Rebuild the Capital is focused on expanding the Brotherhood of Steel and their role in the wasteland following the events of Broken Steel. Rather than sit on the sidelines after establishing dominance in the wasteland, the Brotherhood can spread across the Capital Wasteland under the guidance of the player. The Brotherhood can bring settlements under its protection and can build military installations in wastes and the D.C. ruins. The player can help rebuild Grayditch, establish more Brotherhood patrols, and turn Adam's Air Force Base into an impressive base for the Brotherhood of Steel. The mod also adds a large assortment of weapons, armors, and NPCs. The mod also features several new quests that deal with reunifying (or destroying) the Outcasts, finishing off the last of the Enclave, the relationship between Ghouls and the Brotherhood, and continuing the fight against the Super Mutant threat. Lastly, Rebuild the Capital includes a new recruitment system.
Really good mod.
Warning! This is a short version of my review, detailed impressions can be found in my blog on Mod DB!
Lyon's version of Brotherhood Of Steel isn't my cup of tea even after two re-visited playthroughs of Fallout 3. In vanilla game it was a real pain for me to not have option to kill all those "traitors" (original BoS fanatics from first game can look a bit weird, but I love their "not good, not evil" self-oriented participation in Fallout universe's events).
But this mod, in some ways, enhanced and improved many aspects of the vanilla gameplay elements and world-building lore that even Bethesda (for reasons, I don't hate them for it) didn't implement after all DLC content. I didn't change my mind about Lyon's perspective on BoS future, but now all players can actually see "future" of this organization in Capital Wasteland after events of 2277.
First of all, this mod fixes and provides end-game content which Broken Steel DLC couldn't give many unsatisfied players. After the ending on Adam Air Force Base and wiping pretty much all Enclave force resources, you'll still encounter their patrols and half-functional respawning outposts throughout the Wasteland hours and hours later without any meaningful or explained end. Now, with help from "Rebuild The Capital", you have an opportunity to "wipe the slate clean" from all Enclave activity and BoS will get remaining outposts and their technological projects. And it feels better to actually see consequences of your actions and "what you fought for".
Many new patrols, caravans and opportunities to regain control of places like FairFax, Super-Duper-Mart and revived Grayditch (in vanilla it was really weird that no one tried to reclaim such a good place after Lone Wanderer stopped ants invasion). Capital Wasteland, even though under influence of BoS, quickly becomes much more alive and not in narrative way, but physically - right before your eyes.
There're also many little background stories for you to uncover, new wastelanders to meet and help, yes, "rebuild" the wasteland. After completing all new content, wandering D.C. Ruins felt different. Your personal impact finally mattered
New mechanics with creating system of economy and taxes is good way to spend your caps that were collecting dust in inventory or safe.
Some of the operations that you start have separate long side quest to complete before you can increase BoS presence in new area (sadly, "Thornton" operation doesn't active, little warning for potential players). And final choices about BoS actions and consequences of it also need to be decided by player.
But the highlight of this expansion for me was side quest which involves answering the long forbidden question - will (and how, actually) BoS starts to deal with Underworld population? I understand that not many players will see more philosophical question in this task (and it wasn't author's intention in the first place, clearly), but I find myself thinking about final choices for future of Underworld for some period of time (It's rarity in Bethesda's Fallout games).
Without re-telling much of this quest, in the end you'll get 3 options to deal with Underworld ghouls: kill all residents, "quarantine" them or, finally, start civil relations with BoS. You'll also get new player house, vendors, many guns, armors and companions. Many things to read and find for "book-worms" like me who enjoy long and well-written side notes and logs. And to see and finish all new mod content I spend around 9 hours total, but you can get much more out of it, depending on your pace of playthrough.
Should you try this mod in 2023? Yes, absolutely, it's the best "faction mod" for Fallout 3 like MZC.
great mod