The two changes to the universe generated by For Want of a Nail are as follows:

- First: The Fallen do not exist and all of their capes/powers went to different heroes or villains - or simply aren't on Earth Bet at all. Specifically, Mama Mathers doesn't exist on Earth Bet, nor does anyone with her power aside from the OC/Pseudo-SI.

- Second: Without the Fallen in the way, the Elite is able to expand eastward. The Elite are throughout the US. How is this a good thing? Well, as time went on, the Elite began cracking down on cells like Bastard Son's. This led to those cells leaving the Elite, only to be hunted down by both the Elite and Protectorate and either Birdcaged or given a Kill Order. Because the Elite has cells and operations throughout the US and Canada, they are considered the villain opposite to the Protectorate. They are slightly more organized and such.

The reason this is a good thing is that because the Elite has tended towards legal enterprising that is only illegal because of NEPEA-5, almost all crime is negligible as the Elite portray themselves as 'polite villains' or 'extreme rogues' rather than purebred villains. Any hero/villain dynamic cities involving the Elite are literally a giant game of cops and robbers, the unwritten rules and etiquette ingrained into cape society as a whole. That means there are very few violent villains in North America; no Nazis or terrible monsters as they are hunted down by Elite and Protectorate alike.

This also means EB attacks in North America have a larger amount of attendees as the Elite encourages members to defend their interests, meaning Elite cells near an attacked city will go to that city to help defend. Generally, even villain capes are able to have "fans" because they are much more polite and less scary - having their own sort of PR. They are seen less as criminals and more as simply 'not heroes' or 'outlaws'; a dynamic the Protectorate and PRT are more than fine with.
(с) SouthernWind