What's with the hardened sentry bots and Mr. gutsy's around the crashed Vertibird? Is it some sort of nod back to old days (I started at 3) or is it explained somehwere in New Vegas? The Vault didn't have much to say on the topic, and I'm curious. Why are they hardened? They also don't seem all that much more powerful, but then no robot is when faced with the pulse gun...

I wondered that too. Maybe it was carrying them all as a security detachment?

I was especially puzzled by this after attacking them last night with a character who has Living Anatomy. The Hardened Sentry Bots have zero DT, just a ton of health...

There's a location in Fallout 2 that has a crashed vertibird outside Klamath, but it only has one robot to fight.

Maybe they were sent by the Enclave to retrieve it? Then when Raven Rock was destroyed they couldn't receive more orders so they just stayed there?

Hm. I like this idea. I just thought it seemed like they were attracted to the thing for some reason.
A mystery indeed... There should be a chin-stroking emote.

My assumption was that they were on the vertibird when it crashed, and survived, unlike the enclave pilot. Also it's the sight of a unique weapon, so they have to make it a bit of a challenge. My first time there I was level 11, with 4 pulse grenades, 1 stealth boy, 3 pulse mines and a modded varmit rifle. It took me about 10 tries. I had to peel them off one at a time back to where Boone was waiting over the ridge.

pulse gun. why make life difficult. the pulse gun will turn those robots into scraqe metal in a very short time.

Yes, EMP weapons are great vs. robots.

But what the heck does "hardened" mean here?

About The Story about why the vertibird is there if you did the quest for auld slang for arcade gannon he mentioned his dad dying and the remnants bunker is just a underground landing pad and when you finish the quest he is wearing his dads tesla armor and that makes sense because the tesla beaten prototype is there would be wrong tho

A named upgrade from a normal varient.
Games do this some / most times ( Bandit "ringleaders" ), the guy who helped with the leveling was a modder and modders are crazy for this pattern.
When it comes to areas of difficulty and special loot even more so.

Beth game mods that use this are usually "overhauls", and fix many issues of gameplay not being realistic / difficult enough, and are ranked very high in favour by gamers.
So it's easy to import this system that gives some warning of what you're facing when you face it, that long running fans appreciate.
At least this is what I believe the hardened prefix means, I could be wrong on any issue I posted.

About where is the vertibird by the way? Haven't come across it yet.

Edit: *Ahem* Nevermind, managed to use some epic Wiki skills to locate it... :toughninja: