So, as I sit here, staring at my settlement in Sanctuary which boasts high walls and an even higher defense rating, it occurs to me that I have never actually been attacked here. Upon writing this, my current playtime (on this character) is 2 days and 45 minutes, exactly. And not once has Sanctuary been attacked. Now, I know that if my defense rating outweighs my food rating and whatnot, that the likelihood of my settlement getting attacked is slim to none. This then begs the question of "What's the point?" Sure you have these spiffy turrets and guard towers, but I build them with the intention of getting attacked. If I have them, and no-one attacks my settlements, what's the point? I'd rather leave my settlements lacking in defenses and gain experience from attackers, than waste the resources building them.

So, I think this calls for a re-working of the settlement attack system (either that or I'm not fully understanding the mechanic.) Basically, attacks should vary depending on your defenses. Lesser defenses (a few turrets and a guard or two) in a settlement with small amounts of resources, should get attacked every once in a while by small raider groups just looking for some people to harass. Greater defenses (lots/ more complex turrets and a whole squad of guards) in settlements with higher resource stats, should get attacked by large assault forces comprised of the meanest S.O.B's the raider gangs can muster, looking to really do some damage to your settlement. The whole idea being that, as your settlement grows, your settler's needs get greater, and being ill-prepared for the worst can cost you dearly. The whole idea sounds awesome, to me at least.

In the end it all comes back down to my original point - "what's the point?" There's only so much a man can do with stolen synth relay grenades! I'd love to see my turrets actually getting used. I mean, I spent the best part of my current play through messing around with trip-wires, thinking up exciting new traps for a clumsy raider to blunder in to. It's a shame, it really is - the trip wires are quite intuitive and the player can make some interesting contraptions with them, only to see them go to waste.

Does anyone else think that the attack system needs to be revisited? Perhaps you think it should be removed all together. I'd like to hear your thoughts.

-- iPLS

PS: I'd also like to know if Sanctuary gets attacked in general, I started building up defenses a while after planting crops and such, and still no-one seized the opportunity to assault my settlement.

theres a formula that gives a certain percentage chance

and it is a chance

even with massive defense there is still a 2% chance minimum

its is random though ofcourse due to being "rolled"

for example, first character i had sanctuary at something ridiculous like 400+ defense and combined water and food of 64 and anctuary got attacked constantly

this character i have 80 water and 30 food and defense of around 130, and have not had a single attack

depends on the RNG gods

Ah I see. Perhaps someone will create a mod, or Bethesda will release a patch that lets us have a degree of control over these attacks.

Thanks for your input, you've provided me with a bit of insight into my problem

For now, I'll just keep watching and waiting for some random nameless raider to wander into the wrong neighborhood.

What are the chances? As soon as I post my reply to your comment, I get attacked by a few raiders.

Spooky.