MAJOR SPOILERS AHEAD

I loved the Brotherhood under elder Lyons because they could still achieve their goals regarding tech without being total [censored]s in the process. But the Maxson lead brotherhood dont seem to care about wastelanders, just killing the synths and protecting humanity from from its self. This is a morally sound cause.. they are trying to save humans by looking at the bigger picture. But I think their attitudes towards mutants and synths is a massive pitfall and stops them being the good guys imo. I mean how are Maxsons BOS any more good than the Enclave? Both disregard the innocent in favor of reaching their goals.

about the synths...Surely if anything reaches a level of sentience where they can experience emotions such as happiness, pride etc why should they be considered to be any less worthy of living than humans? From the chat with one specific synth they argue that they feel emotions the same as humans. they are not merely programmed to show emotions but claim they can FEEL it right? Their only problem is that they are supposed to be replacing humans some clones actually dispose of their human counterparts. They can also infiltrate your settlement and start shooting your settlers! Replacing humans is bad, the institute has no right to do that so i consider them to be the worst of the bunch.. not to mention the enslavement of sentient beings.

so far i am more and more thinking that the minute men and railroad are the best moral choice for a good guy character? what do you guys think? i want to like the brotherhood but i cant accept their disregard for non human sentient life forms and their attitude towards the wastelanders in general.

Also im not too sure of the Railroads stance on humans (haven't done railroad quests yet), do they only care about Synths?

Maxson's Brotherhood is more closer to what the Brotherhood has always been like. Lyon's Brotherhood were the odd ones out.

I think with the world in the state it is they need to be more ruthless and look at the bigger picture. I wouldn't say they're anything like the Enclave though, they are trying to make the Commonwealth safer for the residents.

The majority of the Commonwealth would be incredibly happy to have synths and mutants gone so why should they seem bad to the humans there?

I feel the Institutes goals justify their means also, but they seem to be working for the good of humanity and putting humanity first. I wasn't convinced at first but their questline does shed light on more things.

The first time the BOS found synths they WIPED out entire cities such as ST. Louis OFF THE MAP, utterly crushed a chapter. And here in the Commonwealth THEY DID THE SAME THING. Synths have wiped out entire towns for resources, abducted people constantly, and basically worked as raiders in the past of the region.

This faction of the BOS is one minded on its hate of anything not human, but the East Coast BOS has never liked non-humans Lyons or otherwise. and have done similiar jobs at the Pitt killing the trogs like mutants.

The BOS doesn't understand synths and think they might be like the Wasteland 2 Synths that can replicate themselves once they leave, or otherwise undermine humanity by sneaking in as spies, and saboteurs. Better to err on the side of caution, if you've ever played wasteland 2 fallout's BOS are doing the same thing, sending a team to investigate a wierd power signature. They believe in nipping the problem in its bud, the institute may have even damaged the BOS over in the east coast to justify the BOS's invasion, Paladin Danse could have been one of many sleeper agents.

The BOS has always treated wastelanders the same, as trash until they become recruits, after that they go through brutal training that can leave up to 80% of the initiates buried 6 feet under before becoming a knight. The Lyons BOS was no different in its distain, however, it was more likely to respect the property of others without resorting to stealing from them usually from what we've seen. However, they did confiscate from the enclave and who knows from whom else perhaps the lone wanderer was simply an exception due to that pip-boy and James.

Keep in mind for all of its extremism the BOS DOES FIX PROBLEMS. They've basically wiped out the mutants in the capital wasteland pushing them into Boston, and are developing infrastructure in the capital wasteland. They're now a true military instead of huddling in the citadel this would suggest a massive increase in number with both the outcasts and east coast working together.

Heck that tiny cult in megaton is now pretty large and significant here in Boston. So in the past 10 years the capital wasteland has grown a whole lot after Elder Max took charge.

Remember that Synths can be reprogramed IN AN INSTANT that means with the right pass code, or frequency the institute can walk in like on Harkness and make him betray his former friends and family, the BOS is right to fear what synths can do to society.

---

On the topic, I'm in support of the Minute men because they're the nicest bunch, who show you the ropes, going with them also yields the most benefits with the castle being able to pump out 400 cases of water per day or so, that's 4K caps for doing nothing.

The Institute does not have humanities best interests at heart they simply want to mold the wasteland in their image implanting spies, and sabetours to slowly take back the wasteland. There's no doubt your Son knew where you were, how you were building communities, and after all that his synths STILL shoot you on sight or anyone else on sight. If he cared about YOU, or the Wasteland he would have simply gotten his synths to make communities and protect them on the surface 40 years ago. The Institute would have done THIS 200 years ago if they cared(at least 60 years ago that seems to be when the synth army got big enough to have those skeletons).

The East BOS have that awesomely cool airship, but it wouldn't be wrong to say they're just like the Enclave and would most likely kill any wastelanders that are too irradiated. The Midwest BOS's evil ending has them become like the East Coast in Fallout 4, so there's always the chance the BOS can change since they are slowly progressing to be more accepting, you can even convince the Elder to let Danse go. After that a few years later he might even change his mind on the entire synth problem. With Virgil around, the BOS might even look into curing mutations instead of wiping them out.

Synths are human beings.

The game is blindingly over-the-top with this and it makes it clear repeatedly that the Institute is in disgusting levels of denial about their humanity. So, at the end of the day, the Institute is a bunch of slavers. Add in the fact they do some nightmarishly despicable things in the name of science (which benefits no one) and the fact Doctor Li can tell you, upfront, "This place is a utopia but it's people are scum" that you should leave.

It's a Paradise Falls type of Paradise.

Except, it hides the fact it's built on the backs of slaves better.

The Brotherhood of Steel's genocidal intentions against Synths, Mutants, and Ghouls are basically enough to mark them as pseudo-Space Marines from Warhammer 40K. They also intend to rule directly over the Commonwealth as dictators.

Screw those guys.

The Railroad and Minutemen are really the two good factions. You can also join both.

Does the Brotherhood despise all ghouls or just the ones that aren't like humans? If against all ghouls wouldn't they wipe out goodneighbour?