Do I HAVE to join the Brotherhood of Steel?

[Tanya]

I got a quest that says to join. If I join, will I lose my connection with the Minutemen?

What happens exactly?

[Beautiful Ham Sandwich]

There are 4 factions. 3 of them, including BoS, are enemies of each other. Minutemen are neutral, and no matter which you side with they'll be friendly. You can join all factions, until later on in the main questline where you have to start choosing a side

[DEVOLVE MINHA CACHAÇA!]

Originally posted by Tanya:

I got a quest that says to join. If I join, will I lose my connection with the Minutemen?

What happens exactly?

From the start of the game to a certain point in the main questline, you can be member of all four factions without one interfering with another's business, or your membership with any of them.

If you join the Brotherhood, and you are already a member of the Minutemen, nothing changes, but it might change later as you progress through the story.

[Tanya]

So, I should join? O.o

[Atlas]

If you've already completed the questlines involving paladin danse yes. Otherwise joining BOS and getting pally danse as a comp breaks all other quests IE you cant hand them in.

[Casper]

Well.. the first few missions are some nice XP grabs, access to unique items and vendors (especially for legendary power armor) So give it a crack even if you don't want to finish with them.

[Xyzzy]

You can join all 4 fractions and do all quests right upto Act III end game.
Should you? I only do Danse to get haylen and rhys repeats, I also work the inst with railroad and I'm leader oif minutemen too.

[Doofenshmirtz]

Remember that this is a rpg and you always have a choice. If you dislike the Brotherhood, you can choose not to join and you'll always be able to change your mind or continue with the questline. Also, joining any faction will not cause you to become enemies with another until you reach a breaking point in that questline (such as the Mass Fusion quest and End of the Line). However, there is always benefits to joining a faction such more opportunities to gain xp, achievements, and valuable loot. Finally keep in mind that companion relations could be affected. For example, Deacon, (spoilers) a Railroad agent who can become your follower, likes it when you decline Danse's offer but hates it when you accept. That's about it.

[Hemipheistos]

I chose to not join any side...i obviously can not finish the main quest line, but as a lone survivor i do not need all of this yolks. Also it is still kinda fun to lure the factions together when possible and profit from the kill steals without getting hostile...

PS: In other words.. no don't join them unless you wanna go full MURICA extinction mode.. (still kinda fun thou..)

[LAZERFACE]

Joining the brotherhood will give you more quests. I always start railroad BOS and minuteman 1 chapter quests. In chapter 2 i choose which path I want to go. Often i stay secretly nuetral with all factions as long as i can, like undercover, then i strike.

BOS gives you 2 epic power armor pieces for VATS if you do it right, so if you like power armor BOS is cool.

I currently on this reroll at lv75 and in chapter 2, going slow, side questing with differant companions, I have no clue what path i will take. I am specced pistol/big guns and carry Deliverer and Broadsider, ammo is time consuming and i spam eyebot for cannonballs.