Do the Minutemen Have to Destroy the Brotherhood of Steel?
The short answer is no, the trigger to turn the Minutemen against the Brotherhood resulting in the destruction of the Prydwen is optional. But tensions between the two factions run high, and the likelihood of open conflict in the future remains if opposing ideologies and quest for power are left unresolved.
As a Fallout 4 specialist who‘s analyzed every outcome across multiple playthroughs, I‘ve put some thoughtful consideration into the relationships between factions vying for control in the Commonwealth. While the Minutemen offer the most peaceful ending, their rivalry with the technology-hoarding Brotherhood runs deep. Destruction can be avoided, but could prove only a delay of the inevitable.
Minutemen and Brotherhood – Comparing Faction Ideologies
The Minutemen wish to protect Commonwealth settlers and allow communities self-governance without imposition of force. The Brotherhood desires control of technology, and believes its strict doctrine is necessary to prevent humanity from destroying itself again.
| Faction | Key Attributes |
|---|---|
| Minutemen | Protect people; rebuild civilian life |
| Brotherhood of Steel | Control technology; preserve its power |
These opposing worldviews breed distrust and hostility given their mutually exclusive end goals. While both fight threats like raiders, super mutants and synths, ultimately each seeks dominance over how the region is secured and ruled.
Is Open Conflict Inevitable?
For those immersed in Fallout lore, the likelihood of sustained peace seems low. The Brotherhood shows no willingness to compromise on its core mission, demonstrated through events across multiple games:
- Fallout 3: Seized Jefferson Memorial by force to restrict access to purified water
- Fallout New Vegas: Went to war with NCR over control of Hoover Dam technology
- Fallout 4: Issued threat to exile/execute Danse for being revealed as synth
Barring a change in leadership approach, the Brotherhood will never cooperate with groups like the Railroad or relax its bans on "forbidden" tech. And the presence of Danse as a high-ranking, ideological orthodox synth severely shakes faith in current guidance from Elder Maxson.
Message Board Perspectives on Inevitable Downfall
Fans discussing the sustained feasibility of a Commonwealth jointly overseen by the Minutemen and Brotherhood have shared pessimistic takes:
"The Brotherhood would absolutely try to seize total control given their track record. It‘s just a matter of time before someone has to put them down for the good of the people."
"Fear of synths and rogue tech drives the Brotherhood at the expense of rational decision making. The Prydwen is basically a floating militant state whose doctrine won‘t allow for compromise."
So while open conflict doesn‘t have to happen on the Sole Survivor‘s watch, many believe the Brotherhood‘s ambitions make eventual clash inevitable.
Weighing the Importance of Each Faction
Both groups play pivotal roles in shaping life going forward for settlers, with local safety implications without clear "right" answers on who the region would be better off rallying behind long-term.
| Faction | Pro Argument | Con Argument |
|---|---|---|
| Minutemen | Promotes stability and self-rule for inhabitants attempting to rebuild | Lacks resources and tech expertise of rivals to secure against future external threats |
| Brotherhood of Steel | Unmatched air and weapons superiority to fend off emerging factions | Imposes vision of control against will of residents through forced occupation |
If the Survivor hopes to foster lasting independence and peace for traumatized inhabitants carving out a new life, relying solely on the protection and oversight of one militant foreign group seems counter to that goal. And while the Minutemen lack strength of arms, many view their intentions as more aligned with sustainable growth.
Each Faction Destroyed Ending‘s Consequences
Should the Sole Survivor assist their aligned faction in eliminating rivals until only one remains, it dramatically impacts regional order for decades.
Minutemen Rule Solely
- With Institute and Brotherhood eliminated, the Commonwealth returns to being protected by citizen volunteers. But lack of advanced warfare capabilities leaves them vulnerable without support.
- The Railroad continues to smuggle liberated synths to safety, with an ally in settlers sympathetic to all looking for a fresh start.
- Hardline Brotherhood survivors could regroup to challenge the Minutemen‘s grip long-term, hungering for revenge.
Brotherhood Rules Solely
- Enforces martial law in annexed Commonwealth,with occupations straining relations with residents.
- Promotes distrust of any non-humans who survive the purge, creating resistance movement.
- Rogue synths and uneasy settlers ally against regime, faced with forced relocation or execution.
In my experience across playthroughs, the healthiest Commonwealth emerges when the principles of the Minutemen and safety provided by some Brotherhood presence temper each other in balance. But keeping ideological rivals from the other‘s throats is an ongoing tense affair. The Survivor must decide if the future lies with compromise or conquest.
