So I noticed during one of my old playthroughs that the assassination attempts from NCR and the Legion will attack each other if spawned at the same time (it's as amusing as it sounds). However during my most recent playthrough I was ambushed by an NCR death squad while standing in the middle of legion occupied Nelson. I had to fight off 4 NCR rangers, two in ranger combat armor, one in the ranger patrol armor and another in the salvaged power armor.

the legion stood around and watched me get mauled over and over again, until finally I managed to kill them all, but at the same a stray bullet (or grenade, I tossed at least 4) hit some legion punk and turned them hostile to me. so I had to load up my save right before they attack, and I keep getting my ass handed to me. what's the deal? I'm at max reputation with the legion, yet they won't back me up in a fight with their sworn enemies... just stand around and watch. I'm only at lvl 14 and very low on med supplies, and these guys just keep killing me. I would put on my good armor but it's NCR, so the legion would just attack me.

very frustrating. but on a positive note, I haven't had a crash for the past 10+ hours (knock on wood).....

This could happen in Fallout 1 as well :laugh:; try the old tactic. Next time put them (the legion, in this case) between you and NCR and see if you can get one of the NCR guys to hit one of the legion by mistake.
(there might be a chance to turn those apathetic loafs hostile to the NCR ~unless they are set to ignore crimes by the spawned NCR teams).

Every time I pop the Death Squads I get both the NCR and Legion at the same time, I destroy both factions every playthrough as both factions are worthless.

but, mine NEVER NEVER attack each other I constantly have to plow through both squads at every single trigger for the squads -> the real issues I have is WTF why do they start a truce just to kill me ? why do they have a 100% spawn chance so that everytime I hit a trigger location BOTH STINKING Squads always spawn -> its not like this game has anything resembling difficulty as I just plow these guys in a couple hits but its annoying when the Devs can not even work out some level of suspension of disbelief for this game mechanic it should only ever spawn ONE faction or at least let them fight each other then have who survived come for me -> any half decent scripter could have written this encounter a thousand time better then the Obsid did its sad.

That's odd, as the first time a death squad was triggered in the Mojave for me it was both (I was doing an "independent" playthrough) factions and i ran and hid behind a big rock, I could hear them fighting eachother, then a NCR ranger with a super sledge found me, and the remaining NCR came after me. I think they only fought eachother because I was hidden, and then after the legion was dealt with came for me. this was pre-patch however, 1.01 and .02.

I just thought it was weird that in the middle of a faction base (Nelson) I walk out the door of Dead Sea's sleeping quarters after starting the "we are legion" quest, and who's that I see? (read the following with a British accent to it, not aloud of course, you'll arouse attention) Why, 4 armor clad and fully equipped NCR rangers have come by for a cup o' tea! [censored] brilliant! why don't you boys n' girls come on inside? Dead Sea just boiled a pot, and we got fresh herbs for ya cup! mind takin off ya shoes at the door? you with the power armor, that's not even yours! since ya can't take yer boots off why don't ya take that [censored] up old thing off and hand it over so I can repair mine? thank ya gent!

(stop reading with a British accent added, no I'm not racist, just love British accents)

no, it was more like me re doing that whole walking out right into them, going oh [censored]! and having to run away because the only armor I have is NCR salvaged power armor and reinforced leather armor I was going to sell. the legion (my allies) will attack me if I put the power armor on but will ignore the NCR death squad. so yeah , I gave up for a little while, low on meds, I'm a melée character and have a decent guns skill but nothing powerful enough to take these guys, so I run up to them and try to hit them(not with my fists), but they back up and start shootin me from 4 different positions, or 3 and I'll have one guy hammering on me with a super sledge.

and, as if it's for their entertainment, the legion just stand around and watch...

and watch....oh! a dog! no wait, he's just walkin by....

[censored]

How nice of them to re create old problems from the first game to bring back fond memories of going " WTF IS WRONG WITH YOU? ARE YOU BLIND?" and shaking the [censored] out of your monitor if you were a spaz, or whippin your keyboard/mouse across the room in frustration. lol, nah, seriously though that sounds like a plan to me, if I can get them to attack. it was just so not cool being mauled to death in the middle of my allies, sworn enemies to my attackers.

so not cool.

I haven't seen any death squads from either faction? I have played thru doing NCR, and Mr. House.... legion never bothers me on either playthru. (and I am vilified by the legion. I shoot them guys just as soon as I see 'em.)

You have to walk around kind of, there's triggers in the Mojave wasteland that spawn them, but you'll know the NCR is after you when they start showing up everyday to tell you how long you have left to live unless you get on better grounds with them. after 3 days, they start coming after you. I didn't think they would step foot into Nelson, though. I'm not sure if the legion gives you warning, but the game will tell you usually if you continue working for so and so, these guys are going to be angry.

Random:

OP, your username leads me to believe that you have certain insight in Thelema. Awesome. Arcane knowledge is win.

To add something on-topic...

I've been so lucky I've never had a death squad come for me, other than some random Vets appearing out of nowhere in the El Dorado...

One time i was in camp forlorn hope's command tent, then i step out side and there a random legion recruit just standing there. About one second later people and lasers fly out of tents and his head gets blown off. I'm just wondering why there would be a single legion waiting for me at camp forlorn hope... maybe to deliver a message?

Indeed it is.

And his grandson was president of the United States! Took 'em to war to! [censored] brilliant!