Just Writing

Okay so I think the NCR Desert Rangers kind of suck, especially in comparison to their direct inspirations from Wasteland. Let me explain.

Okay so ultimately this boils down to the fact that the Desert Rangers. . . do not and never existed in the Mojave or the game world.

So backstory time. So the whole reason that the New California Republic is in the Mojave in the first place is because of their relationship with the Desert Rangers and the potential of using Lake Mead and the Hoover Dam to solve their resource issue back home.

It was their treaty with the Desert Rangers that gave them the mission and duty to secure the region from the hostility of Caesar's Legion after the Desert Rangers were pushed out of Arizona all the way into Nevada and the California wastes.

The survivors agreeing to merge themselves into the New California Republic's Ranger Corps a few years before game start.

And when we come to New Vegas and exploring it's gamestate what do we find?

Not a single bit of evidence that the Desert Rangers ever existed outside of the Monument at the Mojave Outpost. No letters, no computer logs, no Rangers who walked away rather then join a Imperialist power, no Ex-Rangers, No Centurians wearing bits of Ranger armor (The Centurians of Caesar's Legion form their uniforms out of the enemies they defeat up to and including a BOS Chapter and they have the hipplates of the NCR Ranger armor incorporated), their Chief is a NCR Ranger from Redding, every generic Ranger only has dialogue referring to the NCR Rangers as a whole and the NCR.

The Desert Rangers do not exist and did not exist in the game world as designed. There is no evidence of them anywhere in the game, and only exist to be poster-boys for the NCR and to be talked about how badass and cool they are.

And I would like to contrast with their direct inspirations.

The Desert Rangers from Wasteland 1, 2, and 3.

The Desert Rangers of Arizona are descended from the Army Corp of Engineers and they basically exist to be problem solvers. They are Diplomats, Monster-Hunters, Vigilantes, Engineers, Detectives, and feel whatever role they are required to do in order to help nurture communication, traded, and the growth of civilization in Arizona, New Mexico, California, and eventually Colorado.

And the Desert Rangers fuck up. A lot.

Perhaps the most infamous point of this is when they kill a rabid dog, and then kill the dog's furious owner when he charged them with a pellet gun. Unknown to them, the Kid survived, and as he grew so did his hate and he formed a rival group to the Desert Rangers known as the the Red Scorpion Militia.

The Desert Rangers do not rule >!this is a major issue in Wasteland 3!<, they do not conquer. They protect those independent townships that agree to be under their banner, and survive off of their own foraging, donated supplies, and the weapons and armor they themselves manufacture.

They're basically. . .think Fallout 4's Minutemen under a more centralized structure.

And the thing is that it's clear that the Wasteland Desert Rangers are implied to be the same as those in New Vegas. The Lore doesn't line up between the two now franchises, given the hundreds or so years between their nuclear apocalypses and modern day, but this is a inspiration for the series dating back to Fallout 1 with the companion Tycho whose grand-daddy was a Desert Ranger.

And with how important the Desert Rangers are to the impetus of the major main story conflict in Fallout New Vegas, how much they are the poster-boys for the game and NCR faction as a whole, and whom they are directly inspired by.

The Desert Rangers suck in New Vegas.

An important PSA to remember!

Franz Kafka writing a letter to his dad

Donation Link

In the heart of Gaza, where daily life has become a constant challenge amidst the siege and continuous bombing, we experienced unforgettable moments, filled with love and hope despite the pain. This is my story, and the story of my family, which may not differ from hundreds of other families in Gaza, but it holds special memories that will forever be etched in our minds.

Yazan, my dear nephew, was always a symbol of courage and joy in our family. Since childhood, he loved to wear his elegant blue suit, always made sure his hair was neatly styled, and smiled at the world as if to tell us that tomorrow would be better. On the day of a family member’s wedding, Yazan stood proudly beside us, radiating happiness, sharing his smiles with everyone, as if he knew that these moments would be among the last memories we would have of him. Just a few days later, in a merciless airstrike, we lost Yazan. He left us while dreaming of a tomorrow filled with peace and joy, leaving behind a void and indescribable pain.

As for Suheir, my beloved niece, she is the sun that rises in our lives every day. Suheir is still with us, full of life and hope, dreaming of wearing her white dress on her special day and living a life filled with joy and success. Despite the harsh circumstances, Suheir carries the spirit of childhood and is the source of hope that we cling to amidst all this pain. Every time I see her, I feel that life still offers us a chance to witness its beauty and happiness.

We lost Yazan, but we thank God that Suheir is still with us. She is a symbol of hope and resilience. Although life has become more difficult and harsh, I believe there is always light at the end of the tunnel. We have endured these bitter experiences together as a family, but we still carry in our hearts a passion for life, seeking safety and the opportunities that can grant us a new beginning.

For this reason, I have launched a fundraising campaign to help my family escape this harsh reality. My goal is to secure a better future for those of us who remain, especially the children who deserve to live their lives without fear of bombings and airstrikes. All I ask for is a chance to give them a future filled with peace and opportunities, far from wars and destruction.

With hope and faith, I ask everyone who reads these words to contribute to our cause. Together, we can build a better future for our children, keep Yazan’s memory alive as a symbol of courage and hope, and continue to support Suheir so that she can live the life she dreams of, filled with safety and happiness.

Sorry for mention you

dude.

So a free tool called GLAZE has been developed that allows artists to cloak their artwork so it can't be mimicked by AI art tools.

Using both Glaze and Nightshade would corrupt the generation of pictures mimicking artist AND mess with the AI's recognition of what everything is. Like it would generate a dog when you ask for a cat.