In Fallout 4, you can establish supply lines between settlements to share all available resources and supplies. To set up a trade route, you need to assign a free settler to the role of a provisioner. Below, we explain in detail how to do this.
How to Establish Supply Lines
To create supply lines in Fallout 4, you will need:
At least two settlements owned by the player character.
At least one available settler.
The first rank of the “Local Leader” perk (requires at least 6 points in Charisma).
Between the chosen bases, there should be no existing trade routes.
To create a supply line in Fallout 4, use the “Workshop” mode in one of the settlements:
Highlight a settler and press [Q] (or RB/R1 on Xbox/PS4) to open the list of settlements owned by the player character.
Select the destination with which you want to link the current location.
To view existing supply lines, open the world map and press [C] (L1/LB on PlayStation 4/Xbox One).
Settlers assigned to trade routes will become provisioners and will travel between towns (usually leading a pack of brahmins).
Why are they needed?
Supply lines in Fallout 4 are useful and necessary for several reasons:
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Resource Sharing for Crafting: When building structures in the Workshop or using a crafting station, you can create items from junk and components even if they are located at different bases. The junk is automatically converted into the necessary materials.
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Distribution of Food and Water: Excess food and water (produced or available) will be used to supply all the settlements in the network. This allows some settlements to specialize in producing food or water, while others can focus on different tasks, ensuring that all have the necessary supplies.
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Resource Management Visibility: If you establish supply lines in Fallout 4, the “Workshop” mode in the “Pip-Boy” menu will show the resources missing in individual settlements. Triangle icons indicate that a deficit is causing discontent, but if the label is green, it means the provisioners are successfully covering the shortfall.
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Provisioners in Fallout 4 can double the strength of friendly patrols and will engage in combat with enemies they encounter, especially if the player is nearby. Thus, having a network of supply lines can make traveling through the Commonwealth much safer, especially if you equip your caravaners with sufficient amounts of weapons and armor. This way, they are capable of handling all types of enemies they might meet on the road.
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You can establish supply lines in Fallout 4 between the Commonwealth, Mount Desert Island, and Nuka-World, allowing you to access your resource reserves wherever you are.
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If you encounter a provisioner in the wasteland, you can give them unwanted items, which the caravaner will then carry to the designated settlement. This service essentially acts as an army of “personal movers,” helping you free up space in your inventory as needed.
Features
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Route Establishment Flexibility: To establish a route, you do not need to have land access to all destinations, so you can create trade routes to islands from the Commonwealth without restrictions from the beginning.
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Provisioner Population Dynamics: Provisioners take into account the maximum population of their settlements, as well as their needs for food and water, although they never stay in one place.
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Resource Sharing: Settlements use resources jointly with all other settlements in their network. Two towns do not necessarily have to be directly connected. For example, if the Survivor connects settlements A → B, B → C, and C → D, then A, B, C, and D will share each other’s resources.
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Combat Readiness: Caravaners will fight hostile creatures and people on their path, so it is advisable to equip them with appropriate weapons and armor to defend themselves. They do not expend ammunition and grenades, meaning they can use expensive weapons and grenades indefinitely.
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Immortality in Combat: Like companions, provisioners cannot die from enemy fire. When they take significant damage, they are temporarily knocked down but will get up after a short period.
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Self-Upgrading Arsenal: Due to NPCs’ standard ability to pick up weapons, caravaners often gradually upgrade their arsenal themselves.
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Vulnerability to the Survivor: Despite their resilience, they can die from injuries if inflicted by the Survivor himself.
Robots of the world
In Fallout 4, supply lines can be manned by your own robot automatons instead of human “meatbags”. This approach has several advantages:
- Upgradability: Robots can be easily upgraded with weapons and armor that far surpass human capabilities.
- Efficient Mobility: The “Mr. Handy” series of flying robots are particularly well-suited for this role due to their ability to move quickly and easily navigate complex terrains, including water bodies. They are less likely to get stuck in places where other humanoids and automatons typically do.
However, there is a significant drawback to using these “iron lumberjacks”:
- Loss of Upgrades in Defeat: If defeated in battle, they lose all upgrades and revert to the basic Protectron model, whereas humans, after resting for a while, retain all their equipment. This can make using robots a more high-maintenance option in terms of continually needing to reinvest in their upgrades after any combat losses.
Conclusion
In summary, establishing and managing supply lines in Fallout 4 is a crucial aspect of gameplay that enhances resource sharing, settlement development, and overall survival in the Commonwealth. Players have the flexibility to set up these lines using either human settlers or robotic provisioners, each with its own set of advantages and challenges. While human provisioners can maintain their equipment after battles and are simpler to manage, robots offer superior combat capabilities and mobility, though they require continuous upgrades and maintenance. Understanding and leveraging these dynamics can significantly impact the effectiveness and efficiency of your settlement network, ultimately making your journey through the wasteland safer and more sustainable. Whether you prioritize safety, resource allocation, or combat efficiency, the strategic use of supply lines can profoundly influence your Fallout 4 experience.
