In the Fallout games, one always goes from zero to hero (or nil to vill) in the course of the game.

But would it work to have a protagonist that is already semi-famous as the leader (or heir to the leader) of a small whatever faction in whatever wasteland that is next?

It would be interesting because in addition to honing yourself into the next legend of the New World, you can either lead your people to become one of the richest, one of the most valorous, or one of the cruelest, and do so by war or diplomacy.

So would you like to lead the next great faction?

I think it's better if you earn it. But once you earn it, you can be for the duration of game.

No I would not like to be a leader of a faction.

A Cult Leader as in a group sees you as a god sure, but not to lead them.

An ideaI had a long time ago:

"Saviour Saint" With really good Karma and high Charisma. You come across an old Church/Chapel or other building, way out in the desert. A woman runs up to you before you get to close to it. "She says that her people have foretold someone with a pure heart and soul will come to help them in their darkest hour."
They believe this is you! A group of heavily armed raiders have taken their home away from them. If you agree to help them and kill all the raiders you gain: The Cult Leader Perk.

The "Cult Leader" Perk. with this perk people are drawn to you and start worshiping you. The church/chapel other building you help take back for the people will become the "church of the Saviour Saint." The people you helped start to you, worship you. They have things to decorate their "church" with. If you go away long enough there will be statues of you and pictures. faceless stautes and blurry paintings of course. will show up in the "church." They will call you their "Saviour Saint." Over time more NPC wastelanders will be drawn to the church of the "Saviour Saint."

Everytime you return the Leader will give you small things. Rad X, Rad away, Water just like the lady in megaton. Sometimes a person will be sent out to find you and give you stuff as well.

If you are evil or don't have high Charisma you can still kill all the raiders. The people will not worship you. No one will run up to you and ask you for help in the first place.

I had this idea for other parts but this topic gave me a reason to have it. There is a Cult that follows the Vault dweller in NCR capital. "church of the Saviour Saint."

That can work as well.

BTW I see that at the time of this post no one wants the next protagonist to be a leader prior to the story.

Of course the people you lead at the beginning don't even register on the radar of any major factions.

So in the big picture you still play as a no-body in the beginning.

The leader of the Mojave BOS as they fight a guerilla war? Yes!

No not some named existing faction.

Your faction.

You introduce yourself as the leader of [insert faction name here].