So we all know how the NCR sustains itself. It has a monetary system, agriculture, and has a strong industrial manufacturing base.

Are we told in the lore how the Brotherhood of Steel sustains itself? I never see any agriculture nor any manufacturing.

What I know so far:

Eastern Brotherhood before Fallout 4 operated on a "charity" model, whatever that means.

Midwestern Brotherhood draws some resources from local towns...so a sort of semi support through donations or do they exert taxation?

The Brotherhood trades on caps.

Hints suggest that back at DC by the time FO4 is happening they rule the area more or less like a kingdom and so most likely taxing the citizens within for resources. The BoS operation in the commonwealth seems to be using supplies brought along from DC, but as a side quest you can "convince" settlers to provide some of there stock to the BoS.

Yea, they're basically raiders. They might try and put a polite front on but if you have what they want and aren't willing to give it up well tough luck for you. You either give it up or have the BoS gunning for you.

Regular old dictatorship. Everyone who disagrees will be in trouble. BOS in Fallout 4 is basicly a military expedition that initialy relies on recources from home. They tax the people of DC as mentioned above in some way.

To be fair, at least the brotherhood do give you the option to hand it over and will honor there agreement not to harm you if you do. Plus if you're supportive of there cause they are willing to keep you safe.

Unlike raiders, who either loot you with no warning, do warn ya then loot ya or tell you to give them something....then loot ya anyway even if you give them what they want.

The was an interesting message on one of the Brotherhood computers, commiserating at the death of a BOS recruit to his family which included the words, "died for his country".......which was surprising since I've never heard BOS use that term.

Yeah, this is a new trend for the BoS, once Lyons was out of the picture the east coast brotherhood basically turned itself into a modern day kingdom, with the current Elder as a "king"

Alright, instead of raiders they are mobsters. Give me this if you value your life. Pay me protection money to protect yourself from me. You're on my turf so I will protect you from outside threats. The only thing you need to worry about is me.

Sounds a little like the taxman...

I guess they became a nation to move the fallout universe forward. There are several organized factions in the west (non Bethesda area). It would be really weird if no oranization/ nation rose to power in the east. To be honest it is very plausible that some sort of organsation is created when there is only anarchy.

Sounds remarkably similar to the NCR model for the resident population, pay taxes for protection or be forced out.

Which in a small way makes East coast BoS just a tiny bit better, because at least they play it straight, NCR does it under the guise of being a democratic state.

The East Coast BOS are in my opinion a little better since they are open in the beliefs and goals, you can join their ranks and you will be promoted on merit while the NCR is a protection racket run by the cattle Barons while wrapping themselves in the two headed bear flag and declaring themselves a democracy.

I think the closest we have come to a 'good' faction in Fallout are the followers of the apocalypse who can only really operate in area where one of the morally grey factions has taken control. I personally prefer the factions to be morally grey since in reality that would be only way they could survive in such a hostile environment.

Think of it this way, they come in, they fight YOUR battles, and they set up patrols and road blocks. The brotherhood supports the local population, recruits, whatever...

Least they can do is show some support in return.

Lyons had it semi right, Maxim followed it up and built an empire from it. Sure it's not ideal, it's not "freedom" but I imagine most settlers would be fine with it as long as they get support when time comes.

I don't see how that is connected to being a mobster. The Brotherhood of Steel for all purposes owns conquered territory. The same thing occurs today and has occurred in the past. When land is conquered by a country, any citizen residing within that land must pay taxes like everybody else to sustain the country. It's like taxexs today. Either you pay up or you go to jail. The BoS isn't particularly being evil here. It'd be a hell of a lot better if there was representation to go with the taxation, but given that this is a post apocalyptic world where everything is after you and the economy has downgraded mostly to an agrarian model once again, safety is probably more important for the average person than liberty (which is disgusting for me to say).

Doesn't the BOS control the Water purifier and sell purified water?

They also have advanced medical and technical expertise. they could offer services to maintain equipment and see to medical needs of a community in exchange for raw resources and food but they are more likely to have fallen into a (hopefully) benevolent dictatorship role with their regions where they demand a portion of whatever is produced to support them while providing regional security as an after effect of their goals.

Service guarantees Citizenship!

The East Coast BOS does allow representation in a way, but you have to earn that voice in the decision making process through service to the state (Joining the Brotherhood)......of course in reality the whole machine is designed to brainwash the Initiates into following the codex of the Brotherhood and the teaching of Elder Maxson.

The NCR is dedicated to old-world values.. So they made paper money like pre war.

The brotherhood? If youve got tech they want, they take it. If youve got food they want, they take it. If youve got caps they want, they take it.

Thats the morale dilemma with them now, if you side with them.. Some of their quests are basically you bullying settlements into giving resources to them for "the greater good"

And those settlements are under BOS protections and never have to worry about attacks from raiders, super mutants, or any other threat in the Wasteland.

Aren't those the missions the Brotherhood trader offers you under the table, I never took those to be 'official' missions so much as the guy is very shady when he mentions them (much like a certain NCR Quartermaster I could mention).

There is no real difference between East Coast BOS and NCR in that both move into an area with military forces, set up patrols and protect the local area......both apparently tax the local population, if anything NCR is rather famous for its heavy taxing of the locals as a part of maintaing that control (so much so that people emigrate out of NCR territory). The only major difference would be the Brotherhood's policy of seizing weapon tech from locals, but I doubt the NCR really allows NCR Citizens to be carrying around Laser and Plasma weaponry either.

... yeah, cause you totally get the vibe that the BoS actually patrols those settlements and responds to request for help, right?

Considering how often these very same farmers are suffering from feral ghoul and super mutant freak attacks, I think a portion of their crops is a fair trade for having the mutant scum wiped out.

BoS dont protect the settlements they extort. They patrol around in the air and on the ground but there's no direct aid to settlements under attack real or in the lore as far as i know. They may feel the cause of killing super mutants, raiders and synths is for the greater good but the average citizen of the common wealth in trouble isn't likely to find help knocking on the Brotherhoods door.

I was going to say its the ancient social contract of "We protect you and your farms, town, and livestock and in exchange you deliver us x resources", but people do tend to claim government is theft