Okay, I have heard everything from "I found an NCR vet. ranger spawn when I was level 13" to "I walked into the House Resort in Camp Golf at level 16 and the whole place was filled with NCR veteran rangers in their unique combat armor".

Starting at level 16, every time I leveled up, I went to Camp Golf, Camp Delta and Charlie, Hoover Dam, and Forlorn Hope... I still have YET to come across even even one veteran ranger.

So, I haven't killed Benny or retrieved the chip yet, but I've come pretty far otherwise.

My question is, and I'm looking for confirmation of some sorts: Does the NCR ranger armor spawn at a certain level or a certain part of the main storyline?

If anyone can confirm or back me up on this, I'd appreciate it wholly.

Oh, and I'm level 20 right now.

I'm pretty sure you need to complete the first quest chain for the faction you sided with, or at the very least get pretty far in it. They didn't show up for me until I finished The House Always Wins V for House and until I was about halfway through Render Unto Caesar.

Most people say it's quest related. You'll know the Desert Rangers have appeared when people start talking about the special troops being brought in by the NCR.

Thank you so much for being more specific, unlike many others on many other forums. I heard after "The House Always Wins I", people have seen the Desert Rangers appear, so your input makes a lot of sense, especially the part about bringing in special troops... I haven't heard anything about that yet. I assume that is exactly what they mean. Thank you again.

People say you need to be 17+, or something like that. I am 24 and where ever i see NCR, there are always a couple ranger vets.

But how far are you in the main storyline?

It depends on a quest. Unfortunately can't say for sure which, cause I haven't paid attention.
They started to show and people talking about them after I got the quests from NCR to deal with minor factions. So it's around the end. I was level 24, so I don't think its level related.

For me they showed up after I upgraded the Securitrons under The Fort.

I also was able to find them after completing this. I did it as independent, and before I told Yes Man the tribes I wanted to recruit/ignore. After upgrading the army that Caesar sends you to destroy I was able to find Veteran Rangers at the NCR camps. I don't know if level means anything. I didn't do any of this stuff until I was level 18.

Unfortunately, for me, they will not respawn. I've waited two weeks in game time but none have respawned. :shrug:

You have to do one quest in the main quest line after you get to NV. That's been confirmed according to the Fallout wiki. I'm level 19 and didn't see them until last night after I did the Render Unto Caesar I quest (i.e. activating the Securitrons or destroying the bunker). After I did that I went to Quarry Junction and a group of Rangers were fighting Deathclaws. I mopped up after they were all killed. One of them was wearing the armor.

BTW the armor offers the same DT as Reinforced MkII Combat armor but is heavier, has less health and you can't wear glasses so, aside from aesthetics, it's not that great. That Ranger did have a Brush Gun on him though.

Thank you all for the feedback. :wavey: