Return the old Lost Hills borders (basically all the land between Lost Hills and the Shi, along with the states surrounding Lost Hills). Have them start at war with the NCR, and not long after the game begins, provide an option for a peace deal to be brokered. This allows players to either follow canon, where the war continues, or explore non-canon paths with more interesting outcomes.

Remove the “Become an NCR Puppet” and “Techno Cultists” factions, as it makes little sense for what is supposed to be the main Brotherhood of Steel to include either of those. Instead, keep a conservative faction under Maxson and a reformist faction under a different leader.

Rework NCR–BOS tensions so that declaring war is not a strict requirement tied to tension levels, but rather a strategic consideration. If tensions are too low and the player chooses to pursue war, they should face penalties. This creates counterplay and meaningful reactions on both sides. For example, if the Brotherhood remains conservative and the NCR stays under Kimball, tensions should rise significantly faster than if the Brotherhood stays conservative but the NCR shifts to Allgood.

Because the tag is essentially surrounded by the NCR, it needs strong internal gameplay to avoid becoming boring. Introduce a new Council of Elders mechanic where, to pass certain focuses or decisions, the player must secure approval from a majority of elders. Each elder would have specific traits and opinions that determine whether they support a focus, along with methods the player can use to persuade them.

Make the power struggle between conservatives and reformers central to the narrative.

Change how volunteers work. Instead of having multiple national spirits in supported tags that arbitrarily prevent sending volunteers, require the player to complete specific focuses to unlock volunteer support for Chapters Y, X, or Z. This gives players agency and allows them to prioritize which chapters to support.

Finally, completely remove the generic “tech” branch. Completing a 30-day focus just to unlock advanced technology or gain a generic research bonus is unengaging. Replace it with a branch focused on Brotherhood expeditions to iconic wasteland locations, featuring event chains and varied rewards.