Every time I return to Fallout 4 (FO4), I rush to get building settlements and burn out in a few days. This has happened more than once, and it will probably happen again (and again) before Elder Scrolls 6 or Fallout 5 ever make it into production. This time has been different, so far. I started this playthough with a “mod collection” named A Story Wealth (aSW) and several of its “expansions,” and I have really enjoyed just playing the game. I think this is partly due to the fact that it’s been a pretty long time since I ran through the story, and I have forgotten a lot of it. I think the other part of it is that it adds SO MUCH STUFF that I’m always running into something new.
All of that said, I have also been using Transfer Settlements (part of an aSW expansion) to build the settlements for me. This isn’t like Sim Settlements 2 (SS2), where I have to follow along the quest to get things done; I push a button and watch a fully fleshed-out settlement appear. This has been very cool, because the list of included blueprints is mostly Fiddleflaps‘ work – scrappy, cramped, little villages. It’s kept me focused on the game for more than 60 levels.
When it came time to do something at the Mechanist’s Lair, however, I decided to build a power armor garage/warehouse/workshop. I’d been collecting power armor with the intent of storing them in the lair.
What you’re about to see is v3 of the build. The other two builds were not finished, they “just didn’t work”. I would get them to a certain stage and run into one problem or another. This was mainly because I kept trying to keep the catwalks that come with the place, somehow incorporating them into the build. The only image I have is this one (from v1):
I had stopped building and continued playing while I tried to come up with something better.
Then I came across this post on “Wonko’s Geekery.” They had stripped the lair bare before building. While I really wanted to keep the catwalks, their build convinced me of two things: One, the catwalks had to go. And two, I needed to start blogging again. So here I am doing both.
I spent the rest of the evening and all of my building time today to get a working layout in place. It’s not finished – not by a long shot – but it’s got a working plan in place. But enough talking, let me show you.
First of all, I’m going to be describing these screenshots based on the orientation of the player standing in the Mechanist’s Control Room looking toward the exit elevator. This is the “front”. “Left” is looking left from there – where the workbench is. “Right” is looking toward the side where the robot workbench is – which I didn’t move.
Looking front, there is a large open workspace. I’m not sure what I’ll put down on the ground level, but I have plenty of room to do it in. All the way in the front, on the left of the door, is a three-story elevator that leads to the “Front Power Armor Storage Unit.” (You should just be able to make it out behind Jezabel.)
Looking front, on the second and third floors are 4 pods for power armors. These are “heavily inspired” by (read that as “completely ripped off from”) Wonko’s build. I could bring many more pods toward the control room if I need to. I think I could even squeeze one more set of pods on either side of these. But I need to be in a desperate place to do so. I think I’ll collect many more sets of power armor as the game continues, but I just don’t know that there will be that many unique examples to put on display. This is what I’m shooting for – only the unique ones. I’ve got plenty of places in my other settlements to store copies or dull T-60 BoS variants.
Just a slightly different view of the lobby and the front storage pods.
This shot is standing in the left doorway, looking toward the right of the lobby on the first level. You can see that I’ve walled off a section of the lobby on the right side for “something”. Wonko had an area for displays of heavy weapons and other guns. I may twist that a little to include all of the stuff that aSW gives you to collect: trading cards, magazines, games, etc. I can include all of those with the vanilla game’s bobbleheads, and armor mannequins or something. I’ll get there.
This is a shot standing in the exit doorway under the front storage pods looking toward the control room – basically a reverse view of the lobby. The front storage pod elevator is just in the frame on the left. As you can see, I’ve used a ton of wood to cover the floor. There was so much unscrappable trash on the floor I couldn’t stand to look at it. The idea of the grated floor pieces over the “lift” gates is to allow them to be used again in the future for something. Just an RP thing.
This shot is taken standing under the right-side storage pods looking toward the left. Not much to see except the wall separating the space from the lobby.
I apologize for the dark spot. I need to add a light here. But you can see the robot workbench just outside the right-hand wall. The only thing that happened to it was that I placed floors down and “popped” it on top of them. It truly is amazing at well full-floor pieces just popped into place without glitching them.
This is a view of the left-hand storage pod area. I know it’s the left, because of the stairs on the left of the image and the space light way up in the rafters on the middle (clean up incoming). No armors in the pods yet, still making sure I’m happy with the arrangement of the pods.
This is a shot of the right-hand storage pods and the elevator. After installing the elevators, I’m not so sure I need them. The stairs shown in this picture and the previous one were afterthoughts, but I may keep them and ditch the elevators. Doing so will give me at least one more storage pod per level. It’s still rolling around in my head.
This is a shot of the five storage units directly under the control room. Again, “heavily inspired” by Wonko. I really hope they don’t get angry with me for ripping their work off.
Just closer images of the four sets of power armor under the control room.
To the left of the control room, I set up a place to build/repair power armor sets from the pieces I collect on my adventures. Sometimes I get full sets, sometimes I only get a piece. I store the pieces in the toolbox until I get a full set of something, and then put it on a frame for display.
A better view of the left storage pod area.
And the front.
And finally, a “better” view of the stairs I put in on a whim. They may stay or go. Not sure yet. Also, the left storage pods have been reinforced by steel pillars between the floors, not done this anywhere else. Just trying it on for taste. If I decide I like it, I’ll duplicate the work to all the other storage pods.
So to sum it all up, I’m back blogging and building. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again. I’m hoping to continue to build, play and post. Only time will tell if it happens.
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