Normally I go rescue the settlement hostage (and Fast Travel back to the quest-giver ---- I escorted the hostage all the way back ONCE, but never again).

Most recently, though, I did not feel like bothering with it, and I am sitting on tens of thousands of caps since I usually sell more than I buy, so I just went ahead and PAID the ransom. Or, gave the farmer the money to pay it, I suppose. The mission completed as normal, but the farmer said something that made me think:

"I hope the raiders stick to their word".... or something to that effect.

I know the hostage-taking thing is just a random Radiant style quest that is generated every so often, but that line made me wonder if there were any implications to just paying the ransom instead of actually performing the rescue myself. Probably reading more into a random quest than Beth would have thought to program... I know I'd feel bad, though, if I later got a mission stating that the raiders took my money and KEPT the hostage, and the guy delivering the money, or something like that.

I actually just did this for the first time myself yesterday. Didn't seem to be any bad side effects. At long as the quest is 'finish' I assume it's over.

I love these quests now since I just recently maxed out my sneaking ability. I also upgraded my "Old Faithful" weapon and so between sneaking around and holding that cool little weapon, I find them a lot more enjoyable.

I only pay off those. NPC's have never went missing after. I have seen kids returned just fine on next visit. sooo much easier than all that escort mess. Gets me a new mission that I can use faster.

I just pay it, the raiders all know if they don't accept it I will slaughter them all and remember kids, you cannot spell "slaughter" without "laughter"

LOL ditto! They better be true to their word... Cat's build up a reputation after all!

I also just pay the ransom. The settler is usually back a day later.

it doesn't matter. Quest completed is completed

I know ~now~ that you can just Fast Travel back to the settlement to finish the mission. But the very first hostage-rescue mission I had, I rescued her and she did not vanish or zone out the door and vanish, or just stand there and tell me she would make it back home on her own later.... she started walking home... so I followed her, thinking she would fade away or something, but she just kept walking, so I just kept following.

Since she freaking WALKS everywhere, it took a good long while. After we arrived and I finished the mission, I resolved that I would make a savegame, Fast Travel to the settlement and see if it completed the mission or if the settlers would wail at me that, "You let her get killed on the way home!". Of course, it just completed the mission, so ~now~ that's what I do.

Yeah I went into a building yesterday to rescue a settler and I found the hostage on the first floor. Well I went ahead and released them thinking they would just run off ... but they didn't, and still have two levels of raider infested building to clear before I was leaving. So I stepped out the front door first. They still stood there. Went back inside. Still there. Finally gave up on it and cleared the building, having to now watch both the hostage and my companion (who just loves to get between me and my targets). Finally did get the building cleared and then QT back to the settlement. Lesson learned, don't release the hostage until you're ready to take them back.