Brotherhood of Steel hierarchy



As a military-born organization, the Brotherhood of Steel uses ranks to distinguish its various members. The different localized splinter factions occasionally use ranking system which differ to some extent from that of the original Brotherhood.

West Coast
Initiates are trainees who are expected to perform well enough in the training process to be promoted to Senior Initiates, and later to Apprentices. After proving themselves, Apprentices are promoted to Journeyman Knights or Scribes. The next rank is Senior Knight/Scribe, and finally the leader of each of these orders is the Head Knight and Head Scribe.

Scribes are responsible for copying the ancient technologies, maintaining the current technology and even experimenting with new weapons and other useful devices. Scribes rarely leave the safety of the BoS bunkers, but they are sometimes called into the field to examine a piece of technology or perform a task beyond the skills of the Brotherhood soldiers.

Knights are responsible for manufacturing the weapons and other pieces of technology, although they also take part in combat activities. After many years of service and experience, the best Knights are promoted to Paladins - the pinnacle of the Brotherhood military. Paladins are in charge of all security and outside activities. The Paladin ranks are Junior Paladin, Paladin, Senior Paladin, and Head Paladin. As all Paladins are also Knights, the Head Paladin is usually also the Head Knight. Paladins who survive to their later years become Elders, and they number among the Brotherhood ruling council. The leader of the council and the Brotherhood itself is the High Elder, usually descended from the Maxson family.

Capital Wasteland
The Capital Wasteland detachment utilizes a slightly different system than the original Brotherhood out west, for instance, the Paladins are not a separate caste but a rank. In this splinter faction, the Head Paladin is instead titled "Star Paladin" and granted special permission to pursue their own missions.

Midwest
The Midwestern Brotherhood of Steel has a rank system that differs from the original Brotherhood ranks. In the Midwest, the Scribes act as both scientists and engineers, taking the place of both Western Scribes and Knights. Midwestern Knights are just a military rank lower in the hierarchy than Paladins (even lower one being Squire) and are not allowed to use Power Armors. The Inquisitors are the Brotherhood's law enforcement and intelligence.

Texas
The ranks of the Texas Brotherhood of Steel differ slightly from the original Brotherhood ranks. The rank of Knights are just a military rank lower in the hierarchy than Paladin and Scribes remain in the main base and are rarely on the ground.

Elder
The Elders form the Brotherhood's ruling council. Individual Elders are occasionally leaders of localized splinter factions of the Brotherhood.

High Elder
The High Elder is the leader of the Brotherhood of Steel. Since all other known High Elders came from the Maxson family, it has been speculated that Rhombus was descended from Roger Maxson as well. There were most likely some High Elders between Rhombus and Jeremy Maxson.

Known High Elders:
 * Roger Maxson (2077 - 2135)
 * Maxson II (first name unknown, 2135 - 2155)
 * John Maxson (2155 - ?)
 * Rhombus
 * Jeremy Maxson (ca. 2231 - ?)

Initiate
Initiate is one of the lowest ranks in the Brotherhood of Steel's rank system. The precise definition of the rank appears to vary between the regional chapters.

The West Coast division uses the term to indicate a mere trainee as having been initiated into the Brotherhood, whereas the other two reserve that title until the recruit has completed initial training. The most plausible explanation lies in the fact that the West Coast division is significantly more insular than the others; the bulk of its new recruits are the offspring of existing members, and only rarely are outsiders accepted into the organization. By contrast, circumstances have forced the other two divisions to actively recruit from among the local population.

Both the West Coast and Midwestern divisions divide the rank into "buck" Initiate and Senior Initiate. It is not known whether the East Coast division follows this practice.

In the West Coast division, Initiate is the base rank of one who has only just been accepted into the Brotherhood as a trainee. After completing initial training, Initiates are slated to become either Scribes or Knights, and are promoted to Apprentice in the appropriate branch.

Unlike in the other BoS divisions, East Coast Initiates may even be issued power armor if their assignment merits it (as in the case of the ill-fated Initiate Reddin of the Lyons' Pride).

In the Midwestern division, Initiates are members who have completed initial training (and are thus one step above recruits), and the lowest rank that can be assigned to combat duty. Initiates may advance to the rank of Squire.

In the Texas division, Initiates are members which are accepted and must prove themselves on the field. He receives a basic training in use of weapons and fight. He left immediatly the main base shortly after the training, for a mission to prove their value and increase their rank over their prowess.

Journeyman Knight
Not much is known about this rank only that it is higher than Initiate.

Junior Knight
Not much is known about this rank only that it is higher than Journeyman Knight.

Knight
Knights are responsible for manufacturing the weapons and other pieces of technology. After many years of service and experience, the best Knights are promoted to Paladins - the pinnacle of the Brotherhood military. The next rank is Senior Knight, and finally the leader the order is the Head Knight. As all Paladins are also Knights, the Head Paladin is usually also the Head Knight. Knights wear mostly Combat Armors. The large gear in the Brotherhood of Steel symbol represents the Knights.

In the Capital Wasteland Brotherhood of Steel and Midwestern Brotherhood of Steel, "Knight" is a strictly military rank and the Scribes are the ones responsible for manufacturing technology there.

Knight Captain
Knight Captain is a rank used by the Capital Wasteland Brotherhood of Steel. In Fallout 3, there are four known members of the brotherhood who have achieved this rank, which are Knight Captain Dusk, Gallows and Colvin from Lyons' Pride as well as Knight Captain Durga.

Knight Commander
Knight commanders control groups of knights in the brotherhood and group up inside the A ring to discuss battle plans and such at a round table area

Knight Sergeant
Knight Sergeant is a rank used by the Capital Wasteland Brotherhood of Steel, denoting a position above Knight and below Knight Captain.

Paladin
Paladins are a class of members of the Brotherhood of Steel. They are likened to the Scribes and Knights of the Brotherhood as being on the same level, but with a different purpose. They are the protectors of the Brotherhood, fighting and protecting its interests across the wasteland, equipped with Power Armor and an array of lethal weapons.

As mentioned in Chris Avellone's Fallout Bible 8, "the scribes develop technology, the knights build it, and the paladins use it."

Contrary to the original Brotherhood, Owyn Lyons has changed the rank system - Paladins are no longer a separate caste, but a rank (albeit a high one) instead.

Sentinel
Sentinel is a rank used by the Capital Wasteland Brotherhood of Steel, ranking between Paladin and Elder. The only member of the Brotherhood to have achieved this rank at the time of Fallout 3 is Sarah Lyons, who leads the Lyons' Pride elite unit.

Squire
The only Capital Wasteland Brotherhood of Steel member of this rank in 2277 is Arthur Maxson, which would imply that the rank is reserved for children and is lower than Initiate. It is possible that this rank is used similarly in the original Lost Hills Brotherhood.

In the Midwestern Brotherhood of Steel, Squires are one step above Initiates and are the least experienced and trained of the Brotherhood active military.

Star Paladin
Star Paladin is a rank held in the Capital Wasteland Brotherhood of Steel. It is ranked below Sentinel, but above Paladin. A follower called Star Paladin Cross is presumed to be the only holder of this rank in Fallout 3.

Scribe
Scribes are tasked with creating and keeping records of the technology used by the Brotherhood. The attitude of many scribes in the Brotherhood can be described as techno-centric, while a great number study history and culture the majority of scribes focus their studies on subjects related to the acquisition, repair or creation of technology.