NCR VS Minuteman (Theorizing Thread)

[Jusey1]

This more of just a theory, not a "fight contest" or anything to that like. Every game has some sort of canonized ending, despite the player having the freedom to choose their own ending. Due to how everything works in the Fallout series and that the "nice" ending is usually the most possible... I am theorizing of an possible ultimate goal for Fallout 5 or a later Fallout game.

Remember, this is just a theory and I am curious about your own thoughts as well. With that in mind, here we go...

Based on the canonized endings from Fallout 1 - 3, I am making a few guesses that Fallout 4's canonized ending will be the Minuteman ending. Most likely, the Minuteman will destroy the Institute and set-up a foundation of a possible new Government/faction, maybe even pushing the Brotherhood of Steel out of the Commonwealth (NOT destroying them, just telling them to leave basically). Railroad would probably be untouch, or never mention.

As for New Vegas... The canonized ending is either going to be Yes Man's ending or the NCR ending. The Legion ending is far too punishing and evil, which is never the case in the canonized ending, and Mr. House's ending wouldn't have that much of an effect in the world, and if that ending happens... Then nothing will actually be mentioned about New Vegas to begin with. However, NCR and Yes Man endings do have a possible everlasting effect that aren't extremely harmful as a whole, and for the sack of this theory, I'ma assume that the NCR ending will be canonized. Just remember though, I do think that the Yes Man ending is most possible because Yes Man is the only ending that can't be turned down completely (just like how you can never fully kill off the Minuteman). However, this could be evidence that Yes Man being alive just support the theory that the NCR will take control of the Securitrons via him, and are using these robots as part of their army.

Now, the idea for Fallout 5 is pretty simple. The Minuteman will get a foundation, and then push outward. Expanding from beyond the Commonwealth to get more people together and fight against the likes of Raiders, mutants, and other dangerous enemies, since that is generally their goal. Assuming the Minuteman grows in numbers and strength over time, which they can easily do so during the Fallout 4 game. Due to the player's actions, the Minuteman could easily gain access to similar things that the player has done (such as the Robot Workbench stuff)...

We already know that the NCR has been expanding as well, and are probably gonna keep doing so. Eventually defeating the Legion and continue onward through America... Eventually, if both factions keep their success going, they will come face-to-face to one another, and this is my possible idea of what Fallout 5 could be.

Simply put, since the NCR do NOT put the people before them but rather run like a normal (possible corrupted) Government, then they will get some disagreements with Minuteman and possible a war will begin between the two of them, and the player of Fallout 5 will actually get to choose between them or have other choices. (For example, they could choose Brotherhood of Steel, who would potentially be enemies of both factions. FYI: A 3rd option)...

And that's about it really. Due to the NCR having a headstart though, I assume the location would be in the Eastern part of the Mid-area of America. Somewhere in Ohio, Alabama, and the states in between them...

What you guys think? Would this be a likely possibility of a future Fallout game? Where do you think they'll meet up at? Which side would you choose?

I enjoy a good discussion like this, so please share your thoughts.

[BaneBlackGuard]

my guess is the canon ending will be the BOS defeat the Institute and the railroad for harboring dangerous technology, and lets the Minutemen continue what they are doing since it doesn't interfere with the Brotherhood. this lets the Fallout world pretty much maintain a status quo.

I would prefer the canon ending to be the Institute winning which then, under the guidance of the new Director, helps the Minutemen secure a growing set of settlements. ultimately over time becoming the force for good and enlightenment in the Commonwealth and the source of it's prosperity. This ultimately would change the Fallout world in fundamental ways which makes it seem unlikely to be embraced by Bethesda moving forward. Personally I think it would make the whole series become more interesting because I loathe stasis.... but the Commonwealth rising from the destitute quagmire that is the Fallout world would irrevocably change the franchises identity, and i just don't see them allowing that.

[Chilli Dog Dave]

pretty sure by default the minutemen out last the NCR because you dont wipe out the minutemen ever, they expand like fire and have no known faction enemy par everybodies raider or supermutant issues.
where as the NCR is more like a branch of the brotherhood, not the collect tech side but the law and order of the land.

so i see the minutemen and NCR argument as equivilant to north and south america.
they fight for similar things but do things completely different, have different rules and prioritize differently.

on this note i actually feel the intitute wins (along side the minutemen without them knowing) since they were the only faction of the 3 who DIDN'T want to wipe the other factions out but were left with little choice, though father became more corrupt and saw humanity was hopeless.
the sole survivor does not see it his way and the fact you can side with both institute and minutemen opens a window into the fact that the institute can be used to help the commonwealth via the minutemen through espianage.

nothing kills raider gangs like betrayal from within, and given the massive tech the sole survivor would have at his disposal being the new boss in charge could completely turn the institute around.

[Yhwach]

The NCR has an entire state at their back, a flag to carry, and the manpower to stay that way and can definitely outlast the minutemen.
The Minutemen have fallen before, so who's to say they wouldn't again?; It just really depends on how they were brought up by the protagonist, how big they were at the time, and even at default levels It doesn't seem like they'd last very long compared to the ncr.

[BaneBlackGuard]

Originally posted by D-Dog🐺:

The NCR has an entire state at their back, a flag to carry, and the manpower to stay that way and can definitely outlast the minutemen.
The Minutemen have fallen before, so who's to say they wouldn't again?; It just really depends on how they were brought up by the protagonist, how big they were at the time, and even at default levels It doesn't seem like they'd last very long compared to the ncr.

the minutemen are more of an idea, and I don't see that idea ever going away. they may run into rough patches as they evidently did prior to the start of 4, but if they had the backing of the Institute and a growing population of settlers to draw from, which they clearly do in my game at least, then the Minutemen as a standing militia looks to be in pretty good shape, especially considering the leader of the Minutemen and the Director of the Institute are the same person.........

[Jusey1]

About the Institute + Minuteman ordeal... Honestly, I don't think we will ever know for certain. Bethesda likes to keep things in the dark when in comes to previous protagonists choices. Most likely, the Institute and Railroad both will just not be mentioned or be mentioned very little. Brotherhood of Steel and Minuteman are the only two obvious picks and between them, I have a feeling that the Minuteman will win over the Commonwealth during Fallout 4's time, but never actually destroying the BoS, just kicking them out of the Commonwealth peacefully.

I have a feeling that the BoS will stick to being the 3rd option, instead of being one of the main options.