I like Covenant but it is too small to build anything and relies on water pumps.

I like slog as you can put 6 industrial water purifiers in the pool, has lots of crops, and ghouls are the cats meow. But is is far too remote.

Nordhagen Beach is nice, especially as a water farm, but that cabin placement just bothers me.

Starlight is pretty nice, shame that you can only fit 2 purifiers in the rad pool.

The Castle is great once you fix the walls, but unfortunately I seem to hit the size limit too quickly when building there.

Sanctuary is far too large and spaced out, with too many existing buildings to make him feel like my own.

It's not a central ocation but I like Abernathy Farm for how spacey it is, though it's not the biggest.

If on PC there's a mod that let's you get rid of the gagarbage pile bjects etc...I totally cleaned up Red Rocket GS. Not a single garbage pile or weed!!!

That gives me hope that one of the DLCs/ patches will address some of the shortcomings of the settlement system. It's obviously possible to give the players more control over positioning and removal of debris.

yep I let my OCD run loose and cleared all trash from all the settlements, they are all as spotless as the now.

Gray Garden. Let the robots dot he work around the greenhouse, build up to the freeway over head; build a little private spot with one hell of a view.

Enjoy.

Starlight Drive-In. Built an enclosed walkway from the snack stand to the movie screen, which connects to a multilevel building alongside of the screen. No settlers. Just me and a few companions.

Love my Island, but fast travel time is ridiculous! 12 hours spent to go to Sanctuary.

Finishing my second playthrough, I initially built up Egret Touring Marina, I liked the dock there and found (someone else's) idea of lining up shops there. But then I cleared the lighthouse and built it up with a high two level place right around the light area; lined up one side with laser turrets the attacks against this settlement is glorious. I also build up the docks area with a market place type thing.

So Lighthouse for me for now. Someday I'll do a proper settlement at the Castle. Someday.

What about Hangman's Alley? Very central, and sheltered between tall buildings. Only two entrances, so easily trapped and controlled. The space itself a bit narrow, but it works fine for a small number of people (say... you, Dogmenat, and Codsworth).

My own base is Red Rocket because of course it is. I can keep companions and traders in Sanctuary within walking distance, without having to repeatedly listen to 'em or have them taking my things. I also like that the building is watertight - I moved all the crafting into a shed I built and made the 'garage' my actual living quarters, and only open the large door on a sunny day so I can look outside while at my desk.

All great ideas, guys! I'm scouting these locations now, but have a feeling I'll end up with whatever requires least construction cause it's a pain in the ass.

The Starlight Drive In. I like the location and that it has a water source.

Well, I build my base on top of the Red Rocket outside Sanctuary because of one reason. I am elevated. I build a two-story thing on top of the roof, and placed a fast travel mat there. No ladders leading up to it, so I can get away with a minimum of defence for the occasional 2-3 raiders or super muties. Works fine.

This, 100%.

It has plenty of (almost) level terrain, being a parking lot. A convenient crater-pond in the center, big enough to hold 2 large water purifiers and build a structure around them.

Also, it's a giant square, perfect for a big ol' curtain wall with towers.

Mind the grave I felt sort of bad That I nearly build my tiny shack over it.....

My fav is Egret Tours Marina. It is not a very large settlement but is handy for those who do not want to build much and just add to what is there.

The location is very handy to the middle and south parts of the map, is right on the water and has a very nice 'Half-Life 2' feel.

Abernathy farm. The people are nice and I feel like a guest there instead of the boss who has to do all the work. So, the complete opposite of Sanctuary.

Only I made the mistake of assigning Lucy to a store, which makes her switch to a different voice whenever she's working.

My current base is Hangman's Alley. It's surprisingly versatile given it's tight structure; you just need to be clever with verticality. I've got an entire three story building to myself, plus another building with a communal kitchen and barracks. There's a courtyard between them which I'm currently expanding into (more bed space and plans for an artillery cannon at the top). Between the front gate and the community building is the farm; I'm actually amazed at how much I've planted there. Overall I'm incredibly happy with results, but it has been a slog to get it into it's current state. If you don't enjoy the challenge the editor gives I'd avoid the place.

I generally fortify the hell out of Sanctuary and use it as my purifired water production facility, I also build my stores there for easy access to vendors to sell it to. Then I use Abernathy Farm, Red Rocket and Tenpines Bluff for the production of Tatos, Corn and Mutfruit respectively. My companions all go to the Starlight Drive-In and work scavenging stations while Hangman's Alley is just for me.

actually the boathouse is a cool spot, i built it up a bit, with some work you can kinda cover the roof, you have to place a floor section on top of a vertical wall on the top floor, its a bit tricky but once you get the floor section in you can lay more floor sections on top of it and basically build a roof over most of it, its a clean house, decent space, i put plants in it and some furniture, the front yard has weeds but i put an assortment of crops there, its a good spot, less cramped than hangmans alley but its not in a city area, city areas seem to be limited, hangmans alley is the only inner city area i found so far for a settlement.

I like the house, but it bothers me that I can't put a decent floor in the boathouse and use it for my garage.

I'm not really interested in building too much, I just need a sweet place I can add a bit to. I'm gonna look at the Marina some people refer to, that looks pretty sweet. Otherwise I'm actually back to Red Rocket as my favorite spot.

I'm kinda bummed they hand picked a number of spots for us for settlements. Why can't I just build a workshop at my location of choice. That way you could pick any building you like and take it from there. Mods, I guess.

I took the "build workshops and travel while encumbered" perks so I can have base/safehouses where ever I want all over the map. Spent the first 20 levels at Red Rocket and now I'm spending about 20 levels at Outpost Zimanja while I explore the top of the map.

Totally love the "remodel job" I did there which includes a wall with an American flag by the entrance. I removed a few walls and a door, rearranged some stuff, added some containers and a patio set and grill. There's cool spots to place your turrets and every so often I snipe my neighbor just to let him know not to park near my driveway ha ha.

I like being alone (I do bring Dogmeat to whatever base I'm at) so I'll probably mostly hang at the settlements that don't come with people. Probably create a base at Coastal Cottage next.

Also FYI...I don't add settlers to my farms or connect them. Might also hang at Oberland for awhile since I have 2 hot babes for eye candy there. They are armed to the teeth farming tatos ha ha.

Dang. I recall him mentioning burying his daughter back there. I never saw the grave though, I'll have to look again. If I find it I'll set up a picket fence around it or something.

You can put a floor in it once you get one piece aligned correctly, but it takes a little maneuvering and adjusting, it can be tricky and frustrating if you're not patient enough. I built a floor on 1st and 2nd floor with the smallest of gaps, but it took a little bit for me to find that one sweet spot to get started. I don't how many times I started over, scrapping the floor and whatnot until I finally found the combination to get everything flowing together.