Can you complete the game without Minutemen / Settlements?

[Landorien]

So I've been bored with FO4's main story and I'm planning to do an ex-raider play through. I'm also going to ignore the Minutemen all together or building any settlements, except some that I will unlock to use as personal bases.

Will it be possible to complete the game without the Minutemen? I know there's a part of the game where the Institute attacks the castle. What happens if I haven't rescued the gang at the museum of freedom? Would that bug the game out?

[Chaosium]

The attack of the Institute on the MM is only when you've sided with the MM, otherwise it just doesn't happen.

You can leave them in the museum and there will be no trace of them at all in the main storyline

[wtiger27]

You do not have to use the MM at all to finish the main story. But some companions will react very positively with any of their quests you do, namely Cogsworth ( very handy in the early game ) Curie, Piper, Deacon, even Danse likes it when you help them.

In other words, they are a excellent source to help raise your affinity with certain companions quickly. But not the only way of course.

And even if you become a raider later, but have their affinity perks, you never lose them.

[CthuluIsSpy]

The Institute only attacks the Minutemen if you agreed to become their general and get kicked off out of the Institute.
If you remain on good terms with them they don't care and if you don't become the Minutemen General they really don't care.
Dunno what would happen if you become a raider king though. Probably nothing?

[wtiger27]

Originally posted by CthuluIsSpy:

The Institute only attacks the Minutemen if you agreed to become their general and get kicked off out of the Institute.
If you remain on good terms with them they don't care and if you don't become the Minutemen General they really don't care.
Dunno what would happen if you become a raider king though. Probably nothing?

If you have not did the quest to get into the Institute, if you encounter them out in the world, they will be hostile. But not attack your settlements.

[MoonC A T]

I've gone through an entire playthrough w/o ever interacting with Preston or Cogsworth.

I ran into the museum, ran right by everyone as if they weren't there, grabbed the bobble, the mag, power armor, and minigun and jumped off and never looked back.

[Ellorien]

If you are planning to become a raider then the best faction to side with is the Institute. They don’t particularly care. The BOS, on the other hand, will attack your outposts relentlessly. Not sure about the RR because I’ve never sided with them for a minute longer than needed to complete their quests for the achievements. The Minutemen is the second best faction (but only if you destroy the other factions, especially the BOS) — they will attack often but they are a Lolol faction, more like a nuisance than any sort of a threat and they don’t drop any loot worth checking (unless you are into their muskets), unlike the other factions.

You can save Preston Garvey and his gang and allow them to settle in Sanctuary, just never talk to Preston.

[The Inept European]

Originally posted by Chaosium:

You can leave them in the museum and there will be no trace of them at all in the main storyline

One edge case exception to this is that the Railroad will direct you to the Minutemen if you fail the Railroad's end game path

[tbloyzz]

If you never side with the MM, you would not even know whether the Institute would ever attack the castle, because you only get that message, if the castle is your settlement and it will not be without the MM path.

[Sabaithal]

Nope. Right after doing the Corvega plant you can outright tell preston you're not up for the job and the questline ends right then and there (unless you decide to pick it back up again).

[Landorien]

Originally posted by Sabaithal:

Nope. Right after doing the Corvega plant you can outright tell preston you're not up for the job and the questline ends right then and there (unless you decide to pick it back up again).

I've done that before and he still gives you random quest to go help settlements. That's why I'm ignoring them.

[Sabaithal]

Originally posted by Landorien:

I've done that before and he still gives you random quest to go help settlements. That's why I'm ignoring them.

That shouldn't happen. It should happen exactly as thus
> Return from corvega
> Preston tells you about what happened to the minuteman
> Preston then goes on to say that you could rebuild them
> You can tell him yes or no. If you pick the latter, full stop. No quests, that's it.

Done it dozens of times.