188 Trading Post

The 188 Trading Post is a location in the Mojave Wasteland .
==Background==
The interchange of Highway 95 and Highway 93 has seen high traffic both before and after the Great War. The current trading post was established in 2281, when a pair of traders, Samuel Kerr and his daughter Michelle arrived from Primm after the NCRCF prison break forced them to flee due to the wave of escaped convicts pillaging the town.The Courier: "Who are you?"Michelle Kerr: "Name's Michelle. My Dad and me run this store. His name's Samuel. I take the day shift and he takes nights. We came here about a month ago, when Primm went to hell on account of the prison break north of there. Found a bin to call home and set up shop."(Michelle Kerr's dialogue)The Courier: "Who are you?"Samuel Kerr: "Samuel Kerr at your service. Me and my daughter Michelle run this fine establishment. We came here from Primm about a month past. Doesn't look like much, but it's one hell of a location."(Samuel Kerr's dialogue) 
The pair chose the location after realizing just how much traffic was going to flow up Highway 95 towards Vegas after the shutdown of Interstate 15 due to a combination of the prison break and an infestation of deathclaws at Quarry Junction, adding to the usual troop movements between Hoover Dam and Camp McCarran. Capitalizing on their experience in Primm, they established the 188 Slop & Shop, offering food, water, supplies, and repair services to travelers.The Courier: "Why'd you settle in this dump?"Michelle Kerr: "There's more to the 188 than meets the eye. Troops move back and forth on 93 all the time, and 95 is how NCR folks come and go from Vegas. No shortage of customers... so long as Legion raids south of here don't get worse, anyways."(Michelle Kerr's dialogue)The Courier: "Why's business so good here?"Samuel Kerr: "When 15 shut down, 95 became the route NCR citizens use to get to the Strip - or limp back home, after the Strip's drained 'em of caps. We get 'em coming and going. Coming, the suckers flush with caps they saved to gamble on the Strip... ...and going, the same folks, but now they're losers who'll trade you the shirt off their backs so they don't starve before they make it back home. Add in the troopers marching back and forth from McCarran and the Dam, and well, let's just say we don't miss Primm."(Samuel Kerr's dialogue)
The 188 Trading Post, so named due to adding up the pre-War highway designation numbers of 93 and 95, has since become a hub of commerce frequented by soldiers, merchants, and NCR citizens either heading to New Vegas with pockets full of caps or returning back home with nothing but the shirts on their backs. Even the Gun Runners took notice with a merchant member, Alexander setting up at the trading post as well as an independent arms merchant selling wares out of the back of her truck, particularly to the oft-underequipped NCR soldiers.Fallout: New Vegas Official Game Guide Collector's Edition pp. 396-397: "[5.02] 188 Trading PostFormed after the Powder Ganger break-out down at Primm [4.17] forced traders northward, the intersection of the 95 and 93 (hence "188") is now a bustling Trading spot, catering to the NCR from Boulder City [3.32] and Hoover Dam [3.33] as well as offering good connections down the 95. Start on the eastern side of the intersection."(Fallout: New Vegas Official Game Guide Collector's Edition Tour of the Mojave Wasteland)The Courier: "Why's this place called the 188?"Michelle Kerr: "You do know these old roads were numbered, right? We're standing where the 95 and 93 meet. And 95 plus 93 equals... 188."(Michelle Kerr's dialogue)
==Layout==
Situated on the intersection of Highway 93 and Highway 95, directly north of El Dorado Dry Lake and west-northwest of Boulder City, the location consists of a small outpost made up of makeshift shacks and tents on a pre-War overpass, containing derelict vehicles and barrel fires. Veronica Santangelo stands near the center by a picnic table. She initially mentions she came to the trading post to pick up supplies for her family living in an underground bunker.Fallout: New Vegas Official Game Guide Collector's Edition p. 396: "Veronica, Who Lives in a Hole in the Ground""The hooded figure standing close to the Slop & Shop is Veronica, who you can engage in conversation. She lives in a bunker, and is here picking up supplies for her “family.” If you want her to join you, answer her question about the Brotherhood of Steel."(Tour of the Mojave Wasteland)'' Samuel and Michelle typically stand around the scraped-together bar of the Slop & Shop.
There are also a few NCR troopers wandering around a tent on the northern side of the overpass. Beds can be found here and used to sleep. 
===Trading===
Shops and vendors here include:
* 188 Slop & Shop: Samuel Kerr and his daughter Michelle run a small shop cooperatively, the bar area of which is created using scrap from City Liners. Samuel is the bartender and can make equipment repairs. The vendors will share the shop's motto, "It’s Better Than Nothing," and have a variety of items in stock, sold by Michelle in the daytime and Samuel at night. There is a reloading bench behind the shop.Fallout: New Vegas Official Game Guide Collector's Edition p. 396: "188 Slop & Shop""'It’s Better Than Nothing.' Michelle (daytime) and Samuel Kerr (nighttime) run this store, and you can ask either of them for a little local flavor, as well as the Legion raids. They have a variety of items to trade, including a few weapons, and Doctor Bags - the selection changes depending on who is on duty; you can wake the other Kerr from the mattress under their blue metal shack. Don’t forget to check out their shack; there’s a small bar with a Star Cap on it, and a Reloading Bench around the back."(Tour of the Mojave Wasteland)''
* Arms merchant: There is an arms merchant at the western side of the overpass, near the long trailer with useable beds. Near the military truck, the merchant can provide weapons and armor at a discount, and information about the NCR and Bravo Company.Fallout: New Vegas Official Game Guide Collector's Edition p. 396: "Arms Merchant: Bravo Company’s Finest?""Cross the bridge (there’s a long trailer with mattresses to sleep in) to the western side of the overpass, and check the tent for more mattresses. Close by is a parked military truck, with an Arms Merchant. She’s been discharged from the NCR for three years, since an “incident” during the first Legion attack on the dam. Ask her about that, as well as seeing what she has for sale (it’s usually cheaper than Michelle)."(Tour of the Mojave Wasteland)''
* Gun Runners: Underneath the overpass is Alexander and his bodyguard who run a satellite location for the Gun Runners. Alexander will sell weapons, weapon mods, junk, and ammunition to the Courier if a Guns skill check is passed.Fallout: New Vegas Official Game Guide Collector's Edition p. 397: "Gun Runners: For the Discerning Customer""Speak to Alexander under the bridge, who runs a satellite operation for the Gun Runners [2.14] and isn’t about to sell his wares to the likes of you. You can ask about the Gun Runners, or his attitude, but he won’t sell you anything."(Tour of the Mojave Wasteland)''
* Forecaster: A young boy named The Forecaster sits by the wall and will sell three different "thoughts" to the Courier for 100 caps apiece.Fallout: New Vegas Official Game Guide Collector's Edition p. 397: "Free Quest: Thought for the Day""Sitting on the concrete below the overpass is a child known as The Forecaster. He’s wearing some kind of head brace (which he believes is his “medicine”), and isn’t selling anything; not even the bric-a-brac surrounding him. He’s selling thoughts, at 100 Caps a pop. You can ignore him, or pay up. There are three “thoughts” to buy."(Tour of the Mojave Wasteland)''
==Inhabitants==
==Notable loot==
* One Sunset Sarsaparilla star bottle cap - Lying on the Slop & Shop bar.
==Notes==
* At high levels, some of the regular troopers will be replaced with NCR heavy troopers equipped with various high-level weaponry such as heavy incinerators.
* If one has a Vilified reputation with Caesar's Legion, legionary assassins can spawn near the trading post and attack both the player character and NPCs residing there.
==Appearances==
The 188 Trading Post appears only .
==Gallery==
FNV Forecaster home 1.png|Taking a snooze
FNV Forecaster home 2.png|The Forecaster's collection
FNV 131120 188 trading 1.png|Bar area created using scrap from City Liners
FNV 131120 188 trading roadway 4.png|Looking northwest towards New Vegas
FNV 131120 188 trading roadway 3.png|Looking south towards Searchlight
FNV 131120 188 trading 2.png|Highway 95 onramp
SS star bottle cap 188 Trading Post.jpg|Sunset Sarsaparilla star bottle cap
==See also==
* Spare Us the Cutter: 188 Trading Post cut content
==References==
Category:Fallout: New Vegas locations
 
de:188-Handelsposten
es:Puesto de comercio 188
fi:188 Trading Post
it:Base commerciale 188
pl:Punkt handlowy 188
pt:188 trading post
ru:188 — Торговый пост
uk:188 — Торговий пост
zh:188贸易站