Now, Oliver... His biggest problem is that he's trying to end the war in one stroke to outdo Hanlon. He's trying to get glory and victory, without realizing that glory will *come* from victory. The only reason the Legion is such a big threat is because Oliver is just sitting back letting the Legion come to him, ceding the initiative. What he should be doing is launching a large and multi-pronged assault on Legion positions. See, the Legion is a force that can only beat the NCR when it's on the offensive. All those Frumentarii spies and other shenanagins are only really useful to soften up the NCR's fixed positions, rather than to interdict a fast-advancing army. The Legion's political structure is built entirely on Caesar being unbeatable - to such an extent that Caesar had to have Graham lit on fire and thrown down the grand canyon to show his men that failure wouldn't be tolerated. Heck, the Legion doesn't even seem to know what to do in the face of defeat, given how they pulled back for two whole years after the first battle.

The Brotherhood? Why should she even believe peace with them is possible given everything, indeed I have to question how a single chapter but no others is exempt from the war, are the Mojave Chapter just deserters now for helping the damn enemy not get destroyed?

Why is Oliver a failure?
I recall solider calling him Wait and See Oliver. House accuses him of having Tunnel vision. Rather then take the fight to the Legion he's sat and waited for five years for the Legion to attack while the NCR is bleed dry by skirimishs with The Legion and the Fiends. He also failed to anticipate the Legion coming up through the intake tunnels and bypassing the NCR defenses. Chief Hanlon tells us how Oliver resents the rangers and jeopardies the security of the dam just so the rangers will fail..

:P Just the politicians.
NCR military is to be kept alive as Vegas needs their money. And I must say I feel bad for the common NCR trooper. Dragged here all those miles just to win money for the brahmin barons? I know wars more justified.

I recall solider calling him Wait and See Oliver. House accuses him of having Tunnel vision. Rather then take the fight to the Legion he's sat and waited for five years for the Legion to attack while the NCR is bleed dry by skirimishs with The Legion and the Fiends. He also failed to anticipate the Legion coming up through the intake tunnels and bypassing the NCR defenses. Chief Hanlon tells us how Oliver resents the rangers and jeopardies the security of the dam just so the rangers will fail..

Oliver needs work. Look at the state of the NCR controlled area, gangs run everywhere, Legion destroyed camp searchlight, Legion fight NCR over Nelson-Forlorn Hope, Legion has Cottonwood Cove. Oliver does have tunnel vision. He is so focused on the dam by diverting resources and troops to it, while the Legion is just waiting for them to bleed out.

All well and good to say that but the NCR is hardly in a strong position itself, under-equipped and trained soldiers and certainly out-numbered by the Legion at the Dam.

The NCR was in no position to launch a counter-offensive either immediately or even later after the 1st Battle, a lot of dead soldiers, even four years later equipment shortages, poorly trained infantry because they don't have enough period; there was nothing left to bleed after the first battle, they are still recovering.

He is ambitious of the Ranger's fame but I don't think he wants them all to get killed, he positions them on the frontlines as opposed to the rear correct?

Chief Hanlon thinks that telling everyone one of the Ranger Stations has a tamed Deathclaw is a good tactic, "good for moral" you might say but makes supplying those camps logistically a little but puzzling don't you think? One of them get's extra ammo for example and another first-aid because of Hanlon's "reports".

That's my point exactly. Oliver let the NCR get outnumbered by Legion at the dam rather than taking the fight to them and seizing the initiative.

Also, don't make the mistake of assuming all the NCR troops are untrained and under-equipped. Certainly, all the NCR troops we actually see in the game are equipped with standardized body armor and a service rifle (or shotgun in some cases.) The only thing we've heard about NCR troops being underequipped is that one merchant at the 188, and her viewpoint is pretty limited.

As for undertraining, look at the Misfits - they're called that precisely because they're undertrained. Which means that being undertrained is an exceptional state in the NCR army, since otherwise they wouldn't be misfits.

But anyway, letting the Legion mass their strength and undertake various means of weakening your defense while you turtle up is a terrible strategy, and one that can be dropped almost entirely on Oliver's lap.

He does that explicitly so they can get killed (according to Hanlon), when they should be hanging back and using their superior gunnery skills to snipe Legion officers while NCR grunts hold the line.

Hanlon's actions were designed to undermine the Dam's defense because he believes holding it is a waste of lives. Also, he doesn't say the NCR has trained deathclaws, he ways the Legion has trained deathclaws. As well as super mutant legionnaires. He's trying to kill NCR morale and generally confuse things in order to ensure a Legion victory.

He explicitly says as much when you confront him about it.

The NCR was in no position to launch a counter-offensive either immediately or even later after the 1st Battle, a lot of dead soldiers, even four years later equipment shortages, poorly trained infantry because they don't have enough period; there was nothing left to bleed after the first battle, they are still recovering.

The bolded part, General's do typically have a staff you know. It's not just left up to the General to plan everything, the entire staff their - including all of the maintentance people no less - neglected to forsee any danger from them.

He is ambitious of the Ranger's fame but I don't think he wants them all to get killed, he positions them on the frontlines as opposed to the rear correct? Chief Hanlon thinks that telling everyone one of the Ranger Stations has a tamed Deathclaw is a good tactic, "good for moral" you might say but makes supplying those camps logistically a little but puzzling don't you think? One of them get's extra ammo for example and another first-aid because of Hanlon's "reports".

How long do you think it'll have taken to get men and supplies their right after the First Battle? Your critising him for not going back into the breach? Both the NCR and Legion were hit very hard and both will have taken a long time to regain their numbers, with pressure back home the NCR maybe even longer, it's not like the Legion has to negotiate weapon prices or enforce consription right?

Also what we see in-game doesn't represent everything, come on man. We never see the patrols that the 188 Vendors claims to supply either but we just take it that they happen.

And people talk about him like his name holds weight - I mean user on here btw - why? Guy sounds like an [censored].

And in spite of him doing his hardest to try and weaken the NCR, in spite of Oliver's incompetence and Caesar doing everything he can to weaken and demoralize them, the NCR is able to contest the dam very effectively.

What Hanlon is doing is falsifying intelligence reports, he's trying to damage morale but nothing thats done actually costs lives. Hes exaggerating casualties and ammo usage, and making an already fearsome enemy sound even worse. He's trying to make others see the futility in trying to hold New Vegas.

Wasn't he also intentionally messing with supply shipments, such that some ranger stations have too much ammo but not enough water, or too much medicine but not enough ammo?

Even if not, though, demoralizing the men is terrible. The only reason I let that jerk live is because if I don't, it'll demoralize the men even more.

I'm not aware of any station that was low on ammo. One had a surplus of medical supplies and another kept getting ammo instead of water but they weren't in a danger or rationing spot yet. Trying to stockpile military supplies before they become unavailable is a strategic movie.

What's all this anti Col. Moore talk? She is the only NCR officer in the game that actually behaves like a soldier. The rest are kiddies who got their chevrons from a cereal box.

Breaking the myth of Legion invincibility with a coordinated, massive offensive would send NCR morale skyrocketing and cut Legion morale off at the knees.

You're asking for the "why" when you hear statements like "Oliver is underqualified" and you expect to hear a story that shows an example of him being underqualified. Unfortunately there isn't one, but the fact that the devs included such statements by NPCs stating that he is shows that it's their intention for Oliver to be underqualified. Simple as that, really.

Moore is really a good officer... She may not necessarily be as tactically brilliant as Hanlon, but I'd rather have her under me than him since at least she won't actively try to sabotage my victory.

NPCs also say that Commie ghosts are gonna use the rockets to fly up to paint the moon pink and draw a Lenin face on it. And there is a chupacabra with an automatic weapon.

Denying them from somewhere that might legitimately need them though - like Forlorn Hope - is not.

Hanlon isn't responsible for Forlorn Hope its not a ranger station. Oliver would be the man denying Forlorn Hope much needed supplies.

And you see that's where you and I would have to disargee? What exactly about their stratergy is horrible? Are the fact that every single soldier doesn't receive the best kit soley thier fault? The NCR still needs to conscript and rush troopers to the field after only two weeks they have never been in a position to launch a counter offensive.

The NCR didn't win the First Battle of Hoover Dam, well technically they did but they certainly gained nothing; the Legion attacked, they lost the Dam, the Legion were defeated, they took back the Dam. Both sides suffered immense casualties which the NCR still appears to be recovering from even by 2281 and Oliver's a bad General for not sending his forces against the Legion? Oh wait his men mockingly call him, "Wait-and-see Oliver" so I guess he must be a bad General right?

As for Kimball we barely even know anything about the guy so I don't get where people get away with saying all these things about him.

A. Remove all troops from Camp Mccarran
-It's obvious to everyone who's played F:NV that even with Mccarran the NCR hasn't taken down the Fiends, secured Westside, Northside or Freeside and hasn't even made those places better economically. All mccarran does is send a bad message to the New Vegas community that the NCR is ineffective and doesn't care about their interest. The only troops in Vegas would be the MP on the strip. Some people have noted that the NCR is what keeps the Fiends from taking over but I feel like that's exaggerated. Sure they took on a group of rangers but I can't see the Fiends becoming strong enough to kill off Westside. Since the NCR is bad at stopping them anyway I doubt a lack of NCR presence would make a difference.

B. Relocate Mccarran troops to secure I-15 and NCRCF
-This would be one of the easiest things and best things the NCR could do. The prison break was simply a result of an understaffed prison, but with more troops from Mccarran the Powder Gangers wouldn't get free and even if they did the massive NCR presence would stop the rebellion fast. Even the small divison outside of Primm could in the game so all the troops from Mccarran would mean it would be easier. Besides that with I-15 secure the deathclaws wouldn't move in and they could deal with Tabieth and use the radio equipment for NCR propaganda.

I-15 is the most important highway for trade and commerce, and if it was safe, the communities of Primm, Goodsprings and a lesser extent, Nipton would gain more in trade and delevop more positive relations with the NCR. I'm not sure why the NCR doesn't simply appoint a sherieff in Primm or just dispatch one troop to the town for protection. I don't understand why they need a whole division posted outside and why they must put it under matrial law. Hell Primm is probably the most profitable tourist trap in the Mojave outside of New Vegas and it's not even under threat from a Legion or House take over! You all now the Quarry is needed for further fortifcation of Forward Operating Bases and like I said no Powder Gangers=No deathclaws. Plus with Powder Gangers still making the railroad once that's done they'd have an even better position for fast deployments in the region.

-With a full Bat. along I-15 the brotherhood would be in a squizze. There is no way they could take on that many troops and more and more they'd be under threat of being found out. That said I see only a dipolamatic solution or the BOS Mojave falls. I'm about to get off of I-15 but before I do now that I think of it why not just use the two rangers at the Mojave Outpost to secure Primm and Goodsprings?

Goodsprings would receive a one simply to deal with the Cazadors problem and to make sure the Great Khans don't try to move south (though the Cazadors probably solve that). But like I said they don't even need MANY troops. In Primm a robot was able to secure the town. With I-15 secure trade, people, and goods could move into Vegas and Primm and while the Fiends would be a problem the further away you got from the Quarry you could simply take the eastern route by way of I-215 to Highway 93 and go though Freeside.

C. Clear out the Mojave Outpost and secure Nipton highway to searchlight
The road to and from Niption was full of Jackals, mutants and the town was raided by the Legion. Niption itself was a bad place but for supply line reasons and the railroad bridge the NCR needs to keep that highway safe. Remember the canyon with the traps? That shouldn't of happened. The troops at the Mojave Outpost should be relocated to the aboaned farm to reinforce the front line from the Legion (especially with Searchlight gone) and make sure caravans can get to Highway 95 easily.

D. Attack Cottonwood.
-You know the Legion slave camps in Nevada? Or the Ranger station they took on? That wouldn't of happened without Cottonwood. As a matter of fact if Cottonwood didn't exist I doubt they could hold Nelson or that mine. In short without Cottonwood the Legion would have a highly weakened offensive. There would be NO way they could take Nipton under those circumstances. They already had Rangers that could have good sniping positions on Cottonwood and I'm sure that First Recon plus the remnants of the Searchlight would be able take it. It's not as if the Legion could get rapid redeployment from Arizona. And I know that Cottonwood had an outlook too, hell just post some rangers there and pick um off. Overtime they'll run out of supplies and it would fall. Without Cottonwood, the legion would be out of Nevada basically.

-Some of you are probably thinking but what about the Legion simply crossing the Colorado at other points? But where? Just talk to the Rangers the Legion can't hardly send scouts into Nevada without them being shot. I doubt they could move a large force and get past the Rangers. With Cottonwood gone the Legion raid Camp would be surrounded. Rangers to the north, Niption NCR to the west, Cottonwood to the east and no way out to the South.

E. Annex Novac
-For simple cannon reasons lets suppose that the Legion would still take Nelson. The large NCR community in Novac would already boost relations with the citizens. I'd remove almost all troops from Hellios One and reposition them at the I-95/Novac overpass. This would be for many reasons, the first would be to secure I-95 for travel. The raiders along the highway wouldn't be able to survive, and to deal with the random creatures along it that would disturb trade routes. Honestly highway 95 is more important than I-15 simply because it's the main way you reinforce the dam, golf, ranger stations, searchlight, Cottonwood etc.

With Novac under control the ghouls wouldn't be much of problem, just have someone spot and make sure they don't venture into the town. As far as Nelson is concerned just send the Novac NCR forces into the town and kill the Legion. But realistically looking at Nelson even with just one Ranger you could take the town. Thinking about it logically the Legion was doomed in Nelson. Forlorn stopped them from advance, the ranger from Novac, and the rest of the Ranger stations from retreat. That in mind just strave them out. Post a ranger and snipe the Legion until they strave. The troops on the cross would probably have to die from mercy killing but that's the safest way to take back the town short of a magical courier storming in guns a blazing.

More importantly and something that I'll touch on later is this, with I-95 secure, Novac generating trade and the Legion back on defense Forlorn Hope could much easily deploy during the second battle at the Hoover Dam.

F. Scavenge Hellios one
Without the Courier Hellios one was basically a giant waste of time, they could only find one skilled worker for the place (no not Fantastic the followers guy) and even if they had more they would still have to destroy all the robots in the place. I don't see why you'd waste the manpower for such an operation. They already have all the power they need from the Hoover Dam and all it is is a target for the BOS, and to a less extent Legion. Would the BOS try to retake it? Not if you take every working part you can from the place and make it unusable. Besides with the whole Bat. Stationed on I-15 the BOS wouldn't be able to.

G. Leave Golf the same
Besides moving a few Rangers from Golf I really wouldn't do much differently about the place, except maybe trying to give some better training to them, besides that Golf is actually a pretty good defensive position for Lake Mead and it keeps the Legion from a direct attack on Vegas itself. Hell if they could just get better training.

H. Allied Technology and other outer Vegas positions
-While I'm for getting rid of Mccarran Interstate 93 is the final link for NCR citizens to get to Vegas and caravans. That said the Highway 93 and Highway 95 intersection is a great place for NCR troops to be stationed though they need to take a more active role in keeping the highway clear of gangs from the intersection to Novac. The random NCR troops along 93 are fine and in general they do need a NCR refugee center. In general the NCR shareropping operation is fine and the need for the water pipeline to remain intact means ALL troops shouldn't be removed from outer vegas because Crimson Caravan supply lines are critical to trade too.

I.Bitter springs and other Northeast positions
All the refugees from Bittersprings should have been relocated to Allied Technology and Highway 93, that way they can be moved deeper into NCR terrority or something, that refugee camp is simply too vulnerable to attack from a raid. The network of ranger camps would need to be reinforced and that's where I would reposition some of the Camp Golf elits too. If there was any place the Legion could still attack it would be from the Northeast section of the map. But you know it could easily be done, without Bittersprings as a point of attack I don't see how a Legion raiding party could take on some first recon shooters or in general a forfeited group of Rangers.

J. Other things that would have to be done for the offense
In game there are what 2 offical locations in Arizona the Legion operates from. The Fort and Legates camp. If you've gotten rid of Cottonwood and gotten the supply lines down the Legion is outnumbered, as no offense, and there sitting ducks for a nice artillery bust. If the only two places the Legion operate from are those two places then in a Battle they'd lose outright. The reinforcements from Forlorn Hope would overwhelm them, and even IF they took the Dam after an artillery blast most of the rank and file are dead. Hell even if they win that battle if you send in the Bat. From I-15, troops from I-93, rangers up and down the river and finish them.

They all draw from the same resource pool, when Hanlon's [censored] means Ranger Station Bravo has too much ammo it means that there's less in the Mojave to sens to someone who needs it.

The Rangers are a separate Corp. that answer to no-one in the regular army unless they are Col. and above. Camp Forlorn Hope is not under the jurisdiction of Rangers, so Hanlon can't do anything about Forlorn Hope.