Settlement Happiness Going Down :(

[Skorne Tet'Zu]

I'm trying to figure out why the Happiness in my Settlement is going down.

It's currently at 76 and going down
People - 3
Food - 12
Water - 11
Power - 103
Defense - 176
Beds - 5

And should it matter; I'm not working with Preston or the Minutemen; I haven't provided for Sanctuary or any other Settlement; with the exception of Tarrington Boathouse (which is the settlement that this post is concerning... by the way - (grin)); and I'm actually only using it for Myself, Cait, Dogmeat and Shaun.

So is there a reason that Happiness should be going down... and what can I do to change that?

Advanced Thanx!!!

[ƎϽ∀ƎԀ]

I have found that quite often when the happiness drops for no apparent reason, one of the settlers has one of those radiant location quests for you.

[Kiez]

Originally posted by PEACE:

I have found that quite often when the happiness drops for no apparent reason, one of the settlers has one of those radiant location quests for you.

-What PEACE said might be valid advice but you said that you dont have any settlers
-You usually need people that can get happy to get happines points, so you will have to get some settlers.
-When you have enough people make sure they enough seats that are accesible
-Build drink bars
-Get dogs (Erikson from Far Harbor, Gene the dog trader and the Cages from Wasteland workshop offer you dogs)
-Do not keep any robots in your settlement, they dont have a happines system and it will just draag your happines down
-Diversity in food
-if you just want to get happines not matter the way, spam somewhere a lot of items that have a smiley face near them in the build menu
-build Radios
-Make sure everyone is working

[Skorne Tet'Zu]

Thank You Both... it Looks like I may still have some work to do.

I forgot, I also have Buddy there, he doesn't count has a settler, and I don't believe he provides happiness, even though he provides beer... but he is a Robot (as mentioned by Klez), and also, since I kept him, his quest remains open (as mentioned by Peace) Doh!

We do have a variety of food; at least 6 different, maybe more. One dog (Dogmeat), but he travels with me a lot. Everyone (except Dogmeat and Buddy) have a job... even Shaun works the food, though I can't give him direct orders (Spoiled little brat).

But as to the rest.... seating is limited (it's there, but not really accessible; I placed most of them for looks). There is only one working radio (my room (grin)). Other than Buddy, no bars, or any other Happiness buildings (I thought that was only if you had too many settlers to keep them happy).

Anyhow... I have something to focus on now.

Again, Thank You both - Good Looking Out Mates!!!

[The Inept European]

Beds may be considered by the game not to have roofs. Try storing them and rebuilding them elsewhere, ideally in a new building that you built.

Also ignore the happiness unless you are physically at the settlement and verify it, as the PipBoy is prone to errors, particularly when you are not at the settlement in question.

[The Inept European]

The Happiness creating structures, you should only need those to get over 80. If you are below 80 and falling, you have other problems, and building happiness boosters will only mask those problems.

[Skorne Tet'Zu]

Originally posted by The Inept European:

Beds may be considered by the game not to have roofs. Try storing them and rebuilding them elsewhere, ideally in a new building that you built.

Ahhh... You're speaking of the beds that I have in the pre-built Tarrington Boathouse? The game sees the beds, but it thinks they are outside?

Originally posted by The Inept European:

Also ignore the happiness unless you are physically at the settlement and verify it, as the PipBoy is prone to errors, particularly when you are not at the settlement in question.

I often forget I can check my settlements via PipBoy... so this was noted only when I came home for a bit... but still... Good to Know!!!

[The Inept European]

Pre-existing beds are particularly prone to this yes. Also build full beds don't economise with sleeping bags etc. All of these are small differences. The robot would be the biggest factor, IF he's considered a settler, though I don't think he is (don't know for sure).

[Skorne Tet'Zu]

I like immersion, so I only build beds... Never Sleeping bags in my HomeStead. Buddy does not seem to count as a Settler.

But in any case... I'm planning on bring Piper and Nat as well; which mean I'm looking into a bigger place; so I'll keep the Bed/Roof thing in mind with the next HomeStead; though I was considering Covenant.... but now I may re-think that!!! :(

Thanx for the Info - Very Good to Know!!!

[The Inept European]

Yeah Covenant is probably the last place I would suggest for a settlement, it has many many issues.

[The Inept European]

To be honest happiness does go up and down for reasons that are hard to explain, detect or control at times. If you're trying to optimise it, Oxhorn has a video guide, and a famous spreadsheet.

Just as one example it can go down due to animal attacks, which are a type of settlement attack that isn't alerted to the player. You sometimes see them happening if you hang around a lot in one place, but they don't give any pop up Help Defend alert.

[Skorne Tet'Zu]

Really... I wasn't aware of that; other than the Roof/Bed thing you just told me about. I'll probably keep looking.

[The Inept European]

Originally posted by skorne_tetzu:

Really... I wasn't aware of that; other than the Roof/Bed thing you just told me about. I'll probably keep looking.

Well without giving too much away in spoilers, you either have to sup with the devil, or exorcise the devils and then battle their malevolent ghosts forever after.

[WillieSea]

It is my 'understanding' that when a bed is placed/built, the floor it is placed on determines if it is considered an inside or outside bed.

I could never seem to get above 80, not matter what I did in settlements. So I will be putting beds on the vanilla game floors that I build. Because I have no idea how the game determines if the bed is inside or outside.

[The Inept European]

You're right it's based on the floor type. The prefabs work fine.

To get over 80 you more or less need to game it. I can't be bothered.

[paladin777]

Add a cat cage, they up happiness; also carpets add happiness. If the item has a smiley face on it (workshop items), that adds happiness!