Alternate Start with Delayed Main Quest

== Overview ==

This alternate start mod delays the main quest. This means that once you’ve selected your character’s background, you’re dropped into the Mojave, and all references to the main quest are disabled until you decide to become a courier. Consequently, until you initiate the main quest, Victor stays in Goodsprings, there are no Great Khans in Boulder City, and Benny doesn’t await you at the Tops.

As of version 1. 20, the Goodsprings quests are available before you start the main quest. Like in vanilla, you will need to complete "Back in the Saddle" before Trudy will appear in the Saloon. Just ask Sunny Smiles  if she can "share some tips on surviving in the Mojave." For the "Run Goodsprings Run" quest, if you have not yet started the main quest, Doc  Mitchell is set as essential. He will stay in his home and will not join the rest of the Goodsprings militia to fight the Powder Gangers. You do not need to kill him to complete the quest. However, if you have  started the main quest and then start "Run Goodsprings Run," the quest  will play out as normal, and you will have to fight Doc Mitchell.

== Starting the Main Quest ==

To initiate the main quest, activate one of the Mojave Express Job Boards found in the wasteland. These can be found in Primm, Westside, the Mojave Outpost, and the Crimson Caravan Office. If you choose to work for the Mojave Express, the intro video will play and you’ll find yourself waking up in Doc Mitchell’s house. From this point, you can proceed with the main quest as you would in a regular game.

== Backgrounds ==

Currently, there are 53 backgrounds to choose from. Your selected background will determine your starting location and may influence elements like whether you start with a perk or your reputation with various factions. When possible, the game dialogue has been edited to reflect your chosen background better. For example, if you start as a Great Khan, the dialogue has been edited to convey the feeling that you’re part of the tribe and not just someone who has wandered into Red Rock Canyon.

Since some backgrounds may cause the player to start with a negative reputation with the NCR or Legion, Hit Squads have been adjusted to start appearing only when you are “Hated” by a Faction.

The Courier Stash preorder packs will not be added to your inventory at the game start. Instead, the gear will be provided if you choose the relevant backgrounds.

If you chose a background and then later decide you want to try a different one, fully exit the game and restart it otherwise you may run into issues.

The full list of backgrounds:

Prospector

You’re a prospector by trade. You dig through ruins and loot the corpse of the old world. Rummaging through someone else’s 200-year-old garbage might not be the most “prestigious” of work, but you never know what lost