A Noble History is a side quest in The Outer Worlds 2 that locks you out of a juicy armory until you pass a Protectorate history exam. One of the questions that sends players to Google is “In what ways were the original Articles of Confederation flawed?” and you will not see the right answer unless you track down a set of lore documents around Central Control. This guide walks you through how to start A Noble History, where to find every clue, and all correct quiz answers so you can unlock the Central Control armory on your first try.
In What Ways Were the Original Articles of Confederation Flawed in The Outer Worlds 2?
During the Knowledge Evaluation at the armory terminal, one of the questions asks:
- “In what ways were the original Articles of Confederation flawed?”
The correct answer is:
- “They naively allowed subjects too much autonomy. Citizens need rules to thrive.”
This line ties directly back to the Map of Arcadia clue, which explains that early Protectorate laws gave colonies more freedom than the Matriarch and Consul later considered safe.
If you’re looking for the rest of the A Noble History quiz answers, then look below!
All A Noble History Quiz Answers
When you interact with the armory terminal, choose the Knowledge Evaluation option to start the quiz. You cannot brute force it until you have collected the clues, so make sure you have all five documents first.
Here are all the questions and correct answers:
| Question | Correct answer |
|---|---|
| What was the age of Sovereign Reuben Varick on the day of his passing? | 115 years old |
| In what ways were the original Articles of Confederation flawed? | They naively allowed subjects too much autonomy. Citizens need rules to thrive. |
| What security measure present on the flagship of the Sovereign prevents unauthorized deck access? | Users must present a deck specific set of credentials to access any deck of the ship. |
| Who is in charge of the Protectorate’s religious development? | The Department of Belief. |
| By what criteria does the Protectorate Acumen Test truly place subjects? | By Matriarch ordained principles, built upon by the Consul’s able hand. |
If you pick the wrong answer, the game lets you retry. Incorrect options are greyed out on repeat attempts, so you cannot lock yourself out permanently. After you answer all five correctly, the armory door unlocks and the quest objective updates.
How to Start A Noble History in The Outer Worlds 2
If you haven’t started the A Noble History quest yet, then it takes place in Central Control, in the Praetor region.
You can start the quest in two ways:
- Fast travel to Central Control in Praetor, head to the locked armory door, and interact with the terminal outside it.
- Or, pick up any of the five lore objects scattered around Central Control. Reading one will add A Noble History to your journal.
Once the quest is active, your objective is simple:
- Find all five Protectorate history clues.
- Use them to answer the Knowledge Evaluation on the armory terminal.
- Unlock the Central Control armory and grab the loot.
All A Noble History Clue Locations
You need to find five specific documents around Central Control. The good news is they are all within the same facility, so you are not running across half the planet.
Here are the five clues you are looking for:
- Classified History of the Protectorate
- Communications Terminal notice
- Map of Arcadia
- Sentinel Correspondence
- Copy of the Previous Test
Below is where to find each one.
1. Classified History of the Protectorate
- From the armory door, turn to face the courtyard.
- Head to the small side building on the left as you enter Central Control.
- Go inside and look at the desk in the first room.
- Examine the red book on the desk to collect the Classified History of the Protectorate.
This book gives you the age of Sovereign Reuben Varick, which you will need for the exam.
2. Communications Terminal notice
- Leave the first building and cross the courtyard.
- Enter the building directly opposite, the one with a sun symbol over the door.
- Inside, interact with the communications terminal.
- Read the Internal Memorandum under General Communications to register this clue.
This memo tells you who handles religious development in the Protectorate.
3. Map of Arcadia
- Head into the main Central Control building.
- Walk forward from the entrance and turn into the library area.
- On the wall at the back of the library you will see a large map of Arcadia.
- Inspect the map to add the next clue.
This map explains how the original Articles of the Protectorate allowed too much autonomy and why stricter rules were put in place. That detail feeds into the “Articles of Confederation” test question.
4. Sentinel Correspondence
- Leave the library and return to the main hall near the building entrance.
- Take the southeast hallway and go through the door on your left.
- You will enter a lecture room with a podium at the front.
- Examine the datapad on the podium to pick up the Sentinel Correspondence.
This note mentions deck specific credentials on the Sovereign’s flagship.
5. Copy of the Previous Test
- From the main hall, take the stairs down to the lower floor of the main building.
- Go into the west side living quarters.
- Look for a desk positioned between two bunk beds.
- Inspect the datapad on the desk to get the Copy of the Previous Test.
This old exam sheet spells out how the Protectorate Acumen Test really places subjects.
Once you have all five documents, you can reread them in your journal if you want to piece the answers together yourself. Or you can head straight back to the armory terminal and use the solutions below.
A Noble History Rewards and Armory Loot
Passing the exam and opening the Central Control armory completes A Noble History and pays out a pile of loot. According to in game rewards and multiple guide sources, you can expect roughly the following:
- Around 6210 XP
- Shock Rifle
- Rocket Pistol
- Railgunner Cloak
- Railgunner Monocle
- Trooper Steel Helmet MK IV
- Trooper Plate Carrier MK IV
- Shock Rods and Shock Grenades
- Mini Rockets and assorted ammo types (Compact, Long, Heavy rounds)
- Crafting materials like Crude Biomass, Cloth, Scrap Metal, Black Powder, and Foil
The exact stats on the gear can vary with your difficulty and progression, but this armory is easily one of the better early game hauls in Praetor.
Now that you know every A Noble History clue location and all quiz answers, including the tricky “In what ways were the original Articles of Confederation flawed” question, you should have no trouble cracking the exam and clearing out the Central Control armory in The Outer Worlds 2. If you want more help with side quests, unique weapons, or region-specific collectibles, like our All Science Quarterly Locations guide, check out our The Outer Worlds 2 hub for more guides, walkthroughs, and tips.
