Good day to one and all. I am in my 1st serious play through of FO4 on a WIndows 10 PC. [1st time aborted due to unrecoverable boot sector crash at level 12 or so mid-Dec 2015.]

Do you need the leadership perk (if so at what level, 1 or 2) to equip settlers?

I do not have the leadership perk.

1. When I have tried to equip settlers, they usually choose a higher accuracy 38 and do NOT accept any armor EVER. Some background: once I finally got involved with settlers and settlements (the Minutemen), I gave them (thru trade) the best weapons (for my level/perks at the time) --10mm semi-autos with 70% or better ACC and at least 30 DMG.

The settlers just ran or cowered or, maybe, meleed when their settlement was attacked. When I traded with the survivors, I found that many did not have the weapon equipped.

So I gave the settlers options of upgraded 38s (pistols/rifles) 45s (ditto) and even the occasional laser. And found that they ALWAYS chose the higher ACC weapon even if the DMG was significantly lower (eg: a 38 with same rate of fire (ROF) and neglible weight difference: ACC 72 DMG 35 vs ACC 74 DMG 27, chose the 74/27 even though I would have gone for the former).

Across different weapon types, 38 vs 44 vs 45 etc (and I gave the settler several similar weapons of different calibers to see what they chose) they almost always (overwhelmingly) chose the 38 even when the other weapon (especially frustrating when the other weapon was a 44) had much much higher DMG and significantly higher ACC though lower ROF. By the way, I have not had a settler come to me with other than a 38 Pipe semiauto for a missile weapon (I have had a couple of different melee weapon types --combat knife and tire iron) so that might be the indicator of what they prefer.

This has led me to believe that the perk is needed the settlers to use weapons other than the type they already have when they come to you.

2. To-date, not a single settler has equipped with any armor or clothing I have provided (hat, harness, helmet, etc etc). At least, I can't tell if they have --and when trading their inventory does not reflect that they are equipping with the gear.

3. a) I have found that my companions also do not take on the armor/clothing provided.

B) And they seem to have weapon preferences --Cait likes shotguns, BAR-like 45 and switchblades (and will change weapon when needed); Danse only likes laser/plasma; Deacon likes a suppressed weapon (eg: 10mm semi-auto, high powered suppressed rifle and not lasers) and does not seem to like any melee weapon; and MacReady will use his missile weapon to melee if need be and will take any missile/laser given [those have been my only companions to-date, am trying to get X6 next].

So, apparently, based on what I have read about Piper in PA and settlers in gunner clothing and even PA and wielding flamethrowers I am guessing that the leadership perk is required to equip settlers and companions. Has anyone experienced anything different?

Side comment: I think that the requirement for the perk is not very realistic. The AI should equip with better armor/clothing and weapons (and have a bit of a fudge on the weapons if given a choice based on some ACC/ROF/DMG algorithm). As someone who used to write decision trees for simulations for a living, that is not that hard to do (just takes a little planning and forethought). But it might be too much for Beth to think about, like more realistic and variable dialogue that would make play/replay a 'tad' more enjoyable.

In any case, I welcome your comments. Until next time, good hunting! regards, RC

You need the Leadership perks to build things, it does not limit what you can equip on settlers.

In order to get a settler to use a weapon you gave them, you need to equip it (highlight and hit T to equip) and make sure you give them at least 1 round of ammo for that weapon. if you don't want them switching back to default or melee weapons, take them away and take the ammo for them. This however won't stop them from running to a corpse and grabbing the weapon from it and using it if its better than what they already have.

to Sunnie (et al): it had to be a leadership perk issue -further explanation follows:

I appreciate your comments and I have seen same from you or someone else before. But how you say I can equip with armor/clothes/weapons is not (seemingly) working for me.

I am on a windows PC. I "talk" to them and "trade" to give them armor/weapons --at that time I take away their old weapon and provide the better weapon, they overwhelmingly do not have any armor/clothes and I then provide them with some ---> as previously stated, the settlers often do not put what is given to them into use (based on looking at their inventory and they do not have the items selected which tells me that it is not used/in use) --to-date, they have never used any of the armor/clothes but they do NOT walk around naked either.

Unless you have remapped your PC keys/controls or are on a console (which I am not familiar with), I have never discovered any other way to equip my settlers/companions other than to talk to them ("E," never seen the "T") and then select "trade" where I can see what they have equipped in their inventory. Trading is the only means I have found to equip settlers and companions with weaponry and armor (which they won't always use).

My conclusion is that the leadership perk is somehow tied to the difference I experience since that is the only thing that I know is different from what I have read (I have the latest FO4 version running on Steam for the PC).

Be it companions or settlers, they may or may not use the weapons I provide. I check their inventory and see if it is "equipped" and if it is evident in use it is "equipped" if not it is not "equipped" and that evidence is seen graphically when the companion crouches (I can see the different weapon) and I can see the settler fighting and what weapon s/he displays when defending the settlement. None of the companions/settlers walks around in their skivvies/naked.

I have not much playing time (as stated reached level 12 on 1st attempt and am now --2nd attempt-- at level 34) but I have never seen settler nor companion pick up a better weapon from a dead enemy (nor ammo when they have a weapon I have given them and they've expended it all and can't shoot any more --I wish they'd go for their default original weapon even if it is not very effective [Aside: which is why I do not quest with Piper anymore, she would not take any of the better missile weapons I gave her -even top notch 10mm semi autos and insisted on her lousy 10mm- and I could only give her grenades to upgrade her weaponry, too expensive to load her with plasma grenades that she threw when I was in the blast zone.].

With companions I have no problem giving them a weapon and ammo (assuming it is a weapon they will use, some weapons they do not use). At least, I see no evidence of ammo expenditure nor do I see visual use of the weapon nor is it "equipped" within their inventory when I trade. [When Cait/Deacon/MacReady switch to a weapon I have given them the graphics display that weapon in combat or in the "crouch" or "sneak" position. When I trade with them their inventory clearly reflects that weapon and its ammo is selected. Whereas the armor/clothing provided is not. Same with settlers except they often do not select/use weapons other than 38s.]

I find it hard to believe it is just me. The only thing I can deduce is the lack of leadership perk is somehow related to this effect. I guess next time I level-up (which unfortunately is not for a while yet) I will take level 1 of the perk and try it (and hope I do not need level 2!). (By the way, I have the latest version of FO4 from Steam as far as I can tell.)

Since this has been happening consistently since I ran into companions and settlers, it can't just be a glitch.

I hope that clarifies what I see happening. regards, RC

When I give my settlers new clothes, ammo and weapons, I manually equip them on the settler. (I'm on Xbox). I go in Transfer the stuff, and then scroll down to each item and hit Y by each item. A dot is placed next to the item and it appears (if clothing or armor) on the settler, and they wear it forevermore (or until I manually equip them with something else). I do this before I get the leadership perk. I equip Marcy and Jun with new clothes and better weapons as soon as they hit Sanctuary.

When you trade with them, look at the bottom of your screen. It shows you what buttons to press for equipping. It`s "T" on PC by default. You need to highlight weapon, clothes or armor in their inventory and then press T.

I have never given my settlers any weapons or armor. They use default equipment.

Rather, I build turrets. If the defense rating of the settlement is high enough there do not seem to be as many attacks. And if there is an attack, well placed turrets take care of the problem or I come and help.

Rule of thumb, make the defense rating more than the sum of food and water.

I always equip my settlers with better armor and weapons, even when my defenses are over 150 LOL I just want them to be able to defend themselves. Plus, nothing is too good for my settlers!!!

I also use clothing to determine their jobs. Farmers wear Farmhand outfits, Shop keepers wear clean suits, barkeeps wear black vest and slacks or suspenders and slacks... stuff like that. I just have fun playing dress up, I guess LOL

And yes, RC, you have to equip items with the T button, while in the trade/inventory window. Neither Companions nor settlers will automatically equip anything you give them.

1) trade items to settler.

2) equip items from settlers inventory.


Tip: if there is not a solid square in front of the item name, it is not equipped

Note: When you equip an Item of Clothing (IE Road Leathers), it will seem to disapear from their inventory. This is because the settlers don't wish to go around nvde (and programmed so as to not accidentally happen).

Can be averted by first equipping something that does not allow for armor (Drifter Outfit), then equipping armor... Tho why one would want to....

-there is no preferred weapon type for different settlers, they will use what they have or what you give them

-settlers always come equipped with crappy pipe weapons, its not their preference its just what they come with

-leadership perks do not have anything to do with equipping settlers!

-settlers are always clothed, any clothing item they have equipped is not evident in their inventory. if you give them another set of clothing and equip it the previous clothing they were wearing will then appear in their inventory

-companions and settlers will not equip armour (except PA!!!!!!!!!) by themselves, you must equip it for them. im on xbox so will be different but when you have the trade interface up, select the weapon or armour in their inventory and push "Y" to equip it and a little square will appear next to it same as it does with items you have equipped. once again any clothing item you equip on them wont, instead it will "disappear" from their inventory but they will be wearing it. you can see this visually ofcourse. they will equip weapons you give them by themselves, if you havnt equipped for them, as soon as they get into combat but they will never equip armour/clothes by themselves you must do this for them

-companions and settlers will pick up weapons themselves including anything you might have stashed in containers around settlement when they come under attack, and pipers 10mm is not lousy. i play on very hard with piper as my companion and she does some serious damage with that 10mm!

-there is many factors to a weapon not just damage. for picking up weapons etc i believe they base it on DPS not DMG. for example deacon if im not quick enough will always pick up and equip an institute auto laser pistol over his hunting rifle during the tradecraft mission, the hunting rifle has waaaaaaay higher DMG but the auto institute pistol has waaaaaaaaaaaay higher DPS

-companions dont have a weapon preference they will use anything you equip them with, they will not unequip it untill they run out of ammo with it. they have no perks (except sneak) and there are no skills in the game so they use pistols/rifles/autos just as well as each other same as ballistic or energy or melee.

-if you want them to use a specific weapon you need to equip it for them, there is an "equip" option in their inventory aswell.

Apologies to all if my post upset you; it was not my intent. Still, mea culpa.

I appreciate all of your responses and the feedback, especially hofmann's which really clarified what I was doing wrong.

I will not post a defense other that to say (and my spouse would readily agree) that I am not willfully obtuse, just that I am at times "blind-to-the-obvious ." I am also a product of my background and experience, which sometimes makes me see what is NOT there, or more than what is "there" (usually meaning "that is not how I would have done it" syndrome).

However, I cannot regret the discussion since I believe that open two-way communication does help foment understanding, as it has in this case. I hope this will help someone else who is starting out or is equally "blind." (What is intuitively obvious to most means it is not intuitively obvious to all. Of course, improving one's powers of observation does help.)

Thank you all for your time and effort in helping me play the game better and, therefore, enjoy the game more.

Good hunting to one and all! regards, RC

PS--I have used ":)" before on eMails, but I am now trying out emoticons... they do seem to add emphasis. RC