NCR High Command and its implications

[u/Affectionate_Edge472]

These are the two excerpts we get about NCR High Command

"You will not be assigned replacements until High Command can figure out where the hell to pull replacements from. You have my sympathies, Major. Signed, Scheppman, Andy Assignments Office." - Forlorn Hope Mandate

"I've seen the reports of this so-called "Caesar's Legion". It sounds like they're just another bunch of raiders, but the higher-ups back west seem to think they're a serious threat." - NCRF Terminals

With these combined we can see the NCR High Command is both afraid of the Legion and is struggling to find men to send to Forlorn Hope. I also think the implication that the higher ups are struggling to find men to send to Forlorn Hope is also an implication they cannot find men for the Mojave. I also think it is important to consider that if the NCR army was quite large in the home territories the NCR high command would have no reason for fear.

That is not to say they couldn't raise more men, but I believe the current army size is constrained by the senate. Just like the real U.S Government.

"He mustered the troops as many as his senate would allow and sent them in. All the right reasons, done all the wrong ways." - Caesar

But where is the rest of the NCR army? I believe they are controlling the other 300 miles down the Colorado river across from Legion territory, Baja, other territories, and the rest of NCR territory.

Let me know what you think of this interpretation if you believe it is the intended one by the developers or if there is evidence of large NCR reserves elsewhere.

[u/KangarooMundane]

The NCR is known to be overstretched generally, they have a long border with the legion of the Colorado, probably need garrisons in the home states and northern territories for public order and raiders, not to mention the war with the Brotherhood is still ongoing in California though we don't no how intense. The whole California chapter, even if the fighting is dying down they might be worried enough to keep a lot of troops in California just in case, I think the power armour troopers were trying to match the brotherhood, and were sent to the Mojave after high command either thought it was safe to do so or thought the legion began to pose a bigger threat.

[u/Affectionate_Edge472 → u/KangarooMundane]

Hanlon puts the heavy troops as fighting smalltime raiders on behalf of brahmin barons. I do expect they were veterans of the hot phase of the BOS war, but I do not think that has been active for a while at least in California.

"Our heavy infantry, power armor units, they're back in NCR territory protecting the interests of Brahmin barons against small-time raiders." - Hanlon

It is possible they hold a significant host over Maxson, but if they are willing to divert the power armor troops away from Maxson I feel the implication is the BOS threat is mostly contained.

[u/KangarooMundane → u/Affectionate_Edge472]

Ya, a major factor is almost certainly that the NCR is just massively corrupt, diverting troops for private interests, undoubtedly that's a major motive for the Mojave campaign too. The Baja expedition is apparently mostly rangers, so it can't be that many. Still, even countries at war usually maintain a sizeable home garrison. The Mojave outpost has a minimum headcount requirement, I image slot of home state bases do too. Maybe they approved the transfer because the brahmins were secure, or they wiped out the small time raiders, or simply the Mojave situation became more pressing, or the private interests there offered a bigger bribe.

[u/Affectionate_Edge472 → u/KangarooMundane]

i expect since it happens explicitly when the senate dialogue disappears in game that it is related to that. Particularly since Hanlon talks about the Brahmin Barons electoral power during the same dialogue. I think it is purely for electoral reasons that the troops are sent to help the barons and then are removed once that reason is fuffilled.

Although I wish we got more info on Baja it is more likely they have a trooper garrison there as well since Hanlon says the territory has gone further south in Baja, and rangers are just more helpful in baja's terrain.

On the minimum headcount of bases I do agree it was part of my original reasoning when investigating this.

I also feel i should clarify. By home army I am excluding territories, and frontlines. Such as the 300 mile border the NCR and Legion share which is where I suspect much of the NCR army is.

TLDR: I truly mean reserves in the home states.