We know from New Vegas that there had been a war between the NCR and the BOS. The BOS lost. Badly. However, based on conversations throughout Mojave, it seems that the BOS's main weakness was their lack of reinforcement. In fact, early on, the BOS was actually dealing massive damage thanks to their superior gears.

Which got me thinking. Morality and alignment aside, let us say there was a hypothetical scenario in which the Capital Wasteland Chapter of BOS went up against the NCR. Who would win, assuming post good ending Broken Steel BOS?

The way I see it, DC BOS may actually come out ahead. After BS, they would have access to a fresh supply of recruits from all over the wasteland. Moreover, they also arguably have more advanced techs than even the original chapter thanks to them taking the Mobile Land Base - so Vertibirds, Hellfire Armors, etc. The latest in Enclave R&D.

Not to mention Liberty Prime might be operational by now.

Of course, the NCR still have a lot more troops. Not to mention they could have the backing of Gun Runners or the Van Grafts. And there is also the possibility they weaponize HELIOS One...

So what do you think?

P.S. Courier and Lone Wanderer aren't part of the battle.

Yeah, as you said, it depends on numbers.

I mean, the reason why the writers probably didn't make the BOS bigger was because if they did, the BOS would be OP as fuck.

If we're assuming that the BOS accepts a lot of new recruits to take down the NCR, then my bet would be on the BOS winning. I mean, the BOS already are one step ahead with the mass use of power armors.

I'd say probably the DC Brotherhood, since it's what? 5 years between the events of FO3 and NV and the NCR would probably get stalled along that way giving the DC brotherhood even more time to lets say repair Liberty Prime if they haven't already. I'd also assume they'd have more members than the Mojave chapter as well as those members being better trained and (possibly) better equipped. They're also in a much more defensible position as well as being on their own ground with local knowledge and if push comes to shove I'm pretty sure the outcasts will help the DC chapter fight the NCR.

I am not sure if the DC brotherhood could win since they are not the real brotherhood (the real brotherhood is the midwest,the Mojave and the "Outcast" brotherhood),so they have limited recruits since they are not taking any wastelander.
The Ncr has much more people to fight with,but in my opinion no side could really "win" if the Ncr wins the Legion will atack them becuase they are going to be weaker after such a fight and same thing is for the BOS,the Legion will see their chance....

I would say the DC Brotherhood would beat the NCR in a war. The DC brotherhood is much bigger than the Mojave chapter and has a much larger pool of recruits. They aren't as well equipped as the Mojave Brotherhood, but the use of power armor is a huge advantage.

I say the DC Brotherhood because they have advancer technology. Also they have power armor.

sgtrock32 wrote:

I really honestly believe the NCR would win. The NCR has been fighting a proper war against the Legion and there for has a better understanding of military tactics and how to see them and what works and what doesn't. Now yes the Brotherhood does have power armor and probably the bodies to use them but they wouldn't have as much firepower even with liberty prime. The NCR has access too tons of weapons. Every thing from armor piercing .50 caliber rounds to Rocket Launchers, possibly even energy weapons if they set up a deal with the Van Graff's. The NCR also has a larger Special forces group, the rangers probably range in the numbers of the hundreds whereas Lyons pride is only a squad even if they've expanded it would only be by a small number.

Even though I've mentioned it to where the DC chapter of the brotherhood would have bodies to fill power armor they could very well not have enough. The NCR is a nation with over 10 million people and growing. DC could be nowhere near that, even if they had also united with the Pitt to begin construction of a new nation they wouldn't have enough people to fight a war. In addition they wouldn't have enough supplies to fight a prolonged war. They wouldn't have enough industry to supply forces for a war. This includes power armor which would be limited in numbers, Ammunition, Food, and of course new recruits to fight the war. So overall i would have to say the NCR would win a war against anyone that isn't a large enough nation to rival their own power like the legion.

Not to also mention the number they have over the Brotherhood as much as it pains me to say this and how much i really love the brotherhood ncr bc of all the sheer power, influence, and the Troops they have over them, there are only a limited number of brotherhood members left and not many to fill the suits (verionca explains this as they are effective in what they do but the limited number of them is what makes them almost useless there numbers are scarce :/ other wise they would be able to take the ncr out with little ease)

Something to consider: the DC brotherhood only has access to technology they either brought with them to DC or scavenged from the Capitol Wasteland. They simply don't have the supply lines the Western brotherhood once had.

Also, the NCR controls a MUCH larger area than the BOS ever did. Pretty much all of california is united under the two-headed bear, so they obviously have a steady supply of recruits and, if necessary, could institute a draft to bolster their manpower.

The DC BOS once had the people and gear to rival the NCR, but after the war against the Enclave, they were devastated. Perhaps if the DC Brotherhood chapter got reinforcements from the western chapter, they could stand a chance due to their superior firepower, but perhaps it would be the same situation as Helios One: Manpower > Weaponry.

also When looking at these videos :(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1N3sEfokID0&list=PLA09CA75597907CDE https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nv3Z-ia__P8&list=PLA09CA75597907CDE) these vetern rangers take out the Paladins with ease XD they stand allmost no chance to them xDD poor paladins cx

i honestly think that the NCR might win, but it would be close and they'd suffer numerous losses. The BOS is obviously more trained-per-soldier and has better armor and equipment. The NCR has groups and many are trained, and trained well.. however, i remember Ranger Jackson at the Mohave Outpost complaining that the soldiers they've been recruiting are not real soldiers, and that they arent well trained.

Although the BOS would probably win a large number of battles, each soldier they lost would be a blow, whereas the NCR could replace each common soldier with a dozen others.

So, i think that the NCR would win simply because of the number game.. it would be hard to defeat and entire army that always seems to be recruiting more and more

sgtrock32 wrote:

gaw72290 wrote:

i honestly think that the NCR might win, but it would be close and they'd suffer numerous losses. The BOS is obviously more trained-per-soldier and has better armor and equipment. The NCR has groups and many are trained, and trained well.. however, i remember Ranger Jackson at the Mohave Outpost complaining that the soldiers they've been recruiting are not real soldiers, and that they arent well trained.

Although the BOS would probably win a large number of battles, each soldier they lost would be a blow, whereas the NCR could replace each common soldier with a dozen others.

So, i think that the NCR would win simply because of the number game.. it would be hard to defeat and entire army that always seems to be recruiting more and more

The reason why the soldiers weren't as well trained was because of the scale of the war, it's similar to what happened in WW2 though, because so many soldiers were needed because of the scale of the war they started to train them less and the same thing has happened with the war against the legion. Now if a war between the NCR and the DC chapter happened after the war with the legion the NCR would be training its soldiers better because there is less urgency, and if this did take place after a war with the legion it's very possible that if they took legion territory the NCR would have bolstered its forces with former legion slaves and former legionaries who need a purpose. So the NCR would be full of decently equipped and trained soldiers.

yeah, i agree with that... i didnt realize we were talking about after the war with the legion was over haha... either way though, i think it would be a really good battle, and i actually could see an NCR-BOS war being in the fallout lore in the future

gaw72290 wrote:

sgtrock32 wrote:

gaw72290 wrote:

i honestly think that the NCR might win, but it would be close and they'd suffer numerous losses. The BOS is obviously more trained-per-soldier and has better armor and equipment. The NCR has groups and many are trained, and trained well.. however, i remember Ranger Jackson at the Mohave Outpost complaining that the soldiers they've been recruiting are not real soldiers, and that they arent well trained.

Although the BOS would probably win a large number of battles, each soldier they lost would be a blow, whereas the NCR could replace each common soldier with a dozen others.

So, i think that the NCR would win simply because of the number game.. it would be hard to defeat and entire army that always seems to be recruiting more and more

The reason why the soldiers weren't as well trained was because of the scale of the war, it's similar to what happened in WW2 though, because so many soldiers were needed because of the scale of the war they started to train them less and the same thing has happened with the war against the legion. Now if a war between the NCR and the DC chapter happened after the war with the legion the NCR would be training its soldiers better because there is less urgency, and if this did take place after a war with the legion it's very possible that if they took legion territory the NCR would have bolstered its forces with former legion slaves and former legionaries who need a purpose. So the NCR would be full of decently equipped and trained soldiers.

yeah, i agree with that... i didnt realize we were talking about after the war with the legion was over haha... either way though, i think it would be a really good battle, and i actually could see an NCR-BOS war being in the fallout lore in the future

he never quite specified if it was after legion or not so i would assume it is after the legion had lost the war and most of their territory. It is very possible though for their to be a war if Lyon's was loyal enough and all of the brotherhood chapters banned together it would be quite and epic war. If it was in that case the wars outcome would be harder to predict even with the might of the mid western brotherhood of steel and the DC chapter the BOS could still win, especially if what ever is left of the Enclave decided they would rather side with the NCR rather than wait and possibly allow the BOS to win the war. It's also possible that if the NCR got desperate enough they have super mutants to call upon. If they offered some sort of constitutional right and citizenship as well as protection from unlawful abuse to less radical super mutants, the super mutants could be willing to fight for the NCR rather than face what will eventually be a Enclave style genocide of possibly all mutants across the wasteland.

It depends as many have stated NCR have the numbers, but the DC chapter of the BOS are well trained reasonably well equipped and are battle tested as it is mentioned in Fallout 3 that DC is a warzone. Another factor would be if the BOS had liberty prime as we have all seen liberty prime demolished the Enclave and would do the same to the NCR. Finally, the setting would play a role the BOS are familiar with DC and will be able to fight more efficiently, plus many NCR troopers would be killed by super mutants as they are all over the place and the opposite would occur if the BOS was in Nevada etc. they would be unfamiliar with the terrain

The BoS are more powerful in regards to individual soldiers yes, but aren't the NCR supposed to have around 100,000 soldiers in their army?

Granted the DC BoS chapter is more powerful than the Mojave chapter
(Also, the BoS in the Mojave were SUPPOSED to have the lesser power armor model, but because of a glitch they all wear the better model of power armor, so lore-wise no they are not better equipped)

However I don't think the BoS could compete with the NCR's entire army and their sheer number of troops, Unless BoS DC chapter has been recruiting since Fallout 3, but it'd depend on how many etc, we have no idea

Personally i think the ncr would win as well just because of a difference in numbers even the east-coast BoS still has nowhere near the numbers of the ncr, poweramor or not it's why the west-coast brotherhood of steel are effectively losing the war against the ncr.

though should the east-coast BoS get Liberty Prime running again that might be a completely different story.

Considering that the only way the enclave were able to take it down was with an armed satellite and the ncr just doesn't have access or the know-how of that kind of tech.

I think the NCR could win if they were fighting by just using their vast numbers but if the brotherhood resorted to guerilla tactics like hit and runs plus cutting off supply line and disrupting the NRC's efforts the brotherhood could win especially if they repaired Liberty prime but they would also have the tech they scavenged from the Adams Air force base.

Although they likely have the support of wastelanders, the DC Brotherhood simply cannot match the NCR in numbers. However if they manage to repair the Liberty Prime even to a mere fraction of it's former capability then I say they have a chance.

Old topic ik but I had to put my two cents in on this, I would say after what Fallout 4 has told us about the East Coast chapter the Brotherhood would wipe the floor with the NCR if they for some reason decided to pack the entire chapter into the airship and head to California.

I mean think about it the BOS in Falout 4 have at least a couple hundred soldiers in the Commonwealth and back in the Capital adding to those numbers the already existing chapters on the west coast (e.g Lost Hills and Mojave chapters) they continue to boost their numbers, the NCR would still have an advantage with numbers but I don't believe the advantage would be significant enough.

Sure the NCR would have slightly more numbers, but the Brotherhood would have an army of soldiers all with energy and plasma weapons as well as T-60, T-51 and T-45 power armors, adding to that things like the Brotherhood have an entire fleet of vertibirds, so many they literally have an entirely separate military branch just for the airforce alone, while the NCR have only a few aircraft limited for NCR VIPs.

The Brotherhood could simply arrive on the west coast, rally all the chapters together and use their vertibirds to hit various bases wiping out everyone in sight before the NCR could even dispatch reinforcements, sure the war wouldn't be easy and I imagine the NCR would be able to mount a strong defense at least when the battle drew closer to their capital but I just don't see them being able to hold back the Brotherhood.

Especially when you take into account they could barely hold back the Legion, a faction with no aircraft or advanced tech (energy weapons/power armor) in fact I do often wonder why the Brotherhood on the East coast is even still there either the west forces need to more east or the east chapter needs to return west as their Brothers are getting butchered.

Sure everyone knows Maxson believes the Institute was too dangerous to ignore but honestly they have held fast in their bunker for 200+ years they clearly have no plans of going anywhere the NCR on the other hand are the much larger threat, the more time they are given the more land and power they acquire, in fact the plot to Fallout 4 makes no sense at least from a Brotherhood perspective.

It is stated in Fallout 4 that Maxson has reestablished contact with the west coast so as I said above all logic would dictate that they should return to the west and win the war for their fellow brothers before the NCR grows to strong for the Brotherhood again, but no we got the less than mind blowing plot of Fallout 4, well unless something happened post FNV and the NCR are no longer a huge threat to the Brotherhood tho this seems unlikely.