Brotherhood Outcasts

The Outcasts are a group of former members of the Capital Wasteland Brotherhood of Steel that believed that by abandoning the Brotherhood of Steel’s primary mission of acquiring new technologies, Elder Owyn Lyons had abandoned the very values that defined the order itself. They left the Citadel, and have re-dedicated their lives to what they consider the Brotherhood of Steel’s only mission – the acquisition of new technologies.

Brotherhood Outcasts wear power armor that has been repainted black and blood red in color. To compensate for their reduced numbers, the Outcasts have supplemented their forces with a number of reprogrammed Robobrains and Protectrons that have also been repainted black and blood red.

In addition to procuring and stockpiling technologies, the Outcasts analyze and reverse engineer them, increasing their already substantial understanding of them. Logs can be found in their base that are accounts of their work.

Their main base in the Washington D.C area is Fort Independence. The Lone Wanderer can talk with Protector Casdin, who can arrange a deal between the Outcasts and the Lone Wanderer to trade various technological items for useful supplies (see The Outcast Collection Agent).

While Brotherhood of Steel patrols can be found inside the D.C. Ruins, Brotherhood Outcast patrols are common out in the Capital Wasteland. Outcast patrols typically involve 3 Brotherhood Outcasts (Often, 1 armed with a ranged weapon, 1 armed with a melee weapon, and one armed with a heavy weapon) or, more commonly, 1-2 outcasts, and an Outcast Protectron or Robobrain. There are 3 "ranks" of Brotherhood Outcast, with the higher ranks appearing as the player's level increases. Higher level Outcasts have more hit points and better weapons. Outcast patrols are neutral towards the player, and will fight against hostile enemies such as Raiders, critters, or rogue robots.

History
Some time after the destruction of the Enclave, the Brotherhood of Steel ruling council, based in the Lost Hills bunker in South California, decided to send a contingent of soldiers to the East Coast, to recover any and all advanced technology from Washington, DC and to investigate the reports of super mutant activity in the area. When the group reached the East Coast, they found the Pentagon largely destroyed, but they found there a technological marvel that, if restored, could help the Brotherhood rebuild a strength and reputation that had been declining steadily for years. After the discovery, Paladin Owyn Lyons, the leader of the expedition, was promoted to Elder. A permanent base known as the Citadel was built into and beneath the ruins of the Pentagon. Lyons and his soldiers also found the super mutants in the urban ruins of downtown D.C. and helped stop the mutant tide from overtaking the entire region, by at least keeping them at bay.

Eventually, Lyons decided to make protection of innocent inhabitants of Capital Wasteland from super mutants his main priority. In response, the Lost Hills elders cut off all support to the East Coast faction, while still recognizing him as a leader of the Brotherhood of Steel, and the Citadel as their D.C. headquarters. Most of Elder Lyons’ soldiers supported his dedication to the people of the Capital Wasteland, and were proud of their leader’s commitment to honor and heroism. But there were those who voiced their opposition – loudly, and aggressively. They believed that by abandoning the Brotherhood of Steel’s primary mission of acquiring new technologies, Elder Lyons had abandoned the very values that defined the order itself.

One night, the dissenters departed from the Citadel, absconding with weapons, Power Armor, and other pieces of technology and equipment. This was, without question, Owyn Lyons’ darkest hour. He had become a man of compassion and understanding, and couldn’t help but sympathize with those who had left: he had abandoned the Brotherhood’s primary mission. He recognized that, and took full responsibility. Some of the Knights and Paladins who left had been his battle brothers for years. Together, they had shared victory and loss, pain and elation. But to those soldiers loyal to Elder Lyons, this dereliction of duty and theft of technology was an act of cowardice and treason. Lyons was left with little choice: he branded the dissenters “Outcasts,” traitors to the Brotherhood of Steel – it was a name they would ultimately wear like a badge of honor, proud of the distance it put between themselves and Lyons’ “soldier sycophants.”

Combat Statistics
While not quite as durable or hardy as the actual Brotherhood of Steel members found in the Capital Wasteland, Brotherhood Outcasts are nonetheless formidable opponents. They have superior protection, weaponry, and skills to virtually every faction encountered in the Capital Wasteland, including Raiders, Talon Company Mercenaries, and most indigenous fauna the Wasteland has to offer. Making them a bit more dangerous, Outcasts generally operate in patrols, meaning all of them can open fire on a target the second a hostile appears. Outcasts patrols are generally are weaker than Enclave kill-teams, however, and frequently lose to them in direct combat unless the Outcast squad is making use of heavy weapons. Fortunately for the player, Outcasts are usually friendly (if gruff and rude) when encountered, meaning their appearance can be often be helpful. Outcasts will fight any of the more hostile indigenous factions and creatures, saving you ammunition, time, and energy, and their fallen can be looted for Outcast Power Armor and advanced weapons. Many players have taken to eliminating Outcast teams in the field specifically for the gear they drop, as the money it can provide is considerable.

Outcast Patrols generally use the following weapons:
 * AEP7 Laser Pistol
 * Super Sledge
 * Ripper
 * AER9 Laser Rifle
 * Missile Launcher
 * Flamer
 * Minigun
 * Gatling Laser (Higher Level encounters often have the Minigunner trade-up for one)
 * Frag Grenades
 * Frag Mines
 * Stimpacks
 * Any Combat Chem, including Med-X or Psycho
 * Any Weapon Salvaged from other enemies (If you see an Outcast carrying, say, an Enclave Plasma Rifle, Combat Shotgun, Sniper Rifle or Chinese Assault Rifle, this is, more likely than not, the reason)

In addition to having human members, the Outcasts make extensive use of Protectrons and Robobrains. A few squads will even make use of particularly powerful Sentry Bots, equipped with Gatling Lasers, or Mr. Gutsys. All of the above can be easily-spotted by their red-and-black-flecked paintjob, minimicking those of their Outcast masters. While the Protectron is hardly a wonderful combatant, the Robobrain can prove a challenge, the Gutsy can be a threat, and the Sentry Bot can be outright dangerous. Particularly strong squads have a higher concentration of better gear; a squad of 3 Outcasts - one Laser Rifle-armed, 1 with a Minigun, and 1 with a Gatling Laser, can sometimes be found if you're high enough level near Smith Casey's Garage.

Humorously, though you will not lose Karma for killing an Outcast, you will lose Karma for killing their Protectron, Robobrain, or Sentry Bot. Though early Outcasts aren't much challenge, later on they can prove quite formidable; there is a single Outcast near Old Olney that often gets himself killed by Deathclaws in the region, but who may spawn with a Minigun and will survive quite a while as he patrols. How successful they are depends on luck, and the gear they have; a Minigun-armed Outcast will generally last much longer.

Known members

 * Protector Casdin
 * Defender Morgan
 * Defender Rockfowl
 * Branchtender Linden
 * T.T. Bowser
 * J.J. Browne
 * J.T. Benning
 * R.R. Rasting
 * L.J. Rogers

Attitude towards wastelanders
The BoS Outcasts show great disdain towards wastelanders. While not hostile, they will constantly insult and berate the player. Though the player can make a deal with them at Fort Independence, it is not possible to join their group. If the player is caught trying to enter their base, the Outcasts will become hostile, unless the player has delivered enough technology to them to be considered a friend. Even if you're considered a friend, the Outcasts will still berate you.

Addition: Access is never "given" but after supplying Protector Casdin with enough scrap metal, energy weapons, and/or Power Armors, the dialog option "So are we good? Do you trust me enough now?" appears when speaking to Protector Casdin. This is usually when it becomes safe to lock pick the door to Fort Independence.

Protector Casdin does engage in nearby firefights and can sometimes be found dead at Fort Independence making the free form quest to deliver materials impossible. Searching his corpse reveals a door key, but using it will still turn the Outcasts hostile upon entering Fort Independence.

Outcast members are scripted as evil characters (despite them being more gray than black). Thus, fingers can be taken off their corpses if the player character takes the Lawbringer perk.

Trivia

 * Ambush spot: Just west of Fort Independence, on the main road up the hill, is an explodable car that an outcast patrol will frequently pass. If you drop a few mines underneath the car, wait until the outcast patrol is next to it and shoot the mines (Sniper rifle helps a lot here), the resulting explosion will kill both outcasts and their robot, and the other outcasts will not be hostile to the player.  At higher levels, one of the outcast patrol members will have traded up his  Minigun for a  Gatling Laser.


 * If you have a good weapons skill and a good weapon you can kill Outcasts. If you kill one Outcast patrol, the other patrols won't notice because they didn't see it happen. This gives fingers if you have the Lawbringer perk and good equipment.


 * As long as the patrol is relatively far from Fort Independence and out of sight of other Outcast members when you kill them, other Outcast members won't be hostile. Of course, if you are spotted by another group of Outcasts, killing anyone that saw will keep you on good terms with the rest of the Outcasts.


 * A respawning six-member Outcast patrol can be found at Reclining Groves Resort Homes sometimes fighting raiders, Radscorpions, and Deathclaws. They carry laser rifles, missile launchers, and a minigun/gatling laser. They can be killed without making the all other Outcasts hostile to you.


 * After making nice with the Outcasts, Outcast patrols will actively attack any enemy that attacks you. After fast-travelling to Fort Constantine, I headed southeast, and was attacked by Talon Company Mercs. The Outcasts near the Shishkebab Schematic proceeded to run down and lend a helping hand with some Laser fire. After the Mercs fell, the Outcast closest to me said: "Casdin says you're clear." He must have liked those old suits of Power Armor and Laser Pistols more than I thought.


 * If you don't care about trading technology for chems and ammunition, shotguns, grenades, and rocket launchers will make short work of the Brotherhood Outcasts at Fort Independence if you use cramped spaces and take them one at a time.


 * Any time the Outcast patrols get near an explodable car you have an opportunity to get some very nice weapons and armor, but they are in poor condition. Wait for the right moment and shoot the car with a combat shotgun. Note: If the patrol has a Mister Gutsy model with it be sure to destroy it quickly if it begins running away, this will alert other Outcast members.