Well, I think physical size, and the "size" shown in the screenshot are two different things. I think that "Size" is a measure of computational complexity - how many polygons/parts/etc have been placed in the cell (hmm, with some overhead included to take into account the NPCs, and raider attacks).

So, even if the plot was 5 acres..... two dozen simple buildings spread across the thing, and one really complex building sitting alone in the center, might still show the same "size".

But I want to make my settlements huge, complex, and unique I don't just want to build a camp with 4 tents, a turret, and a shack or something I want to make a city!

The size of whiterun.

As already mentioned on the E3 demo you can build your settlements in specific areas. So yes there is a size limit for sure. Makes sense from a technical point of view (navmesh i.e.).

I think this will be my favorite feature of FO4. I like to adventure, but I dislike it when I end a game with loads of money and nothing to spend it on.

I really hope there is a lot of variety in the types of structures we can build. The whole thing raises a lot of questions for me.

Do the generators require any fuel?

If the villagers need to eat and drink, do I need to eat and drink too?

Does our building skill increase so we can eventually make things that look better that sheet metal slapped together?

Is there support for underground vault type settlements?

Do we gain any caps for running the settlement?

Can we sell off excess food and water?

Do villagers age and have children?

Definitely playing this on PC! I know the answer to all is YES with mods.

Is it actually realistic to expect your settlement(s) to be of infinite size? My theory on this is wait until it comes out, complain about the limitations that exist and then hope for a mod to limit the limitation.

Expecting this mode to be a Sim City replacement is not very realistic either. It's going to be a side mode in an Action RPG.

This is true. This is kinda why I was wondering if skills (affecting the PC's ability to build more complex buildings, power generation and so on), and the amount of settlers would be a factor.

Perhaps I should have worded it as each settlement area having differing potential for settlement size.

You need skills to build more advanced defenses at least, the laser turret had an science requirement, in the raider atack some npc was manning an mortar who probably has high guns or repair requirements.

number of people is limited by local leader. Note that if you are charisma focused an settlement might be an huge benefit as you draw in trades with extra benefits.

The size limit show is probably how hard its to render or manage, its an setting who will be fixed long before we get the CK.

I also hope the vendors upgrade. I saw in the demo that they put down a plywood lemonade stand for the vendor and said that these guys would sell the best equipment in the game. I would like to see the best guns and armor in the game being sold from something that looked more like a armory.

mods.

Of course rendering and resources used to run it are a consideration. But we do not know if that consideration is what caps the size of a settlement. It may well be that we are not able to build anything as large as what could be handled.


I just want the potential "size" of settlements to make sense with the setting- taking things like geography, into account and not cookie cutter squares placed around the map.

Say, if one settlement area is on a small mesa. The borders of your settlement logically would be determined by the size of that mesa. Conversely, a large plain should have more room to build.
One of these settlements would make a well fortified stronghold populated essentially with a small faction- the settlement isn't about being large, but secure, so a smaller settlement is fine. The other is much more suited for a peaceful town, where there is more room for actual settlers to come and settle down.

it's not a city simulator...

Why don't you try SimC-oh wait...

I prefer Cities Skylines

That's not surprising, even though the Xbox One and PS4 are 10 times stronger then 360/PS3 they aren't Super Powered machines that will do everything.