I recently started a new character (actually kind of a remake of an older character but with some altered stats) and I decided I didn't want to build settlements or take Minuteman missions by the dozen.

So, in the beginning, I took dogmeat, got Preston and crew to Sanctuary (without agreeing to join them there). I avoided Preston like the plague while I built beds, water pumps, planted a crop so I can make "vegetable starch" and assigned Marcy and Jun to tend the crops. I also built defenses to protect my crops (and the people of course). Happiness in Sanctuary seems to be more or less leveled off at 30.

Now, I only go to Sanctuary to collect my taxes... eh, foods for processing. Home is a nice structure built atop the Red Rocket, I dismissed dogmeat, so he lives downstairs and guards the place while I am gone. He seemed lonely though, so I bought him a girlfriend and a brahmin, and they all seem to happy enough.

I built water purifiers at the Starlight, but nobody lives there.

I've built no radio towers at all.

So for game play, the effect has been that XP is a little harder to come by early on without the settlement quests. At the same time, I've discovered that I get the settlement quests by simply visiting the settlements without being a Minuteman... but I can get them at my own speed and when I want them.

Really, it gives the game a whole new flavor.

Better yet, do what I did.


Codsworth - "Their might be someone in Concord who could help you."

Goes to Concord, sees guy with a big hat vaporizing people from his balcony using his advanced technology.

Me - "He is obviously evil."

Goes back to Codsworth.

"There was only raiders and some crazy guy with a laser rifle killing them."

"Not to worry mum. If you may, I will accompany you in this harsh world."

I build Sanctuary, claim the Castle, do EVERYTHING and poor old PressedHam Mc'Gravy is still in Concord waiting for his knigh in shining armour to never come.

I thought about going that route, but I wanted to be able to have crops to sell and process into vegetable starch. Sure, you can just go to settlements, but most of them only have one type of crop and I didn't want to have to travel all over hell's half-acre.

I was wondering about The Castle... It'd be a kick if the Minutemen showed up to claim it, and you had to fight them for it. Do you still

I discovered that I can build settlements, put up towers, plant crops, have settlers, make money, etc... and never have anything at all to do with Preston, the crew or even the Minutemen at all.

I figured that one out by building a beacon at Sanctuary long before I even went to Concord and having over a dozen settlers there within days.

Unfortunately I actually like Preston, so, that kind of ruins the scenario for me..

It's not so much that I actually dislike Preston, as it is that getting a new quest every time I get within 10 feet of him gets old quickly. I decided against settlement building, because I wanted the freedom of not being responsible for them. No settlers means no reason tho rush off at a moment's notice to defend them, and no kidnappings to contend with.

Yep this. Plus the mechanic is a little clunky, though not his fault. Settlements join the minutemen. Ok. Fine. But you still do their job for them. Where're the soldiers?

Since he headed off to the Castle and I didn't, I haven't had to deal with him. I have to actually ASK Abernathy if he needs anything and there are occasional whassup's from the random settler though.

Why Starlight of all places? If I want to farm water, I claim spectacle Island and turn it into a water goldmine.

Heh, I did that when my char was... I think level 4 or 5. I hadn't at that point been any farther South than the diner. I wanted the water for its healing properties as well as to sell, and for making other useful things like vegetable starch. I'm level 14 now, and still haven't been farther South than Diamond City. Also, I'd decided that Red Rocket was going to be home, and I wanted something South and East that wasn't too far to be handy because I spend a lot of time in the early game on the East side. Starlight is really about midway, and close access to the Diner and Trashcan Carla.