Point of interest
The Think Tank
The domed headquarters of Big MT where Doctor Klein and the other brains in jars run the crater and hand out every Old World Blues main quest.
- Map
- Big MT
- Faction
- Big MT (Think Tank)
- Danger
- Safe
- Map position
- 11 × 11
The Think Tank is the dome at the center of Big MT where the surviving pre-War scientists live: Doctor Klein, Doctor 0, Doctor Dala, Doctor 8 and Doctor Borous, all now brains floating in jars on hovering robot bodies. Shortly after you arrive they reveal that they have removed your brain, heart and spine and replaced them with technology. They want your help against their former colleague Doctor Mobius, whose robo-scorpions they blame for keeping them trapped in the crater.
Welcome to the Big Empty begins here, and the Think Tank sends you to the X-2 transmitter antenna array, the X-8 research center and the X-13 research facility for the antenna, the Sonic emitter frequency and the stealth suit. They also hand you the Sonic emitter, and passing a Guns check adds the K9000 cyberdog gun. Each scientist has a personal side quest: A Brain's Best Friend for Borous, Coming Out of Her Shell for Dala, What's in a Name? for 0 and On the Same Wavelength for 8.
The final confrontation of Old World Blues also happens here, after you return from the Forbidden Zone. You can talk the Think Tank into staying in Big MT with Speech 75 plus Medicine 85 or Science 100, or skip those checks by finishing their side quests, or you can destroy them. Dr. Klein's glasses sit on a table just inside the entrance, and Dr. Mobius' glasses are in the easternmost upstairs room behind an Average lock.
How to get there
The Think Tank is the large dome in the center of the crater; the Sink sits on top of it, reached by an elevator room just inside the entrance.
Notable loot
- Dr. Klein's glasses (table next to a deluxe chemistry set, left of the entrance)
- Dr. Mobius' glasses (easternmost second floor room, Average lock)
- Followers doctor coat and Stimpaks (dead Followers doctor on the outer ledge)
Related quests
- Welcome to the Big Empty
- Old World Blues
- A Brain's Best Friend
- Coming Out of Her Shell
- What's in a Name?
- On the Same Wavelength
- When Visitors Attack!
Notable characters
- Doctor Klein
- Doctor 0
- Doctor Dala
- Doctor 8
- Doctor Borous
Tips
- Finishing the scientists' personal side quests removes the Medicine 85 or Science 100 requirement in the final conversation.
- Lobotomites spawn on the grounds around the dome, and nightstalkers can appear on the left bridge.
- Grab Dr. Klein's glasses on your way in; they complete a set with his scrubs and glove from Higgs Village.
Collectibles and items here
- Easter egg Kilroy Was HereLeave the Think Tank or the Sink, turn left and follow the dome's wall to find "Kilroy was here" graffiti with the big-nosed face peeking over a wall.
- Character Doctor 8In the Think Tank.
- Character Doctor BorousIn the Think Tank.
- Character Doctor DalaIn the Think Tank.
- Character Doctor KleinIn the Think Tank.
- Character Doctor 0In the Think Tank.
- Main quest X-2: Strange Transmissions!Given by Doctor Klein in the Think Tank after Welcome to the Big Empty. The X-2 transmitter antenna array is directly south of the dome.
- Main quest X-8: High School Horror!Given by Doctor Klein in the Think Tank after Welcome to the Big Empty. The X-8 research center is directly east of the dome.
- Main quest X-13: Attack of the Infiltrator!Given by Doctor Klein in the Think Tank after Welcome to the Big Empty. The X-13 research facility is west of the dome.
- Main quest Old World BluesStarts on its own once X-2, X-8 and X-13 are done; return to Doctor Klein in the Think Tank.
- Side quest Picking Your BrainsAfter Welcome to the Big Empty and reactivating the Sink Central Intelligence Unit, talk to Doctor Klein at the top of the central stairs in the Think Tank dome.
- Side quest A Brain's Best FriendDuring Picking Your Brains, talk to Doctor Borous (green shell, far right side of the Think Tank dome) about his past.
- Side quest Coming Out of Her ShellDuring Picking Your Brains, talk to Doctor Dala (purple shell, left of the central stairs) and pass a Perception check, use Lady Killer or Cherchez La Femme, or bring her a teddy bear.
- Side quest He Came... And WentDuring Picking Your Brains, ask Doctor Dala about herself and her many doctorates; mentioning that you are a courier starts it.
- Side quest On the Same WavelengthDuring Picking Your Brains, talk to Doctor 8 (light green shell, right of the central stairs) and pass a Perception or Science check to understand his static.
- Side quest What's in a Name?During Picking Your Brains, talk to Doctor 0 (blue shell, far left of the central stairs) about his name and pass a Speech check.
- Side quest When Visitors Attack!After Welcome to the Big Empty, ask Doctor Klein at the top of the dome's central stairs why you cannot get angry or draw weapons in the dome.
- Skill magazine Programmer's Digest (Science)On top of a terminal at the back, where Dr. Borous works.
- Unique armor Dr. Klein's glassesJust inside the Think Tank entrance, up the first small stairs on the left, on a table beside a deluxe chemistry set.
- Unique armor Dr. Mobius' glassesIn the easternmost room on the second floor of the Think Tank, lying on papers in front of a file cabinet.
- Unique weapon Sonic emitter - RevelationGiven to you by the Think Tank scientists in the Think Tank.