Fallout 5 is very far down the road in terms of a release date. However, all this time has allowed both players and the developer to think of a way for it to improve certain features of past installments. One feature that Bethesda would do well to focus on is its settlement building mechanics.

Fallout 4 presented players with the feature of being able to build their own settlements using the rubble of the old world. While it was received decently well by the fanbase, it did come with some caveats that made it an imperfect aspect of Fallout 4. However, Fallout 5 has the chance to go above and beyond in making this feature a key part of the Fallout franchise.

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Previous Iterations of Fallout Base Building

Fallout 76 Plushie Ultracite Titan Molerat Scorchbeast Queen Wendigo Colossus CAMP Decoration

Fallout 4 introducing settlement building mechanics was a bit of a surprise, mostly because it was a departure from the typical Fallout formula. Usually, home bases were seen as nothing more than locations to store the vast amounts of junk and guns players collected on their journeys. Fallout players could now build settlements in their favorite locations, but this came with some issues. For starters, because it was a new mechanic that wasn't required by the game, it could be ignored throughout the entire playthrough. What's more, Fallout 4's iteration of base building offered rewards that may not be considered all that useful.

Fallout 76's version of base building, also known as C.A.M.P., was able to improve on this idea. It still maintained the benefit of not being required from the player, but players who did put the effort in reaped great rewards. For example, in Fallout 76, players need to eat, drink, and repair their weapons. All the required resources for such can be obtained through the C.A.M.P. system. Not only that, but Fallout 76 being a multiplayer game means that players can visit their friends' bases, making the bases an opportunity to flex their building skills and accomplishments.

Fallout 5 Has The Potential To Do More

Fallout 76 Outside the Vault-Tec University campus

Fallout 5 should find a way to make its iteration of base building more useful so that players take advantage of it. While it is unlikely that thirst and hunger will be found outside of survival mode, the addition of these mechanics would aid in that endeavor. However, Fallout 5's base building also has the chance to accomplish much more than its previous iterations, rather than just improving upon them. Instead of just finding a way for base building to supplement gameplay, it can come to justify being a game all on its own. Fallout 4 has already shown the potential for incredible builds, so Fallout 5 just needs to populate it with more mechanics.

Fallout 4 has plenty of locations for some epic builds, but that might also be a problem. Fallout 4 focused more on quantity than quality in the hopes that players would choose the location they like the most. However, this also means there are fewer things to make each settlement special. Fallout 5 could present players with fewer options, but add more variety to them so that each location is unique and memorable. Fallout 4 only really managed to do this with Sanctuary, and that was because of its relevance to the main story.

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Fallout 5 could accomplish this by establishing the idea that not all bases are built the same. Some could be more suitable for crops and have more water, while others may be able to produce more resources to build and repair with. Having hard-to-obtain resources like Fallout 76's elusive adhesives could ultimately be a good thing as players would have to more careful with where they choose to set up their main base. The lack of a certain resource would also give players a reason to keep an eye out for certain types of junk or loot out in the wasteland. However, it could also lead into another, more interesting mechanic.

Caravans have prominently featured in Fallout games, and for good reason. Trading in the post-apocalyptic world is a very lucrative but dangerous activity. This makes it all the more curious that the player has never had the chance to truly interact with this aspect of the world. An enhanced base building experience would be the perfect way to segue into this. If a player chooses to set up in a location that lacks on a certain resource, caravans could be paid to provide their settlement with it, or if the player chooses to set up in multiple locations, they could establish trade routes that would keep their settlements well supplied. This would also help in keeping Fallout players from needing to gather scrap and building materials, much like the Fallout 4 supply lines.

Making Fallout's Settlers More Interactive

Fallout 4 Better Settlers Mod

Fallout 4's settlers could also be more interactive, allowing players to take a bigger role in their development. For example, in Fallout 4, players can put settlers to work on certain tasks. Fallout 5 should take this approach and run with it, creating something similar to Fallout Shelter's colonies. Their proficiency with certain tasks could grow the more they are assigned to it, which would level up that specific skill. Settlers with higher levels of proficiency may also produce better results, such as a settler with a high farming level producing more crops. This not only gives players more control of how their settlements work, but it also adds a realistic and immersive aspect into the game.

Improving upon Fallout 4's base building mechanics would be a boon for the franchise overall. Players who loved it in Fallout 4 would have more to work with, and those who didn't may find some use in taking part in it. Seeing how Bethesda has handled Fallout 76's C.A.M.P. system and its amazing potential, it's safe to say that Fallout 5's base building might turn out to be even better.

Fallout 5 has been confirmed by Bethesda Game Studios but is not yet in active development.

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