Fallout 4 has four main factions for players to side with when they are completing the main questline. The Brotherhood of Steel is the most famous of these factions because it was also present in previous Fallout games, and there is a lot of history for this group.
Some players were upset when the Brotherhood of Steel ended up acting more evil than moral in Fallout 4, and it is easy to see why considering that the Brotherhood of Steel has evolved to both condone bigotry and stealing from settlements of the Commonwealth. There are a lot of great things about the Brotherhood of Steel, but this group has also committed some terrible atrocities as well.
10 Best - They Have An Airship
The BOS has an airship in Fallout 4 that they used to get to the Commonwealth from the Capital Wasteland. They parked it at an abandoned airport from pre-war times.
The Prydwen allows the BOS to not easily be attacked by enemies such as the Institute and the Railroad because getting to the ship is quite difficult since the BOS are the only faction that has Vertibirds at their disposal which is the only way to move through the air.
9 Terrible - They Are Bigoted Towards Ghouls And Synths
The BOS has never been especially kind to sentient ghouls, and in Fallout 4, there are many characters such as Paladin Danse that have an even stronger hatred for them.
The BOS now also spews bigotry towards synths since they consider them to be machines that are against the basic laws of nature. Unfortunately, synths exactly like humans, especially in terms of consciousness, and the BOS is causing a lot of harm to synths that are free in the Commonwealth. The BOS is known to kill synths and ghouls on contact.
8 Best - They Have A Massive Army
The BOS has a much larger army than any other faction present in the Commonwealth, especially when compared to the Minutemen and the Railroad. The Institute may have a bigger army due to their large manufacturing of synths; however, their army isn't trained for combat.
The BOS has an even larger army in the Capital Wasteland that could aid them if they ever need help; however, it would take quite a bit of time for the Capital Wasteland BOS members to make their way to the Commonwealth on foot.
7 Terrible - They Force Farms To Give Them Food
There are radiant quests that the player can perform for the BOS where the Sole Survivor can go to the different settlements in the Commonwealth and ask them to contribute food to the Brotherhood of Steel's cause
If these Farmers refuse, then the player can threaten them and make the farmers give them food by force. This is a terrible act, and it shows the ruthlessness of the BOS and its members since they are willing to steal from innocent people.
6 Best - They Have Access To A Lot Of Power Armor
Power Armor is a rare resource in the Commonwealth, especially since it was usually only used by the military. However, the BOS has acquired a large Power Armor collection over the years, and the player will gain access to it when they join up with the BOS.
Most of this power armor is T-51 and T-60; both of these suits are extremely strong. The BOS also seemingly has access to a lot of upgrades for Power Armor, and this is evident by the jetpack that the player will obtain at the end of the main questline.
5 Terrible - They Are Extremely Strict To Members
Leaders need to be strict when training recruits for military purposes; however, the BOS is extremely strict and sometimes unethical towards their members.
Most characters in Fallout 4 that are part of the BOS follow an extreme set of guidelines such as killing ghouls and synths on-site, as previously mentioned. There are many other acts of strictness that most people wouldn't condone, and the BOS often cares more about rules than the safety of their soldiers.
4 Best - They Are Feared By The Commonwealth
The BOS is feared by most characters in the Commonwealth will remark to the player that they are bothered or afraid of the BOS after the Prydwen sets up camp during the main story. This fear mostly comes from the weaponry that the BOS has in their possession.
This fear could be seen as a positive and negative thing for the faction; however, it shows that the BOS is dangerous, and most people wouldn't want to mess with them, which is a trait that is necessary for defeating other factions such as the Institute.
3 Terrible - They Try To Kill Paladin Danse Once They Find Out He's A Synth
During the main questline, players will learn that Paladin Danse is actually a synth that was created by the Institute. This realization turns the entire Brotherhood of Steel against Danse, and they even consider him to be a traitor.
Elder Maxson and a few other Brotherhood of Steel soldiers will attempt to find Paladin Danse and kill him for the crime of being a synth which is one of the worst acts that any character in Fallout 4 commits, especially since the BOS pretend to uphold morality. The player is able to talk Elder Maxson out of killing Paladin Danse; however, it requires many speech checks and a lot of extra effort on the player's part.
2 Best - They Have Liberty Prime
Liberty Prime is a robot that was first introduced in Fallout 3 during the main questline. Players will get to help rebuild and use Liberty Prime to open up a tunnel into the Institute. In Fallout 4, Liberty Prime can even throw mini-nukes at enemies.
This massive robot is incredibly impressive mechanically end since the BOS has their hands on it, they are one of the most powerful forces in the Commonwealth. It's easy to see why Liberty prime is considered to be one of the best parts of the BOS both in Fallout 3 and in Fallout 4.
1 Terrible - Elder Maxson Is Their Leader
Elder Maxson is one of the best characters in Fallout 4 because he has a fully fleshed-out personality and an interesting backstory. However, Elder Maxson isn't a good person in the slightest, and he is constantly ordering terrible acts to be committed, such as killing Paladin Danse for being a synth.
Elder Maxson also has no interest in attempting to reason with the Institute or the Railroad and instead decides to completely destroy them if the player sides with the Brotherhood of Steel during the main questline. Overall, Elder Maxson is a terrible human being, and his actions speak much louder than his moral words.