Fallout: New Vegas Walkthrough -> Goodsprings
The first quest is called "Ain't That a Kick in the Head." Fallout: New Vegas begins with you waking up in Dr. Mitchell's house after being wounded. First, create your character. Then, go to the Vit-O-Matic and allocate your stat points. I recommend choosing Intelligence and Agility first.
Next, you'll need to answer Mitchell's questions; they'll give you additional ability points. I think it's best to choose Speech, Repair, and Small Weapons. The first ability will allow you to complete several additional tasks at the start, which will have a significant impact on character development. Repair will save you money on repairing your equipment. Without Small Weapons, it'll be difficult to get by.
Now, you need to allocate your Traits. You can choose Trigger Discipline to increase accuracy, and Good Natured, which improves Medicine, Barter, Repair, Science, and Speech. It slightly reduces your weapon proficiency, but that's what the Guns perk was for.
Broken radio
After you ask Trudy about the people who shot at you, she'll tell you her radio is broken. Offer to help, and if your Repair skill is over 20, you'll be able to fix it. This will earn you fame in town, +25 experience, and 50 caps. If your Barter skill is over 25, she'll add another 25.
Now, go to the store and talk to Chet. I recommend selling your pistol and buying a Magnum; it's much more powerful. Buy some 375mm ammo. I hope you remembered to loot Mitchell's house? Now you can sell all the junk you took from there.
Shootout in a Ghost Town
To gain the town's support, you don't need to talk to everyone. Sunny in the saloon, Trudy (if your conversation skill is above 25), and Mitchell will be enough. After talking to them, go back to Ringo and tell him everything is ready. Sunny will arrive soon with news that bandits are already heading towards the town. Head to the saloon; a small crowd has already gathered there.
The Gunpowder Gang will arrive soon, and you'll have to do some shooting. You can choose to avoid the battle altogether, simply hiding somewhere, or you can pop out from cover occasionally to get a few shots in. After the relatively simple battle, loot the bodies, including the Gunpowder Gang armor.
Getting to Know Goodsprings
Here, you'll need to memorize useful locations. Dr. Mitchell's house is on a hill. The general store and saloon are in the center of town, with a gas station nearby and a school to the east. Remember where to find everything, then head to the saloon and talk to Sunny Smiles there. Talk to Sunny about survival, which will unlock a shooting tutorial that you can end at any time.
You'll see a withered tree trunk to the left of the entrance. You need to dig up some Xander roots growing near this tree. The second ingredient for Powder can be found in the cemetery in the northeast of town. Go there, deal with the enemies there; they shouldn't pose much of a problem, then find a tree at the far end of the cemetery and search it. You'll find a Brok's Flower, which is the second ingredient. Now return to Sunny at the marker; she'll make sure you have the necessary ingredients and tell you how to make Powder. Click on the campfire site and select Powder. This completes the "Bonfire on the Trail" quest.
Talk to Sunny again; she'll suggest you talk to Trudy, the saloon owner. Return to the saloon.
In the saloon, you'll see Trudy arguing with a thug-looking man. After he leaves, ask Trudy about the argument. She'll tell you about Ringo, a prisoner hiding in a gas station on the hill, and give you some information about the men who shot you.
They went in that direction
Talk to the townspeople about the goings-on if you're interested in side quests. After completing all the secondary quests, you can head south along the broken road toward Primm. If you're wearing Powder Gang armor, be sure to remove it promptly, otherwise you risk becoming a corpse.
As soon as you reach the top of the hill, you'll encounter several monsters. After clearing them out, continue up the hill and you'll be attacked by another group of Geckos. After dealing with them, carefully, avoiding the traps, approach the edge of the hill where you'll find boxes, a chair, and a refrigerator. Collect the loot and head back. Barton will thank you for dealing with the monsters, but he'll say he wanted to collect the loot himself, so you'll have to kill him. Loot his 9mm pistol and continue on to Primm.
Sources: SSoHPKC
See also:
Fallout: New Vegas: Location Map