I have google-fu'd this to death and can't get an answer, so forgive me if it has already been discussed or mentioned.

I did a new start and was wondering if you can get settlements without being a minuteman or dealing with Preston Garvey at all. Like I'm considering not even going to Lexington and seeing those people... so he would never be a part of my play through.

BUT, I would still like to manage settlements - do some different builds and arrangements this time around, things of that nature. I already dealt with the minutemen in a previous game.. I find them tedious and useless, other than artillery... which is useful about 1% of circumstances.

SO has anyone dealt with settlements WITHOUT ever engaging Preston and the minutemen? Basically, without getting into the roleplay of it ALL, I want to pluck the juiciest settlements to be a part of my network and leave those little piddly settlements to fend for themselves. My settlements on my terms.

Yes, you can. All you need to do is build a radio beacon tower in your settlement to attract settlers.

Yea, and I've already done that in Sanctuary... but how does the game handle the other places? Usually you do a quest and they say they've decided to join the Minutemen, blah blah. Just wondering how the game handles that.

Thanks for the response.

WHAT DO YOU MEAN....THESE PEOPLE...j/k! There are a couple of inactive settlements who 0 inhabitants that you can take over. Usually it involves clearing the place out and then activating the build station. I can think of 2 right off the top of my head....though not sure you can even start building if you haven't completed the quest with Garvey. I have been almost helpful.

Oh, well that's easy. You just need to come across them, agree to help them, and they'll consider you a "friend", letting you use their workshop.

I did this at Abernathy farm without meaning to. I went there early. They asked me to do something. I did it. And all the sudden I could edit their farm and everything. And I hadn't even been to Concord yet.

The only Settlement where u cant plant a Radio Beacon is the Airport. The Beacon is not in the Menu.

Lol, indeed sir. And yea, I stand by my derogatory comment about THOSE PEOPLE. I don't have time to deal with a bunch of needy, whiny wimps and their chemhead fortune teller. Sanctuary is MINE.

I guess I'll just figure it out then... I'm sure the game engine will wrap me into the Minutemen anyway.

Thanks.

EDIT: Oh, fast responses. Sounds like my plan will work perfectly then! Thanks guys. I shall leave the last minuteman to fend for himself.

a) Preston is in Concord

b ) I've come across settlements and some of the settlers just asked me to help them out, without having a quest. I did that for the robots at Gray Gardens (I think that's what its called lol). They sent me to deal with some raiders and then they rewarded me and I could use their workshop. So, once you can use the workshop, you can connect your settlements via supply lines. Also, some of the settlers themselves will give you quests about other settlements they heard of. Or ask you to clear out raiders etc.

I guess you can't take the Castle without Preston, but who needs that with all those other settlements out there! LOL

I am curious what happens if you just tell the guy NO. I know he calls you a merc and gets all huffy about it. But afterwards I imagine you could get the settlements going without being in the MM. That way you could still do Concord (for the EXP and PA) and still not be in the MM.

Thanks guys, will give it a shot and save... then decide either way. I may hijack the PA, then take off into the sunset. Muwhaha.

Indeed. They can be quite a pain.