NPC or analyze findings.
Rewards:
Upon successful completion, you'll typically receive experience points (XP), Bits, and often a unique item or a good amount of currency. The quest giver will express their immense gratitude, and you might gain reputation with the faction or settlement they belong to.
Tips for Success:
- Always listen carefully to the NPC's explanation of their problem.
- Be prepared for combat, as these quests often involve hostile environments.
- use your companions to assist in combat and provide support.
- Don't be afraid to use your skills to overcome obstacles.