Was looking at how to start the Institute quests in the guide, and there's a 'Vault-Tec Recommends' stating that once the Main Quest is complete, you should start working on Faction quests. I was under the impression that the Main Quest was intertwined with the Faction quests, and progressing in it required significant progress in at least one Faction. Is this not the case? Is it possible to do the Main Quest alone without having to progress significantly in the Faction Quests? Because if I can just knock out the Main Quest to get a few level, that would be great.

I haven't done a Main Quest first in any FO/TES game yet. First thing I do, every time, is find out where I'm supposed to go first then head off in the opposite direction.

I'm 50 hours into my game and haven't even been to Red Rocket yet. I hear there's a dog there.

that is pretty much what i did, but i understand you kind of have to abandon the MQ at one point because it conflicts with some of the factions (if you want to do them anyway)

You're introduced to each of the factions on your way through main quest, so it isn't an either/or thing. You do both. One thing I will say is: build up your settlements, gather resources. There comes a point in the main quest where you need a LOT of settlement resources, so if you've been neglecting them you'll be stuck.

I'm confused by that because settlements are supposed to be totally optional. Are you saying that even if you don't build settlements, as they said we wouldn't have to, you still need to collect a lot of resources that are used for building settlements to progress through the main quest?

yes

hope this spoiler tag works



So yeah, I don't think settlements are optional *at all*. Maybe it's optional to do all the Minuitmen quests and set up/maintain a network of them, but you definitely need to have Sanctuary set up and be collecting materials as you go along. I see people say "I didn't bother with the settlements, just got a gun and did the main quest.." I think.. but how?

Sorry if that's too spoilerific, I tried to keep it general

Some people just naturally hoard, so even if they only did the main quest all those cans and plungers they stashed away for a rainy day would come in handy

I do normally, but I can't until there is a decent backpack mod out (I find it almost impossible to play Bethesda games without a backpack mod lol)

There's no faction quests in F4, except some generated fetch stuff. Essentially faction quests are the main quest.

It's not possible to do the main quest without the faction quests. You are required to choose at least one faction to support through the main quest, and one branch in the main quest line is joining a faction.

Essentially, there are four different endings to the game - one for each faction (though as I understand it, one of those endings is meaningfully different from the others, though I haven't beaten the game yet so I can't say for sure).

Well, you have to choose a faction though at some point. Minuteman are pretty straightforward, but the other two are mutually exclusive.

Three. The other three. There are four factions you can support in this game, and three of them are mutually exclusive (as far as completing their quest lines, though I hear even the Minutemen are exclusive in that regard, too).

What is the third one then? I found RR and BOS and finished the game for BOS. Felt like I need a shower after that.

which one?

i've only scratched the surface of two of the factions in the search for Shaun (which i consider to be the MQ), and completely missed the third.

AAAAH I think I guessed it.

Try http://www.nexusmods.com/fallout4/mods/214/?. I've been using it for 2 days without a problem.

Oh there is a main quest, that lasts until you you know what.

Should edit that line about Institute more vaguely. You've mentioned your concern about spoilers, have some consideration for others