I don't think it make 's no sense when you equip your settlers with armor of better weapons, once I notided that by an attack one of my settlers used a minigun? I never equiped a settler with such expensive weapon

Settlers will pick up weapons as long as they can also find the same ammo, it is confirmed that they will take your weapons if you keep them in ordinary storage (the workshop types are safer).....one of my supply guys was walking around with a flamethrower he found on his travels.

Settlers will sometimes find their own loot. Sometimes they will even loot corpses. But most of the time you have to equip them with better stuff because they aren't all that bright. Too much exposure to radiation storms I guess.

So it really make's a difference? You can actually improve your defence then?

Thanks for the reply !

I always give my settlers big guns, mini guns, missile launchers, plasma rifles. It sounds & looks really cool when the action kicks off!

Okay, it is fun...but does it make a difference? Pipe pistolr or plasma rifles? that is a big difference though?

It sure does make a difference. In the settlements where I equipped them with armor and better weapons they'll usually take down all the enemies before I even get there. Then they make comments about how BA MF'ers they are. "we sure made quick work of those raiders, next time it will be quicker" or the like.

Are you still carrying a pipe pistol? Whatever weapon a settler is carrying, will do that weapons damage. So it's the difference between hitting for 10 points with a low grade pipe weapon. Or 60+ using of of the better guns available.

No, if course not. I use the Gauss rifle, overseer gun modded, the Reba and "the justice shotgun"... , I was asking myself if it make any difference if the settlers have a better equipment.

Sorry, guess I didn't make myself clear, as you improve your own weapons. Giving your settlers better weapons and 1 round of ammo for that weapon does help in improving their firepower.

thanks !

Yes, it makes a huge difference. It doesn't actually increase your numerical defense rating in the build mode, but it lets them make much quicker work of enemies. As mentioned before, you're not still carrying a pipe pistol because you've found drastically better weapons. Better weapons that do far more damage. The amount of damage that a settler is going to do with a .50 caliber sniper versus a .38 pipe pistol is the same difference in damage that can be seen when you use the same two weapons. Better weapons means that they're going to do more damage. I have all of my settlers at my main settlements equipped with army/military fatigues, army helmets, and combat armor. They're also equipped with a range of combat rifles, sniper rifles, assault rifles, combat shotguns, and 10mm pistols. Most of these guns are fairly heavily modded versions that I've picked up along the way.

Regarding the settler with the minigun, they sometimes pick weapons up. I saw one pick up a rocket launcher from a dead raider once and use it to kill some of the other attacking raiders. I was planning on picking it up myself, but after seeing his proficiency with it I decided to just let him keep it.

I've seen this mentioned by several people, but I've never experienced it. I've been keeping a lot of stuff sorted into steamer trunks at Sanctuary for most of the game now, and I've never had anything go missing. I've actively paid attention to it too just because I wanted to see if I could repeat the issue. What I've heard from several people is that settlers will take things out of pre-existing containers at settlements, but not the ones that you build. For example, if you store some stuff in one of the safes or some other container at Sanctuary that was there prior to your arrival, it's seen as an open container that anyone can use, but if you store stuff in a container that you've built, they won't take it. I can't confirm it, but I might have to store some stuff in one of the pre-existing containers just to see if I can repeat the issue.

During one attack in Sanctuary Jun Long was in a suit of power armor. He seemingly took a fusion core out of the pre-built shelf unit near the power armor station, where I was keeping all my power armor related stuff. And then used the core to jump in the power armor. Now I could have left the core in the armor, but I'm about 80% sure I didn't (I'm pretty good at remembering to remove it).

I tried to question him about it but he seemed a bit nervous and said he "just needed to be alone right now"...

I've heard of similar things happening. It'd be good to get an actual conclusive answer on this and how it works in pre-existing containers versus built containers.

I still have some of the pre-built containers at the workshop house in Sanctuary (left them mostly for appearances), so I might have to utilize those to try it. I'll leave a suit of power armor right there, and build a container right under one of the pre-existing containers. I'll put a fusion core in each one a time (and then in both for good measure), and then attack the settlers. One will likely grab the power armor, and I'll see which container he grabs it from. Reload and repeat a few times to draw at least some kind of conclusion.

Sanctuary was hit by two radscopions, one who was legendary and the npc killed them fast.

Giving them automatic energy weapons is kind of nice as it also pinpoint the enemy for you if they are out of reach for turrets.

^ THIS.

I went from giving them assault rifles to automatic laser rifles so I could find the attackers easier.

Just don't give your farmers 3 FatMen launchers. "X settlement has been attacked." 4 seconds later "Failed to depend X settlement." I was like WTF? Go to to settlement, see body pieces of settlers and raider , burn marks, and 3 FatMen... my reaction

And pay attention to your spawn spot, make sure to place its somewhere safe within your settlement, because you might get fragged by your own settlers if they have them equipped.

Also be carefull giving your companion grenades to hold for you! Strong must have thrown about 15 frag grenades in one fight!

had the same experience with Hancock, gave him 1000 5.56 mm , for his automatic assault rifle, in one fight he waisted almost 600 bullets....

All human type NPC's and super mutants seem to love to spam grenades. Seriously considering getting the reduced explosion damage mod for armor because of it as I think I have died more time due to them than anything else.

As others have stated, yes, if you provide them with a good kit it will help, just bear in mind that it does not raise your numerical defense. Be careful giving them explosives though.

Oh, it does make sense. If you're there for the attack, that is. They make short work of most attackers, if they're equipped with combat armor and some serious weaponry. I also park the power armors I find in my settlements, for my settlers to use. I never used them in any Fallout game and I almost never used heavy guns for myself. So the best use is giving them to your population.

Only my merchants aren't armed. They get the clean suits and dresses I find. Doctors get lab coats. Makes it easier to find out who's doing what, by the way.

I guess it depends on game style.

Definitely equip your settlers with better weapons and armor. However I STRONGLY advise NOT equipping them with anything that explodes. They will fire or throw explosives right into the middle of other settlers if there is an enemy there, and explosives are the only thing that can actually kill your settlers.