I'm just getting used to the settlement idea in Fallout4. Question- after assigning a settler to the salvage station, what does that do? Also after scrapping everything in a settlement, how do you get more resources? Thanks in advance!

By default, unassigned settlers gather additional resources for you (Though you never see it happen, the stuff just shows up) Adding a scavenging station and assigning someone to them increases the amount of junk collected. Multiple assigned stations generate more (I have one settlement with a load of stations as a junk generating settlement.

You get more resources by collecting junk as you explore and dropping it off at a crafting bench in a settlement (Transfer option/store all junk) You can also scrap unwanted weapons and armor for basic resources such as wood, steel and leather (There's a perk to get rarer resource types from doing so, such as fiber optics and crystal) Junk can also be purchased from traders.

Depending on the stuff you need, finding certain resources can get tricky, but you can learn quickly what junk gives what resources. Though, initially it can be difficult to gather enough of a certain resource, especially when you start crafting too. Steel being an initial problem along with copper, aluminium and adhesive.

Thanks Deven! I didn't know that settlers would gather junk and resources even with out a salvage station! Your right, I've already started to learn what's valuable scrap and junk! Another question, I dump my junk in the work bench station which should be shared by all my settlements right? Or do I need to set up supply lines first?

You need to setup a Supply Line to share resources between Settlements.

I have another question about settlements. Many settlements, such as Ten Pines and Murkwater, have destroyed houses that take up valuable real estate. They can't be scrapped as far as I know. Is there any way to get rid of them or at least fix them up so that they can be more usable?

By default, no. There are mods that allow you to do so availiable for the PC, but removing them causes issues with the LOD, (Something that may get sorted when the GECK releases)

if you walk right up to where they were, the distant terrain disappears until you move again (Basically, when you press up against a wall or similar, the game unloads the distant terrain that you can't see to free up memory)

I tend to try and just build around them. They make good hardpoints to hide generators though.

You should find your own materials. It's quicker and gives yourself more result.

Just tell your companion to pick stuff up along the way. When you're back, take all the Junks from your companion's backpack and unload them at the Workshop.

Have to agree here. Settlers can gather a lot of the useful base level materials, but never in big quantities and rarely any of the less common materials.

Much better to go on scavving runs yourself. Hit a location, gather what you can, focus on rarer materials and items that provide more than one material. Examples: Microscopes, hot plates, coffee pots. Weappns and armor that you don't need can be broken down too.

Top Tip: Components seem to weigh less than individual items. So, if you are looting a location and find a weapon or armor workbench, break down what you don't need there and then. Junk will need to wait till you reach a settlement.

Also. plant tato plants and use the subsequent tatos to make vegetable starch, which provides 5 adhesive each time, one of the less common materials and absolutely essential for crafting anything weapon or armor wise.

Where does Taffington Boathouse come from is it a real place or if not where did the inspiration come from?

All unassigned settlers gathers one piece of junk per day. That can something like a lantern which can be scrapping into 2 steel, 2 glass and 2 oil components, or it could be a single component like steel. Whether it is a lantern or a steel component it is counted as "one piece of junk".

A scavenging station will allow the settler assigned to it to gather 2 pieces of junk everyday; it one settler per scavenging station. Scavengers do not physically leave to settlement to scavenge the wasteland even though technically that is actually what they do. In my game I give scavengers a combat rifle and cage armor.

However, there is a limit to how much junk can be scavenged. I believe the formula is something like 100 + 5 * population (from a Reddit post). If the settlement's population is 20, then once the workbench has 200 piece of junk or more, then no other junk will "magically" appear in the workbench.

It reminds me of the place we summered at while I was growing up. Just missing the servants quarters.

I don't think it's anything specific to the Boston area though. There are a lot of places like that.