Hey all, I am doing a Brotherhood runaway character (not the one from the Brotherhood comics on Deviantart). I think I may go explosives, but I like to have a reason for it. Anyone have the time to sell me on the rationale of a BoS (choice-wise) RP of using explosives instead of the traditional energy weapons?

Which BoS chapter did they defect from? If it's the Mojave chapter they could have been inspired by the Powder Gangers; as in they left the bunker when they were young (possibly their parents were killed at HELIOS One), grew up enough (or if you OWB got face surgery) so that no one in the bunker would recognise them and - due to the bunker's close proximity to the Powder Gangers - got inspired to use explosives through observation when they were initially just spying on the Brotherhood.

Explosives also have that revolutionary element - blowing stuff up to tear down the established order - so they fit quite well with the rebel persona; even if you didn't like the proposed backstory I provided explosives are a natural fit for rebels, and they may view their former energy weapons as more cold, mechanical and impersonal than big loud ballsy explosives.

I already have a chapter decided on. She grew up in the Lost Hills area (the main BoS HQ). And it does fit somewhat. She was a bit rebellious, but like Veronica, believed the Codex had an honor to it, just that the Brotherhood lost it's primary focus (protecting Technology from those who would abuse it). Thanks for the idea, but more posts would be okay.

The Brotherhood has always maintained an interest in pre-war weaponry and technology oriented around violence. So long as you stick to some of the more potent explosives (C4, fat man, plasma/pulse grenades, etc.), I think you could justify using explosives.

BTW, while the Brotherhood is known for its extensive use of energy weapons, it still has several notable paladins that have used explosives. Furthermore, it is a BOS paladin's body that is found beside the unique grenade-machingun "Mercy." You could perhaps say that due to your character's rebellious nature (perhaps the very reason you left the BOS), you use the much more destructive and less-common explosive weaponry than the hackneyed energy weapons with which the BOS has become so closely associated.

This stuff could fit into the backstory I already have set up. Here is an idea of what I had in mind:

She grew up in the Brotherhood of Steel Headquarters of Lost hills. Despite being the daughter of two well respected members, she always clashed with some of the higher ups. She found herself looking more towards the 'eccentricity' that people claimed she had and focused on making use of explosives. She met and fell in love with an older woman (She is bi-sixual, but homo-romantic), furthering her distance with her parents. One day, she and her lover were caught together by her (the Courier's) father, and a fight happened that resulted in the death of her father. She then fled and found herself on the run. She also found herself freed from the restrictions of the Brotherhood morals and rules, and decided to make the most of it. She also became more and more paranoid that the Brotherhood was out to get her, and so tried to avoid traveling with others whenever possible.

How is it? Feel free to add anything you want.