What If Maxson's Reforms Had Failed? | Fallout 4 Alternate History Video Essay 

Nice theory crafting. Something I think is worth pointing out is that there is a distinct lack of detailed records of Maxson coming into absolute power, and many key personnels, such as Star Paladin Cross, entirely disappear from records. In FO3 we do see much of the BoS supports Lyon's pursuit and aim, but in FO4 just 10 years later BoS is almost as fanatic and full of personal worship as the Children of Atom. This could be an indication that a purge happened in BoS. It is likely that the Outcasts were used as the purging force shortly after the reintegration. And given that people with very little tactical thinking will consider a long range expedition a bad idea without first squashing "internal disputes", it is likely that such a purge would be somewhere between 2283 and 2286 (give them sometime to prepare and travel). Therefore, Scenario 2 is more likely to happen in the Capital than the Commonwealth if Maxson's purge failed..

okay the latter theory of a commonwealth split is really, really cool, this should be a quest mod, yes I know project Valkyrie exists but imo this is a lot more intresting and a lot more realistic

The latter scenario’s line of thinking is similar to how I think Maximus’ arc will go in future Fallout seasons. I could see him feeling conflicted between his obligations to Quintus’ Brotherhood and his idealism of what a BoS Knight should be. I imagine that he finds a journal or other record of Elder Lyons’ life in the Capital Wasteland, and how his priorities align with Maximus’ ideals. Therefore, I believe that Maximus’ will eventually overthrow Quintus’ and adopt Lyons’ philosophy, gradually following Lucy eastward and blazing a new, more benevolent path for the BoS to follow.

Honestly that second what if idea sounds so cool!

I honestly would love a mod that allows us to play out the failure in Boston events. As I’d love to see how groups like the minutemen and railroad would interact with Lyons Pride.

Dude. I gotta say im not that well versed in the individual history of the BoS but i know enough to identify some events and characters (besides Marxson since i didn't play Fallout 4). Really great in-depth explanation of your theory and just makes me want to go back and try and finish Fallout 3 and play more of the series. Great one dude, keep it up. [P.S] If i need a Fallout expert for a video i know who to call now :3

Good stuff id love to see more fallout alternate history

One thing you forgot about in Option 1 was the fact that Lyons and his Brotherhood *were already* abandoned by the West Coast elders by the time of Fallout 3. It is stated in dialouge that the east coast chapter was already cut off from the resources and authority of the west coast when they found out about Lyons straying away from the core goal. So the west coast elders couldn't just "call back" the chapter. (Also, Arthur isn't the grandson of Roger Maxson. Fallout 3 is 200 years after the Great War, that is way too many generation for him to be a grandson.)

The ending to fallout 4 that is most likely is the one where all three factions outside The institute survive the rarest but best ending for the entire Commonwealth

based on how danse reacts to being revealed to be a synth in the base game i dont think he'd defect something about him just tells me he doesnt have the balls to do that

To this day i wonder what maxson did to the lone wanderer

You should do a video on the Minutemen never falling

Awesome video you earned my sub

I'd bet the Lyonists would join the minutemen

Notes/ideas I do have a slight issue with the second failure I do believe lyonists would prove a challenge but I doubt they would outright leave maxion basically being the Napoleon of the brotherhood taking the failing dying brotherhood and changing it into a Coast dominating superpower in the wasteland making it the strongest chapter in the series yet but i could see a timeline where the brotherhood grows to hate maxion and eventually overthrowing him entirely maxion is a good leader reorganizing the brotherhood giving him unprecedented power and loyalty but he is a Young man and can act rashly and quickly as seen in red glare with the railroad with lack of victories and progress on the liberty prime project we see many brotherhood members and command very disgruntled Teagan being used as a scapegoat most likely blaming the equipment he gave out ingrum being chewed out most likely to to lack of progress on the Liberty prime project we see quinlin very eager for any documents to try and aid the war effort and cade very overwhelmed with moral so low and maxions anger growing by each failure pushing even his most loyal away if this continues for a time and the added pressure from the lyonists criticizing the farm raids and the lack of results discontent with leadership would spread like wildfire eventually leading to maxions overthrow with leadership empty i can see two options for elder paladin dance or captain kells Dance Dance was a proud maxion follower although a good soldier he lacks imagination he would most likely refocus the brotherhood to fight the institute more taking resources off other missions like ghouls and super mutants I don't see his rule being that grand most likely ending in being stuck and potentially stepping down Captain kells Kells is older than maxion and worked very close to him and not wanting to fall to the same fate it seems like he was the one organizing most operations examples are when telling the brotherhood about Arcadia you talk to kells not maxion most if not all plans kells made having to be approved by maxion but with kells in charge he would most likely focus on quick sweep and retrieve not patrolling the Commonwealth anymore and a higher focus on appeasing the lyonists i could see kells pulling out of the Commonwealth to ensure his transition of power is recognized most likely leaving a part of the brotherhood in the Commonwealth to monitor The institute and to keep giving data to the capital wasteland kells possibly returning once the brotherhood is ready But whoever takes up elder after maxion it's clear that the failures up to that point would be placed squarely on maxion the entire Commonwealth being the blunder of a young elder who throughout his life being fed the idea that he's soul was forged in eternal steel leading to a overzealous and proud leader the blame being pushed on maxion would vindicate other brotherhood command after maxion blaming them over and over he would most likely be seen as a good leader of smaller operations but not good as handling full scale campaigns overall they would gloat on the failures of what was essentially a profit of steel (There were things I left out because this is already super long things like the gunners smelling blood in the water with a weakened brotherhood making them more aggressive and the importance of certain brotherhood members like haylen in the lyonists movement and the failure of the brotherhood at the battle of bunker hill leading to frustrated troops potentially taking it out on civilians reducing recruitment numbers and i would also find it cool if you did an alternate history on his Sarah lyons never died thanks)

It didn't take long for me too realize the Brotherhood in Fallout 4 we're just a militia starting a war Not the same Brotherhood from the other games. Maxon is a psycho, anything he sees as inhuman he will kill immediately. Ghouls, Synths or Super Mutants. When the game shows us that all 3 have redeeming qualities -Hancock and the other thousands Ghouls living normal lives - Strong, the friendly super Mutant - then Nick valentine and Dima, both Synths. Nick is considered the best detective in the commonwealth The FO4 Brotherhood is basically the Gunners with a blimp and better weapon and armor

What about option 4 Maxson is a lyonist loyalists since he was raised by Lyon when he was a kid and personally knew the lone wonder possibility idolizing him it’s something like this I would see him realistically at the time to grow up as under elder Lyon eye

I honestly always liked Lyons more than the Maxon and outcast's. Brotherhood ideology of just keeping the technology for themselves without creating anything new is morally old. It made sense in a first 50-80 years after the war but not as civilizations started to rise up and humanity actually started to develop again. Maxon despite being smart and having a good point at some aspects is still seems to be way too radical and not pragmatic, he has experience but he is still not fully ready for being elder and makes many many mistakes. He destroys institute with all of it silver handed and golden minded scientists and hell tone of valuable technologies people of the wasteland (at least in east coast, in West we have House and think tank) will have to work hard for CENTURIES to gain. He disrespects people of the commonwealth and their culture and interests seeing them as just a merely toys on a table. He placed such a big amount of officers, weapons, vertibirds, experienced soldiers and even himself on a prydwen which is easy asf target. Some mf on Psychos who lets say, found fat boy with mini nuke in a pile of junk outside of sanctuary hills can put an end in to half of brotherhood resources with one damn click and one good shot . Some may say: "brotherhood were always menace" and i say: YES they are and I'm honestly sick of it. I'm tired of seeing both brotherhood and enclave as a menace, it makes factions boring 😑, years passes and they all stays the same, factions and states has a habit to change their policy as they exists y'know?

Midwestern brotherhood is better❤