Settlements CAN reach S-Class

[Jaggid Edje]

Some months ago, in November/December, a thread about settlements and reaching S-class had several responses from people who said it cannot be done, and they showed their 'fully maxed' settlements not at S-class as evidence.

Personally, I had not managed to get a settlement to 200 population in years, so I couldn't comment on that aspect, but I didn't accept that it was impossible. At that point I set out to achieve a settlement at the caps (with absolutely NO use of the save editor) in one of my saves.

My theory was that many people do not have the patience to advance settlement population to 200 through gameplay, and instead many were bringing the save editor into it, at which point not reaching S-class for their settlement is only evidence that using the save editor doesn't allow the game to necessarily process the settlement advancement, or possibly that being S-Class is tied to all of the features/additions/decisions, not just the end result, so bypassing those would interfere with reaching S-Class.

Anyway, after months and months and months of taking care of the settlement multiple times per day, it just reached 200 population this morning AND rolled over to S-Class. So I can say, unequivocally, Settlements absolutely can reach S-Class.
Mine even still has a small maintenance cost and small debt (from the decision that was just made).

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2951528994

[periurban]

I really don't get settlements. What's the point?

[ohiorice]

Fantastic dedication to a goal most of us would never consider. Congrats!

[Jaggid Edje]

Originally posted by periurban:

I really don't get settlements. What's the point?

There really isn't one, pretty much like every single other activity in the game.

[periurban]

Originally posted by Jaggid Edje:

Originally posted by periurban:

I really don't get settlements. What's the point?

There really isn't one, pretty much like every single other activity in the game.

You're not wrong! lol

[Starchild]

Originally posted by periurban:

I really don't get settlements. What's the point?

Like many other activities in this game, it all depends on how you play. If you find them pointless, too hard or too time consuming when requiring determination, you can simply skip them.
I got a settlement that brought in Indium, others, items for quick cash or support.
I also use settlements as outposts, when upgraded with landing pad and market.
Oh and the sentinel quest gets me free upgrades for the minotaur.
Like most activities, the settlements get you free tech and a diversion from star jumping.

[Lindy Bomber]

Originally posted by periurban:

I really don't get settlements. What's the point?

Because certain players feel the game is empty and lonely and they want cities because cities need to exist.

[DennisM the Diligent]

@Jaggid Edje - nicely done! I was wondering if this was possible.

I have only tried one settlement, and it leveled up to A-class in a fairly straightforward manner, but has been stuck there for at least a year. But after a while, I only visited it sporadically, fight off the sentinels, and then do other things in the game unrelated to settlements.

[Guyver8]

@JE: you're just showing-off now Lol
(have some points)

[AmberAnvil]

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2920549689
Nicely done Jaggid.

So what's the difference in these settlements then (this is the 2nd one I've taken to 200 pop)?
The decisions I've made for Mabaeu have resulted in all smiley faces for the settlement features, number one. Number two may be the production. Can't tell what Cactuar is producing. Number three may be the Biome or even the star system the settlement is in. Mabaeu is in a level 2 conflict system on a Lush planet with no weather. What's the diff? Btw, now working on a third settlement at 100 pop currently.

Edit: Maybe HG fixed something with Fractal updates (Mabaeu is pre-Fractal).

[Jaggid Edje]

@AmberAnvil, My theory is that one of the factors is just the total number of settlement decisions you have made that are tracked long term (in the save file), which is why save editing to add population doesn't work.

I'm not saying you've done that, but my test was a lot more extensive than what I detailed here. I also had several other saves where I tested other things.
In one save I added 100 population with the save editor. That save has had all of the settlement stats at 'cap' for like a month and a half, and is still NOT S-class. So save editing definitely effects it.
In another save, I used a mod that increases all of the population gains from settlement events and buildings. Still the same actions, activities, buildings available, but the actual quantity of population rewarded at one time was upped. That save also rolled over to S-Class when it reached 200 population (I just never posted that result here, because it involved a mod).

Production is purely random for a settlement, and for the 2ndary one, will actually change a few times as the settlement grows, so I don't think it's a factor. Cactuar crossing produces Gamma Root and is on a Desert planet in an Outlaw system. Most of my saves the settlement is in an Outlaw system.

[Jaggid Edje]

Originally posted by Guyver8:

@JE: you're just showing-off now Lol
(have some points)

Hahah, thanks for the points. I swear I wasn't posting to show off. This topic always has me curious when it shows up in the forums, and people saying "it's buggy", "S-class is unreachable" had no evidence to support their claims. Just belief. I'm a man of science, so that's not good enough for me.

I figured I couldn't be the only one that was truly curious, but perhaps am one of the few with the kind of patience required to take the time to actually make settlement decisions every few hours for many, many months. That's why I shared the result.

[AmberAnvil]

Originally posted by Jaggid Edje:

@AmberAnvil, My theory is that one of the factors is just the total number of settlement decisions you have made that are tracked long term (in the save file), which is why save editing to add population doesn't work.

I've made a few decisions a day for the settlements for months the same as you. And I have never modified a game file, never used an editor. never used mods. Pure NMS all-the-way. There's a secret ingredient eluding me at this time. And, yes, secondary production changes as population grows. This is good stuff!

[Jaggid Edje]

All of my Settlements that have reached S-Class in the last month or so (2 where mods were used, and this one where they weren't) are in Outlaw systems and 2 of the 3 are on planets that are hazardous to some degree or another. Cactuar Crossing is on a Desert planet, which requires hazard protection during storms and, I believe, at night. New Haven is on a Scorched world with firestorms, and Sleepy Hollow is on a Swamp World that's mostly mild other than the constant rain.

[AmberAnvil]

My first settlement, Howleyto Ford, is in a scorched biome (Overseer Office frequently on fire). But non of the three settlements I've worked on are in Outlaw systems. Maybe S-Class depends on a degree-of-difficulty thingy. Or could it be all the smiley faces (settlement features)?

[Jaggid Edje]

Sentinel activity level of the settlement could also be a factor.

The settlement sentinel activity has two variables that are tracked for the settlement, but it only shows you the one % value in the Settlement display. I always select the options when settling disputes that say they reduce sentinel activity, because not being able to actually see the values (outside of a save editor) means I don't really know if I ever reach any kind of cap for that value.
I think one of the variables influences the rate at which sentinels in the settlement get to the hostile point.

Something to think about if you don't normally select the anti-sentinel options.