Fallout 4 Supply Lines: A Comprehensive Guide

Understanding Supply Lines

The Commonwealth of Fallout 4 is a dangerous place. Radroaches, Super Mutants, and Raiders – these are just a few of the threats you’ll face as you explore the wasteland. Building settlements is a great way to provide safe havens for yourself and the survivors you meet along the way. But managing multiple settlements can quickly become a logistical nightmare. That’s where Supply Lines come in. Tired of running back and forth between Sanctuary, The Castle, and all your other settlements, just to scrounge enough gears to repair a power armor frame? Supply Lines are your answer! This guide will provide you with all the information you need to understand and use Supply Lines effectively, transforming your scattered settlements into a thriving network.

Understanding Supply Lines

So, what exactly *are* Supply Lines? Simply put, Supply Lines are a system in Fallout 4 that allows you to share resources between your settlements. It’s the Commonwealth’s version of cross-docking, but with more irradiated squirrels. Imagine having access to all the junk you’ve collected in Sanctuary Hills while you’re building a towering fortress at Spectacle Island. That’s the power of Supply Lines.

The core functionality revolves around resource sharing. When you establish a Supply Line, it primarily links the WORKSHOPS of the connected settlements. This means that the junk, food, water, and other materials stored in one settlement’s workshop become accessible when you’re building or crafting in another settlement connected by a Supply Line. Importantly, Supply Lines don’t directly transfer items between settler inventories. It’s about making workshop resources available across your network.

This workshop storage link is a game-changer. Imagine you’re building turrets in a newly established settlement, but you’re running low on steel. With a Supply Line connected to Sanctuary, which has tons of scrap metal thanks to your diligent scavenging, you can access that steel without fast traveling or lugging around tons of junk. You can craft items from any settlement, just as long as you have the raw materials linked via a supply line to that settlement.

How to Establish Supply Lines Between Settlements

Creating these valuable Supply Lines is surprisingly straightforward, but it requires a little investment and the right conditions.

First, you’ll need the Local Leader perk. This perk, found in the Charisma skill tree, is the key to unlocking the settlement management potential of Fallout 4. You need at least Rank one in Local Leader to establish Supply Lines. Think of it as the wasteland’s equivalent of a business license.

Second, you need a settler available to assign to the Supply Line. This settler will become a provisioner, and their job is to travel between the connected settlements, essentially acting as a caravan. You can’t assign just anyone, so make sure you’re in workshop mode and targeting an actual settler.

Here are the step-by-step instructions on how to connect Fallout 4 settlements:

First, enter Workshop mode in the settlement you want to originate the supply line from. This is done by holding down the ‘V’ key on PC, or the corresponding button on your console controller (usually ‘Touchpad’ on Playstation, or ‘View’ on Xbox).

Next, select a settler. When you are in workshop mode, you can approach a settler and a selection box should highlight them when you hover the mouse cursor over them (PC). Click the ‘E’ key on PC to select them.

Now, command the settler to move to another settlement. With the settler selected, focus the cursor to a different settlement, where the name of the settlement should appear on your screen. The game will then prompt you to establish a supply line between the current settlement and the one you are targeting.

Finally, confirm the Supply Line. The settler will be assigned as a provisioner and will begin traveling between the settlements. You will be able to see the caravan traveling the route.

Choosing Optimal Supply Line Routes

Not all settlements are created equal, and neither are Supply Lines. The most efficient supply network involves carefully considering settlement placement and resource needs.

The hub settlement is a key concept in Supply Line management. This is a central settlement that connects to many others, acting as a central node in your supply network. Think of it as the main distribution center. Several locations make excellent hubs. Sanctuary, due to its early availability and central location, is a popular choice. The Castle, after you reclaim it, offers a secure and strategically important location for a hub. Starlight Drive-In, with its large, flat building area, is also a great spot for a centralized resource processing and distribution center. These locations are good starting points because of their location, size, and defensibility.

Specialization is another essential aspect. Instead of trying to make every settlement self-sufficient, consider specializing them for different purposes. One settlement might focus on food production, another on water purification, and a third on crafting. Supply Lines allow you to consolidate these specialized resources, ensuring that all your settlements benefit. For example, you might have Greygarden focus on growing crops, then ship them out to settlements that are focused on other things.

Consider these factors when planning your routes: the distance between settlements is crucial, as longer routes mean more travel time for provisioners and increased risk of attack. Pay attention to the resource needs of each settlement. A settlement that is struggling to produce enough food should be connected to a settlement with a surplus. Finally, the defensibility of the routes is important. Choose routes that minimize exposure to dangerous areas and consider building defenses along the way to protect your provisioners.

Maintaining Your Supply Network

Once your Supply Lines are up and running, you’ll need to manage and maintain them. Provisioners travel these supply routes, and they aren’t invincible.

Finding provisioners on the map is important for tracking their activity. Look for the caravan icon, it identifies settlements with supply lines linked to them. This icon allows you to quickly locate provisioners and assess the health of your supply network. Understanding their routes is also important. If a provisioner keeps running into trouble in a certain area, you may need to clear out the enemies in that location.

Provisioner security is a major concern. Your provisioners are vulnerable to attack by Raiders, creatures, and even Gunners. Protect your investment! Here are some tips for improving provisioner security. First, equip them with good weapons and armor. Give them a decent rifle, combat armor, or even power armor if you can spare it. Clearing out enemy locations along their routes is also essential. Focus on locations near the roads your provisioners travel. Building defenses at settlements provides your provisioners with safe locations to rest, repair and resupply.

Occasionally, things go wrong. Supply Lines can break if a provisioner dies, is reassigned, or is affected by a settlement bug. If a Supply Line breaks, you’ll need to re-assign a settler to the route.

The Significant Benefits of Supply Lines

The benefits of Supply Lines are numerous. They help create a better gameplay experience by simplifying settlement resource management.

Resource pooling is the biggest benefit. Supply Lines pool resources across your network, making crafting and building significantly easier. No more running back and forth between settlements just to find the right materials.

Simplified settlement management is another key advantage. Supply Lines reduce the need to micromanage each individual settlement, allowing you to focus on other aspects of the game. You can get rid of multiple water farms if you like by consolidating your resources into a single settlement.

While the in-game mechanics are limited, connected settlements can theoretically support each other in defense. If one settlement is under attack, the pooled resources can help you quickly build defenses to repel the attackers.

While debatable, well-managed Supply Lines can indirectly contribute to settlement happiness by ensuring sufficient resources. Settlers are happier when they have enough food, water, and defense.

Avoiding Common Pitfalls

Despite their usefulness, some common mistakes can undermine the effectiveness of Supply Lines.

Don’t assume settlers’ personal inventories are shared. Supply Lines *only* link the workshops. You can’t access the gear your settlers are carrying around, so don’t expect that legendary weapon you gave to a settler in Sanctuary to magically appear in your Red Rocket workbench.

Supply Lines don’t allow for direct transfer of specific items between settlements (except through the workshop). You can’t send a specific component to another settlement. It’s an all-or-nothing system based on workshop contents.

Don’t expect automatic defense. Supply Lines don’t automatically provide defensive support. You still need to build defenses in each settlement and be prepared to defend them.

Finally, avoid over-reliance on Supply Lines. While they are incredibly helpful, don’t neglect local resource production. Each settlement should still be able to produce at least enough food and water for its own inhabitants.

Taking Supply Lines to the Next Level

For experienced players, there are ways to further optimize Supply Lines. Some of the most important options will involve leveraging companions.

Consider using companion provisioners. Certain companions, like Piper, can be assigned to Supply Lines. This can be useful, but it also means you can’t use them as companions until you reassign them.

Additionally, there is the option of modding supply lines. There are many mods available that enhance or alter Supply Line functionality. Some mods allow for direct item transfers, while others improve provisioner security. Experiment and see what works best for you.

Final Thoughts

Fallout 4 Supply Lines are an essential tool for managing your settlements and creating a thriving Commonwealth. By understanding how they work, choosing the right settlements, and maintaining your network, you can create a powerful resource sharing system that will make your life in the wasteland much easier. Don’t be afraid to experiment and find what works best for you. Start building your supply network today and create a thriving Commonwealth! You will be thankful that you did when the inevitable siege occurs.