Summary
As with many RPGs, factions play a large part in theFalloutuniverse, and inFallout 4, the Sole Survivor’s choice of faction can influence many things, from gear to the game’s ending. While there are a range of groups that will open their ranks throughout the game, one of the key players is the returning Brotherhood of Steel, who first appeared in the originalFalloutgame. But who are the Brotherhood of Steel inFallout 4and are they worth joining?
As part of the main questline forFallout 4,the Sole Survivor will come into contact withall the major factions, and can join the primary four. Each of these groups will aid in certain aspects until a crucial point in the main quest where a final choice of faction will need to be made. Of all the factions inFallout 4,the Brotherhood of Steel is easily the most recognizable to those already familiar with the franchise, but those new to the wasteland might be wondering who this power armor wearing group is and what they want.
Fallout 4: Which Faction Should You Choose In The Main Story?
To join one of Fallout 4’s carefully crafted factions comes with pros and cons, which makes deciding one of the game’s most important questions.
Who Are The Brotherhood Of Steel?
The Faction Is One Of Fallout’s Oldest
The Brotherhood of Steel dates back to the Great War, with a group of rebel soldiers led by Captain Roger Maxson stationed at Mariposa Military Base. After the bombs fell, the group formed the Brotherhood with the aim of preserving technology and knowledge for future generations. Over the last 210 years,the Brotherhood’s goals and ideology have shifted, with them predominately known for their collection of pre-war tech and refusal to share it. InFallout 4,the Sole Survivor can meet the East Coast Chapter led by Maxson’s descendant, Elder Arthur Maxson, whose goal is to wipe out the Institute and their synths.
Roger Maxson and his soldiers rebelled and killed the scientists at Mariposa after discovering they were testing FEV on human subjects. After interrogating them and discovering that the experiments had been ordered by the government, Maxson and his soldiers declared their secession from the United States three days before the bombs fell.
How To Join The Brotherhood Of Steel In Fallout 4
Two Short Questions Are Needed To Become An Initiate
To join the Brotherhood of Steel,the Sole Survivor must first help Paladin Danse and his recon team at the Cambridge Police Stationduring the quest"Fire Support.“When traveling south of Lexington, the team’s distress call can be heard and a way point will be added to the Pip-Boy indicating where to find them. The group will be under attack from feral ghouls, and after helping fend them off, Danse will thank the Sole Survivor and ask for more assistance.
Agreeing will start the quest"Call to Arms,“where Danse will lead the Sole Survivor to ArcJet Systems to recover a deep range transmitter to help the stranded recon team contact the rest of their faction. The mission is straight forward, with Danse set as essential, allowing the Sole Survivor to simply follow his lead throughout the building as synths attempt to stop them. After the transmitter is recovered,Danse will offer the chance to join the Brotherhood and reward the Sole Survivor with Righteous Authority, a unique laser rifle.
It won’t be until the main story quest"Reunions"is completed that the rest of the Brotherhood will arrive in the Commonwealth. After traveling to the Prydwen with Danse, the Sole Survivor will be promoted to Knight and be gifted a set of power armor. After speaking with Elder Maxson, areturning character fromFallout 3, during"Shadow of Steel,“Paladin Danse will also be available as a companion.
Pros Of Joining The Brotherhood Of Steel
There Are Numerous Benefits To This Fallout 4 Faction
Joining the Brotherhood has a lot of benefits due to the militaristic nature of the faction having access to great weapons and armor. As soon as the Sole Survivor arrives on the Prydwen,they are gifted with a full set of T-60 power armor, one of the best sets inFallout 4. The Sole Survivor will also have access to the entire ship, its workbenches and have a bunk to sleep in.
After the quest"Show No Mercy,“the Sole Survivor will be rewarded with vertibird signal grenades which can be thrown to summon a vertibird for travel. After climbing in, the Pip-Boy can be used to set a destination and this is a fantastic way to fast travel, especially in Survival Mode. Although eventually the Minutemen and Railroad gain these too, joining the Brotherhood grants them the earliest in the game.
Joining the Brotherhood also gives access to Proctor Teagan, one ofFallout 4’s best merchants, who can sell weapons, armor, and ammo. Teagan is great to have as he’s the only merchant that sells weapon mods for laser weapons, missile launchers, and miniguns. Teagan also sells vertibird signal grenades after"Show No Mercy"has been completed.
The Brotherhood also has plenty of opportunities for caps and XP, with lots of optional radiant quests available to choose from. Scribe Haylen and Knight Rhys are the earliest sources of this, and will send the Sole Survivor out to locations to either collect a piece of tech or to clear an area of feral ghouls or super mutants. However, once the Prydwen arrives, there are more options that can be engaged with more naturally.
Both Proctor Quinlan and Senior Scribe Neriah willreward the Sole Survivor for gathering items as they explore the Commonwealth. Quinlan will reward 25 caps for each Technical Document brought to him, which are usually found in containers all over the wasteland. While Neriah will pay 50 caps for viable blood samples from creatures after she is spoken to and has modified the Sole Survivor’s Pip-Boy.
Viable blood samples can be gathered from feral ghouls, super mutants, mole rats, mirelurks, bloodbugs, deathclaws, and feral dogs. Getting this repeatable quest as early as possible allows the most samples to be gathered, and more caps rewarded.
Cons Of Joining The Brotherhood Of Steel
The Brotherhood’s Beliefs Can Be A Sticking Point For Many
As with any faction, there are some downsides and negatives to joining the Brotherhood of Steel. While they are an excellent source of power armor, they are by no means the only way of acquiring it, as there are so many suits dotted around the Commonwealth.Some of Teagan’s best gear is also locked behind faction progression, meaning that the Brotherhood questline must be followed to get promotions through the ranks for the items.
Teagan also has an optional repeatable quest that many find dubious, as he will send the Sole Survivor out toFallout 4’s various ettlementsto gain food for the Brotherhood. Although there are options to persuade or purchase the crops from farmers, Teagan also allows the food to be gathered by any means necessary, whichcan result in a Brotherhood aligned Sole Survivor being sent out to threaten settlers or kill settlement leaders.
Regardless of how"Feeding the Troopers"is resolved each time, the result is that the settlement will then fall under Brotherhood control.
As their goal in the Commonwealth is to wipe out all synths, the Brotherhood also takes a dim view of anyone helping them as well. This means that when following a Brotherhood ending forFallout 4,the Sole Survivor will also have to wipe out the Railroad. During the quest"Tactical Thinking,“Railroad HQ is stormed, and all personnel are killed, excluding P.A.M., who can be taken by the Brotherhood.
However, one of the sticking points for many when it comes to the Brotherhood of Steel inFallout 4is their beliefs surrounding other species. While it is easy to agree with their position on super mutants,their attitudes towards Gen 3 human-like synths and ghouls are questionable. This can most blatantly be seen in the quest"Blind Betrayal,“where Danse is revealed to be a synth and his execution is ordered despite him being one of the most loyal members of the faction.
Fallout 4
Bethesda’s action RPG Fallout 4 puts players into the vault suit of the Lone Survivor, a pre-war soldier from an alternate future cryogenically frozen inside Vault 111. After their infant son is kidnapped, they venture out into the irradiated wasteland of the Commonwealth to scour the ruins of Boston for any sign of him. In doing so, they encounter various factions and companions and use an array of skills and abilities to navigate the apocalyptic remnants of society.
