Summary

• Midwestern BOS armor is inspired by Fallout Tactics, showcasing a rebellious faction within Brotherhood of Steel.
• Eilward's cosplay armor, made of EVA foam, is set for a Russian LARP game, adding a unique touch to the character.
• The Midwestern BOS breaks traditional rules, recruiting super mutants and ghouls, separate from main Brotherhood ideology.

A Fallout fan's real-life power armor shows off the rebellious side of the Brotherhood of Steel, by referring to one of the branches featured in Fallout Tactics. The Brotherhood of Steel is a quasi-religious paramilitary order focused on preserving advanced technology and regulating its usage in a post-war society, believing that humanity cannot be trusted with the means to destroy itself and keeping this technology from them could prevent another apocalypse.

The Brotherhood of Steel has been featured in one form or another in every game in the Fallout franchise so far, and one of the three main protagonists of the live-action TV adaptation was also a member.

In a post on Reddit, Eilward shared an image of their Brotherhood of Steel power armor set, more specifically one based on the Midwestern Brotherhood from 2001's Fallout: Tactics: Brotherhood of Steel, complete with a cowboy hat and patrolman sunglasses.

Further comments state that the power armor is made of EVA foam and was ordered for an Russian Live-Action Role Play (LARP) game, although as of the time of writing, Eilward has yet to elaborate on where they got it from.

The Midwestern Brotherhood Plays By Its Own Rules

Recruiting Super Mutants And Ghouls

Despite the cool visual style of its power armor, the Midwestern Brotherhood is one of the more interesting splinter factions of the Brotherhood of Steel. After crash landing in Chicago during a recon mission, the leaders of what would become the Midwestern Brotherhood became isolated from the main Brotherhood.

With no air or help coming, the group began to play by its own rules, separating itself from the distance and ideology of the main Brotherhood of Steel forces, and has been known to recruit the likes of super mutants and ghouls into its ranks. Despite this openness to welcoming all backgrounds into its ranks it's worth noting that the Midwestern Brotherhood of Steel presented in Fallout Tactics was extremely brutally efficient, and ruthless in their methods, sending death squads to wipe out entire settlements and even crucifying their own guards for failing their duties.

The choice to represent the Midwestern Brotherhood is an interesting one considering how the group has become largely overlooked in later titles for other sectors of the Brotherhood of Steel, with Bethesda previously stating that Fallout Tactics is not considered to be part of the canon, despite incorporating some plot elements from this spin-off as references in newer titles, suggesting that it may be semi-canon instead. Either way, there's no denying that Fallout Tactics still has its fans to this day, and Eilward's Midwestern Brotherhood power armor is a fun callback to the classic isometric titles that the Fallout franchise originated from.

Source: Eilward/Reddit