Are the Brotherhood of Steel Bad in Fallout: New Vegas?

The question of whether the Brotherhood of Steel is “bad” in Fallout: New Vegas is complex and nuanced, demanding more than a simple yes or no answer. The short answer is: they are not inherently evil, but their actions and motivations place them squarely in a morally grey area, making them largely an antagonist to the broader goals of the region. They are more accurately described as Lawful Neutral – driven by their rigid code and obsessed with technology, regardless of the consequences for others. They are not overtly malicious like Caesar’s Legion, but their self-serving actions have detrimental impacts, labeling them a problematic force within the Mojave Wasteland. Their actions aren’t guided by a desire to inflict harm on others, but by a relentless focus on hoarding technology and maintaining their power, which often leads to the suffering of those around them.

The Brotherhood’s Core Beliefs and Actions in New Vegas

The Brotherhood of Steel in New Vegas represents the Western chapter, a stark contrast to their Eastern counterparts sometimes depicted as more benevolent. Their primary concern is the preservation of pre-war technology, particularly military technology. This pursuit is an obsession, bordering on fanaticism, and shapes their interactions with the rest of the Mojave. Here’s how their core tenets manifest:

• Technology Hoarding: The Brotherhood views itself as the sole rightful custodian of advanced technology. They ruthlessly confiscate tech, often at gunpoint, regardless of whether it’s being used for good or if it could benefit the larger wasteland society. This leads to constant conflicts with the NCR, who see this as a crippling hindrance to their societal rebuilding efforts.
• Isolationism: They are a deeply isolationist group, operating from a hidden bunker and rarely interacting with outsiders beyond forceful technology confiscation. This self-imposed exile creates a disconnect from the needs and concerns of the wasteland population.
• Elitism: The Brotherhood sees themselves as an elite organization, superior to the average wastelanders. This breeds arrogance and a lack of empathy for others. They consider themselves the only individuals capable of handling advanced technology, further solidifying their hoarding tendencies.
• Dogmatic Rules: Their adherence to the Codex, their strict code of conduct, leads to rigidity and an inability to adapt to changing circumstances. This inflexibility prevents them from collaborating or building lasting alliances even with groups that could be beneficial to them.
• Self-Preservation: Ultimately, the Brotherhood of Steel is concerned with its own survival. They will fight, even kill, to maintain their access to technology and their dominance over their bunker. While they may occasionally engage in acts that appear beneficial to others, these are ultimately secondary to their own agendas.

Why They Are Perceived as “Bad”

The Brotherhood’s actions, while not actively malevolent, consistently contribute to the problems of the Mojave Wasteland.

• Conflict with the NCR: Their constant skirmishes with the NCR drain the resources of both organizations, leading to further destabilization of the region. The NCR sees the Brotherhood as an obstacle to their expansion and a threat to their sovereignty, making war inevitable, as the NCR has far more manpower and resources, ultimately creating a situation that the BoS cannot win long term, leading to its destruction.
• Impact on Innovation: By hoarding technology, the Brotherhood stifles innovation and progress. They prevent the wasteland from developing and improving, contributing to its continued suffering. Their actions prevent potentially life-saving technology from reaching the masses who desperately need it, making them a force of stagnation.
• Moral Flexibility: Their self-serving actions often result in harm to innocent individuals. They are willing to take whatever means necessary to obtain the technology they seek, even if it includes hurting or intimidating others.
• Lack of Vision: They offer no long-term solutions for the wasteland’s problems, instead opting for isolation and technology preservation. They do not act as a force for good, choosing to ignore the needs of others and instead to only preserve technology and their order.

Conclusion: Not Evil, But Detrimental

In summary, the Brotherhood of Steel in Fallout: New Vegas is not a villainous organization in the sense of Caesar’s Legion. However, their rigid ideology, hoarding tendencies, and self-serving actions make them a detrimental force in the Mojave Wasteland. They are not driven by a desire for chaos and suffering; rather, their actions are the result of an extreme, technologically-focused worldview. Their isolation, elitism, and obsession with technology make them a problematic, if not evil, faction within the context of the game. They are a force of stagnation rather than progress. The player is ultimately left to decide whether the threat posed by their rigidity and self-interest outweighs their potential benefits (which are few).

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Is the Brotherhood of Steel a major faction in Fallout: New Vegas?

Yes, though they are less influential than the NCR, Legion, or Mr. House. The Brotherhood of Steel in New Vegas is still a major faction with a significant presence and influence on the Mojave Wasteland, especially given their powerful technology. Their actions directly affect the outcome of the game.

2. Can you join the Brotherhood of Steel in New Vegas?

Yes, you can join the Brotherhood of Steel and undertake quests for them. However, allying with them can lead to conflicts with other factions, particularly the NCR. The player’s ultimate decision regarding the BoS will impact the conclusion of the game.

3. Can you destroy the Brotherhood of Steel in Fallout: New Vegas?

Yes, you can destroy the Brotherhood of Steel by infiltrating their bunker and initiating its self-destruct sequence. This is a very difficult and challenging task, requiring skills and some difficult combat, making it an investment for the player to fully destroy them.

4. What are the consequences of destroying the Brotherhood of Steel?

Destroying the Brotherhood will severely impact your relationship with other factions such as the NCR and will usually lead to greater freedom for the Mojave Wasteland under the control of the other factions.

5. What are the benefits of allying with the Brotherhood of Steel?

The primary benefit of allying with the Brotherhood is the acquisition of powerful equipment and some rare unique weapons. This also allows the player some access to the technological insights of the group. Ultimately, however, the group does not provide the player with significant power to impact the game world or its ending.

6. Does the NCR want to destroy the Brotherhood of Steel?

Yes, the NCR generally considers the Brotherhood of Steel an enemy due to their technology hoarding and attacks on NCR forces. However, there is a chance for peace between them in certain scenarios within the game.

7. How does the Brotherhood of Steel’s goal differ from other factions?

The Brotherhood is focused almost entirely on technology preservation, unlike the NCR’s expansion, the Legion’s conquest, or Mr. House’s vision for a technologically advanced New Vegas. Their priorities are centered around their internal code and the preservation of pre-war technology.

8. Are all members of the Brotherhood of Steel bad?

No, while the organization itself is problematic, individual members may display shades of grey, as some might show kindness and honor, but are still bound by the rigidity of the Codex, creating a conflict that often makes them as antagonistic to the player as a group.

9. What happens if you refuse to join the Brotherhood of Steel?

Refusing to join the Brotherhood means you will not have access to their quests and resources, you will be free from being bound to their rigid code.

10. Is the Brotherhood of Steel better or worse than Caesar’s Legion?

The Legion is overtly evil, while the Brotherhood is a self-serving and ultimately detrimental faction. They are different kinds of “bad,” making it up to player preference as to which is worse. Many find the Legion to be more overtly evil.

11. Is the Brotherhood of Steel the most powerful faction in New Vegas?

No, the NCR possesses a larger army and more resources. The Brotherhood’s strength lies in their advanced technology, not their manpower, making them weaker overall, given the vast forces and manpower of the NCR.

12. Can the Brotherhood of Steel be redeemed?

The game does not suggest a path for the Brotherhood’s redemption within the Mojave Wasteland. They remain rigid and isolated, unable to change their core beliefs.

13. How do you access the self-destruct terminal in the Brotherhood bunker?

You need a high Science skill (100) and must pickpocket keycards from the Elder, Head Paladin, and Head Scribe within the bunker to access the self-destruct sequence.

14. Is the Brotherhood of Steel the same in every Fallout game?

No, the Brotherhood of Steel chapters across the Fallout games have unique ideologies and goals, making the West Coast chapter of New Vegas different from the Eastern chapter in Fallout 4. They represent a wide variety of goals and methods, even within the same organization.

15. Should I destroy the Brotherhood of Steel in Fallout: New Vegas?

The decision to destroy the Brotherhood is up to the player’s moral compass and desired ending. Destroying them prevents their technology hoarding from affecting the region. It is generally seen as the most beneficial choice for the future of the Mojave Wasteland.