I've been noticing this for the last few days, specifically since installing the most recent patch (after running the beta). I keep getting notifications that "_________is under attack", but I've been doing a ton of building and I've forgotten about several of them. A while later I'll get another notification that I've successfully completed the settlement defense task. This has probably happened 4-5 times in the last few days. I've also failed some (I've been slacking on that settlement defense lately), and the ones that I've failed seem to be at my less fortified settlements. The ones that have auto-completed have all been at really well defended settlements.

Was this added with the most recent patch, or am I just experiencing the most lucky and amazing glitch ever with this? It feels like the settlement defenses that I've spent countless hours building are actually showing their worth now. Has anyone else experienced this or just have any thoughts on it?

It could be that if you don't attend, they are completed based on your defense level. The higher it is, the more likely to complete successfully. Perhaps it was always this way and this was an undocumented fix in the recent patch.

My theory anyways.

That's the best theory I can come up with. This is the logical way that settlement defense should work. It should basically involve a dice roll. Settlements with higher defenses have a higher probability of successfully completing on their own, and settlements with lower defense ratings should have a higher probability of not successfully completing. That's how it should be.

This isn't mentioned in the patch notes, but it's entirely possible that they managed to sneak it in. They fixed the issue with Minutemen radiant quests repeating improperly, so it could potentially be linked to that.

I did a test on that using the public release software.

I hard saved after waiting in a chair after a defend notification was received.

First time i attended and watched. Successfully completed.

Second time i ignored the notification. Successfully completed.

Third load I again ignored the notification which resulted in a failed to defend notification.

The one i attended was just some raiders, one with a missile launcher targeting the power generation.

Interesting. At least I know that I'm not the only one who's experienced this. When did you do this test?

Last night when i got called to defend Taffington.

The reason for the test was that I noticed on ignoring a callout that I received a successful defend notification.

Things have changed for my game.

I used to get two callouts in a row at regular intervals.

Now I get one at a time but i am noticing a few more of the unannounced "random" occurrences when I arrive at settlements instead.

Preston has shut up and the Freedom radio is broadcasting that all is quiet.

I see. Hopefully this is a fix then. I've had a couple people tell me in Facebook groups that they've experienced the same thing as well.