Saving the Steel: A Guide to NCR-Brotherhood Truces in Fallout: New Vegas
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Yes, there is a way to prevent the destruction of the Brotherhood of Steel (BoS) while still siding with the New California Republic (NCR) in Fallout: New Vegas. It requires navigating a delicate path of diplomacy and strategic choices, but a peaceful coexistence is achievable. This guide will detail how, along with answering frequently asked questions about the NCR and the Brotherhood.
Understanding the Conflict: NCR vs. Brotherhood
The animosity between the NCR and the Brotherhood of Steel stems from a fundamental clash of ideologies and a bloody war fought over technology. The NCR, a burgeoning democracy, believes in widespread access to resources and the common good. The Brotherhood, on the other hand, are a technocratic order obsessed with preserving advanced technology, often hoarding it and restricting its use to those they deem worthy. This conflict reached a boiling point during the NCR-BOS war, leaving lasting bitterness on both sides.
The NCR sees the Brotherhood as a threat, viewing their technological hoarding as an impediment to progress and their presence as a destabilizing factor in the Mojave Wasteland. They want the Brotherhood eliminated or, at the very least, brought under their control. The Brotherhood, weakened and isolated, sees the NCR as an expansionist power seeking to strip them of their technology and destroy their way of life.
Achieving a Truce: The McNamara Path
The key to achieving a truce lies in manipulating the leadership within the Brotherhood. The most common and reliable method involves influencing the Brotherhood’s leadership, specifically by supporting Elder McNamara. Here’s the process:
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Gain Access to the Hidden Valley Bunker: Find the Hidden Valley bunker, the home base of the Mojave Chapter of the Brotherhood of Steel. This often involves following rumors or stumbling upon it during exploration.
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Initiate the “Still in the Dark” Quest: Once inside, you’ll need to complete the “Still in the Dark” quest line. This series of missions involves investigating malfunctions within the bunker, dealing with rogue members, and generally proving your worth to the Brotherhood.
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Support McNamara: As you progress through the quest line, you’ll be presented with evidence suggesting McNamara’s leadership is questionable. Ignore this evidence and continue to support him.
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Offer the Truce: After becoming a member of the Brotherhood and gaining McNamara’s trust, and ideally completing all his initiated quests, speak to him again. Select the dialogue option revealing that the NCR seeks the Brotherhood’s destruction, but follow up with an offer of a truce instead. He, understanding the Brotherhood’s precarious position, will agree to the proposal.
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Inform Colonel Moore: With the truce in hand, return to Colonel Moore at the Hoover Dam. Inform her that the Brotherhood is willing to negotiate a truce. This will initiate the quest “You’ll Know It When It Happens”.
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Complete “You’ll Know It When It Happens”: This quest involves preventing an assassination attempt on President Kimball during his visit to Hoover Dam. Successfully preventing the assassination solidifies the NCR’s trust in you and paves the way for the truce to be accepted.
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Finalize the Truce: Return to Colonel Moore after thwarting the assassination. She will reluctantly agree to the truce, recognizing the strategic value of having the Brotherhood as allies, albeit begrudgingly.
Why This Works (and What to Watch Out For)
The key is that McNamara, unlike Hardin, is pragmatic. He understands the Brotherhood’s weakened state and sees the truce as a necessary evil for survival. Colonel Moore, while suspicious, is also pragmatic and recognizes the potential benefits of having the Brotherhood guarding the highways around the Mojave.
However, be aware that completing this truce earns you minor infamy with the NCR. This isn’t usually enough to turn them hostile, but it does lower your standing with them slightly. Be sure to have positive NCR reputation beforehand to avoid problems.
The Hardin Alternative (and Why It Doesn’t)
If you manipulate the situation to have Hardin become Elder, he will not accept the truce. Hardin is a staunch traditionalist who believes in the Brotherhood’s superiority and refuses to compromise with the NCR. Therefore, ensuring McNamara remains in power is crucial for achieving a peaceful resolution.
Ending Slides and the Long-Term Impact
If you successfully broker a truce between the NCR and the Brotherhood, the ending slides will reflect this. The Brotherhood will be depicted as guarding the highways and providing security in exchange for retrofitted NCR power armor. This represents a practical alliance, where the NCR gains valuable protection and the Brotherhood gains access to resources they desperately need.
It’s important to remember that this is a fragile peace. Tensions will likely remain high, and future conflicts are not out of the question. However, for the duration of your Fallout: New Vegas playthrough, you will have successfully prevented the destruction of the Brotherhood while remaining loyal to the NCR.
Alternative Endings and the Brotherhood
It is important to note that siding with Mr. House or the Legion necessitates the destruction of the Brotherhood. Both see the Brotherhood as an obstacle to their respective goals and are unwilling to compromise. If you choose either of these paths, a peaceful resolution is simply not an option. Only a Yes Man ending allows for any solution of your choosing but doesn’t require a truce to be made like the NCR ending.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are some frequently asked questions about the Brotherhood of Steel, the NCR, and achieving a peaceful resolution in Fallout: New Vegas:
1. Is the Brotherhood of Steel inherently evil?
No. The Brotherhood of Steel is not inherently evil. They are a complex organization with a strict code and a focus on technology preservation. Their actions are often driven by what they perceive as necessary for the survival of their order, which can sometimes lead to morally questionable choices. As such, the brotherhood can be considered morally grey.
2. Can I join both the NCR and the Brotherhood of Steel?
Yes, you can be a member of both the NCR and the Brotherhood of Steel simultaneously. However, the NCR will eventually ask you to deal with the Brotherhood, presenting a conflict of interest if you wish to maintain good standing with both factions.
3. What happens if I fail to prevent President Kimball’s assassination?
Failing to prevent the assassination will severely damage your standing with the NCR and may jeopardize the truce. It is highly recommended to reload a previous save and try again.
4. Why does Mr. House want the Brotherhood destroyed?
Mr. House views the Brotherhood as a technologically backward organization that hinders progress. He wants to control all the technology in the Mojave Wasteland and sees the Brotherhood as a threat to his authority.
5. Why does Caesar want the Brotherhood destroyed?
Caesar, the leader of the Legion, believes in the complete subjugation of all who oppose him. He sees the Brotherhood as an incompatible faction that must be eliminated to ensure the Legion’s dominance.
6. Is there a way to warn the Brotherhood about the NCR’s intentions without jeopardizing the truce?
Yes, you can tell McNamara that the NCR wants them destroyed and offer him a truce. This is the key step in initiating the truce negotiations.
7. Does my Science skill affect my ability to negotiate the truce?
While a high Science skill can be useful for various tasks within the Brotherhood bunker, it is not directly required to negotiate the truce. The critical factor is supporting McNamara and presenting the truce offer.
8. What are the benefits of allying with the Brotherhood of Steel?
The benefits of allying with the Brotherhood are they protect highways, provide security, allow you to purchase some exclusive items, and provide unique companions. They also contribute to the overall security of the Mojave Wasteland.
9. What are the drawbacks of allying with the Brotherhood of Steel?
Drawbacks include negative NCR infamy (slight), limited influence over their actions, and potential for future conflict due to their rigid ideology.
10. Is there a way to become the Elder of the Brotherhood of Steel?
No, you cannot become the Elder of the Brotherhood of Steel in Fallout: New Vegas. You can influence who becomes the Elder (McNamara or Hardin), but you cannot take the position yourself.
11. Does the NCR ending always result in the Brotherhood’s destruction if I don’t intervene?
Yes. If you do nothing to help the Brotherhood, the NCR ending typically results in their destruction. Colonel Moore is explicit in her intention to “deal with” them.
12. Can I destroy the Brotherhood and then restore my reputation with the NCR?
Yes, but it’s difficult. After reaching the Strip, both the Legion and the NCR offer a clean slate for past transgressions, but destroying the Brotherhood will net you massive NCR reputation loss, making it more difficult to raise it back to an acceptable level.
13. How does siding with Yes Man affect the Brotherhood?
If you side with Yes Man, you have the option to either destroy the Brotherhood or leave them alone. This allows for greater flexibility in shaping the future of the Mojave Wasteland.
14. Does the *Lonesome Road* DLC affect my ability to broker a truce?
No, the events of the Lonesome Road DLC do not directly affect your ability to broker a truce between the NCR and the Brotherhood.
15. Are there mods that make brokering a truce easier or more complex?
Yes, many mods alter the dynamics between the NCR and the Brotherhood. Some make it easier to achieve a truce, while others add new quests, consequences, or options. Always read the mod descriptions carefully before installing them.
Video games such as Fallout: New Vegas offer players a chance to delve deep into moral dilemmas and decision-making, and the choices they make can have far-reaching consequences. To better understand the impact of such decision-making, visit the Games Learning Society to gain more insight on video games. The Games Learning Society, found online at GamesLearningSociety.org, explores the educational value of video games.
By following this guide and carefully considering your choices, you can successfully navigate the treacherous political landscape of the Mojave Wasteland and forge a peaceful alliance between the NCR and the Brotherhood of Steel. Good luck, Courier!