Brotherhood Overhaul (Conceptual Stage)

[Vaernus]

 

I just imagine opening up the workshop menu for the first time for a new settlement, you would get a pop-up message asking you if you want to set up a Minutemen settlement or a BOS settlement. Besides once the CK comes out it will most likely be possible to add new settlement locations.

Very true. Although new locations potentially means new pathfinding for supply routes - the current routes have pathfinding in place, but I don't know if it's AI working it out as it goes, or a set of waypoints programmed in.

 

10 spaced pages of rambling in Google Docs. Time to do actual mechanical stuff.

 

 

It does make a lot more sense that settlements pull from physical food/water items than just having a production value above the settler amount. This could then lead to situations where you have a bad season of crops, but have generated enough from previous crops to keep things going. Food value in any settlement would show the physical amount of food items in that or connected settlements (same with water). Coupled with trade routes, food shouldn't be a requirement per location if you have something like Graygarden, Greentop Nursery, and The Slog fully focused on heavy food production. Couple that with a happiness bonus to the amount of food types (similar to many RTS games like Stronghold), and an even greater bonus if they're not having to eat vegetables all the time (by allowing settlers to work on cooking stations to turn the raw goods into cooked versions).

 

Now how would this apply to the BoS? Frankly, I don't see any of the actual BoS members doing any of the heavy lifting in a settlement. As has been mentioned, a "settlement" is not really a part of the Brotherhood character outside of forward bases. A settlement is largely driven by the player (as it is now) and BoS Knights/Paladins/Scribes do move in but would be limited to certain tasks (scribes handling scavenging stations or production, Knights handling patrols or security, Paladins handling security). Any settlers coming in that are sponsored by you (and any initiates sent to these locations) are fair game though to manage the settlement's needs. I can see how the BoS may not want every single Commonwealth settler fully in their fold immediately, and their actions keeping the logistics running would be a good test (coupled with combat training as these areas are attacked).

 

Ultimately, the only reason the settlements are even in the running is because of the player and their training with the Minutemen. Some definitely hold strategic value for keeping an area safe, but the locations already in the world (like Fort Hagan, National Guard Training Yard, and the vaults) would provide enough hot spots as forward bases to secure the area. So at best, I can see the settlements as a "test your worth" scenario for all the Commonwealth citizens that are considering joining the BoS. This keeps the bottleneck away from the Prydwen or their new HQ, and the red tape falls on the hands of the Sentinel, leaving Maxson and gang to focus on their primary objectives while still getting recruits to fill in the ranks. Even better, the Sentinel keeps the populace largely inline and following the BoS mantra so there's less headaches.

[Vaernus]

 

Once you've taken the steps to actually get your troops in order and they are competent enough to use the equipment, you need to make plans of attack based on what you know about the Brotherhoods FOB and outposts. A tactical strike of the Police Station would be the point of no return. Then it would be just a matter of getting close enough to Boston Airport with a few Fat-Man launchers and T-45s to start the assault. At that point, you could then have a mini-nuke converted to a missile and have it launched at the Prydwen to blow it out of the sky. (But you'd need to be close enough so you'd have to at least secure the main entrance to Boston Airport.)

 

I think that is a reasonable way to get in and destroy the Prydwen and take out the Brotherhood. Granted, its unrealistic, but its far more realistic than lobbing artillery. But yea, a handful of Fat-Man's and some concentrated assault squads and its doable. Suicidal, but doable.

 

 

In-game terminal entries suggest the Prydwen is within range of Fat Man launchers from the ground, tying everything in nicely to existing references.

 

 

Fr: Lancer-Captain Kells KS-390LC

To: Elder Maxson MX-001E

According to Proctor Quinlan, we have a serious security threat on our hands. There's a sizable stockpile of Fat Man shells being kept nearby at the remains of Fort Strong. More disturbingly, the facility is currently held by a Super Mutant contingent of unknown size.

I'm certain I don't have to remind you that the Super Mutants are smart enough to utilize the weapons, and that the Prydwen is well within a Fat Man launcher's range. I urge you to send someone down there immediately to deal with this threat before we end up as targets for their nuclear arsenal.

Hmm... Mind if I make a G-Doc to dump any ideas in?

 

 

I can add you guys all as editors on the design document, and setup an area for an idea dump. Just need an email to invite into it. Or we define a separate doc (as it sounds like you've done) that can just allow anonymous idea dumping. Whichever you'd prefer.

[Athanasa]

I just made my own doc because... Because I get to spend ages making it look pretty while my brain ticks away. I'm mostly popping out scenario ideas more than anything - potential quests and whatnot.

Edited December 31, 2015 by Athanasa

[Vaernus]

 

Just shove him in a CT scanner and see if parts rip out of him.

 

Also, something I swear I'd linked... A mod that allows you to make settlers do pushups! Using the Scavenger stations. http://www.nexusmods.com/fallout4/mods/4749/? And, by the same guy, more guard stations that take the form of carpets.

 

So, another thing to add to the day's To-Do-List: Download that mod, hope it works, make a Brotherhood base with people actually training in it. Stick the 'fake' guard stations up on the BoS walkways, have my BoS guards patrol around my base looking baller.

 

 

 

 

To Do:

• Work out the vanilla daily crop production for food values
• Make an Excel document of FO4's foods
• Build an airport
• Build a BoS style base on Spectacle Island
• Make the FFS and Socks website shiny Postponed, it's functional for now
• Transfer my mental burbling from forums to the website
• Slim down the original idea posts to not scare people / repost?
• Work out BoS callsigns Done
• Make a BoS related info-dump Google Document - WIP
• More research into anything BoS related in FO games - See Google Docs
• Feed the shower acid to clear the drain
• Remove all dog hair and mud from bed.

 

 

 

 

That to-do definitely made me chuckle. I've already adjusted the post on here and on Bethesda's forums to simply have a feature outline. The original post was a bit too wordy. Its summarized pretty decently well now, and the fleshed out version is the design document.

[zezia333]

I don`t mean to see any of the actual BoS members doing any of the heavy lifting in a settlement. I just think it would be it convenient to have BOS affiliated settlements without having to take control of Minutemen settlements. I would think the player could set up a different Radio Beacon with a different message. Or maybe, if possible, sponsor settlers in your settlements you already have and just send them to the BOS affiliated settlement

[Athanasa]

I can cross out the BoS style base as best I can. Until the conflicts in Settlement menus is resolved, anyway. The shower has been acid'd, although the dog has returned to my bed. Sorting settlers is next on the list.

 

Bethesda's left so much wanting with the Brotherhood, but it doesn't come close to the wasted potential of settlements. You can spend so much time on your settlements, but you might as well spend half an hour on each to dump basic stuff in or nothing at all - they barely do anything for you.

 

Anyway! My 'Totally Awesome Brotherhood Base'... complete with NPCs once I can get settlers there.

 

... yeah, those are desk lamps on the landing pad. And industrial lamps glued to piles of bricks. Ssssh, there was nothing else that could light it like that!

 

 

 

 

 

http://i.imgur.com/odlS1ej.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/GgUk3En.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/RyiDipk.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/WQAZBHC.jpg

Strobe lights stuck on the tails.

 

http://i.imgur.com/DxAd6nK.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/EZinYlS.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/icSGwVc.jpg

 

 

 

 

Edited December 31, 2015 by Athanasa

[Vaernus]

I don`t mean to see any of the actual BoS members doing any of the heavy lifting in a settlement. I just think it would be it convenient to have BOS affiliated settlements without having to take control of Minutemen settlements. I would think the player could set up a different Radio Beacon with a different message. Or maybe, if possible, sponsor settlers in your settlements you already have and just send them to the BOS affiliated settlement

 

See the problem though is the Minutemen almost seem like they *need* to get all settlements affiliated with them. They're about the unification of the Commonwealth, by the people, for the people, and its why they're so willing to go to war with the Institute and the BoS to keep the area free. Any BoS-owned settlements would be an affront and most likely involve them taking the area over (thereby causing a war between the two). And the impression I got was that they become more egotistical and militaristic as you progressed through their storyline (you become General, then you take over The Castle, then soldier Ronnie Shaw comes in, then they get armory to equip themselves better, then they start artillery firing everywhere, and then they're fine exploding a nuke to destroy the Institute before artillery fire on the BoS). In all reality, they kill more people than the BoS in their dominance of the area. At best, the BoS kills the Railroad leaders, and mostly synths. Minutemen and Railroad have no qualms killing children on the Prydwen without a second thought. No effort whatsoever to save anyone, with a half-assed effort by Preston to fire off the evacuation signal in the Institute.

[Athanasa]

In all reality, they kill more people than the BoS in their dominance of the area. At best, the BoS kills the Railroad leaders, and mostly synths. Minutemen and Railroad have no qualms killing children on the Prydwen without a second thought. No effort whatsoever to save anyone, with a half-assed effort by Preston to fire off the evacuation signal in the Institute.

 

I dunno, I bet there's plenty of civilian casualties from Vertibirds. Especially when Teagan's so keen on sending those deathtraps out to help caravans.

 

"Oh no, it's a Vertibird. Get to cover before it crashes on us!"

[Vaernus]

 

In all reality, they kill more people than the BoS in their dominance of the area. At best, the BoS kills the Railroad leaders, and mostly synths. Minutemen and Railroad have no qualms killing children on the Prydwen without a second thought. No effort whatsoever to save anyone, with a half-assed effort by Preston to fire off the evacuation signal in the Institute.

 

I dunno, I bet there's plenty of civilian casualties from Vertibirds. Especially when Teagan's so keen on sending those deathtraps out to help caravans.

 

"Oh no, it's a Vertibird. Get to cover before it crashes on us!"

 

 

Ahh that'll be fixed very early when the Creation Kit comes out. Already very difficult to take one down in the current rendition, so its just tweaking the AI for them and all's well.

 

And you're telling me this is not a good use for a pilot's first day on the job? Especially Bob, the pilot nobody liked anyway?

 

Edited December 31, 2015 by Vaernus

[zezia333]

You may have a point. Though the Brotherhood is not above killing children since there are multiple children (most likely dozens going by lore) in the Institute. Maxson does not even blink when hundreds are killed in an instant. Though to be fair I do agree with you when it comes to the Railroad.