That Lucky Old Sun New Vegas Best Choices Rewards and Ending Guide
The Mojave Wasteland features many complex quests that test a player's morality, but few are as iconic as the side quest found at the HELIOS One solar plant. Titled That Lucky Old Sun, this mission forces you to determine who deserves the region's finite power supply. Making the right decision depends heavily on your current faction alignments and your long-term character goals.
Understanding Your Power Grid Options
Once you navigate the robot-infested depths of the power plant, you face a terminal offering five distinct distribution choices. You can route power exclusively to New Vegas and Camp McCarran to gain significant reputation bonuses with the New California Republic. Alternatively, choosing to distribute power to the full region acts as an emergency backup that marginally supports everyone but offers unique rewards.
For players focused on humanitarian efforts, directing the electrical grid toward independent communities like Fremont and Westside is a highly ethical path. This decision drastically improves your reputation with the local followers while keeping resource control away from militarized factions. If you are pursuing an independent route for the Mojave, helping these struggling communities provides excellent narrative synergy.
Unlocking the Archimedes Orbital Laser
Players seeking pure destructive capability can choose to divert the solar energy entirely into the Archimedes II orbital weapon system. This controversial choice grants access to a devastating target designator that triggers massive space-laser strikes once per day. However, choosing this path will anger the NCR forces stationed at the facility, making it a high-risk scenario.
To actually utilize the orbital strike capability after configuring the grid, you must obtain Euclid's C-Finder weapon from a wandering child in Outer Vegas. This specialized device acts as the beacon for the satellite weapon you just activated at the power plant. Balancing this ultimate weapon reward against the negative political fallout is a major decision point for combat-oriented builds.
Evaluating Quest Ending Rewards
The rewards you receive upon completion are directly tied to the final distribution option chosen at the terminal. Sending power to the NCR areas yields substantial experience points and positive faction fame, which secures early-game safety. Helping the independent communities grants you valuable medicine and supplies from grateful local doctors.
If you choose to arm the defense system instead of distributing electricity, the security protocols will immediately eliminate the NCR soldiers outside. While this grants immediate access to high-tier military loot, it permanently alters your standing with major factions. Wise players should carefully weigh these short-term material gains against their ultimate plans for the Hoover Dam conflict.
Maximizing Your Long Term Strategy
Completing this quest efficiently requires high scientific knowledge or speech skills to navigate conversations with the eccentric local scientists. Bringing along companions who favor specific factions can also yield unique dialogue options during the final confrontation. Planning your build beforehand ensure you can access every terminal option without relying on temporary skill magazines.
Ultimately, the choice depends entirely on how you want to shape the political landscape of the wasteland. Whether you choose to empower a ruthless military superpower, arm yourself with an orbital laser, or aid impoverished citizens, your decision resonates across the entire Mojave. Take your time inside the control room to ensure your choice aligns with your ideal ending scenario.