The Dam battle honestly revolves around them far less than the endgame in either FO3 or 4. The Courier doesn't even break the stalemate, they can just tip the scales one way or another through their actions. It's portrayed as a clash of armies, and even the courier killing Caesar doesn't stop it.
It's portrayed as inevitable whenever it comes up, with there being absolutely nothing the Courier can do to prevent it or hasten it. It's also very much misrepresenting NV's political situation the battle for the dam will happen either way. FO1 is the only Fallout RPG that actually has the gameworld change whether you dither or not - and that only because of the time limit. Also FO2, with the sole exception of the shaman sending you visions to remind you what you're supposed to be doing.
This is a very unfair criticism of NV's storyline, as 'the gameworld remains in stasis until the player progresses the questline' applies to FO3 and 4 as well.
