Most valuable Hoover Dam ally?

Realistically, I think whoever can secure the support of the Boomers, owns the Mojave. Between Air power and the sheer amount of ordinance they're packing, they can just rain flaming death on any of the other factions.
 
Numerically speaking, though, Boomers have a lot of the same problems as the BoS. They're also even more cripplingly xenophobic, to the point where they won't even leave Nellis. Since you're talking long-term now, if your enemies aren't kind enough to come at you within the range of Nellis' artillery, all you really have to show for that alliance is a single bomber's worth of air support. There's plenty in the wasteland that's capable of knocking a WW2-era bomber out of the sky, especially given the scarcity of spare parts and the Boomers' apparent taste for extreme low-altitude bombing runs.

My chit would probably be in for the Remnants. If the OP's precept to ignore game stats in favor of "true" conditions stands (and really, even if it doesn't), a squad of trained commandos in APA mk II can basicaly shrug off the wrath of God, and it's not like I need to take out every grunt and legionary on the dam. A mobile, durable, concentrated force is actually better for the tactical needs of anyone looking to pull a House or Yes-Man backed coup.
 
Yamu said:
Numerically speaking, though, Boomers have a lot of the same problems as the BoS. They're also even more cripplingly xenophobic, to the point where they won't even leave Nellis.
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But if the Courier convinces them to join the fight, then haven't they essentially gotten over the xenophobia?

Yamu said:
There's plenty in the wasteland that's capable of knocking a WW2-era bomber out of the sky, especially given the scarcity of spare parts and the Boomers' apparent taste for extreme low-altitude bombing runs.
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Short of a Vertibird (which are extremely rare) or a missile launcher, I'm not sure what could manage this, even at low altitude. Are you thinking a shot from an AMR or Gauss Rifle? Admittedly I'm not a ballistics expert so maybe I'm overlooking something obvious.
 
One huge flaw on their side is that they have only one airplane and might not even have additionnal spare part in case the plane has any issue, unlike the Enclave, the BOS or even the NCR.
 
Kilgore Trout said:
Short of a Vertibird (which are extremely rare) or a missile launcher, I'm not sure what could manage this, even at low altitude. Are you thinking a shot from an AMR or Gauss Rifle? Admittedly I'm not a ballistics expert so maybe I'm overlooking something obvious.
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Vertibird, Missile Launcher, possibly Gauss Gun. I don't think the AMR can do it. Remember, it's just a 12.7mm.
 
I would assume that most any energy weapon would get the job done against a standard aluminum airframe that was 300 years old, and especially the heavy ones or the "carver" types like gatling lasers. The max ranges on those things are ludicrous, and the plane is probably less up to the job of shrugging them off than a set of metal armor, especially under concentrated or sustained fire. I suppose it depends on the Boomers' standard bombing altitude. If they were flying low at Hoover just for purposes of making a setpiece spectacle for the game, that's one thing. If they were doing it because they're explosion junkies who wouldn't be able to enjoy the barrage from a safe and sensible range, or because their real-world operational accuracy isn't yet up to snuff, they're going to be putting themselves in real danger on every flight.

I assume the xenophobia would still be a concern because convincing them to help out at the dam just means getting them to send their bomber, which is psychologically a world apart from having anyone set foot outside their gate. If that holds, the bomber is also doomed to an entropic death anyway, since they'd have to rely on you and any outside traders they've opened their gates to for anything but basic structural replacement parts, and I'm sure those things are rare by the late 2200s. They could probably frankenstein it for awhile and it would make an invaluable I Win Button/ sword of damocles against lesser factions while it lasts, but I don't see them being more than a generational threat. At least until they get comfy as a people with the idea of taking ground-bound field trips.
 
The Boomers don't really have enough firepower to maintain a full scale attack or war, their plane is made up of scrap so I am assuming they have to maintain it after every flying session and they don't have the numbers to go to a full blown war. I mean that was their reason for holing up in Nellis. They are only good allies during that Skirmish in Hoover Dam, where the Legion and the NCR are busy with each other to properly react to the Boomers assault.
 
Walpknut said:
The Boomers don't really have enough firepower to maintain a full scale attack or war, their plane is made up of scrap so I am assuming they have to maintain it after every flying session and they don't have the numbers to go to a full blown war. I mean that was their reason for holing up in Nellis. They are only good allies during that Skirmish in Hoover Dam, where the Legion and the NCR are busy with each other to properly react to the Boomers assault.
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They don't need a full blown war, they just need one occasional boming run to keep everyone in check. If I recall correctly you can tell General Oliver that you're considering bombing Shady Sands, and he looks like he's crapped himself. I imagine that response would be repeated by most in the NCR.
 
Of course that only works because no one then knows the actual capabilities of the Boomers, they seem more powerfull than they really are. But if they were to actually bomb Shady Sands they would start a conflict they couldn't win. It's mostly a bluff taking advantage of lack of knowledge on Oliver's part and your Securitron army behind him.
 
Yeah I agree, while 1 bomber is impressive it is not a nascent air force of any kind. Plus the maintenance and up keep would be an issue down the road.
 
Really depends on what they are going to do. Enclave Remnants and BoS are powerful for defense, but Boomers bring a plane that is demonic.
 
If we're only talking about hoover dam, I'd say the boomers win hands down.

Long term? I think it's either the securitrons or BOS.
 
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