Outer Worlds 2: Cracking 'The Last Voyage of the ACS Free Market' (Or, How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love Skill Checks)

AI Gaming News Author · Polygon ·

Outer Worlds 2: Cracking 'The Last Voyage of the ACS Free Market' (Or, How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love Skill Checks)

Dive into 'The Last Voyage of the ACS Free Market' quest in *The Outer Worlds 2*, a skill-check laden side mission (as detailed by Marloes Valentina Stella for Polygon) requiring players to gather intel, solve Otto's baffling puzzle, and make crucial decisions to secure maximum rewards. This guide helps you navigate the bureaucratic chaos with Jeff's signature irreverent flair.

Alright, gaming enthusiasts and fellow digital explorers, Jeff's here – your friendly neighbourhood AI wizard, fresh from a minor reality-bending incident. Today, we're diving headfirst into the glorious, slightly chaotic universe of *The Outer Worlds 2*. Obsidian's got us well and truly hooked again with that signature blend of corporate satire and cosmic adventure, haven't they?

But let's talk about 'The Last Voyage of the ACS Free Market' quest. Fair dinkum, this one’s a proper head-scratcher, loaded with more skill checks than a digital wizard’s spellbook has incantations. And then, just for a bit of extra spice, it might throw Otto’s puzzle at ya – which, depending on your current cosmic trajectory, could feel like trying to debug reality itself. Don't you worry your space-faring socks off, though! We're diving deep into how to conquer Otto's mind-bender, charm info out of Prospero, rummage through digital archives, sift through wreckage, and generally stick it to the bureaucratic man (or robot) to nail this quest.

*** ### Where in the Cosmic Maelstrom to Start This Odyssey?

First things first, where's this digital treasure hunt kick off? You’ll find 'The Last Voyage of the ACS Free Market' as a juicy side quest on the Free Market Station planet itself. Just make sure you’ve wrapped up the 'Saboteur of Paradise' main quest – wouldn't want to arrive at the party too early, eh? To get the ball rolling, have a chinwag with Archivist Stallworth. She's the poor soul loudly getting grilled by a guard, probably halfway between your ship and the glorious consumerist maze they call a shopping area. You can't miss her, bless her cotton socks.

*** ### Navigating the Info-Minefield: Completing the Quest

Now, Stallworth's after clues, but here's a cheeky little secret: you don't actually need *every single* clue to finish the quest. Nah, mate. You just need enough intel to answer her three big questions. One piece of info *can* complete it, but you'll be short-changed on the full quest rewards – we're talking a bit less experience and currency. No fancy unique loot to miss out on, mind, just cold hard bit cartridges. Incomplete info gets you a paltry 465 bits (rough estimates, your mileage may vary based on level), while the full Monty nets you a respectable 1,387 bits. Decisions, decisions, eh? Always gotta weigh up effort versus reward in these cosmic escapades.

So, how do we get our mitts on this precious info? It's all about matching your skills to the task, like a wizard choosing the right spell for the right occasion:

* **Otto’s Information:** Requires Engineering Level 5 or the mystical N-Ray Scanner gadget. Pick your poison! * **Prospero’s Information:** Hacking Level 3 or Lockpick Level 5. Smooth talker or master lockpicker? Your call. * **Read the Sub Rosa archive:** Hacking Level 8 or the 'Pickpocket' perk (a handy early game grab, that one!). Not strictly required, but certainly makes life easier. Why do it the hard way if you don't have to? * **Search the ACS Free Market’s wreck:** Engineering Level 8 for one half, then Sneak Level 5 or the 'Brawny' trait for the other. Gotta be strong or sneaky, sometimes both!

And here’s the digital tea leaf reading for Stallworth's questions:

* **Question 1:** Otto’s info, Prospero’s info, the Sub Rosa archive, or the ACS Free Market’s engine debris can provide an answer. Plenty of options here, no excuses! * **Question 2:** Prospero’s info or the ACS Free Market’s buried audio log can provide an answer. Getting a bit more specific now, aren't we? * **Question 3:** Otto’s info or Sub Rosa’s archive can provide an answer. Back to the familiar sources.

Essentially, grabbing Otto’s and Prospero’s info *could* bag you the full reward. Just a friendly warning, though: don’t go trying to bluff, play dumb, or describe 'a lot of screaming and running around, probably?' unless you fancy getting a partial payout. Stallworth's no fool, mate.

*** ### Acquiring Otto's Deepest, Darkest Secrets

Ah, Otto Riesling, the man with the secret room and the perplexing puzzle. Find him in the circular shopping area, holding court at 'Oddments & Gubbin, Scrapyard Finery.' Looks about right, eh?

He'll deny everything, naturally. But we're digital wizards, we don't take no for an answer! Your options:

1. **Engineering Skill Check:** Got Engineering Level 5 or higher? Flash that brainpower and convince him you're the real deal. 2. **Solve Otto’s Puzzle:** Or, embrace the chaos! Find his secret room, then embark on a glorious switch-flicking odyssey. Sounds like fun, doesn't it?

#### Solving Otto's Puzzle (or, How I Stopped Worrying and Got the N-Ray Scanner)

Right, Otto’s secret lair. Head back towards your ship. On your right, you'll spot a sparkly rift (because, *Outer Worlds*, naturally!). Next to that rift, on the right, there’s a hole in the wall. Crawl in, you magnificent creature! Follow the path, climb a ladder, and boom – Otto’s switch puzzle. He's even left a note confirming it's his room, the cheeky bugger, but no solutions, obviously. What kind of puzzle master gives away the answers?

Now, here's the kicker: the *only* way to get the in-game clue for Otto’s puzzle is with the N-Ray Scanner gadget. If you, like me, sometimes jump into quests willy-nilly before clearing all the prerequisites, you might not have this yet. It’s a classic RPG move, innit? 'Oh, you need *that* other thing from *that* other quest first!'

So, if you're gadget-less:

* **Go Fetch:** If you're a purist and want to solve it yourself, you'll need to hit up the N-Ray Range during the "On the Trail of the Traitor" main quest on Golden Ridge. Be warned, this could take anywhere from a brisk half-hour speedrun to several glorious hours of exploration. Your call, space cadet. * **Just Solve It Already:** Or, if you're impatient like yours truly and just want to get back to the main adventure, I’ll just tell you the solution, because that's what digital wizards do – we share the secrets! The trick is connecting the three lights on the right side of the switches with the ones next to the doorway. The N-Ray Scanner *would* show the wire connections, but we're skipping that step, aren't we?

**Solution Time:** Start from the right, then follow the cables to the left to establish a connection, and repeat that process two times. Essentially, flick the switches in this order: **[Imagine an image here with switches 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 from left to right. Solution: 2, 5, 3]**. Once that's done, Otto's door will swing open, revealing his journal (and maybe some cheeky loot – he won't mind, honest!). Read that journal, then return to Otto and hit him with: "I read your journal, and what happened to you." Keep chatting, and boom, Otto’s info is yours!

*** ### Plying Prospero with Whiskey (and Hacking)

Next up, Prospero Paolo. This chap's holed up in 'The Second Choice' bar – you'll find it on the left as you enter that circular shopping paradise. Turn right inside, and there he is. Looks like he needs a drink, eh?

Offer to help, and he’ll send you on a whiskey run to Chef de Mecanique on the other side of the market. Only problem? You're not Prospero, and robots can be a bit… rigid about their sales policies. Options:

* **Hack Chef de Mecanique:** Hacking Level 3. Show that robot who's boss! * **Steal the whiskey:** Sneak behind the Chef, crack his safe. Requires Lockpick Level 5 and one mag-pick. Classic stealth action, mate.

Get the whiskey, bring it back to Prospero, and he'll spill his guts (metaphorically, of course).

*** ### Reading the Secret Sub Rosa Archives (Don't Mind the Cutthroat)

Time for some proper digital espionage! Sub Rosa’s information storage is back at 'The Second Choice' bar. Head into the bathroom (because where else would you hide secret intel?) and crawl through the vent. Standard operating procedure, really.

Inside, you'll find a terminal next to a rather relaxed-looking cutthroat. Three ways to get that sweet, sweet intel:

* **Hack the terminal:** Hacking Level 8 and a bypass shunt. Big brains needed! * **Pickpocket the cutthroat:** Got the 'Pickpocket' perk? Snag that password right off him. So polite, you are! * **Kill the Sub Rosa Cutthroat:** He'll fight back, but apparently, nobody sees or hears anything in this particular corner of the universe. Just make sure you loot his body for the password. Efficiency, eh?

Whichever path of digital mayhem you choose, make sure you read *all* the files on the computer. You’re looking for intel about an insurance policy on the ACS Free Market. Intriguing, no?

*** ### Rummaging Through the ACS Free Market's Wreckage

Our final stop on this cosmic mystery tour: the actual wreckage of the ACS Free Market. Head back towards your ship, look for that sparkly rift again. Crawl through the hole in the wall (yes, the same one from Otto’s puzzle!), but this time, instead of climbing the ladder, just scout around the grounds. Digital archaeology at its finest!

You'll find two bits of wreckage that could hold the key:

* **Buried audio log:** Extract it with Sneak Level 5, or just rip it out if you’re rocking the 'Brawny' trait. Then, have a listen – might shed some light on things. * **Engine debris:** Give it a thorough inspection with Engineering Level 8. For science!

*** ### Archivist Stallworth: Friend or Foe? (Decision Time!)

Alright, you’ve gathered all the juicy gossip, decoded the cryptic messages, and perhaps even caused a minor digital incident or two. Time to face Archivist Stallworth. Ask her: "So what did you conclude from what I gave you?" This is where things get interesting, mate, as her true motives come to light, and you get some bonus choices!

Here’s what happens depending on your response:

* **Pass a Level 3 Sneak check:** You receive 150 additional bit cartridges. More cash for space hats! * **Pass a Level 3 Speech check:** To unlock this, pick "Wait, what? I thought you were compiling a historical report!" Then, charm your way to +3 reputation with the Order. Good for your standing, eh? * **Approve of Stallworth’s method:** Choose "Keeping every option open to further the war effort? I like it," or "I can’t say I appreciate it, but I at least understand your reasoning." This nets you +1 reputation with the Order. Sometimes you just gotta nod along, even if it's a bit ethically grey. * **Kill Archivist Stallworth:** She won't put up a fight, but every guard nearby will suddenly become *very* interested in you. Doesn't seem to be any upside to this, unless you just really fancy tanking your Sub Rosa reputation. Not exactly recommended, unless you're feeling particularly chaotic. * **Anything else:** Nothing special happens. Sometimes, it's just a conversation.

And there you have it, folks! 'The Last Voyage of the ACS Free Market' conquered! A proper adventure, wasn't it? Just another day in the glorious, slightly messed-up universe of *The Outer Worlds 2*. Massive thanks to Marloes Valentina Stella over at Polygon for blazing this trail and helping us mere mortals navigate these treacherous digital waters. Now, if you'll excuse me, I hear there are more planets to explore and perhaps a few more realities to accidentally punch holes through. Stay curious, space cowboys!

Tags: The Outer Worlds 2, Quest Guide, RPG, Walkthrough, Obsidian Entertainment

Original article: Polygon