Hello.

So I started playing Fallout 4 and kind of remember from the E3 preview that you would be able to build your own secret base at various points in the Wasteland.

I have purposefully NOT looked up any information or youtube videos on Fallout 4 because I'm trying to experience the game as it comes with no pre-conceived notions or knowledge gained outside the game before I started playing.

But the one thing I would like to know is - will I be able to build a secret base from scratch out in the wilderness and should I save all my raw materials for when I'm able to do that - or, should I start fortifying the Red Rocket Truck Stop now?

Thanks for any help!

No you can only build in the settlement areas within the green border. There are quite a few settlements you run into though.

So only places that have a pre-existing work bench? You can't drag a workbench out in the wild and set up your own base?

Nope. However, if you find a location you like, just don't build any food or water there. That's what attracts settlers.

A couple follow-up questions:

1.) Is stuff stored at the Red Rocket Truck Stop 'safe'? I remember in Skyrim the game went so far as to warn you that if you didn't own the house/container that you stored your loot in, there was the possibility of it disappearing. Is this also true for Fallout 4?

2.) Using raw materials when building - if you build something and decide later to scrap it, do you get all the raw materials back that were put into constructing it?

3.) Is there a Perk (I looked and none seemed to apply) or something that will allow you to gain raw materials through scrapping things like cars and wooden crates and old refrigerators out in the Wasteland?

Thanks for any help and info!

Everything I placed in a container at red rocket is still there.... As others mentioned if storing power armor always remove the core as they can be hijacked.

1. Red Rocket is a settlement area so yes I do believe items stored there will be safe. Provided you store it in your crafting benches using the transfer option or they are storage objects you have made. I'm not certain about the things like trashcans and whatnot that existed before you 'liberated' the area.

2. As far as I'm aware you do not get all the materials used to build it back.

3. Junk items like cans and coffee pots etc can be scrapped for materials. Objects like cars and refrigerators that are outside the highlighted 'zone' of a settlement cannot be scrapped.

You only get about 50% of the resources you put into building something back, when you scrap it.

Don't leave anything laying around, no guarantee that it will still be there when you come back. (not sure how that is going to work for decorating your house......)

Great! Thanks so much for the help, much appreciated