I'm certain this has been posted on before, and I've started to see suggestions pop up during recent discussions I've been apart of, so I thought I'd just pose the question again since I just recently completed my final play through out of the 4. I did them in this order: side with NCR, side with Legion, side with House, then side with Yes Man (yourself). I decided to do Yes Man last because you get to make the decisions for how the region will receive its power and how Vegas will be controlled and I found that simply more interesting. Now since you are actually controlling the future of the wasteland is that exactly neutral? Is helping Mr. House control New Vegas any more "neutral"? You are contributing to the status quo and maintaining a sense of order in the region. Mr House also was a champion for progress and wanted humanity (and himself) to "explore the stars." Perhaps he could have. But perhaps Yes Man will do the same? As he integrates with Mr. House's network into his own at the end of the game.

It's an interesting question and also pertains to which the developers might consider as canon later on if the Fallout Bible and future games were to reference back to these events. If I were into the position to make such a decision I would go with the player taking control of New Vegas, sending the NCR out of the area, and passing off management to Yes Man, who more or less follows the protocols set forth by Mr. House.

It's fun to think about and I would love to discuss this further.

The Followers of the Apocalypse are the most neutral group. They just want to help the average joe. All other major factions (the ones that actually fight for or against you) have some sort of stake in the end fight.

Yeah, I guess in a way you are right about them being neutral, but they still aren't at the table in transforming the Mojave wasteland like the big 4. That was kind of what I was asking about.

yeah the followers but they are not one of the top 4. if your talking about top 4 id say ncr i think

Depends on your definition of neutral. If we go by the textbook definition:

neu·tral[ nootr?l ]: belonging to, favoring, or assisting no side in a war, dispute, contest, or controversy

Then the one side that would closely fit that profile would be Independent Vegas, aka Yes Man. As the primary war is between the NCR, Legion, and later on House. Electing to fight both sides and kick them out is the closest thing to a neutral party as you'll get. Though, House can be seen as neutral early on, his later tactics leave it questionable.

HOWEVER

On the same side of the coin we have another definition of neutral:

without distinctive qualities: possessing no distinctive quality or revealing no attitude or feeling.

If we were to use this definition, House would be the closest to being neutral, that or Yes Man. Even then it would be a stretch considering Yes Man was programmed by House/Benny and either of the two are impartial at best.

That being said, if we take a synonym of the word "neutral" say, unbiased for example. Yes Man would fit that profile evenly. NCR is biased because they believe that what they are doing is right, and the Old World system was right on the money. Same for the legion for basically the same reasons. House is biased because he thinks his way is the only way for humanity to move forward.

I guess mainly it's just an issue of one's own personal ethics, as well as how one feels about the word neutral.

U get to influence Vegas the most when u side with Yes Man. If u feel Vegas should be neutral then that's the only way as u cannot control any of the other factions.

Vegas won't be neutral in the "peace for our time" sense, as Gen. Oliver promises that NCR will declare war on Vegas.

Well I can't argue with that, what I can say is that House made a deal with the NCR, why wouldn't the Courier and Yes Man be able to do the same? Live and let-live, but this is all pretty hypothetical ofcourse.

In reality however, I don't think New Vegas can be neutral. Assuming the NCR will keep expanding the Mojave will also be NCR territory, having an independent Vegas in the middle of that is pretty difficult. Unless somehow u can make it interesting for the NCR to have an independent Vegas. I'd like to think that Courier and Yes Man can use the securitron Mk.II army to intimidate the NCR into opening negotiatios about the future, perhaps offer them a slice of the action. Seeing the poor state the NCR is in during this game (financially, recruits running around with no armour) they should be interested. Once they get a good income from Vegas they will have no reason to attack as it will hurt their interests more than they would gain, also if they want to keep expanding and fighting The Legion a steady income from Vegas should also be welcome. Again, this is all hypothetical and how I think the future *could* be.

The Kings are pretty nuetral. They don't care for any factions other then there own. The King doesn't out right hate the NCR, but is getting a little Temperamental with them.

Well, from my ending with Yes Man I believe I exterminated Gen. Oliver and the Rangers, but there was the option to send them back. From what the story presents, the New Vegas is pretty much the farthest end of the NCR's reach on that part of the continent. Given the vast resources of the Securitron army, the threat they present, and the machines and protocols which Mr. House left behind and Yes Man has now assimilated, I think its safe to say that New Vegas will be safe and independent for a long time. ...all fairly hypothetical though... lol