Hope you enjoy the video or gain something from it, I'm open to criticism and thoughts, drop them below. Here's a video I made on the Midwestern Brotherhood of Steel. ua-cam.com/video/wy1c3FJHZkM/v-deo.html
The NCR Ranger looks pretty futuristic, but for the most part it exists today. The mask is an M45 Land Warrior gas mask, the helmet is a modified M1 steel pot(or CVC helmet), and the armor is riot gear with an IOTV neck protector. Much of this is available on the surplus market, if you have the caps
I agree that the gas mask seems M45 inspired but it looks to me like the in game mask is armored with actual metal components. I think the implication is that the gas mask itself is equivalent to something like level III or IIIA to protect from fragmentation or handgun threats.
@@nvRanger It's also unsurprising they chose to draw inspiration form the M45 since the rangers are special forces and, at the time, that was the gas mask issued to US special forces
@@jlee7811 That's possible, although since the helmet at the mask are one armor item it's hard to say which gives you ballistic protection. Either way, an M45 is far to valuable as a collectors item to modify to match what's in game. Mine cost me over $800 and it's not even a complete kit
Thats why I think they're the ultimate expression of an American Warrior. WWII-esque Helmet, Cowboy Duster, Modern Body Armor and Gas Mask with Night Vision. Knives, Hatchets, Lever Actions, Revolvers, Assault Rifles, Sniper Rifles, Anti Material Rifles and being called a Ranger. This all unites old and new for the ultimate American Warrior icon like a Knight for Europe or Samurai for Japan.
Don't forget that until the pre-endgame events they were sent to Baja by the general Oliver. Yup, they joined NCR to battle the Legion, and, in return, NCR took them and relocated to a completely different region for the sake of getting new territories for NCR somewhere else instead of helping them to destroy the legion.
I’m glad you mentioned this. I should have added a Baja section. I’m fascinated by that area because it’s mentioned mysteriously, “chasing ghosts in Baja.” Perhaps there’s enough there for a separate video.
@@nvRangerif you haven’t yet please make a Baja video. Iva always been really interested in the region and the mysterious war that is keeping the NCR’s most elite forces from being sent to Mojave.
@@nvRanger looking forward to it. I just found your channel today so I’m diving through your videos. Lost of good stuff on here and I’m now subscribed.
yea they're ideals definitely line up better to our modern day ideals. The BoS are more dogmatic and rigid. They essentially have an extremist religous type view on technology and protecting it from people, rather than just protecting people.
@@nvRanger which is always ironic and interesting sicne it was orignal created to help people and make sure another great war never happens. Man, I love the Desert/NCR rangers. its nott hat they look cool, they are genuinely pretty interesting. I Wouldn;t mind see a Desert and NCR Ranger show up in s2 of fallout.
@@cofteaamsr1717the brotherhood is a perfect example of the line Maximus says in the show. “Everyone wants to save the world. They all just disagree how to do it.” The brotherhood started off as an altruistic group looking to stop the corruption of the prewar government and their questionable experiments. Over time they became obsessed with controlling all technology believing that no one but they can be trusted with it. For the record, they can’t be trusted with it either.
@@connormclernon26 I'm not sure about ascribing "evil" or "good" to either tbh. I think its too simplistic of a way to view things, and we lose aspects of the conversation because were stuck on good vs evil.
@@connormclernon26 its an interesting nuance that is unexplored in the game world. It would be interesting to see what it is like in their lands. The NCR is supposedly very safe within their borders as well.
From what I could tell is the NCR Rangers were just regular federal marshals and slave trade is a huge thing over state borders. But the Desert Rangers were elite problem solvers, just any issue, they had a decent chance of handling it. And if they didn’t, that meant it was a huge threat to devote resources to. So when they came into the NCR they got heavily integrated and in charge of training their “marshals” to help more efficiently manage the huge territories with limited manpower.
I'm really liking these fallout "lore" vids, keep it up! This reminds me of the first time I played New Vegas where I initially thought the NCR were the good guys, but then they would say off color things about needing to control certain areas/things with little regard about the populace. So endgame was bittersweet picking the lesser of two evils.
Absolutely, that's one of my favorite aspects of the series. I think its ability to approach mature complex topics is underrated. Appreciate the kind words, thanks.
I always use the NCR and betray them in the end. My canon ending is Boomers, Enclave vets, Brotherhood remnants and a conglomeration of towns all aiding each other against the Legion and NCR.
Fallout takes a lot of inspiration from the real world(ie the Great Khans/The Legion etc) so it makes sense to me to draw from those origins and try to be a lil unique that way.
The Courier had canonically had the duster. The canonical duster was tan, with the 13 colonies flag on the back, like Ulysses' duster. The Elite Riot Armor is only The Courier's canon armor in DUST.
It's really saddening that the fact the deser ranger were already a existing longer before ncr and it was dated back even before the great war and some of them were forced to join the ncr ranks? Absolute comical!
Cheatcode: play the whole Wasteland series. They're basically about a group of "Desert Rangers" working for a group trying to restart civilisation in a post-apocalypse American Wasteland, which is what the NCR+Dessert rangers are very probably a nod to... because to oversimplify, Fallout 1 was made by half the team that made Wasteland, then some of that team were reunited in Obsidian at the time of NV so they may have doubled down on the nod. There's a lot of overlap with the factions.
Note: Playing the Wasteland series will instill a desire to kill every synth, toaster, cyborg, people with synthetic organs, people with advanced prosthetics; with either extreme prejudice or noble mercy
I remember there was a companion quest mod called Russel, which added a whole new region to explore and a new companion named Russel, a former Desert Ranger. I never played it myself, but I watched a playthrough of it and it was pretty good. Great video 👍
Russel was an awesome mod, loved that. It felt like a cut companion because of how well it explored the issues of the Desert Rangers. He was one that didn't join the NCR, but had friends that did.
@@nvRanger Yup, it really shed a lot of needed light on their situation and gave them a lot more depth as a whole instead of just being cool guys in cool armor. Not to mention it gave a very unique and original character perspective with Russell's experiences and thoughts on the matter. The base game really needed something like this to flesh the Desert Rangers out.
16:15 I like to think with the independent yes man ending, the courier would offer any rangers who are disillusioned with the NCR asylum within vegas’ borders, in exchange for their protection an expertise, and maybe once again, Rangers could go back to being rangers, and helping those that need it most, instead of the bureaucrats…
Absolutely, and it’s true of most factions and characters in the west coast titles. All flawed, making the games so much more compelling and believable.
Understanding the desert rangers also takes understanding Fallout's predecessor - Wasteland. They're definitely spiritual successors in a lot of ways. That said, fascinating video for a fascinating faction. I am interested to see what became of them in the series. Many are freaking out about "the NCR being destroyed" because the show has done away with Shady Sands. They all seem to forget that the NCR has several stalwart cities under its rule - including Redding which Chief Hanlan goes on to become a senator for in one of the independent New Vegas endings. The NCR under shady sands might be done but that does not mean people are just going to completely and totally bail on a relatively stable way of life in NCR territory. Sort of like how during the war of 1812 border cities in Maritime Canada and New England turned cannons on each other as per orders but straight up never fired a shot and trade and business carried on as usual "off the books," as no one was interested in initiating hostilities for some distant power largely ignorant of life in the region calling the shots from Washington or Montreal. These border and coastal/island towns were often so intermingled they'd be firing on fondly regarded in-laws, cousins, and siblings. The NCR is similar enough in that regard. Just because one city goes belly up doesn't mean California is going to revert to full anarchy. There's still a volunteer force of professional soldiers, a Senate, and several other checks and balances to serve as redundancies in just that event.
Outstanding work on this video! I especially love the nod to SC Gwynne at the beginning. “Empire of the Summer Moon” is a phenomenal book. I’d also recommend John Bossnecker’s biography of Frank Hamer for a great look at the history of the Texas Rangers.
I've always seen them as more than just a mere nod to the Desert Rangers from the Wasteland series. Fallout came to exist because the devs behind the original Wasteland - Interplay - couldn't get the rights to a sequel back from Electronic Arts. So they in turn developed a game with slightly different iconography. Tycho specifically mentions being from Nevada, where Wasteland's Desert Rangers came from, and has numerous lines that reference that game. The trouble is, thanks to IP issues, these nods to Wastelands could only ever really be nods. The distance between Fallout's California and Wasteland's Nevada was enough to keep it ambiguously canon, at least for Fallout 1 and 2, but Jess Heinig stated in the Fallout Bible that "Obviously that history didn't wind up in Fallout," so it's decidedly non-canon. Still, the amount of references goes fairly deep. The Fallout lore about these desert rangers being elite do-gooders? Not quite 'rulers' or 'protectors', but still kind-hearted folks trying to help in the wasteland any way they could? Yeah, that's just Wasteland's Desert Rangers in a nutshell. Basically just 'wandering heroes' like an RPG party of the time. Honestly, I'm just glad there's these nods of connective tissue between them, especially after 2014 when Bryan Fargo got the rights back to Wasteland and made some sequels (and a remaster of the original for modern audiences). Those guys that developed Wasteland and Fallout went through *a lot* in the industry. From Interplay, to Black Isle, to Obsidian and InXile, they've been put through the proverbial wringer.
Yea I think everything you’re saying is spot on and adds deeply to the mystique of this faction. I don’t often like altruistic factions as they seem too unrealistic but given their history and current state it makes up for it. Cool to see the devs keep their work alive for years on years with those of wasteland rangers inspiring one of the most iconic Fallout factions and armors there is.
@@nvRanger Agreed, and I personally think it's great to see Bryan Fargo being able to return to the Wasteland franchise after that massively successful kickstarter project. Those games have been a surprisingly great 'return to form' so to speak for fans of the classic Fallouts, being classically-styled CRPGs. Great job with the vid, btw!
@@Nivrithi1 I hav eplayed a bit of Wasteland 2 & 3 and really enjoyed my teime but didn't finish it. I need to go back and replay the whole series, especially given the OG got a remake. Thanks
Literally one of my favorite mini factions in Fallout and why I love the NCR as a faction. I hope we hear more about the NCR Rangers. And why do we try so hard to make the NCR look evil? It’s flawed but definitely not evil
I don’t think evil is a part of the question tbh. I think that is a banal term that doesn’t properly explain or describe its target. I don’t think the NCR is evil. They mimic the pre war US tho, especially their government. And that government led to the end of the world along w China.
@@nvRangerthe NCR is definitely the representation of the U.S. and vaguely represents enlightenment ideology. I think the basic case is that they are ultimately good and well meaning, but the way they do such things are brutal, similar to the real life United States. The kind of democracy that the NCR follows is flawed, just like the real United States, as the government does not truly represent the people to a tea, but the system it’s made has the capacity to change for the better. (Like how majority vote encourages two-party systems whereas ranked choice voting encourages more diverse nuanced perspectives, third parties.) Ultimately, if the government can truly be the actions of the people, and representatives can actually be elected by the people accurately, then a government would have little flaws if any at all. This kind of system can be made under what the NCR has, but at the stage it’s in, it’s definitely about manifesting destiny, and not so much about representing the people. I’m talking in circles, but what I mean to say is that the NCR has ye most potential out of any faction, because it’s not founded on selfishness, it’s founded on liberty and democracy, and though it is incredibly hypocritical at times, it has the capacity and people to truly believe and practice those enlightenment philosophies. Hell, maybe I’m just dreaming, but I have so much hope that the real life USA can get better and more accurately represent the people it’s governs, and I may just be using the NCR as my fantasy nation that can truly practice what it preaches. Personal, economic, and political liberties for all.
While I do agree that The NCR isnt some fuzzy bear of niceness it's often overstated how bad and imperialistic they are. In most lands that they don't control chaos is very much the norm. You can see this in FNV, and F2.
While certain areas do remain in relatively unstable states, it is hard to say Vegas is in better shape because of them. The NCR floods into the Region and gets access to the best farming lands, a monorail, and sets up military outposts everywhere while the locals forced into the outskirts as the resource limited region now has to support NCR citizens. Meanwhile, they brought Powder Gangers with them, the Khans still run drugs, and the Fiends tear up west Vegas. They starve and suffer, while the NCR only cares to control the Dam and the Strip. Yea, the area might become "stable" over time, but what's left of the people who lived there will be worth asking.
@@nvRanger they would stabilize if they could, they would wipe the fiend if they could and as for the ncr settlers is not like they are parasites supported by freeside the NCR settlers are farming and settling abandoned lands, now as for the khans and powder gangers the powder gangars were a result of lack of manpower as more men had to be sent to the dam and the Khans are barely alive as is.
@@nvRangerThe only regular people who get pushed out by the NCR are people who don't want to become citizens. For those that are willing to pay taxes and obey laws it's undoubtedly a better situation than before
I just realized if the NCR had any strategy it should’ve been a war of attrition which it already was but they should’ve sent desert rangers into Arizona and New Mexico to start a coupe against Caesar’s legion. I’m sure slaves and a few “patriotic” people would love their freedom. Especially if the MCR comes from an American idea it make sense we start coupes with special forces all the time
That would be an interesting angle for them to take. Considering they got tan out of those states not too long ago, perhaps that’s not on the table yet. The battle at Hoover Dam and the Legion pushing the border is likely more pressing.
It’s very possible, they were largely station in the east of NCR in Vegas for the war with the Legion. If the NCR lost and was subsequently nuked/cut off from the east and Vegas, they also could have been round up and killed by Legion.
In my honest opinion the NCR is the best faction, house and yes man have too many variables of what could truly happen, and we just gotta take them for they’re word. The NCR at the very least is a proven democracy, just like our real world US government they’re far far from perfect but I have rights I have a means to earn my way and provide for my family.
Yes! If only they practiced what they preached. Personal, economical, and political liberties for all. The only real reason they both don’t do this (USA and NCR) is that the government doesn’t truly perfectly represent the people it governs and should be governed by! (Majority vote causes two-party systems, whereas ranked choice voting or other voting methods would encourage more nuanced political thinking and practices, meaning that all different kinds of people would be represented, not just the people who are in the majority.) There is so much potential for these good democratic republics, and they both have the capacity to be so much better than they are. I’ll fight for the NCR because I know they mean the best, even if their methods are brutal, just like the real United States. I know eventually, if everything is done right, the system can change for the better, truly. Not for the majority, but for everyone. Personal liberties, economic liberties, and political liberties for everybody. Those are the three monoliths I believe in.
While the mid to end point of this video becomes sort of a bias rant about the NCR lol. It's really cool to hear about their early days before being pushed back by the legion. I'd definitely like to here more on that as well in a future video
I disagree that it's a biased rant, this is the story that is being told about the NCR by the time of New Vegas. There are clear and intentional parallel's between the NCR and the United States. Imperialism, corruption, bloated government, those in power only hungry for more power and glory while being willing to risk the lives of soldiers and civilians. The Brahmin Baron's have control and sway over the government similar to how large corporations do today. Play New Vegas and pay attention, I'm not pulling this out mah butt.
I think it would be cool if the desert rangers split off and joined/ teamed up with the followers of the apocalypse. If you put them together they’re kind of a complete package, capable of surviving in the wasteland and helping people with pretty much any problem
Desert Rangers signed the treaty to help defeat the legion, with that in mind I like to think the desert Rangers defected if Mr. House or the Courier take the dam.
Excited to see whether the Fallout TV show expands on ranger lore in the second season! Maybe a break from the NCR as it gets more and more desperate/imperious? Would love to see a "ranger uprising", with both the original NCR Rangers and Desert Rangers working together to protect people from an increasingly aggressive NCR military :)
For sure, I would love to see an aggressive NCR comeback in season 2. Perhaps after the bombing they come for vengeance and do some morally questionable things which has the rangers questioning their involvement.
I see alot of correlation between the ncr rangers and real life Special forces groups in the U.S they are warriors that don't get to choose who they fight due to belonging to a government yet they lookout for eachother and try to do good to the best of they're abilities
As I recall, it was Mexico that imported the Proto-Texans into the area to begin with, for the purposes of dealing with the "tribals". They later led an independence movement against Mexico. Much like how the NCR sent the Followers. Fallout has so many parallels to Americas and I'm not sure how much is just intuitive or intentional.
Thanks so much for the super chat, never have to do so ofc, but greatly appreciated 🙏 Great insight as well, I feel the more I learn about the history of the area the more I appreciate how much attention to detail this game has and why so many people enjoy it. Very well could be many of the parallels are just coincidence though, which is fascinating in its own right.
I realize wasteland and Fallout are 2 completely different universes but in my mind the story of wasteland happened , got instinct essentially then joined the ncr
@@nvRanger Yeah, it is really good! Another Fallout fancontent with rangers is the Sonora mod for FO2, but there they are a bit too arrogant for my liking.
I hope the next fallout takes place near where the desert rangers are from (San Francisco is a likely candidate and California neighbors the area) and since the decline of the NCR they reastablished themselves and would function similar to the minutemen but in the west and you as the player can help them reestablish themselves
I would love nothing more than to see a direct sequel to New Vegas, but I have no idea how it could be pulled off. A remake in the modern creation engine that expands upon cut areas and content would be just as cool
Luckily I was at my computer when I read this. Here ya go www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/viewer?hl=en_US&mid=1puuQVpbfh4ofYflJxJPB6iul6JQ&ll=39.63153139886184%2C-84.77711362140184&z=6
As a Texan, ive always wanted a fallout game set in Texas. I feel like theres so much story telling potential based around the states culture and history
I must say that i liked the video, personally every time i play new vegas i always play a role as a desert ranger who disagrees with the ranger unification and acts in a more vegative way against the legion and Ncr. But well i want to take the opportunity to give my opinion about something that has left me thinking fot a long time since i played fallout 1 and replayed fallout new vegas, well the thing is that i am making my theory about the possibility that there are more Desert Rangers, well Tycho has been wandering through the California Wasteland looking for supplies for the Nevada desert rangers and he stopped in junktwon. This made me think tha the rangers in nevada during that time wento to various states such as California, Utah , Arizona and Texas to get supplies and protect the innocent, in some cases returning home(Nevada) would take a long time so they will end up settling in states and proceeding to do what they know best,be the law and protect the innocent of those distant states like Texas and Utah honestly this would end up combining in a style as if they were chapters of the Brotherhood of Steel, becoming The Desert Rangers of Texas, Utah, Nevada and Arizona and well this is my theory about if there are more desert rangers i should to say that it is not complete, rather it is summarized, but hey, i have all the theory written down in my notebook and finally tell me honestly what you think and thanks for a great video
Absolutely, appreciate the kind words. I think your theory is plenty applicable, to an extent at least. One of the best aspects to Fallout is imagining what we don’t know, what we have yet to explore in game. The idea that there are other groups similar to the desert rangers, or even more in Texas is surely possible. Arizona, Utah and Nevada is perhaps a bit less likely. Any Rangers in these regions are close to the Legion if not in their land. I think most Rangers in these states would be helping the other Rangers and NCR fighting the Legion. If they don’t and the NCR/Rangers lose, they will have no hope.
@@nvRanger In the case of the desert rangers chapters of Nevada and Arizona we already know what happened to them but I like to think that on unification day many who did not agree with the ideals of the ncr decided to go to other states outside of the reach of the claws of the corrupt bear and the horns of the bull. In the case of Utah, I know that the legion has some territories there but where I think the utah desert rangers are is in a part between the 80s and new cannan tribes, they would have no idea of the ranger unification treaty ( because well the ncr has no one there) so their fight would be to try to defend the locals from the savage tribes and the legion (if they decide to take more part of utah) and finally, the chapter of Texas desert rangers would be the only one that would have the chance and the time to get the state for themselves, organize better and improve the lands of Texas by bringing law and protecting all the people from any danger, possibly they have a base of operations, I theorize that because Fallout BOS is not canon. Well, the truth is, if they make a future fallout game, I hope there will be a civil war between the desert rangers and the NCR
@@nvRanger anti slavery is a default state, it's impossible to be on a soapbox. also yes you did heavily imply they're equivalent, i cant be arsed to watch your video again but near the beginning
I always thought if we were to get a new fallout in the west it would be interesting to have it be prior to the NCR or Legion pushing into the Mojave I would love to see what the Mojave look liked under the protection of the rangers
In new Vegas there is a set of desert ranger armor in lore the helms and chest plate is usmc armor and from what I can find out from lore the desert rangers used old usmc armor and then after they joined the ncr they got lapd root gear like seen in new Vegas (the helms and armor seen on veteran ranger is riot gear the riot gear we see In the dived was most likely a more advanced version in the armor only seen when things were at the most dire situations)
@@nvRanger as I was playing wasteland 2 and 3 last year I drew alot of striking parallels to those desert rangers and the minutemen. So I'd assume the writers definitely drew some inspiration for the minutemen from those rangers atleast
The eventual corruption and immoral acts done by the members is what happened IRL within the Texas rangers. There's many accounts and tales of the rangers commiting atrocious and cowardly acts in order to carry out their work. Tales from the Mexican side like burning down an entire town. To setting up ambuses at family gatherings or at gravestones. To betrayal and corruption working with criminal syndicates, etc, etc. But as they themselves had stated. They took pride in adapting, surviving, and overcoming. Just as how they took tactics from the indians. They more than likely used methods from bandits and criminals to become more effective. That mentality is what probably lead them to be absorbed in order to survive and fight another day.
@@nvRanger yeah you right. Fallout mini series cartoons would be sweet too something to kind of control and make lore consistent but give us visual insight how things played out.
@@nvRanger a desert ranger game set up kind of like halo ODST. Fighting the legion and stalling the inevitable and make the whole desperation of human survival thing would be so damn cool though it just wouldn’t fit into the mold of a fallout game.
@@blu_gouf477 That's a great idea, would love an animated series kinda like how cyberpunk did. And yea, that would give us a chance to see arizona and what the Legions beginnings were like. Could be a really cool game, especially given we know its a losing fight for the Rangers
15:20 what you’re talking about there is not the exact same but similar to what happened in the United Kingdom with British and the highlanders. Where following culloden, the highlanders went from brutally oppressed and destroyed, to being celebrated as elite fighting men of the empire which was all to aid the propaganda and cover up the jackobites rebellion.
Fascinating, I love when there are parallels to real life scenarios and stories told in games. It makes them so much more grounded and believable. Thanks for pointing that out.
I suppose one day, like the real rangers, the desert rangers will be the leading force to steal land and enforce Northern NCR slavery in newly conquered territory.
One could argue that the folding of the rangers into the NCR military has elevated the organization to new highs both in fame and effectiveness. With the backing of a powerful democratic government the rangers have become a true force to be reckoned with. Just ask the legion survivors of bolder city. The rangers have become the harbingers of civilization. The NCR is rebuilding the world and the rangers are a major part of that.
Yet with that power they have lost their freedom and now fight battles for the NCR. That may be beneficial when it comes to fighting groups like the legion, but they will be tossed against those they might consider innocent, like the residents of Vegas and other locals through the wasteland they once swore to protect. There is a give and a take.
To be honest, im not as cynical about the ncr. I don't feel like the corruption we see indicates war crimes levels. They seem pretty hesitant to do morally terrible things. I mean sure at some point you could have a really corrupt group, any large enough group will have bad actors, but i would say that the rangers don't seem to have that hurt by this. They are still reasonably individual and involved in helping prople. Sure the war takes a lot of focus, and yes the ncr is expansionist, but is that inherently evil?
The Desert Rangers becoming the NCR Rangers was necessary. The only way to ensure order, law and development is for an established nation such as the NCR to be in control. Independent wastelands and territories will never be safe or advance.
Nonetheless, the NCR hasn’t made the New Vegas region anymore safe. They have brought a war to its doorstep, accidentally introduced a new gang in the powder gangers. They can’t stop the fiends. They can’t guard the towns. The Legion will bring “peace” but enslave most of the population. I think it’s a more difficult question, as the Rangers are now part of an organization that mimics the ones that destroyed the world.
@@nvRangerthe Legion would’ve come for New Vegas sooner or later. And I’ve yet to see anyone offer an actual alternative to the rebuilding a nation state like the NCR is doing.
Well the NCR produced the Legion in that Edward Sallow was raised in NCR territory and began his Legion from a followers of the apocalypse mission trip he was sent on. The Legion doesn’t exist without the NCR as far as we can tell. Ultimately I’d probably want to support and live in NCR, but these factions were made to be flawed. That’s how we should approach discussions around them.
The best alternative we have seen (while sadly not canon) is the Midwestern BoS. They’re an NCR who actually do stabilise regions and do the things they say they’re going to do. It’s not perfect, in the state the Fallout world is in a perfect solution doesn’t exist and the way the Tactics BoS do things is likely to end up with a state founded on something resembling neo-feudalism. But it will be a relatively safe and prosperous one.
It’s a google maps Fallout overlay. I don’t have the link to it currently but you should be able to find it thru some google. “Fallout google maps” might get you there.
***Fallout TV series SPOILERS!!*** Im kinda hoping that the rangers appear as their own faction again in the new fallout TV series. Since the NCR was nuked and fractured it would only make sense that the rangers split off and do what they do best and survive. You see the two guys wearing ranger armor in the show "lead farming" and it makes me hope my theory is true since they looked alone and ragged with no support from their NCR leaders now. Id like to think the guys wearing the ranger armor were actually rangers and not just some wastelanders wearing their gear. I also think how the sons of that ranger were killed by the ghoul protagonist that atleast one ranger will have a major role in season 2 to get revenge.
I have SC Gywnns book Empire of the summer moon that talks about the Comanche and to a lesser extent the Apache, absolutely brutal in its descriptions of warfare against the natives both waged against them and vise versa against us, a phenomenal read
It think it fair for me to have my own critics of the video since i think there several point i disagree with the video or i have a opinion related to the NCR and/or the Ranger(s). 1) The NCR does not have slaves, slavery is outlaw in *NCR territory*, meaning that no slavers doesn't exist within the territory of the NCR. What we find in Fallout 2 was slavers from northern california, a area that isn't part of the NCR. In Fallout 2, we are quest with helping the rangers freeing slaves from slavers guild. The NCR actively stand to stop slavery, with the rangers being it main unit to combat it. The Den wasn't part of the NCR till after the event of Fallout 2 and the destruction of the Enclave oil rig (and Navarro). 2) The NCR Rangers and The Desert Rangers merging shouldn't be seen as the dead of the desert ranger (and the original NCR ranger), instead we should view as it portrayed in game, the merging of 2 organizations with similar goal to strengthen it organization to bring law and order across the wasteland. The desert rangers uniting with the NCR just mean they have more resource, better organized command power and weaponry to carry our their goal + the NCR interest. Baja is a example of the NCR using the Rangers to help deal "chasing ghost". 3) Since Baja wasn't mention in video, the NCR rangers deployment in Baja is partly logical but also partly just because Oliver dislike Hanlon achievement during the first battle of hoover dam. Given that Mojave campaign aren't very popular among the NCR populace, it make sense that they are only deployed to the Mojave before the Second battle of Hoover Dam is carry out. Similar to Lanius moving his elite troop in denver to support the Mojave campaign. 4) The NCR aren't using the desert ranger image to use for propaganda, that just a NCR veteran ranger. The armor veteran ranger wear are LAPD riot gear, so it make more sense the armor belong to the NCR rather than the desert ranger (the lore on the armor of the desert ranger is very loose and honestly it a confusing mess). The Veteran Ranger, NCR or Desert wear the LAPD riot gear, veteran meant they serve the NCR for a long while, something like 15-20 years (similar to how they get the Ranger Sequoia). Newer Ranger wear the NCR newly produced NCR ranger armor with it broad shoulder patch and such.
I appreciate your first criticism. Definitely not going to get everything spot on so thanks for pointing that out. Regarding Baja I wanted to leave that for a separate video given we don’t know much about it and there’s plenty to theorize on. I don’t think the game demands we take what is shown at face value regarding the joining of the Rangers. Quite the opposite. New Vegas is known for posing interesting and nuanced scenarios with plenty of grey area. Regarding propaganda, I see your point about the armor but they are undeniably using the current ranger image as propaganda. Their posters intentionally mimic Uncle Sam type US world war propaganda posters. Thanks for the insight, appreciate a critical look at my videos and keeps me on my toes.
@@nvRanger i love your video, i hope to see more lore and theory coming from you. About the propaganda, i was thinking more along the line of using the rangers (as a united group) as propaganda instead of the desert rangers as you imply in the video. My way of seeing it is the armor and the ranger sequia revolver are both thing given to ranger who serve for a long time hence their veteran status while the regular NCR combat-armor like uniform are given to newer freshly plugged out of the regular NCR infantry.
Cool, didn't know who they were, but upon a quick google I see they're home to the Arabian Peninsula and North African deserts so it makes sense that they would have similarities given the desert environment.
@@nvRanger not just the desert environment, back then before the unification by alsaud the arabian peninsula was a wasteland and tribes were fighting each other’s for water and food
Screen shot of project Van Buren. It was the cancelled Fallout 3 in development by interplay before they went bankrupt and sold the rights of Fallout to Bethesda. New Vegas draws heavily upon the ideas of it, but truthfully it is a game we will never see in completion.
Hope you enjoy the video or gain something from it, I'm open to criticism and thoughts, drop them below.
Here's a video I made on the Midwestern Brotherhood of Steel. ua-cam.com/video/wy1c3FJHZkM/v-deo.html
what is the source of that lecture talking about the history of the texas rangers? the one that bookend the vid
The NCR Ranger looks pretty futuristic, but for the most part it exists today. The mask is an M45 Land Warrior gas mask, the helmet is a modified M1 steel pot(or CVC helmet), and the armor is riot gear with an IOTV neck protector. Much of this is available on the surplus market, if you have the caps
That’s fascinating but unsurprising given how often New Vegas draws from real world counterparts.
I agree that the gas mask seems M45 inspired but it looks to me like the in game mask is armored with actual metal components. I think the implication is that the gas mask itself is equivalent to something like level III or IIIA to protect from fragmentation or handgun threats.
@@nvRanger It's also unsurprising they chose to draw inspiration form the M45 since the rangers are special forces and, at the time, that was the gas mask issued to US special forces
@@jlee7811 That's possible, although since the helmet at the mask are one armor item it's hard to say which gives you ballistic protection. Either way, an M45 is far to valuable as a collectors item to modify to match what's in game. Mine cost me over $800 and it's not even a complete kit
Thats why I think they're the ultimate expression of an American Warrior. WWII-esque Helmet, Cowboy Duster, Modern Body Armor and Gas Mask with Night Vision. Knives, Hatchets, Lever Actions, Revolvers, Assault Rifles, Sniper Rifles, Anti Material Rifles and being called a Ranger. This all unites old and new for the ultimate American Warrior icon like a Knight for Europe or Samurai for Japan.
Don't forget that until the pre-endgame events they were sent to Baja by the general Oliver.
Yup, they joined NCR to battle the Legion, and, in return, NCR took them and relocated to a completely different region for the sake of getting new territories for NCR somewhere else instead of helping them to destroy the legion.
I’m glad you mentioned this. I should have added a Baja section. I’m fascinated by that area because it’s mentioned mysteriously, “chasing ghosts in Baja.”
Perhaps there’s enough there for a separate video.
@@nvRangerif you haven’t yet please make a Baja video. Iva always been really interested in the region and the mysterious war that is keeping the NCR’s most elite forces from being sent to Mojave.
@@thomasleonardis711 its on the list, would love to dive into that
@@nvRanger looking forward to it. I just found your channel today so I’m diving through your videos. Lost of good stuff on here and I’m now subscribed.
Those were not the desert rangers in the Baja, it was the veteran ncr rangers
Kinda ironic how the Desert and NCR Rangers were better and more like Chivalric Knights than any Knight or Paladin in the Brotherhood.
yea they're ideals definitely line up better to our modern day ideals. The BoS are more dogmatic and rigid. They essentially have an extremist religous type view on technology and protecting it from people, rather than just protecting people.
@@nvRanger which is always ironic and interesting sicne it was orignal created to help people and make sure another great war never happens. Man, I love the Desert/NCR rangers. its nott hat they look cool, they are genuinely pretty interesting. I Wouldn;t mind see a Desert and NCR Ranger show up in s2 of fallout.
Cowboys/Rangers/Marshals have a lot of overlap with medieval Knights and Samurai, they're all the same archetype from different cultures.
Both groups are exactly like chivalric knights - fictional.
@@cofteaamsr1717the brotherhood is a perfect example of the line Maximus says in the show. “Everyone wants to save the world. They all just disagree how to do it.” The brotherhood started off as an altruistic group looking to stop the corruption of the prewar government and their questionable experiments. Over time they became obsessed with controlling all technology believing that no one but they can be trusted with it. For the record, they can’t be trusted with it either.
The Desert Rangers joining The NCR is tragic. Then again, the alternative means The Desert Rangers being annihilated completely by The Legion.
Right, to defeat their greatest opposition they must give themselves to another empire. A dance with the devil
@@nvRangerconsidering the behavior of the Legion, the NCR is the lesser evil. But just because it’s lesser doesn’t mean it isn’t evil.
@@connormclernon26 I'm not sure about ascribing "evil" or "good" to either tbh. I think its too simplistic of a way to view things, and we lose aspects of the conversation because were stuck on good vs evil.
@@nvRanger fair enough. At least the Legion can keep the caravans from being robbed, because the punishment for trying is so gruesome
@@connormclernon26 its an interesting nuance that is unexplored in the game world. It would be interesting to see what it is like in their lands. The NCR is supposedly very safe within their borders as well.
So long as one man wears the circle-star, the Desert Rangers will never die.
The factions in these games are bigger than the people. The ideals are what matter. Hopefully means we can see these guys in future entries.
Desert Rangers live on in Wasteland 1,2 and 3 after all it is the big brother of Fallout
@@gespenjaeger2370 For real, Wasteland 2 and 3 were way better Fallout sequels than Fallout 3 and 4 were.
@@nagger8216💀💀
Thats true
From what I could tell is the NCR Rangers were just regular federal marshals and slave trade is a huge thing over state borders. But the Desert Rangers were elite problem solvers, just any issue, they had a decent chance of handling it. And if they didn’t, that meant it was a huge threat to devote resources to. So when they came into the NCR they got heavily integrated and in charge of training their “marshals” to help more efficiently manage the huge territories with limited manpower.
Completely agree with that assessment on both ends
I think I’m confused with the wording, when you say “over state borders,” do you mean inside or outside of the NCR? I may have simply missed something
I'm really liking these fallout "lore" vids, keep it up!
This reminds me of the first time I played New Vegas where I initially thought the NCR were the good guys, but then they would say off color things about needing to control certain areas/things with little regard about the populace. So endgame was bittersweet picking the lesser of two evils.
Absolutely, that's one of my favorite aspects of the series. I think its ability to approach mature complex topics is underrated.
Appreciate the kind words, thanks.
I always use the NCR and betray them in the end. My canon ending is Boomers, Enclave vets, Brotherhood remnants and a conglomeration of towns all aiding each other against the Legion and NCR.
I love how you’re teaching about real history too lol like the beginning
Fallout takes a lot of inspiration from the real world(ie the Great Khans/The Legion etc) so it makes sense to me to draw from those origins and try to be a lil unique that way.
Desert Rangers so elite, the Courier's canon armor is the Elite Riot Armor because they thought it's cooler to be Desert Rangers
I don’t know the courier had canon armor
The Courier had canonically had the duster. The canonical duster was tan, with the 13 colonies flag on the back, like Ulysses' duster. The Elite Riot Armor is only The Courier's canon armor in DUST.
@@iroquoispliskin4262 nuh uh, I changed the lore at Obsidian studio when they was making the game
@@herrdoctor2895neat
It's really saddening that the fact the deser ranger were already a existing longer before ncr and it was dated back even before the great war and some of them were forced to join the ncr ranks? Absolute comical!
Cheatcode: play the whole Wasteland series. They're basically about a group of "Desert Rangers" working for a group trying to restart civilisation in a post-apocalypse American Wasteland, which is what the NCR+Dessert rangers are very probably a nod to... because to oversimplify, Fallout 1 was made by half the team that made Wasteland, then some of that team were reunited in Obsidian at the time of NV so they may have doubled down on the nod. There's a lot of overlap with the factions.
Definitely need to make time to go replay 2 & 3. I’ve started both but didn’t finish them. They were really enjoyable tho
Wasteland also had a group of xenophobic technology hoarders.
Note: Playing the Wasteland series will instill a desire to kill every synth, toaster, cyborg, people with synthetic organs, people with advanced prosthetics; with either extreme prejudice or noble mercy
I remember there was a companion quest mod called Russel, which added a whole new region to explore and a new companion named Russel, a former Desert Ranger. I never played it myself, but I watched a playthrough of it and it was pretty good. Great video 👍
Russel was an awesome mod, loved that. It felt like a cut companion because of how well it explored the issues of the Desert Rangers. He was one that didn't join the NCR, but had friends that did.
@@nvRanger Yeah, the mod maker Someguy2000 had some great mods. 👍 Peace ✌🏻
@@nvRanger Yup, it really shed a lot of needed light on their situation and gave them a lot more depth as a whole instead of just being cool guys in cool armor. Not to mention it gave a very unique and original character perspective with Russell's experiences and thoughts on the matter. The base game really needed something like this to flesh the Desert Rangers out.
Absolutely. If they ever remaster new Vegas, they should include cut content and mods like Russel that stay true to the world.
@@nvRanger Maybe include other mods by Someguy2000 Russel’s creator into a remaster/remake.
16:15 I like to think with the independent yes man ending, the courier would offer any rangers who are disillusioned with the NCR asylum within vegas’ borders, in exchange for their protection an expertise, and maybe once again, Rangers could go back to being rangers, and helping those that need it most, instead of the bureaucrats…
Man it’s wild the more I learn about the NCR the more I realize just how blatantly hypocritical they are
Absolutely, and it’s true of most factions and characters in the west coast titles. All flawed, making the games so much more compelling and believable.
That’s how it goes say whatever you got to to save your people
Tandi and Aradesh must be rolling in their graves at what the NCR became.
@@connormclernon26I love thinking about that when it comes to the NCR. Their humble beginnings in Shady Sands and how far that went.
@@ericgill6992i actually felt better about my ncr play through than the ncr one. The ncr felt downright slimy.
Ranger at the ready 🤠
Is that American Venom playin lmao
Killer song for the Rangers honestly
I’m not sure tbh but the song must’ve just spoke to me lol
RDR2 hell yeah
Understanding the desert rangers also takes understanding Fallout's predecessor - Wasteland. They're definitely spiritual successors in a lot of ways.
That said, fascinating video for a fascinating faction. I am interested to see what became of them in the series. Many are freaking out about "the NCR being destroyed" because the show has done away with Shady Sands. They all seem to forget that the NCR has several stalwart cities under its rule - including Redding which Chief Hanlan goes on to become a senator for in one of the independent New Vegas endings. The NCR under shady sands might be done but that does not mean people are just going to completely and totally bail on a relatively stable way of life in NCR territory. Sort of like how during the war of 1812 border cities in Maritime Canada and New England turned cannons on each other as per orders but straight up never fired a shot and trade and business carried on as usual "off the books," as no one was interested in initiating hostilities for some distant power largely ignorant of life in the region calling the shots from Washington or Montreal. These border and coastal/island towns were often so intermingled they'd be firing on fondly regarded in-laws, cousins, and siblings. The NCR is similar enough in that regard. Just because one city goes belly up doesn't mean California is going to revert to full anarchy. There's still a volunteer force of professional soldiers, a Senate, and several other checks and balances to serve as redundancies in just that event.
Love this channel, it’s like a Fudgemuppet/Camelworks for Fallout.
I really appreciate the dives in to less known factions/history of the lore. Thank you for the well-spoken and researched video.
Glad you enjoyed, thanks for the kind words. Means a lot.
Outstanding work on this video! I especially love the nod to SC Gwynne at the beginning. “Empire of the Summer Moon” is a phenomenal book. I’d also recommend John Bossnecker’s biography of Frank Hamer for a great look at the history of the Texas Rangers.
Awesome rec, I have Empire of the Summer Moon on my booksehlf right behind me. Fit perfectly into the video so I had to use it.
I've always seen them as more than just a mere nod to the Desert Rangers from the Wasteland series. Fallout came to exist because the devs behind the original Wasteland - Interplay - couldn't get the rights to a sequel back from Electronic Arts. So they in turn developed a game with slightly different iconography. Tycho specifically mentions being from Nevada, where Wasteland's Desert Rangers came from, and has numerous lines that reference that game.
The trouble is, thanks to IP issues, these nods to Wastelands could only ever really be nods. The distance between Fallout's California and Wasteland's Nevada was enough to keep it ambiguously canon, at least for Fallout 1 and 2, but Jess Heinig stated in the Fallout Bible that "Obviously that history didn't wind up in Fallout," so it's decidedly non-canon. Still, the amount of references goes fairly deep.
The Fallout lore about these desert rangers being elite do-gooders? Not quite 'rulers' or 'protectors', but still kind-hearted folks trying to help in the wasteland any way they could? Yeah, that's just Wasteland's Desert Rangers in a nutshell. Basically just 'wandering heroes' like an RPG party of the time.
Honestly, I'm just glad there's these nods of connective tissue between them, especially after 2014 when Bryan Fargo got the rights back to Wasteland and made some sequels (and a remaster of the original for modern audiences). Those guys that developed Wasteland and Fallout went through *a lot* in the industry. From Interplay, to Black Isle, to Obsidian and InXile, they've been put through the proverbial wringer.
Yea I think everything you’re saying is spot on and adds deeply to the mystique of this faction.
I don’t often like altruistic factions as they seem too unrealistic but given their history and current state it makes up for it.
Cool to see the devs keep their work alive for years on years with those of wasteland rangers inspiring one of the most iconic Fallout factions and armors there is.
@@nvRanger Agreed, and I personally think it's great to see Bryan Fargo being able to return to the Wasteland franchise after that massively successful kickstarter project. Those games have been a surprisingly great 'return to form' so to speak for fans of the classic Fallouts, being classically-styled CRPGs.
Great job with the vid, btw!
@@Nivrithi1 I hav eplayed a bit of Wasteland 2 & 3 and really enjoyed my teime but didn't finish it. I need to go back and replay the whole series, especially given the OG got a remake.
Thanks
These lore videos should get more views overall. Especially for little known topics.
thanks I appreciate it. Just a matter of getting in to the algorithm. Luckily these kind of videos can have multiple growth spurts.
@@nvRangerall thanks to your loyal family guy loving fans.
completely@@boltlinked
Noticed something outrageous at 13:36 total production slip.
The map used doesn’t include Freedonian territory in the Caesers Legion map.
absolutely, i am a complete fool. i'll correct it immediately.
San Antonio mentioned within the first second, didn't expect that.
Charles Barkley would be furious
from beating cochise to destroying androids in LA to being shipped off to baja to chase ghosts. Rangers got it tough
No doubt
Literally one of my favorite mini factions in Fallout and why I love the NCR as a faction. I hope we hear more about the NCR Rangers. And why do we try so hard to make the NCR look evil? It’s flawed but definitely not evil
I don’t think evil is a part of the question tbh. I think that is a banal term that doesn’t properly explain or describe its target. I don’t think the NCR is evil.
They mimic the pre war US tho, especially their government. And that government led to the end of the world along w China.
@@nvRangerthe NCR is definitely the representation of the U.S. and vaguely represents enlightenment ideology. I think the basic case is that they are ultimately good and well meaning, but the way they do such things are brutal, similar to the real life United States.
The kind of democracy that the NCR follows is flawed, just like the real United States, as the government does not truly represent the people to a tea, but the system it’s made has the capacity to change for the better. (Like how majority vote encourages two-party systems whereas ranked choice voting encourages more diverse nuanced perspectives, third parties.)
Ultimately, if the government can truly be the actions of the people, and representatives can actually be elected by the people accurately, then a government would have little flaws if any at all.
This kind of system can be made under what the NCR has, but at the stage it’s in, it’s definitely about manifesting destiny, and not so much about representing the people.
I’m talking in circles, but what I mean to say is that the NCR has ye most potential out of any faction, because it’s not founded on selfishness, it’s founded on liberty and democracy, and though it is incredibly hypocritical at times, it has the capacity and people to truly believe and practice those enlightenment philosophies.
Hell, maybe I’m just dreaming, but I have so much hope that the real life USA can get better and more accurately represent the people it’s governs, and I may just be using the NCR as my fantasy nation that can truly practice what it preaches.
Personal, economic, and political liberties for all.
While I do agree that The NCR isnt some fuzzy bear of niceness it's often overstated how bad and imperialistic they are. In most lands that they don't control chaos is very much the norm. You can see this in FNV, and F2.
While certain areas do remain in relatively unstable states, it is hard to say Vegas is in better shape because of them. The NCR floods into the Region and gets access to the best farming lands, a monorail, and sets up military outposts everywhere while the locals forced into the outskirts as the resource limited region now has to support NCR citizens. Meanwhile, they brought Powder Gangers with them, the Khans still run drugs, and the Fiends tear up west Vegas.
They starve and suffer, while the NCR only cares to control the Dam and the Strip. Yea, the area might become "stable" over time, but what's left of the people who lived there will be worth asking.
@@nvRanger they would stabilize if they could, they would wipe the fiend if they could
and as for the ncr settlers is not like they are parasites supported by freeside the NCR settlers are farming and settling abandoned lands, now as for the khans and powder gangers the powder gangars were a result of lack of manpower as more men had to be sent to the dam and the Khans are barely alive as is.
@@nvRangerThe only regular people who get pushed out by the NCR are people who don't want to become citizens. For those that are willing to pay taxes and obey laws it's undoubtedly a better situation than before
They could totally have stabilised things. They didn’t because their focus was on the Legion, the Dam, the Strip, and for some reason fucking Baja.
Organised chaos isn't better
I just realized if the NCR had any strategy it should’ve been a war of attrition which it already was but they should’ve sent desert rangers into Arizona and New Mexico to start a coupe against Caesar’s legion. I’m sure slaves and a few “patriotic” people would love their freedom. Especially if the MCR comes from an American idea it make sense we start coupes with special forces all the time
That would be an interesting angle for them to take. Considering they got tan out of those states not too long ago, perhaps that’s not on the table yet. The battle at Hoover Dam and the Legion pushing the border is likely more pressing.
The Legion isn’t really comparable to modern day states.
@Ni-dk7ni exactly
@@Dcll8451 ok so you guys have room temp IQ’s
@@baneofbanes why?
I wonder if the Desert Rangers split from the NCR after it began to collapse.
It’s very possible, they were largely station in the east of NCR in Vegas for the war with the Legion.
If the NCR lost and was subsequently nuked/cut off from the east and Vegas, they also could have been round up and killed by Legion.
I really liked this video, thought it had a lot more views until i came to the comments. Good work!
Thanks a lot, appreciate the kind words. Hopefully it keep growing.
>Bathesda following up on good plot lines in a comprehensive and interesting way that stays true to the canon and it's spirit
you funny
Yea maybe if someone else gets to work on Fallout.
i am a grown ass man but "head rights" lmao
Lmao dude nice
Woah, thanks for you using my drawing at 4:15 feels really cool seeing it in a fallout lore video.
Would love to give credit, any link you want to share lmk, I'll put it in the description/pin it to a top comment.
In my honest opinion the NCR is the best faction, house and yes man have too many variables of what could truly happen, and we just gotta take them for they’re word. The NCR at the very least is a proven democracy, just like our real world US government they’re far far from perfect but I have rights I have a means to earn my way and provide for my family.
Yes! If only they practiced what they preached. Personal, economical, and political liberties for all.
The only real reason they both don’t do this (USA and NCR) is that the government doesn’t truly perfectly represent the people it governs and should be governed by!
(Majority vote causes two-party systems, whereas ranked choice voting or other voting methods would encourage more nuanced political thinking and practices, meaning that all different kinds of people would be represented, not just the people who are in the majority.)
There is so much potential for these good democratic republics, and they both have the capacity to be so much better than they are. I’ll fight for the NCR because I know they mean the best, even if their methods are brutal, just like the real United States. I know eventually, if everything is done right, the system can change for the better, truly. Not for the majority, but for everyone.
Personal liberties, economic liberties, and political liberties for everybody. Those are the three monoliths I believe in.
Besides, as is, the people have much more control over the government compared to any other faction in the series
While the mid to end point of this video becomes sort of a bias rant about the NCR lol. It's really cool to hear about their early days before being pushed back by the legion. I'd definitely like to here more on that as well in a future video
I disagree that it's a biased rant, this is the story that is being told about the NCR by the time of New Vegas.
There are clear and intentional parallel's between the NCR and the United States. Imperialism, corruption, bloated government, those in power only hungry for more power and glory while being willing to risk the lives of soldiers and civilians.
The Brahmin Baron's have control and sway over the government similar to how large corporations do today.
Play New Vegas and pay attention, I'm not pulling this out mah butt.
Someguy2000's companion mod Russell does a good job of expanding on the lore of the Desert Rangers
Couldn’t agree more. Russell should be touched up and officially integrated if we ever get a remaster.
The Wasteland series of games is unofficially officially the history of the rangers.
Definitely need to go back and finish those games.
I think it would be cool if the desert rangers split off and joined/ teamed up with the followers of the apocalypse. If you put them together they’re kind of a complete package, capable of surviving in the wasteland and helping people with pretty much any problem
That’s a good point. They would make an excellent team. The Followers have already disassociated with the NCR as well.
19:17 *gasp* the Big Iron!
That’s what I thought when first hearing that
Desert Rangers signed the treaty to help defeat the legion, with that in mind I like to think the desert Rangers defected if Mr. House or the Courier take the dam.
There would definitely be issue if the NCR lost a presence in Nevada AND the Legion didn’t take the area. I agree.
Excited to see whether the Fallout TV show expands on ranger lore in the second season! Maybe a break from the NCR as it gets more and more desperate/imperious? Would love to see a "ranger uprising", with both the original NCR Rangers and Desert Rangers working together to protect people from an increasingly aggressive NCR military :)
For sure, I would love to see an aggressive NCR comeback in season 2.
Perhaps after the bombing they come for vengeance and do some morally questionable things which has the rangers questioning their involvement.
The story of the Desert Rangers continued in the Wasteland games.
Many have said and I definitely need to go back and finish 2 & 3 up. Maybe even give the remake a play through as well.
@@nvRanger Worth it. All 3 are really good games.
I see alot of correlation between the ncr rangers and real life Special forces groups in the U.S they are warriors that don't get to choose who they fight due to belonging to a government yet they lookout for eachother and try to do good to the best of they're abilities
Spot on, they are special forces for the NCR it seems. There’s a brotherhood there that goes beyond just the flag they fight for.
You're going to mess around and motivate me to produce more Desert Ranger mods.
We need them! I have your Seven Graves from Now in my load order, I just need some time to play it.
As I recall, it was Mexico that imported the Proto-Texans into the area to begin with, for the purposes of dealing with the "tribals". They later led an independence movement against Mexico. Much like how the NCR sent the Followers. Fallout has so many parallels to Americas and I'm not sure how much is just intuitive or intentional.
Thanks so much for the super chat, never have to do so ofc, but greatly appreciated 🙏
Great insight as well, I feel the more I learn about the history of the area the more I appreciate how much attention to detail this game has and why so many people enjoy it.
Very well could be many of the parallels are just coincidence though, which is fascinating in its own right.
I realize wasteland and Fallout are 2 completely different universes but in my mind the story of wasteland happened , got instinct essentially then joined the ncr
Close enough, might as well be their canon beginning
Great video! Played a Rogue Rangers campaign on Old World Blues after it.
This is the HOI4 mod, right? Man I want a Fallout strategy game like that.
@@nvRanger Yeah, it is really good! Another Fallout fancontent with rangers is the Sonora mod for FO2, but there they are a bit too arrogant for my liking.
I have heard others mention that mod. The rangers are too arrogant in the mod or the mod authors?
@@nvRanger The rangers i mean, but i guess you could explain that as their beginning since the mod takes place between 1 and 2.
I hope the next fallout takes place near where the desert rangers are from (San Francisco is a likely candidate and California neighbors the area) and since the decline of the NCR they reastablished themselves and would function similar to the minutemen but in the west and you as the player can help them reestablish themselves
Would be awesome to see. Rangers standing the test of time as they’re tossed about. Always persisting in the end, refusing to die.
I always love the references to Wasteland in the fallout games which was pretty much proto Fallout
Played a bit of wasteland 3 and really enjoyed it. Would love to go back and play thru 2 & 3 fully
Nice now I want you to make one about Cesar’s legion
It's in the works, might not be the next video, but it's comin
Damn. After seeing this, New Vegas is in dire need of a sequel.
I would love nothing more than to see a direct sequel to New Vegas, but I have no idea how it could be pulled off. A remake in the modern creation engine that expands upon cut areas and content would be just as cool
@@nvRanger even a prequel would be epic
I’ve heard others suggest that as well. Would be awesome given the regions background.
Can you share the link to that Google My maps map you showed? Thanks
Luckily I was at my computer when I read this. Here ya go
www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/viewer?hl=en_US&mid=1puuQVpbfh4ofYflJxJPB6iul6JQ&ll=39.63153139886184%2C-84.77711362140184&z=6
As a Texan, ive always wanted a fallout game set in Texas. I feel like theres so much story telling potential based around the states culture and history
Absolutely, Texas would be a great location. Fallout BoS takes place there but it’s not a good game nor is it recognized as canon.
🎶 The eyes of the Ranger are upon you 🎶
I must say that i liked the video, personally every time i play new vegas i always play a role as a desert ranger who disagrees with the ranger unification and acts in a more vegative way against the legion and Ncr. But well i want to take the opportunity to give my opinion about something that has left me thinking fot a long time since i played fallout 1 and replayed fallout new vegas, well the thing is that i am making my theory about the possibility that there are more Desert Rangers, well Tycho has been wandering through the California Wasteland looking for supplies for the Nevada desert rangers and he stopped in junktwon. This made me think tha the rangers in nevada during that time wento to various states such as California, Utah , Arizona and Texas to get supplies and protect the innocent, in some cases returning home(Nevada) would take a long time so they will end up settling in states and proceeding to do what they know best,be the law and protect the innocent of those distant states like Texas and Utah honestly this would end up combining in a style as if they were chapters of the Brotherhood of Steel, becoming The Desert Rangers of Texas, Utah, Nevada and Arizona and well this is my theory about if there are more desert rangers i should to say that it is not complete, rather it is summarized, but hey, i have all the theory written down in my notebook and finally tell me honestly what you think and thanks for a great video
Absolutely, appreciate the kind words.
I think your theory is plenty applicable, to an extent at least. One of the best aspects to Fallout is imagining what we don’t know, what we have yet to explore in game.
The idea that there are other groups similar to the desert rangers, or even more in Texas is surely possible. Arizona, Utah and Nevada is perhaps a bit less likely. Any Rangers in these regions are close to the Legion if not in their land.
I think most Rangers in these states would be helping the other Rangers and NCR fighting the Legion. If they don’t and the NCR/Rangers lose, they will have no hope.
@@nvRanger In the case of the desert rangers chapters of Nevada and Arizona we already know what happened to them but I like to think that on unification day many who did not agree with the ideals of the ncr decided to go to other states outside of the reach of the claws of the corrupt bear and the horns of the bull. In the case of Utah, I know that the legion has some territories there but where I think the utah desert rangers are is in a part between the 80s and new cannan tribes, they would have no idea of the ranger unification treaty ( because well the ncr has no one there) so their fight would be to try to defend the locals from the savage tribes and the legion (if they decide to take more part of utah) and finally, the chapter of Texas desert rangers would be the only one that would have the chance and the time to get the state for themselves, organize better and improve the lands of Texas by bringing law and protecting all the people from any danger, possibly they have a base of operations, I theorize that because Fallout BOS is not canon. Well, the truth is, if they make a future fallout game, I hope there will be a civil war between the desert rangers and the NCR
There's no nuance with slavers, you destroy them where you see them. Saying the NCR and the Legion are equivalent is absurd.
no one said that, come down off the soap box, mark
@@nvRanger anti slavery is a default state, it's impossible to be on a soapbox. also yes you did heavily imply they're equivalent, i cant be arsed to watch your video again but near the beginning
Earned a subscriber.
Appreciate it
I always thought if we were to get a new fallout in the west it would be interesting to have it be prior to the NCR or Legion pushing into the Mojave I would love to see what the Mojave look liked under the protection of the rangers
I’m here for a New Vegas prequel
Im surprised you didnt mention the brahmen barons.
Perhaps a topic that I can cover in an NCR centric video.
7:15 as a Texan i can attest to that this place will humble you FAST
Absolutely, my first trip out west was eye opening in more ways than one.
great video man, defiantly deserve more subs🙏🙏
Appreciate that, thank you. Subs are goin up
In new Vegas there is a set of desert ranger armor in lore the helms and chest plate is usmc armor and from what I can find out from lore the desert rangers used old usmc armor and then after they joined the ncr they got lapd root gear like seen in new Vegas (the helms and armor seen on veteran ranger is riot gear the riot gear we see In the dived was most likely a more advanced version in the armor only seen when things were at the most dire situations)
Right, that’s the one from Lonesome road
In Fallout Sonora they are very much alive.
Is the game any good? Im waiting for that english translation, is taking a lot of time tho
@@XDapologist Very good. Try the current unofficial translation, the official translation project is dead and it will not come out.
In a non canon game? Tight. Super dead in the real games though.
The desert rangers are very similar to the minutemen in the east. Not really trying to assert dominance, just order
Yes I have to imagine the minutemen were at least partially inspired by these guys
@@nvRanger as I was playing wasteland 2 and 3 last year I drew alot of striking parallels to those desert rangers and the minutemen. So I'd assume the writers definitely drew some inspiration for the minutemen from those rangers atleast
Yea the Rangers were inspired by the OG wasteland game so that’s a safe assumption
The eventual corruption and immoral acts done by the members is what happened IRL within the Texas rangers. There's many accounts and tales of the rangers commiting atrocious and cowardly acts in order to carry out their work. Tales from the Mexican side like burning down an entire town. To setting up ambuses at family gatherings or at gravestones. To betrayal and corruption working with criminal syndicates, etc, etc. But as they themselves had stated. They took pride in adapting, surviving, and overcoming. Just as how they took tactics from the indians. They more than likely used methods from bandits and criminals to become more effective. That mentality is what probably lead them to be absorbed in order to survive and fight another day.
Rangers was like that from the start.
I wish fallout would make some prequel games with factions.
Would be cool, only issue is I’d assume they’d be troubled with lore consistency and making multiple endings.
@@nvRanger yeah you right. Fallout mini series cartoons would be sweet too something to kind of control and make lore consistent but give us visual insight how things played out.
@@nvRanger a desert ranger game set up kind of like halo ODST. Fighting the legion and stalling the inevitable and make the whole desperation of human survival thing would be so damn cool though it just wouldn’t fit into the mold of a fallout game.
@@blu_gouf477 That's a great idea, would love an animated series kinda like how cyberpunk did.
And yea, that would give us a chance to see arizona and what the Legions beginnings were like. Could be a really cool game, especially given we know its a losing fight for the Rangers
15:20 what you’re talking about there is not the exact same but similar to what happened in the United Kingdom with British and the highlanders. Where following culloden, the highlanders went from brutally oppressed and destroyed, to being celebrated as elite fighting men of the empire which was all to aid the propaganda and cover up the jackobites rebellion.
Fascinating, I love when there are parallels to real life scenarios and stories told in games. It makes them so much more grounded and believable.
Thanks for pointing that out.
BoS I think are still the coolest looking faction in Fallout, but these guys are a close second.
It’s tough competition all around. Hard to make a choice there.
@@nvRangerno way brother, clearly we’re the coolest fuckers around ;)
thats really good video man :) keep doing that
Always appreciate the support, thank you 🙏
What documentary is that at the beginning, it got me intrigued 👀
Just audio from a JRE podcast with historian/author S.C. Gwynne who has covered many topics involving the Wild West.
Rangers..... i feel like it remnants of how fallout was originally supposed to be a wasteland game......
For sure, and then expanded upon.
I suppose one day, like the real rangers, the desert rangers will be the leading force to steal land and enforce Northern NCR slavery in newly conquered territory.
Now I have started to think the destruction of the NCR in the show is a good thing
lol
Great narration.
thanks
One could argue that the folding of the rangers into the NCR military has elevated the organization to new highs both in fame and effectiveness. With the backing of a powerful democratic government the rangers have become a true force to be reckoned with. Just ask the legion survivors of bolder city. The rangers have become the harbingers of civilization. The NCR is rebuilding the world and the rangers are a major part of that.
Yet with that power they have lost their freedom and now fight battles for the NCR. That may be beneficial when it comes to fighting groups like the legion, but they will be tossed against those they might consider innocent, like the residents of Vegas and other locals through the wasteland they once swore to protect. There is a give and a take.
To be honest, im not as cynical about the ncr. I don't feel like the corruption we see indicates war crimes levels. They seem pretty hesitant to do morally terrible things. I mean sure at some point you could have a really corrupt group, any large enough group will have bad actors, but i would say that the rangers don't seem to have that hurt by this. They are still reasonably individual and involved in helping prople. Sure the war takes a lot of focus, and yes the ncr is expansionist, but is that inherently evil?
Good video.
Thanks for checkin it out
The Desert Rangers becoming the NCR Rangers was necessary. The only way to ensure order, law and development is for an established nation such as the NCR to be in control. Independent wastelands and territories will never be safe or advance.
Nonetheless, the NCR hasn’t made the New Vegas region anymore safe. They have brought a war to its doorstep, accidentally introduced a new gang in the powder gangers. They can’t stop the fiends. They can’t guard the towns. The Legion will bring “peace” but enslave most of the population.
I think it’s a more difficult question, as the Rangers are now part of an organization that mimics the ones that destroyed the world.
@@nvRangerthe Legion would’ve come for New Vegas sooner or later.
And I’ve yet to see anyone offer an actual alternative to the rebuilding a nation state like the NCR is doing.
Well the NCR produced the Legion in that Edward Sallow was raised in NCR territory and began his Legion from a followers of the apocalypse mission trip he was sent on.
The Legion doesn’t exist without the NCR as far as we can tell.
Ultimately I’d probably want to support and live in NCR, but these factions were made to be flawed. That’s how we should approach discussions around them.
The best alternative we have seen (while sadly not canon) is the Midwestern BoS. They’re an NCR who actually do stabilise regions and do the things they say they’re going to do. It’s not perfect, in the state the Fallout world is in a perfect solution doesn’t exist and the way the Tactics BoS do things is likely to end up with a state founded on something resembling neo-feudalism. But it will be a relatively safe and prosperous one.
@@gluck5869 yah the Midwestern brotherhood of steel in the canon is nonexistent.
bro this was cool af
Appreciate you
just saw the other video and found this one
yea i felt that old one needed a remake
IT’S JOHN MARSTON, MICAH!
What's that digital fallout overlay map he's using?
It’s a google maps Fallout overlay. I don’t have the link to it currently but you should be able to find it thru some google. “Fallout google maps” might get you there.
Didn't remnants of Desert Rangers become Rogue Rangers under Abigail Lee? I remember they are in Esmeralda at the time.
what's that from?
@@nvRanger It's from Hoi4's Old World Blues mod.
@@evilpico6899 understood, I’ve heard good things about that mod. Sounds cool
I want them to make a come back given current lore
It would make sense. We need a character to follow that takes up the mantle.
***Fallout TV series SPOILERS!!***
Im kinda hoping that the rangers appear as their own faction again in the new fallout TV series. Since the NCR was nuked and fractured it would only make sense that the rangers split off and do what they do best and survive.
You see the two guys wearing ranger armor in the show "lead farming" and it makes me hope my theory is true since they looked alone and ragged with no support from their NCR leaders now.
Id like to think the guys wearing the ranger armor were actually rangers and not just some wastelanders wearing their gear.
I also think how the sons of that ranger were killed by the ghoul protagonist that atleast one ranger will have a major role in season 2 to get revenge.
I hope you’re right as well and if I had to guess, I’d think that you are.
A Ranger revenge narrative done well would be peak tv
One step at a time a Sentence stolen in Fallout 4
Did the minutemen take it?
I so badly want a fallout game to take place in oregon
Maybe we see it in Season two given the NCR potentially having a presence there
Awesome content!👍🏽☢️☢️
appreciate you, thanks
The music at the end of your video what was it?
Just look up New Vegas end slide music
I have SC Gywnns book Empire of the summer moon that talks about the Comanche and to a lesser extent the Apache, absolutely brutal in its descriptions of warfare against the natives both waged against them and vise versa against us, a phenomenal read
I have the book as well. Loved working the author into the video
It think it fair for me to have my own critics of the video since i think there several point i disagree with the video or i have a opinion related to the NCR and/or the Ranger(s).
1) The NCR does not have slaves, slavery is outlaw in *NCR territory*, meaning that no slavers doesn't exist within the territory of the NCR. What we find in Fallout 2 was slavers from northern california, a area that isn't part of the NCR. In Fallout 2, we are quest with helping the rangers freeing slaves from slavers guild. The NCR actively stand to stop slavery, with the rangers being it main unit to combat it. The Den wasn't part of the NCR till after the event of Fallout 2 and the destruction of the Enclave oil rig (and Navarro).
2) The NCR Rangers and The Desert Rangers merging shouldn't be seen as the dead of the desert ranger (and the original NCR ranger), instead we should view as it portrayed in game, the merging of 2 organizations with similar goal to strengthen it organization to bring law and order across the wasteland. The desert rangers uniting with the NCR just mean they have more resource, better organized command power and weaponry to carry our their goal + the NCR interest. Baja is a example of the NCR using the Rangers to help deal "chasing ghost".
3) Since Baja wasn't mention in video, the NCR rangers deployment in Baja is partly logical but also partly just because Oliver dislike Hanlon achievement during the first battle of hoover dam. Given that Mojave campaign aren't very popular among the NCR populace, it make sense that they are only deployed to the Mojave before the Second battle of Hoover Dam is carry out. Similar to Lanius moving his elite troop in denver to support the Mojave campaign.
4) The NCR aren't using the desert ranger image to use for propaganda, that just a NCR veteran ranger. The armor veteran ranger wear are LAPD riot gear, so it make more sense the armor belong to the NCR rather than the desert ranger (the lore on the armor of the desert ranger is very loose and honestly it a confusing mess). The Veteran Ranger, NCR or Desert wear the LAPD riot gear, veteran meant they serve the NCR for a long while, something like 15-20 years (similar to how they get the Ranger Sequoia). Newer Ranger wear the NCR newly produced NCR ranger armor with it broad shoulder patch and such.
I appreciate your first criticism. Definitely not going to get everything spot on so thanks for pointing that out.
Regarding Baja I wanted to leave that for a separate video given we don’t know much about it and there’s plenty to theorize on.
I don’t think the game demands we take what is shown at face value regarding the joining of the Rangers. Quite the opposite. New Vegas is known for posing interesting and nuanced scenarios with plenty of grey area.
Regarding propaganda, I see your point about the armor but they are undeniably using the current ranger image as propaganda. Their posters intentionally mimic Uncle Sam type US world war propaganda posters.
Thanks for the insight, appreciate a critical look at my videos and keeps me on my toes.
@@nvRanger i love your video, i hope to see more lore and theory coming from you.
About the propaganda, i was thinking more along the line of using the rangers (as a united group) as propaganda instead of the desert rangers as you imply in the video.
My way of seeing it is the armor and the ranger sequia revolver are both thing given to ranger who serve for a long time hence their veteran status while the regular NCR combat-armor like uniform are given to newer freshly plugged out of the regular NCR infantry.
Thanks
For what?
Would the pre war riot patrol units also wear the trench coat?
Good question, it would fit a rainy cyberpunk type setting. Probably if every ranger has one.
7:29 so basically they are a elite badoun fighters
Cool, didn't know who they were, but upon a quick google I see they're home to the Arabian Peninsula and North African deserts so it makes sense that they would have similarities given the desert environment.
@@nvRanger not just the desert environment, back then before the unification by alsaud the arabian peninsula was a wasteland and tribes were fighting each other’s for water and food
do you have the source for the history in the beginning, maybe a link to a video?
look up JRE SC Gwynne on youtube. The full podcast is only on spotify, but there are clips on yt
What game is that at 4:33 ?? It says Fallout 3 but 1. Looks 2D, and 2. Fallout 3 is on the wrong coast
Screen shot of project Van Buren. It was the cancelled Fallout 3 in development by interplay before they went bankrupt and sold the rights of Fallout to Bethesda.
New Vegas draws heavily upon the ideas of it, but truthfully it is a game we will never see in completion.
Where's the audio clip from the beginning from?
S.C. Gwynne episode on JRE. He is an author on the topics around the U.S. wildwest, native americans, frontiersmen, rangers, and so on.
whats tragic about them, sounds like best thing for everyone that they in the ncr bringing barbarian hordes into order long live the ncr
😅I love that Fallout is so well put together its fan base gets into the politics of it…
Awe, True to Caesar!
Sadly don't think the NCR did get to abuse the rangers lol
lol ) :