The New California Republic (NCR) is a large country on the North American West Coast located largely in what was once the state of California. Originally founded by residents of Vault 15, the NCR has spread from its original settlement of Shady Sands to as far as Baja in Mexico and New Vegas in Nevada. Knowledge of them has even made it all the way to regions of the East Coast. With such influence, it is often wondered just how powerful the NCR really is, and whether the strength some fans think they have is accurate or grossly misinterpreted. So just how strong is the New California Republic?
Manpower
The resource that the NCR has in excess most is undoubtedly bodies. In 2241 the NCR's capital city had a population of 3000, while the estimate of the total country's population was 700,000. The country also boasts the Wasteland's two largest settlements, Sandy Shores and the Hub. This high population lends the NCR a sizable fighting force to use for enforcing its will. It was because of its tremendous population that the NCR was able to defeat both the Brotherhood of Steel and Enclave, other factions from the West that greatly outpaced the NCR in technological advances. Within the country defense is conducted by a police force with authority to arrest anyone with ideals opposing NCR law, such as cannibals and slavers, while the borders are protected from outside threats by the army. This is not to say that all of the Republic's combatants are entirely loyal to the cause. For example, many of the soldiers participating in the Mojave Campaign joined simply for economic reasons: pay. NCR politicians have also been known to use personally-hired soldiers to forward their own goals. There are even some officers who doubt the NCR is able to adequately patrol their newly acquired territories, regardless of how many men and women they throw at them.
Military Technology
Though not as impressive as its size, the NCR military has a number of technologies eclipsing what is available to ordinary wastelanders. Much of this was originally given by the Brotherhood of Steel, who believed the NCR was responsible enough to use the technology normally confiscated from others. The NCR obtained even more advanced technology after defeating the Brotherhood and Enclave; gaining power armor, vertibird transports, and numerous other pieces of equipment. This did not, however, mean that the Republic had full understanding on how to use captured technology. Most power armor suits were stripped of servos to allow their soldiers to wear them without special training, and a misunderstanding of captured Enclave tech accidentally destroyed the NCR-controlled region of the Divide. Future advancements also came from the government's own Office of Science and Industry, most of whom's funding is allocated to military technology. The NCR is home to several merchant houses directly competing with one another to provide the NCR with their best available gear and earn government contracts. The military's equipment dwarfs that of the raider gangs that once terrorized New California, who have now mostly been pushed out of the country. Such equipment also proves useful against tribal enemies like Caesar's Legion, who carry few guns and against whom battles of attrition are easily won. However, such tactics only work when Republic forces have enough room, not in closed spaces, which the Legion force them into when possible. The military also reserves some of its equipment for soldiers who have been in it for a certain period of time, neglecting to provide the newest recruits with even body armor. When heavily-armed forces are called in to aid campaigns, it can take long for them to arrive where they need to be due to inopportune postings.
Other Assets
While other wastelanders struggle with survival on a day-to-day basis, citizens of the Republic expect safety and comfortability, and few can argue they do not get it. Part of this is due to the fact that the country possesses large industrial sectors offering quality goods and services to its people, at least compared to what the rest of the Wasteland must put up with. Excess goods were once traded with Vault City in exchange for advanced medical equipment, but by 2281 the country had established its own healthcare system. Perhaps unsurprising given the country's fair state, the government and some private individuals use land transportation such as trains, cars, and trucks, a feat seen in few other regions. The military's control of Hoover Dam has also improved access to electricity and water for NCR citizens, as well as their allies in the city of New Vegas. However, the NCR is lacking in a resource that the rest of the Wasteland has in excess: scrap. Years of scavenging in New California has picked the region clean, making life difficult for people who depend on the scavenger lifestyle common elsewhere. Additionally, NCR scientists predicted that as early as 2291 the country could face mass starvation without additional incomes of food. This above-average way of living stresses NCR budgets and further forces it to imperialize other parts of the Wasteland.
Sources
•Events of Fallout 2
•Events of Fallout: New Vegas
•Events of Lonesome Road
•Fallout, Brotherhood of Steel canon ending
•Fallout 2, Karl dialogue
•Fallout 2, NCR History Holodisk
•Fallout 2, Vault City Travel Log
•Fallout: New Vegas, Arms Merchant dialogue
•Fallout: New Vegas, Blake dialogue
•Fallout: New Vegas, Cassandra Moore dialogue
•Fallout: New Vegas, Emily Ortal dialogue
•Fallout: New Vegas, Hanlon dialogue
•Fallout: New Vegas, Jas Wilkins dialogue
•Fallout: New Vegas, Lanius dialogue
•Fallout: New Vegas, Mercenary Note
•Fallout: New Vegas, Thomas Hildern dialogue
•Fallout: New Vegas Official Game Guide
•Fallout: Wasteland Warfare, "Section 2.1"
•Fallout: Wasteland Warfare, "Section 2.2"
•Fallout: Wasteland Warfare, "Section 2.3"
•Fallout: Wasteland Warfare, "Section 2.6"
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With all of that I hope to have given a good explanation on the NCR's strength while highlighting where they are weak. What do you all think of the NCR's strengths and weaknesses? Could they overcome some of their vulnerabilities, or is the Republic destined to fall regardless of how they act in the future?
The topic for this installment of Exposition Cannon was suggested by Cor, aka "Savior D.J.". If anyone else has topics they have questions or think more people should know about, feel free to suggest them.