Can You Be Idolized By the Brotherhood of Steel in New Vegas? A Comprehensive Guide
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Yes, it is indeed possible to achieve Idolized status with the Brotherhood of Steel (BoS) in Fallout: New Vegas. However, it’s a delicate balancing act requiring careful navigation of their questline, specific dialogue choices, and potentially the completion of content from the Lonesome Road DLC. It’s not a straightforward path, and decisions you make with other factions can heavily impact your standing with the Brotherhood. Let’s dive into the specifics.
Achieving Idolized Status: A Step-by-Step Approach
The Brotherhood of Steel, nestled within their hidden bunker, holds a rigid code and suspicious nature. Gaining their trust, let alone their admiration, demands strategic gameplay. Here’s a breakdown of the key steps:
1. Initiate Contact and Begin the Questline
Your first step is locating the Hidden Valley bunker. It’s nestled in the mountains and easily missed. Once inside, you’ll need to navigate their internal power struggles and convince them you’re not a threat. This usually involves completing a series of quests given by Elder McNamara (or Head Paladin Hardin, depending on who’s in charge – more on that later) and other prominent members.
2. Completing Brotherhood Quests
Successfully finishing quests is crucial. These typically involve tasks like recovering lost technology, clearing out threats to the bunker, and generally proving your loyalty. Key quests to focus on include:
- “Still in the Dark:” This is the main Brotherhood questline. Your performance here is paramount. Completing objectives efficiently and choosing dialogue options that align with Brotherhood ideals are essential.
- Optional Side Quests: Helping Brotherhood members with their individual tasks can yield smaller reputation gains but contribute to your overall standing.
3. Dialogue Choices Matter
During conversations, choose options that demonstrate respect for the Brotherhood’s traditions, understanding of their concerns, and willingness to aid their cause. Avoid directly criticizing their isolationist policies or questioning their authority, especially early on.
4. The Elder Choice: McNamara vs. Hardin
This is a critical turning point. The “Still in the Dark” questline allows you to either support Elder McNamara’s leadership or instigate a change by backing Head Paladin Hardin.
- McNamara: Keeping McNamara in charge generally aligns with the NCR’s goals and makes it easier to maintain a positive relationship with both factions. It’s often considered the less disruptive route.
- Hardin: Putting Hardin in charge is a riskier proposition. He’s more aggressive and less willing to compromise with the NCR. This can complicate your standing with them and potentially make it more difficult to reach Idolized status with the Brotherhood. The information indicates you need to keep the original Elder in charge to ally with the NCR.
5. The NCR Alliance (or Lack Thereof)
Your decisions regarding the NCR will heavily impact your Brotherhood reputation. The NCR desires the Brotherhood’s elimination (or at least their submission). Aligning too closely with the NCR can make it impossible to become Idolized by the Brotherhood. If you do decide to help the NCR, you need to keep MacNamara in charge.
6. The Lonesome Road DLC (If Applicable)
If you have the Lonesome Road DLC, the conclusion offers a significant opportunity to improve your Brotherhood reputation. Disabling the missiles is crucial. Stopping the missile launch awards a significant reputation boost with the faction.
7. Maintaining a Balancing Act
Becoming Idolized by the Brotherhood requires a delicate balancing act, especially if you’re also pursuing positive relationships with other factions, particularly the NCR. Be prepared to make tough choices and prioritize your goals.
The Nuances of Idolized Reputation
It’s important to understand that the reputation system in New Vegas isn’t a simple numerical score. It’s based on tiers:
- Neutral: Your starting point.
- Liked: You’ve made a positive impression.
- Accepted: They recognize you as a valuable asset.
- Idolized: You’re essentially a hero in their eyes.
- (And the negative tiers: Vilified, Hated, etc.)
Each tier requires earning a certain amount of reputation points. Completing quests, making specific dialogue choices, and performing actions that align with the faction’s values will increase your reputation.
FAQs: Brotherhood of Steel Reputation in New Vegas
Here are some frequently asked questions about gaining reputation with the Brotherhood of Steel:
1. What is the fastest way to improve my Brotherhood of Steel reputation?
Completing the main Brotherhood questline (“Still in the Dark”) while making choices that favor the Brotherhood’s interests is the fastest way to boost your rep. Choosing to spare the Van Graffs (in the quest “Silver Rush”) can also give a boost if the Brotherhood is in good relations with the NCR.
2. Does killing NCR soldiers affect my Brotherhood of Steel reputation?
While it won’t directly increase your BoS rep, it will certainly not hurt it, and depending on your actions towards the NCR, this can make it easier to get in the good graces of the Brotherhood.
3. Can I become Idolized by both the Brotherhood of Steel and the NCR?
It’s extremely difficult, but possible, provided you maintain Elder McNamara as the leader and carefully manage your actions. However, be prepared for some narrative dissonance, as the NCR ultimately wants the Brotherhood eliminated. It makes for a strange alliance if the NCR tells you to destroy them and they decide to ally.
4. What happens if I become Vilified by the Brotherhood of Steel?
The Brotherhood will become hostile, and you’ll be attacked on sight whenever you approach their bunker.
5. Is it possible to regain reputation with the Brotherhood of Steel after becoming disliked?
Yes, but it can be challenging. Focus on completing Brotherhood-related quests and making choices that align with their values.
6. Does my Karma affect my Brotherhood of Steel reputation?
Not directly. However, certain actions that affect your Karma might also indirectly influence your reputation with other factions, potentially impacting your overall standing.
7. Can I get Power Armor training without joining the Brotherhood of Steel?
No. Power Armor training is exclusive to Brotherhood members.
8. Does the “Liked” status with the Brotherhood of Steel offer any benefits?
Yes, it unlocks certain dialogue options and can influence the outcome of some quests.
9. Can I use the “Lonesome Road” missile option to destroy the NCR and improve my Brotherhood reputation?
Yes, this may give you a slight boost, but you may want to consider the consequences of doing so, as the Brotherhood is still isolationist and destroying the NCR could be detrimental in the long run.
10. How does my choice of companion affect my Brotherhood of Steel reputation?
Companions don’t directly affect your reputation, but their presence can influence your decisions and dialogue choices, which can indirectly impact your standing.
11. What are the consequences of killing Elder McNamara?
Killing McNamara will make the Brotherhood of Steel hostile to you.
12. Are there any unique items or rewards for reaching Idolized status with the Brotherhood of Steel?
Achieving Idolized status unlocks unique dialogue options and earns the Brotherhood’s respect, which can influence the game’s ending and provide access to specific resources.
13. Can I use console commands to increase my Brotherhood of Steel reputation?
Yes, but doing so is generally discouraged as it detracts from the intended gameplay experience. However, it can be useful for testing or troubleshooting purposes.
14. Does completing the “For the Republic, Part 2” quest (NCR) negatively impact my Brotherhood reputation?
Yes, it can significantly damage your reputation, especially if you choose to destroy the Brotherhood during the quest.
15. Where can I find more information on the New Vegas reputation system?
For a deeper dive into the mechanics of reputation systems in video games, check out resources on the Games Learning Society website. They explore the educational and engagement aspects of such features: https://www.gameslearningsociety.org/.
Navigating the intricate web of factions in Fallout: New Vegas is a rewarding experience. Achieving Idolized status with the Brotherhood of Steel is a testament to your strategic prowess and understanding of their unique values. Good luck, and may the Wasteland favor your choices!