Fallout 4 Trouble Brewin' Quest Guide
Is a seemingly simple side quest enough to drive a Wasteland wanderer to madness? Absolutely, especially when that quest is Fallout 4's "Trouble Brewin'," a mission notorious for its perplexing bugs and frustrating roadblocks. This quest, centered around the retrieval of a unique robotic bartender named Drinkin' Buddy, promises a quirky companion and a boost to your Goodneighbor standing, but often delivers only headaches and broken immersion.
The premise is simple enough. Rufus Rubins, the proprietor of the Hotel Rexford in Goodneighbor (a haven for those less-than-savory characters in the post-apocalyptic Boston of 2287), tasks you with locating his missing property: the aforementioned Drinkin' Buddy. This automated mixologist has wandered off to the Shamrock Taphouse, a dilapidated bar teeming with hostile raiders. Your objective? Retrieve the errant bot and return him to his rightful owner. Sounds straightforward, right? Unfortunately, the path to completing "Trouble Brewin'" is often paved with glitches, from unresponsive quest markers to infinite loading screens, leaving players feeling more like frustrated bar patrons than Wasteland heroes.
Quest Name | Trouble Brewin' |
Game | Fallout 4 |
Quest Giver | Rufus Rubins |
Location | Goodneighbor (Hotel Rexford) and Shamrock Taphouse (Boston Harbor neighborhood) |
Objective | Retrieve Drinkin' Buddy from the Shamrock Taphouse and return him to Rufus Rubins at the Hotel Rexford. |
Year | 2287 |
Reference | Fallout Wiki - Trouble Brewin' |
The Shamrock Taphouse, established back in 1787, presents the first major hurdle. Clearing out the raider infestation is typically a straightforward combat encounter, but even this can become problematic. Players have reported instances where enemies become stuck in the environment, preventing progress and forcing a reload. Once the bar is cleared, locating Drinkin' Buddy within the taphouse should be easy. Hes usually found deactivated in a storage room. Activating him begins the real trouble.
One common issue arises when trying to convince Drinkin Buddy to return to the Hotel Rexford. He may become unresponsive, refusing to move or acknowledge the players commands. This can be immensely frustrating, leaving players stranded with an incomplete quest and a robotic bartender who's apparently decided to take an extended break. Another frequent problem occurs upon leaving the Shamrock Taphouse. Players have reported being trapped in an infinite loading loop, effectively locking them out of the game and forcing a hard reset.
For those lucky enough to escort Drinkin Buddy back to Goodneighbor, a new set of problems can arise. The quest marker, intended to guide the player to the Hotel Rexford, can sometimes malfunction, pointing to a location far outside the map boundaries. This renders the quest impossible to complete without resorting to console commands (on PC) or reloading an earlier save.
Even the supposed "choice" offered within the quest to return Drinkin Buddy to Rufus or keep him for yourself is often plagued with bugs. Choosing to keep Buddy should technically complete the quest, but many players have reported that it remains active in their logs, a constant reminder of the game's shortcomings. Even using console commands to force the quests completion doesn't always resolve the issue.
The "Trouble Brewin'" quest is a microcosm of the larger issues that have plagued Bethesda games for years. While Fallout 4's vast open world and compelling narrative offer countless hours of enjoyment, these persistent bugs can sour the experience, breaking immersion and leaving players feeling frustrated and helpless. The irony isn't lost on players: a quest centered around a broken robot is itself often broken. While community-created mods offer some solutions (on PC, at least), the fact remains that a simple retrieval mission has become a source of widespread frustration, a testament to the challenges of game development and the enduring need for thorough testing and post-release support.
So, the next time you find yourself staring at a stubbornly immobile Drinkin' Buddy or trapped in an endless loading screen, remember you're not alone. Youre part of a community of Wasteland wanderers united by a shared experience: the agonizing frustration of "Trouble Brewin'." And perhaps, raise a Nuka-Cola to the hope that one day, this buggy quest will finally get the fix it deserves.
Console commands, often a last resort for desperate players, offer some workarounds. The command "setstage 0017d18c 700" can force the quest to complete, bypassing the need to physically return Drinkin Buddy. However, this doesn't address the underlying issues and can sometimes lead to further complications.
The persistent nature of these bugs across various platforms highlights the need for continued developer attention. While patches have addressed some issues, "Trouble Brewin'" continues to be a source of frustration for many players. The search for a definitive solution continues, leaving many to wonder if a truly smooth and bug-free experience is even achievable in the Wasteland.
The experience of countless players stuck on this quest, pouring over forums and message boards seeking solutions, speaks volumes about the impact of even seemingly minor bugs on the overall gameplay experience. "Trouble Brewin'" serves as a cautionary tale, a reminder that even in the post-apocalypse, sometimes the greatest challenges aren't raiders or mutated creatures, but the unpredictable whims of buggy code.
Ultimately, the quest for a functioning "Trouble Brewin'" quest reflects the larger quest for a polished and immersive gaming experience. It's a reminder that in the vast and complex world of Fallout 4, even a simple errand can turn into a major undertaking, and sometimes, the most challenging foes are the bugs themselves.


