settlers taking guns from workbench

[The Trash Man]

I asked to trade with multiple of my settlers to give them some armour and i see that they have my alien blaster with the ammo and one with a fatman. Both guns were stored in my workshop and idk how they got them. This is the first time this has happened. Does anyone know why and how do i stop it. Thanks

[Ilja]

They do take stuff from the Workshop and especially from it. They have natural access to settlement Workshop.

Settler AI is looking for a better weapon, when attack begins. They only take what they can use though. I am keeping my stored weapons in one container and all ammunition in another. That does not necessarily prevent them from taking them, but it makes them less likely to do so.

Only way to really counter the problem would be to reserve one settlement just for yourself, setup a supply line to it for crafting and store all priced gear there.

This is what several players are doing with Red Rocket station early in the game.

[Bored Peon]

Another good old "settlers stole my ♥♥♥♥" topic. Could have forum searched and found dozens of topics on this, lol.

Originally posted by Neutralize:

Hmm...pretty sure that settlers can only pifler items out of non-workbench containers, and will only do so if they deem they need the item

Wrong. The workbench is a container to them. They will take any itemweapon they see as an upgrade. This ONLY happens if the settlement is in combat.

[Crokite]

you can store ammo at nearby settlement and weapons at other settlement. they do not take weapons if there is no ammo for it, as far as i can tell.

[Bored Peon]

Originally posted by Crokite:

you can store ammo at nearby settlement and weapons at other settlement. they do not take weapons if there is no ammo for it, as far as i can tell.

Correct. You have to have both the weapon and the ammo for it to register as an upgrade.

Most players do not see this during a normal game because ammo has no weight. However once you get into survival where ammo has weight you see settlers stealing all the time.

Settlers will not operate an empty power armor frame either. Although it looks kinda ugly that way.

[Syndicake ☠]

They will take guns and ammo from containers and the floor when they encounter an enemy.

[[7] Professor Sweetjumps]

Originally posted by Ilja:

I am keeping my stored weapons in one container and all ammunition in another. That does not necessarily prevent them from taking them, but it makes them less likely to do so.

I do the same and very rarely (once in the last 50+ hours of play that I recall) have had a settler grab something. (I also keep those containers in different rooms/spots in the settlement.)

[WildCat]

maaan, if you'll search for my posts you'll see how much info i posted here on forums about the problem and i'm too lazy to type it all again. Yes, that red workbench is just another container for any and all NPCs including settlers, attackers and passers-by. Any of them when in combat and ill-equipped will magically know about better guns around and run for it, if ammo is present around they'll take it too, if not, NPCs generate small amount of ammo upon picking up weapon (can be used to farm ammo, btw).

[MageThis]

Originally posted by Ilja:

They do take stuff from the Workshop and especially from it. They have natural access to settlement Workshop.

Settler AI is looking for a better weapon, when attack begins. They only take what they can use though. I am keeping my stored weapons in one container and all ammunition in another. That does not necessarily prevent them from taking them, but it makes them less likely to do so.

Only way to really counter the problem would be to reserve one settlement just for yourself, setup a supply line to it for crafting and store all priced gear there.

This is what several players are doing with Red Rocket station early in the game.

There is another way to avoid settlers taking weapons from your workbench: Ensure they have the best weapons. I don't leave my Legendaries or prized gear in the workbench. I give them to the settlers. Their HATS inform me which settlers have which weapons.

Sea Captain's hat means they have a weapon which requires me to supply ammo > missiles, nuka-nukes etc. so I leave that ammo in workbench but check their stock when in settlement and top them up if possible.
Military cap > standard best quality weapons
Wrapped cap + visor Legendary Sniper weapon

Etc. and I mean etc.

[Ilja]

Originally posted by MageThis:

There is another way to avoid settlers taking weapons from your workbench: Ensure they have the best weapons. I don't leave my Legendaries or prized gear in the workbench. I give them to the settlers. Their HATS inform me which settlers have which weapons.

Sea Captain's hat means they have a weapon which requires me to supply ammo > missiles, nuka-nukes etc. so I leave that ammo in workbench but check their stock when in settlement and top them up if possible.
Military cap > standard best quality weapons
Wrapped cap + visor Legendary Sniper weapon

Etc. and I mean etc.

That an interesting way. I am usually marking them with clothes, armor and working position (best armor also has best weapons.) Hats sounds a good way to find some extra use of them. :)

[MageThis]

Originally posted by Ilja:

Originally posted by MageThis:

There is another way to avoid settlers taking weapons from your workbench: Ensure they have the best weapons. I don't leave my Legendaries or prized gear in the workbench. I give them to the settlers. Their HATS inform me which settlers have which weapons.

Sea Captain's hat means they have a weapon which requires me to supply ammo > missiles, nuka-nukes etc. so I leave that ammo in workbench but check their stock when in settlement and top them up if possible.
Military cap > standard best quality weapons
Wrapped cap + visor Legendary Sniper weapon

Etc. and I mean etc.

That an interesting way. I am usually marking them with clothes, armor and working position (best armor also has best weapons.) Hats sounds a good way to find some extra use of them. :)

Well, hats I use also add the +1 to perception. Have not checked to verify the perks have much or any effect on settlers. Seems they do but in any case in MY GAme they do affect perception.

The Wrapped cap + visor + per +! glasses is a useful PC combination.

+1 per glasses indicate settler's weapon is maxed modded regardless of type.

Enough variety +1 perception hats and glasses to mark my minions weapons/armour status. No job, no hat. I take new arrivals hats, first thing. Makes them easy to find when time comes to minion them.

[Incunabulum]

Originally posted by ayy lmao:

I asked to trade with multiple of my settlers to give them some armour and i see that they have my alien blaster with the ammo and one with a fatman. Both guns were stored in my workshop and idk how they got them. This is the first time this has happened. Does anyone know why and how do i stop it. Thanks

Get Locksmith

That allows you to lock containers (and doors). Then you put the stuff you don't want them to have access to in a container and lock it.

[red255]

they generally don't take things unless the ammo and guns are stored in the same container.

store the ammo somewhere else. or guns.

[Cooperal]

Settlement workshops, beside building is especially there to let you share equipment among settlers without the hassle of micromanagement. If you can't find a safe location to keep your collectable gear in a settlement you can buy a pre-built home from a few locations or maybe find a mod that offers what you want.
Alternatively I think it may be possible to mark individual containers as safe using console commands. I'm not at all an expert on that stuff though. I read the wikis, catch info but I've avoided using the console in my Bethesda games.

[DEVOLVE MINHA CACHAÇA!]

Like already mentioned, leaving stuff you don't want settlers to have access to in workshop inventory is not advisable since, like @Cooperal says, the system is supposed to work like that, in a way settlers can take food, weapons and armor from there by themselves whenever needed, without having you equip them with all those resources individually.

Best thing to do to avoid that: build yourself a container, or many, place anything you don't want your settlers to mess with inside them, then move it to a place settlers can not navigate through, and DO NOT put them near settlement objects settlers can interact with, such as weapon modification workbench or chemlab, because the engine will sometimes ignore navigation paths and teleport settlers directly to those things.

This will also prevent enemies from stealing from your containers during an attack to the settlement.

[Bored Peon]

Originally posted by red255:

they generally don't take things unless the ammo and guns are stored in the same container.

store the ammo somewhere else. or guns.

Wrong.