Does Dogmeat Count as a Settler in Fallout 4?
The short answer is a resounding no, Dogmeat does not count as a settler in Fallout 4. While he’s a loyal and beloved companion, and can often be found wandering your settlements, he operates under different rules than human settlers. This distinction impacts settlement management and gameplay mechanics, which will be explored in detail below.
Understanding Settler Mechanics in Fallout 4
In Fallout 4, settlers are the backbone of your settlements. They require beds, food, water, and defense, and they can be assigned to various tasks like farming, scavenging, and manning defense turrets. They contribute to your settlement’s overall happiness and prosperity. These settlers are usually human (or sometimes synth), and their needs must be met for a settlement to thrive. The game limits the amount of settlers a single settlement can have and will not allow new settlers to join until there are enough resources and lodging available.
Dogmeat’s Role in Settlements
While Dogmeat will often hang around your settlements, he’s not a settler and therefore doesn’t require any resources or assignment to plots. He will not be automatically assigned a bed or a job, and he does not contribute to your settlement population count. You can generally find him loitering near the closest doghouse within the settlement or anywhere that you last left him. Crucially, he doesn’t respond to the “Settler Rally” bell or other settlement management tools, reinforcing his independent nature within the settlement environment.
Dogmeat and Lone Wanderer Perk
One of the significant benefits of keeping Dogmeat as a companion is that he does not negate the benefits of the Lone Wanderer perk. This means you can enjoy the increased damage resistance and carry weight that the Lone Wanderer perk provides while still having Dogmeat by your side. This makes him a unique companion in that he’s an animal, and not considered to be an actual companion when this perk is applied.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Dogmeat and Settlers
1. Does Dogmeat need a bed in my settlement?
No, Dogmeat does not require a bed. He’ll be fine sleeping in or around his doghouse or just roaming around. His needs are completely different from human settlers.
2. Can I assign Dogmeat to a task in my settlement?
No, you cannot assign Dogmeat to tasks. He’s not programmed for settlement work. Dogmeat is a companion for combat support, not for labor or production.
3. Does Dogmeat count towards my settlement population limit?
No, Dogmeat does not count towards your population limit. You can have him around without it affecting your ability to recruit more settlers.
4. Can Dogmeat be affected by settlement morale?
No, Dogmeat isn’t affected by your settlement’s happiness levels. He will remain loyal regardless of how the settlement is doing.
5. Does Dogmeat get jealous if I bring along other companions?
No, Dogmeat is a loyal companion and won’t exhibit jealousy if you travel with others. He operates independent from the emotions of human companions.
6. Can I romance Dogmeat?
No, you can’t romance Dogmeat. He is a dog, and romance options are exclusively for human or humanoid companions.
7. Does Dogmeat drop synth components when killed?
No, Dogmeat does not drop synth components, confirming he is not a synth. Only synths will drop those components.
8. Is Dogmeat considered a “unique NPC” like other companions?
Yes and No. While he is a unique NPC, he does not fall under the same category of settler management as human unique NPCs. He has his own separate rules that do not involve settlement resource management.
9. What happens if I dismiss Dogmeat to a settlement?
Dogmeat will remain in the settlement you dismissed him to, usually found near a doghouse if available, but he will not be automatically assigned to any tasks or counted as a settler.
10. Is Dogmeat the best combat companion?
Dogmeat isn’t the most powerful combat companion, since he cannot equip weapons, but he’s useful as a distraction and can help you with certain enemies, not to mention a companion can be a powerful advantage. He is also excellent for the Lone Wanderer perk. It is up to the player which companion is the best for them.
11. Is Dogmeat a boy or a girl?
Dogmeat is a male dog in Fallout 4. The inspiration for Dogmeat in real life was a female, but in game he is coded as a male.
12. Is Dogmeat’s name always “Dogmeat” or just “Dog”?
Initially, he might be called “Dog,” but a specific conversation with Mama Murphy (if done correctly) will change his name to “Dogmeat” permanently. Otherwise he will stay as “Dog”.
13. Does the Inspirational perk affect Dogmeat?
Yes, the “Inspirational” perk does affect Dogmeat, increasing his damage output. However, other magazine perks such as “Live and Love” do not.
14. Is Codsworth or Dogmeat the better companion?
Codsworth has more utility as a fighter, but he is a human companion and will affect the Lone Wanderer perk. Dogmeat will not affect the Lone Wanderer perk, and therefore is the better companion for this style of play. He also doesn’t require purified water everyday and the player will have to speak to Codsworth everyday for this resource. This makes Dogmeat a better companion for some players.
15. Is Dogmeat the most popular companion in Fallout 4?
Dogmeat is extremely popular and frequently ranks high among favorite companions due to his loyalty, classic appeal, and how his mechanics work with the Lone Wanderer Perk.
Conclusion
While Dogmeat is an integral part of the Fallout 4 experience, it’s important to understand his unique position within settlements. He is not a settler and operates under a different set of rules. He doesn’t count towards settlement population caps, doesn’t need resources, and doesn’t need to be assigned to tasks. This makes him a low-maintenance companion who will always be there for you, regardless of how well you’re managing your settlements. Enjoy your canine companion!