Fallout 4: 10 Things You Might Have Missed About The Brotherhood Of Steel

Perhaps one of the most iconic and well-known factions in the entire franchise, the Brotherhood of Steel in Fallout 4 can play a pivotal role in the future of the Commonwealth depending on the decisions of the Sole Survivor. Known for their Power Armor and their tendency to gather all technology within range, the Brotherhood of Steel has been a mainstay of Fallout since the very beginning. However, the faction that appears in Fallout 4 is different from what has come before in many ways, and there are subtle details that may have gone unnoticed.

The Brotherhood of Steel is one of four base game factions in Fallout 4 that can be joined and will appear in force at the end of Act 1. Despite claiming to have the Commonwealth's best interests at heart, many find the Brotherhood's methods and ideology questionable, as the militaristic group tends to put its own goals above anyone else. With a new influx of players thanks to the Amazon Prime Fallout series, there are plenty who will be joining the Brotherhood of Steel in Fallout 4 who may have missed some little details about the iconic group.

10 Arthur Maxson Is A Descendent Of The Brotherhood Founder

Maxson Comes From A Long Line Of Leaders

The leader of the Brotherhood of Steel on the East Coast is Elder Arthur Maxson, a young man fiercely determined to wipe out the Institute by any means necessary. While part of this dedication to the goal will come from a genuine belief that the threat Gen 3 Synths pose, another big motivator for Maxson will be living up to the family name. As revealed in Fallout 3 and by Proctor Quinlan’s terminal in Fallout 4, Arthur Maxson is the sole living descendent of Roger Maxson, who founded the Brotherhood of Steel.

A holotape can be found in the mess hall of Camp Venture in Fallout 76, where Roger Maxson can be heard speaking about the future and the formation of the Brotherhood of Steel.

In the immediate aftermath of the Great War, Roger Maxson realized that the government had abandoned the survivors and formed a new group whose goal was to prevent technology from ending the world again. Two centuries later, the Maxson family is all but gone, with both of Arthur's parents dead and no mention of any extended family.

9 The Prydwen Has A Science Lab

The Mobile Base Allows For Many Experiments & Studies

The Prydwen is the mobile command base for the Brotherhood of Steel in Fallout 4, with sleeping quarters, an infirmary, and a mess hall all floating above Boston Airport. However, if the Sole Survivor thoroughly explores the ship, they can also find a fully equipped laboratory area where Brotherhood scribes are conducting experiments. While Super Mutants and early model Synths are laid out on gurneys to be studied, there are also some less obvious experiments happening.

Speaking with Scribe Nerah, the Sole Survivor can learn that she is trying to create a better version of RadAway and that she has been studying the blood of the mole rats on board. Offering to help will begin the quest “Blood Bank,” where the Sole Survivor will need to collect viable blood samples. Fans of Skyrim may also notice a familiar-looking plant in the corner of the lab, a nirnroot, which is one of many fun Easter eggs in Fallout 4.

8 There Are Children On The Prydwen

The Brotherhood Is Fine With Child Soldiers

Despite the Prydwen being a military base, there are children on board the ship, as several Brotherhood squires can be met and spoken to. These squires are not soldiers yet and instead will run errands in addition to their schooling and training. However, if Danse is a companion while exploring the Prydwen he will remark about their presence.

The Paladin will comment that he doesn't feel comfortable having the children on the warship, but that Elder Maxson wants them to train under fire. If the Sole Survivor is a member of the Brotherhood they will have the opportunity to help train the children by taking them out on missions. Speaking with Kells will begin the radiant quest “Leading by Example,” where random locations are chosen to escort the squire to so they can observe the Sole Survivor clearing out dangerous enemies.

7 The Story Behind Elder Maxson’s Scar

The Noticeable Scar Has An Interesting Tale

Elder Arthur Maxson is a very intense character, first met as he gives a passionate speech to his troops aboard the Prydwen about their objective in the Commonwealth. His appearance matches his intensity with a thick beard making him look much older and a large scar on his right cheek. No one will mention the scar, but if the Sole Survivor looks through Proctor Quinlan's terminal, they will find an explanation.

According to Quinlan, Maxson gained the scar at the young age of 13 during a fight where he single-handedly killed a deathclaw. This is an impressive feat if true, and while it is possible with Brotherhood weaponry to kill a deathclaw, that would still be an astonishingly difficult fight. However, there are those in the fanbase who believe it to be Brotherhood propaganda with obvious parallels to Arthurian legend.

6 Elder Maxson Is The Youngest Elder Ever

Becoming Leader At 16 Is A Lot Of Pressure

Staying with Elder Maxson, one thing that the Sole Survivor can remark on and ask Danse about is Arthur Maxson’s age in relation to his rank. It can come as a surprise to many that, despite looking much older, Arthur Maxson is only 20 years old. Again, Quinlan’s terminal entries provide the answer to how some could become an Elder at such a young age.

Arthur Maxson from Fallout 4, with MacCready from Fallout 3 and Dogmeat

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Quinlan, in his book about Maxson, speaks of the fight with the deathclaw before going on to describe a victory over a Super Mutant named Shephard who was organizing his brethren into an army. The West Coast Elders heard of this and gave Maxson the task of brokering peace with the Outcasts, which he did at 16 years old. Now that the East Coast chapter was whole again, Maxson was named Elder, the youngest in Brotherhood history.

5 The Story Of How Proctor Ingram Lost Her Legs

Ingram Is Tough As Nails

Proctor Ingram is the highly competent head of engineering aboard the Prydwen and leader of the Order of Shield. The Sole Survivor can meet her as part of their introduction to the Brotherhood in “Tour of Duty” and learn a little about what she does. One of the most noticeable things about Ingram is that she moves around using a modified Power Armor frame and, if a speech check is passed, will explain why.

Ingram will disclose that she was working at a staging area for Power Armor troops back in the Capital Wasteland when they came under fire from Super Mutants. The ridge Ingram was on took a direct hit from a nuke, and she fell over 100 feet. Luckily, she was in a suit of Power Armor which saved her life, although her legs were crushed in the fall. While she is thankful for the frame she now wears, Ingram is also frustrated it doesn't allow her to do some of the Prydwen's maintenance herself.

4 Proctor Teagan Has A Drinking Problem

The Upbeat Quartermaster Has A Serious Secret

Joining Proctor Ingram on the Prydwen is Proctor Teagan, who acts as the Brotherhood's quartermaster and leader of the Order of the Sword. Locked away most of the time in his secure area, Teagan is one of the best merchants in Fallout 4and also has plenty of questionable radiant quests to obtain supplies for the faction. However, another side to Teagan can be discovered by checking various terminals on the ship and in the airport supply depot.

The supply depot terminal has entries logging the incoming goods for the Brotherhood, one of which includes 10 assorted bottles of liquor with a note indicating it is specifically for Teagan. However, it is Knight-Captain Cade's terminal that tells the full story as he details injuries Teagan has sustained from falling while intoxicated. Cade notes that this is the third intoxication-related incident for Teagan and that he plans to treat the Proctor for alcoholism per the regulation.

3 The East Coast Brotherhood Allows Outsiders

Recruitment Of Outsiders Via Sponsorship

The Brotherhood of Steel encountered in Fallout 4 is very different from the versions of the faction seen in previous installments, in particular the West Coast chapter seen in Fallout, Fallout 2, and Fallout: New Vegas. Although there are many differences, one that stands out is the recruitment of outsiders. Speaking with various members of the Brotherhood in the Commonwealth or listening to ambient dialogue will confirm this, as many appear to be from the Capital Wasteland.

A Fallout Brotherhood of Steel member in power armor surrounded by question marks.

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This is very distinct from their West Coast brethren, who are typically an insular group, as this not only bolsters their numbers but also provides new experiences and perspectives to the East Coast chapter through their recruits. As seen with the Sole Survivor and Paladin Danse, outsiders require sponsorship from a high-ranking Brotherhood officer, presumably to ensure that any new members live up to their standards and provide accountability.

2 Maxson’s Brotherhood Mixes East & West Coast Ideologies

Maxson Seems To Have Found The Right Balance

Fallout 4’s Brotherhood of Steel also operates very differently from the West Coast chapter, but is also noticeably different from the Brotherhood encountered in Fallout 3 under Elder Lyons. While the West Coast Brotherhood has shown itself to be an isolationist group that hordes technology, Lyons took a different approach and involved himself in the protection of civilians in the Capital Wasteland even at the cost of their mission. Maxson seems to have found the middle ground between the two differing ideologies, adopting aspects from both.

Maxson also allows for the trading of some technology and media supplies for food, allows leave to off-base sites, and messages to loved ones back in the Capital Wasteland.

The Brotherhood in the Commonwealth is seen to gather technology or destroy it where they deem appropriate, just like their West Coast counterparts. However, Maxson still aids outsiders, although learning from Lyon’s mistake, he does so indirectly and in a way that still upholds the faction’s goals. This can be seen in the radiant quests both Haylen and Rhys will give the Sole Survivor, to both gather technology and clear out dangerous enemies that are a threat to all.

1 The Prydwen’s Impressive History

She’s One Hell Of A Ship

The Prydwen is the massive airship that the Brotherhood of Steel forces arrive in, after which the ship can be found moored above Boston Airport. The warship is an impressive feat of engineering, taking two years to design and four years to build, with two of those spent gathering the parts alone. Acting as a mobile command post, the Prydwen has no weapons but does possess extensive shielding and can carry a substantial amount of troops and vertibirds.

The wreckage of a crashed Brotherhood airship can be seen in Fallout Tactics, although that game is no longer considered canon by Bethesda.

Built from the salvaged remains of the Enclave's Mobile Base Crawler, which can be seen in Fallout 3's Broken Steel DLC, the Prydwen isn't the first airship the Brotherhood has had. Previously, the faction had a fleet of airships, which were sent out to chase down the remnants of the Master's followers following his defeat in Fallout. As she soars overhead, the Prydwen, named after King Arthur’s ship, certainly makes an entrance and sets the tone for the latest iteration of the Brotherhood of Steel in Fallout 4.