Desert Rangers

*"We Rangers hail from back east, what used to be called Nevada. Our heritage stretches back to the days of the Texas Rangers. We learn survival and combat skills in order to go out into the world and have a chance of surviving and making things better."*
―Tycho in *Fallout*
The **Desert Rangers** were a group of survivalists and vigilantes living in the Nevada area, but who have also been found in Zion Canyon and Arizona. As of 2271, the Desert Rangers have merged with the New California Republic Rangers to form one cohesive group.

## Background

Image of Ranger Unification Monument at the Mojave Outpost, focusing on the Desert Ranger.
The Rangers hail from the badlands of Nevada, from survivor communities that survived the nuclear devastation relatively unscathed. They trace their heritage all the way back to the Texas Rangers, who inspired their mission to make the wasteland better, one step at a time. To this end, they learn survival and combat skills before taking to the road to carry out their mission.

For years, the Rangers continued their efforts to protect the people of the wasteland against its hazards, from raiders to violent tribes. They eventually met their match when they clashed with Caesar's Legion in Arizona. The war went badly for the Rangers, who found themselves substantially outnumbered by Caesar's armies. Despite their superior training and equipment, the Rangers' numbers quickly dwindled. They were pushed out of Arizona and forced to call on the New California Republic for help which resulted in the signing of the Ranger Unification Treaty in 2271.

In exchange for the NCR's protection of Hoover Dam, New Vegas and southern Nevada against the forces of the Legion, the Desert Rangers would be absorbed by the New California Republic Rangers. A special monument outside the Mojave Outpost commemorates the signing of the treaty.

## Appearances

In *Fallout*, Tycho mentions that his grandfather was a Desert Ranger, and that his grandfather taught him and his father those survival skills. Tycho is also described to be wearing the Desert Ranger armor, however his model is not designed after it and is simply shown as wearing leather armor.

In *Fallout: New Vegas*, there is a monument at the entrance of the "Mojave Outpost" that depicts a Desert Ranger and NCR Ranger shaking hands, representing the pact between the two factions. NCR Veteran Rangers bear a nearly identical appearance to Desert Rangers. They are also mentioned in the expansion for the Fallout board game, *New California*.

## Behind the scenes

The Desert Rangers are a reference to *Wasteland*, the 1988 game to which *Fallout* is the spiritual successor. The Desert Rangers were the game's protagonists, fighting various wasteland monstrosities in a post-apocalyptic setting.

## References

1. ↑ The Vault Dweller: *"{1001}{}{Rangers}"*
Tycho: *"{1101}{}{We Rangers hail from back east, what used to be called Nevada. Our heritage stretches back to the days of the Texas Rangers. We learn survival and combat skills in order to go out into the world and have a chance of surviving and making things better.}"*
(Tycho's dialogue)
2. ↑ Fallout Bible 9 Tycho: *"Tycho's a nod to the desert rangers of Wasteland. Obviously that "history" didn't wind up in Fallout, so that makes it more of an homage than anything.*
*Originally, the idea is that he came from east of California, in the Nevada area. His family comes from people who survived the devastation when WAR happened, likely living among the badlands of Nevada. As I envisaged it, Tycho learned a lot about desert survival and whatnot from his small community, which kept a strong survivalist contingent -- so they still had some small arms and books. They probably had something like the cliff-dwelling Indians going on for their town, though I never fleshed it out.*
*Anyway, Tycho took off to wandering the desert with traders and explorers for several years, returning from time to time with goods or maps. Most likely he started with small trips and went further abroad as he became more experienced. He went as far as the Gulf of Mexico in Texas and then headed back west. Eventually he wound up on the west coast as a long-range explorer from a loose group of desert rangers whose actual origins, scope and purpose weren't defined.*
*In some ways Tycho is reminiscent of master Yuta from "Nausicaa and the Valley of the Winds." He carries a gas mask just in case, wears hardened leather armor, has a knife, knuckles, canteen, all the usual survival gear. I'd pictured him as this guy in leather armor (Fallout-style) with a gas mask hanging around his neck, goggles (to keep out sand and glare), a sand-colored cloak usable for camouflage and to keep the sun off, and a double-barreled shotgun."*
3. ↑ The Vault Dweller: *"{107}{}{So, what's your story?}"*
Tycho: *"{109}{}{I could ask the same of you. In the interest of amity, I suppose I'll tell first. I'm called Tycho. Came from out east, what used to be called Nevada.}"*
The Vault Dweller: *"{110}{}{That's a pretty long trip.}"*
*"{112}{}{Yeah, it was. Decided to take it easy for a while. This place shows some promise, just as soon as someone cleans up some of the scum.}"*
The Vault Dweller: *"{113}{}{Why don't you?}"*
*"{118}{}{Not my place. I'd rather not cross Killian, after all. He'll clean up this town when he gets around to it. A good man, mark my words. But watch out for that fellow Gizmo. Reminds me of another fat freak my father told me about back in Las Vegas.}"*
(Tycho's dialogue)
4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 "*Mojave Outpost is the site where the NCR Rangers and the Desert Rangers of Nevada signed the Ranger Unification Treaty. It also marks the boundary of fully NCR-controlled territory.*"
(*Fallout: New Vegas* loading screens)
5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Mojave Outpost monument placard:
*"In the year 2271, the Desert Rangers of Nevada and rangers of the New California Republic met at this spot to sign the Ranger Unification Treaty. Under this treaty, the Desert Rangers agreed to be absorbed into the NCR in exchange for NCR's protection of Hoover Dam, New Vegas, and southern Nevada against the forces of Caesar's Legion."*
6. ↑ The Courier: *"Why are the rangers here?"*
Hanlon: *"There's a lot of answers to that question, but it started with the Ranger Unification Treaty. We weren't always the only show in town. Nevada had its own posse, the Desert Rangers. They fought Caesar even farther east, out in Arizona. Didn't go well for them. Years back, we met with the Desert Rangers at Mojave Outpost and agreed to help them against Caesar if they would join the NCR."*
(Hanlon's dialogue)
7. ↑ Fallout: New Vegas Official Game Guide Collector's Edition p.390: *"**[4.27] Mojave Outpost***
*The place where the Mojave Outpost now stands was originally a checkpoint between California and Nevada. After the war, it stood empty and vacant for well over a century. Ten years ago, the NCR Rangers and the Desert Rangers of Nevada (who have been dwindling in numbers) met at what had become known as the I-15 Mojave Outpost, to establish terms of the Ranger Unification Treaty. In its current form, Mojave Outpost serves as the link between NCR and the Mojave Wasteland."*
(Fallout: New Vegas Official Game Guide Collector's Edition Tour of the Mojave Wasteland)
8. ↑ The Vault Dweller: *"{111}{}{How did you survive all the dangers?}"*
Tycho: *"{115}{}{Had some pretty good training, and some good weapons, too. My grandfather was a Ranger way back when, and he taught my father everything he knew. Dad passed it on to me. So I know enough not to drink glowing water, so to speak.}"*
The Vault Dweller: *"{117}{}{Really? Survival's tough these days. You must be pretty knowledgeable.}"*
Tycho: *"{122}{}{Yeah, well, my family taught me everything there is to know about survival. Don't drink water that's totally clear and free of insects and moss, for instance. Only poisonous or radioactive water would be that clean in the wilderness. Lots of other little things to look out for, too.}"*
(Tycho's dialogue)