Black Mountain

Black Mountain is the peak south of Vegas, northeast of Goodsprings and east of Sloan, crowned by a pre-war communications array that now broadcasts Black Mountain Radio and serves as a stronghold of super mutants and nightkin. Their leader is Tabitha, an erratic nightkin who rules the self-declared State of Utobitha and broadcasts rambling shows, often talking to her broken Mister Handy, Rhonda. The road to the summit is long and steep, and the mutants on it have orders to kill humans on sight.

At the top you will find Raul Tejada, a ghoul mechanic locked in the prison building, who becomes a companion once freed. The quest Crazy, Crazy, Crazy deals with Tabitha: you can fight your way up, sneak in through a Hard-locked back gate, pass a Speech 75 check on the ham radio under the overturned dish to turn the mutants against each other, or repair Rhonda with Science 60 so Tabitha leaves peacefully. Neil, a friendly super mutant at his shack at the foot of the mountain, gives the quest and, with a Speech 50 check, will lure the nightkin guards away from Tabitha's compound.

Expect heavy resistance from super mutants with miniguns and super sledges at the checkpoints, nightkin with Stealth Boys, a nightkin sniper with the unique missile launcher Annabelle, and centaurs in the crater. Bring plenty of ammunition and stimpaks, or lean on Neil and a good Speech or Science skill to skip much of the fighting. Besides Raul, the summit holds some good loot and the satisfaction of ending Tabitha's broadcasts. It is a mid-level location, so a fresh character should look elsewhere first.