Who Can Be Assigned to Supply Lines in Fallout 4?
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In the Commonwealth of Fallout 4, establishing thriving settlements requires a robust resource network. Supply lines are the backbone of this network, allowing you to share materials and crafting components between your settlements. But who exactly can you assign to these vital roles? The simple answer is: any unassigned settler with no pre-defined role in the settlement. These settlers become provisioners, traveling between settlements with their trusty Brahmin, ensuring a steady flow of goods.
Understanding the Requirements for Provisioners
Before you start assigning settlers to supply lines, it’s crucial to understand the prerequisites and limitations. These factors will determine which of your settlers are eligible and how effectively your supply lines will function.
The Local Leader Perk
The cornerstone of establishing supply lines is the Local Leader perk, found in the Charisma perk tree. You need to have at least 6 Charisma and have invested two perk points into Local Leader to unlock this essential ability. Without this perk, you won’t even see the option to create supply lines in the workshop interface.
Unassigned Settlers: The Key to Success
The most important requirement is that the settler must be unassigned from any existing tasks. This means they cannot be currently assigned to:
- Farming: Tending to crops to provide food for the settlement.
- Guard Duty: Patrolling the settlement and defending it from attacks.
- Scavenging Stations: Gathering junk and resources.
- Shops and Stalls: Operating trade posts to generate caps.
- Artillery: Manning artillery cannons for defense.
- Other Special Roles: Assignments specific to certain settlements or quests.
If a settler is already performing one of these tasks, you’ll need to reassign them before you can make them a provisioner. This can be done in workshop mode by highlighting the settler and then selecting the object they are assigned to. The “unassign” command will appear, freeing them up for other duties. Note that some settlers, like Sturges in Sanctuary, can be bugged when moved from their original tasks and might require troubleshooting.
Avoiding Named Settlers and Special Characters
While technically possible with console commands on PC, it’s generally not advisable to assign named settlers or special characters to supply lines. These characters often have specific roles or questlines associated with them, and assigning them to a supply line can cause glitches or break quests. Examples include Sturges, Mama Murphy, and Preston Garvey. It’s best to stick to the generic, unnamed settlers for supply line duties.
Identifying Suitable Settlers
The best way to identify suitable settlers is to enter workshop mode and observe the settlers closely. Those who are not assigned to any tasks will not have a small icon above their heads indicating their current assignment. These are the perfect candidates for becoming provisioners.
How to Assign a Settler to a Supply Line
- Enter workshop mode in the settlement where the settler is located.
- Highlight the settler you want to assign as a provisioner.
- If you have the Local Leader perk, you will see a prompt at the bottom of the screen indicating the button to press to create a supply line (usually a button on your controller or the “R” key on PC).
- Press the button. This will bring up a list of your other settlements.
- Choose the settlement you want the settler to supply.
- The settler will be assigned as a provisioner and will begin traveling between the two settlements with their Brahmin.
Optimizing Your Supply Lines
Once you’ve assigned settlers to supply lines, there are a few things you can do to optimize their effectiveness:
- Equip Your Provisioners: Give your provisioners good weapons and armor to protect them from dangers on the road. While they are technically essential and cannot die, they can get into extended fights and become a liability. A well-equipped provisioner is less likely to be delayed by enemies. Settlers and provisioners only need one ammo for the weapon you want them to use, except for rocket launchers and fat mans.
- Monitor Your Routes: Pay attention to the routes your provisioners are taking and clear out any enemies or obstacles along the way. A safe and clear route will ensure that your supply lines run smoothly.
- Manage Your Settlement Population: Remember that provisioners still count towards your settlement population limit. If you have too many provisioners, you may not have enough settlers to perform other essential tasks.
FAQs: Supply Lines in Fallout 4
Here are some frequently asked questions about supply lines in Fallout 4, providing additional insights and tips:
1. Why can’t I assign a settler to a supply line?
The most common reason is that the settler is already assigned to a task within the settlement. Make sure they are unassigned before attempting to create a supply line. You also must have the Local Leader perk.
2. Do provisioners need to be at the destination settlement to set up a supply line?
No. A provisioner does not have to be at the destination to set up a supply line there. After assigning a settler to another settlement, they can be selected in workshop mode at the current settlement and made a provisioner that connects their newly assigned settlement to another of your choice.
3. How do supply lines work in Fallout 4?
Supply lines share resources for crafting, building, and modifying gear. You cannot directly remove goodies from a workshop that your settlement is linked to, but you can use those resources in workshop mode or at any of the crafting stations (including modifications that you’ve stored). Building items and commodities are shared with supply lines only. Steel and wood. Etc. No weapons or armor from your inventory are shared.
4. Are supply lines worth it in Fallout 4?
Absolutely. Supply lines are an integral part of Fallout 4’s settlement-building system. They allow for the transport of valuable goods between established settlements and, more thematically, help the player bridge the gap between distant people and towns in a world that has fallen apart.
5. Do provisioners count as settlers?
Yes, provisioners still count as settlers for your settler limit, so any settlement will have fewer people available for farming, guard duty, scrapping stations, barber chairs, and shopkeepers.
6. Can you reassign provisioners in Fallout 4?
Yes, you can reassign them. If you catch the provisioner in one of the two settlements, you can reassign them. It DOES NOT need to be the original settlement (in this way, you can move a settler between towns). If you find them in between, you can’t remove the supply line in the field.
7. Can you have too many supply lines?
While there’s no hard limit on the total number of supply lines, each settlement has a limit of one supply line to a specific settlement. Settlement A will be limited to one supply line to settlement B from either settlement the provisoner came from. The route is the limit. So if there are 30 settlements, the limit would be 29 routes per settlement.
8. Do supply lines share junk?
Yes, they share junk. When building, you’ll have access to all the junk in that settlement’s workshop.
9. Will provisioners get attacked?
Yes, provisioners can be attacked by enemies on their routes. Equip them with good weapons and armor to improve their chances of survival.
10. Can settlements be attacked even with strong defenses?
Yes, even with strong defenses, settlements can still be attacked. Raiders, super mutants, and other enemies can launch attacks periodically. The more defenses you have, the less likely they are to succeed.
11. What happens if a provisioner dies?
Provisioners are technically essential NPCs and cannot be permanently killed. They may be downed in combat, but they will eventually recover.
12. What is the best settlement in Fallout 4?
That depends on your play style and preferences. Some popular choices include Spectacle Island, The Castle, and Sanctuary Hills. Each offers unique advantages in terms of size, location, and resources.
13. Can you send settlers to different settlements?
Yes, you can send settlers to different settlements. When you start talking to them, you will see a move command on your bottom menu. Click on it, and then just choose from the list of your settlements where exactly do you want to send them to.
14. Can settlers be replaced by synths?
Synths never actually replace your settlers. It’s just that sometimes your settlers are synths. If you’re allied with the Institute, they won’t turn on you. At least they’re not supposed to.
15. How many settlers can you have at a settlement?
The limit to settlers is determined by your charisma. Each settlement has a default max population of 10 settlers plus each point of charisma your character has, totaling to a maximum of 20 settlers.
By understanding these requirements and optimizing your supply lines, you can create a thriving network of settlements in the Commonwealth, ensuring a steady flow of resources and a strong foundation for your post-apocalyptic empire. Remember to explore the Games Learning Society at GamesLearningSociety.org for more insights into how games can teach and engage.