How do you increase happiness?

[Amplifier]

no, this is not about increasing happiness to 100%. I can't even get happiness to the base 80%. After doing the Santuary hills settlement quest (which also acts as a tutorial), my settlement happiness for that place has only stayed at 36.

I've built beds under roofs, food for each person, drink for each person, lots of defenses and assigned everyone roles to do (except for Murphy and Preston). Any more stuff I built doesn't seem to increase my happiness anymore.

So what am I missing here? Is there certain other requirements needed to get to 80%?

[Tavman (4)]

Build bars, scrap the TVs and jukeboxes, remove companions, and buy a dog.

[Beautiful Ham Sandwich]

36 is very low, it must mean there's something bugged. From what I remember there are certain settlement items that decrease your happiness by a ton that come with the settlement, which is why people that scrap the entire settlement first don't usually have this issue. I don't remember all of the settlement items, but I know you should scrap the beds when you first get a settlement

[ironhead1969]

Actually less is more just provide the bare minimum and you will get to 100%, I don't know why it works that way but it does.

[Shelt]

Um.... are you by chance looking at the happiness rating through your pip boy? If you are, it will sometimes tell you the wrong information because of a bug.

[casualsailor]

With what you built you should be able to get happiness up to between 60-80. It does take some time for the happiness to occur. Also, try building chairs for everyone. I'm not sure if it effect happiness but I read somewhere that when not working settlers like having some place to sit down.

To get above 80 you need to build bars, stores and add pets.

But I'd start by sending all my settlers to another settlement. Then move them back one at a time making sure that you have them assigned to beds and jobs. Then wait 24 hours before doing the next settler. This may fix your glitch.

Here is a video that shows some experiments the guy did to determine just what effected happiness. For example some think a proper bed makes a difference or that the bed must be in a four walled building, but neither is true. A sleeping bag under an overhang counts for just as much happiness. But do watch the video and he will explain what you need to do to improve happiness and how to get it to 100 if you are trying for the achivement.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AUvuQgmBpM0

Edit: He's using the Settlement Management Software mod which I would recommend since it gives you the ability to trigger the settlement refresh event that should give you immediate feedback on changes you make.

[Relic62]

Follow this formula:

Scap every thing, i keep all the radios, stools and outdoor furniture.

Build water plants usually 40 running with power. You can use the excess water by selling it.

Trap Brahmin, you need razorgrain for this, usually have at least 5 for fertiliser to make jet to sell.

Food generally 15 tatos, 15 mutfruit and six each of carrot and corn will suffice.

Where the workbench is located build on top of the house, the house has lots of holes so building on top makes it watertight.

Do not build any TV's or jukeboxes.

Build at least 20 beds, make sure thay are accessable for the settler.

Put in lights with power in your buildings, or oil lamps.

Buying a junkyard dog helps if you can find the guy selling them.

Get some cats, trap them with soft mirelurk shell.

Have a separate building for a bar, dispensary and clothing vendor.

Put in mats, paintings, sofas in this area plus the stools and a xmas tree, make sure this area is well lit.

Defense is up to you but anything over 70 is pretty good.

Assign as many tasks as you can.

Doing all above should get you to 80 plus.

[Panic Fire]

Originally posted by Relic62:

Follow this formula:

Scap every thing, i keep all the radios, stools and outdoor furniture.

Build water plants usually 40 running with power. You can use the excess water by selling it.

Trap Brahmin, you need razorgrain for this, usually have at least 5 for fertiliser to make jet to sell.

Food generally 15 tatos, 15 mutfruit and six each of carrot and corn will suffice.

Where the workbench is located build on top of the house, the house has lots of holes so building on top makes it watertight.

Do not build any TV's or jukeboxes.

Build at least 20 beds, make sure thay are accessable for the settler.

Put in lights with power in your buildings, or oil lamps.

Buying a junkyard dog helps if you can find the guy selling them.

Get some cats, trap them with soft mirelurk shell.

Have a separate building for a bar, dispensary and clothing vendor.

Put in mats, paintings, sofas in this area plus the stools and a xmas tree, make sure this area is well lit.

Defense is up to you but anything over 70 is pretty good.

Assign as many tasks as you can.

Doing all above should get you to 80 plus.

You need 1 food per settler.

You need 1 water per settler.

You need 1 bed per settler.

You need 1 defense per food or water (ie if you have 10 food and 10 water you need 20 defense)

These alone will get you to 80 happiness.

Pets, lights, stores, salons, doctors, and surgions, will get you to 100%

[Shelt]

Originally posted by Relic62:

Follow this formula:

Scap every thing, i keep all the radios, stools and outdoor furniture.

Build water plants usually 40 running with power. You can use the excess water by selling it.

Trap Brahmin, you need razorgrain for this, usually have at least 5 for fertiliser to make jet to sell.

Food generally 15 tatos, 15 mutfruit and six each of carrot and corn will suffice.

Where the workbench is located build on top of the house, the house has lots of holes so building on top makes it watertight.

Do not build any TV's or jukeboxes.

Build at least 20 beds, make sure thay are accessable for the settler.

Put in lights with power in your buildings, or oil lamps.

Buying a junkyard dog helps if you can find the guy selling them.

Get some cats, trap them with soft mirelurk shell.

Have a separate building for a bar, dispensary and clothing vendor.

Put in mats, paintings, sofas in this area plus the stools and a xmas tree, make sure this area is well lit.

Defense is up to you but anything over 70 is pretty good.

Assign as many tasks as you can.

Doing all above should get you to 80 plus.

You can trap Brahmin with razorgrain????????

[CaptainSarcastic]

It's actually pretty simple, especially if you have the workshop DLC and the appropriate perks. Have enough food for all settlers - mutfruit is the easiest to work with. Type of food does not matter.
Have beds under cover.
Assign settlers to bars and clinics.
Get dogs, cats, and a gorilla.
Have at least as much defense rating as your food and water combined.

[casualsailor]

Originally posted by Panic Fire:

Originally posted by Relic62:

Follow this formula:

Scap every thing, i keep all the radios, stools and outdoor furniture.

Build water plants usually 40 running with power. You can use the excess water by selling it.

Trap Brahmin, you need razorgrain for this, usually have at least 5 for fertiliser to make jet to sell.

Food generally 15 tatos, 15 mutfruit and six each of carrot and corn will suffice.

Where the workbench is located build on top of the house, the house has lots of holes so building on top makes it watertight.

Do not build any TV's or jukeboxes.

Build at least 20 beds, make sure thay are accessable for the settler.

Put in lights with power in your buildings, or oil lamps.

Buying a junkyard dog helps if you can find the guy selling them.

Get some cats, trap them with soft mirelurk shell.

Have a separate building for a bar, dispensary and clothing vendor.

Put in mats, paintings, sofas in this area plus the stools and a xmas tree, make sure this area is well lit.

Defense is up to you but anything over 70 is pretty good.

Assign as many tasks as you can.

Doing all above should get you to 80 plus.

You need 1 food per settler.

You need 1 water per settler.

You need 1 bed per settler.

You need 1 defense per food or water (ie if you have 10 food and 10 water you need 20 defense)

These alone will get you to 80 happiness.

Pets, lights, stores, salons, doctors, and surgions, will get you to 100%

And the game doesn't care if there are holes in the roof. All beds placed in the houses at Sanctuary provide the maximum happiness as a "covered" bed.

[Relic62]

I follow this formula where ever I go, minus the brahmin and cats and slight alterations in the water requirements, as i am lazy and dont want to do the maths as to what the minimum requirements are, and as your charisma climbs you need extra this and that as you get more settlers. I automatically put beds under cover as a lot of settlements the happiness nosedives if you dont replace them.

Its kind of funny but my current Sanctuary has no settlers but has 40 water, 2 beds, 97 defense, 6 brahmin, 4 cats and 3 junkyard dogs and the happiness is sitting at 60.

Yes you trap brahmin with razorgrain.

[Mew Mew]

Originally posted by Tavman (4):

Build bars, scrap the TVs and jukeboxes, remove companions, and buy a dog.

Don't need to remove companions. I always keep my companions in Sanctuary when they aren't with me, and happiness there is always around 80%.

[ironhead1969]

Originally posted by Relic62:

I follow this formula where ever I go, minus the brahmin and cats and slight alterations in the water requirements, as i am lazy and dont want to do the maths as to what the minimum requirements are, and as your charisma climbs you need extra this and that as you get more settlers. I automatically put beds under cover as a lot of settlements the happiness nosedives if you dont replace them.

Its kind of funny but my current Sanctuary has no settlers but has 40 water, 2 beds, 97 defense, 6 brahmin, 4 cats and 3 junkyard dogs and the happiness is sitting at 60.

Yes you trap brahmin with razorgrain.

I have a dozen settlements with brahmin and not a single stalk of razorgrain.

[Relic62]

Originally posted by ironhead1969:

Originally posted by Relic62:

I follow this formula where ever I go, minus the brahmin and cats and slight alterations in the water requirements, as i am lazy and dont want to do the maths as to what the minimum requirements are, and as your charisma climbs you need extra this and that as you get more settlers. I automatically put beds under cover as a lot of settlements the happiness nosedives if you dont replace them.

Its kind of funny but my current Sanctuary has no settlers but has 40 water, 2 beds, 97 defense, 6 brahmin, 4 cats and 3 junkyard dogs and the happiness is sitting at 60.

Yes you trap brahmin with razorgrain.

I have a dozen settlements with brahmin and not a single stalk of razorgrain.

None of the existing brahmin need razorgrain, only a tub to feed from, if you want extra brahmin you have to trap them with a cage and initially it costs 4 razorgrain then one thereafter when you reset the cage.

Razorgrain can be bought from traders, there is some under the overpass near tenpines usually an amount of 2 or 3, and a ton of it south at university point.

You can plant it and harvest it, if you have a settlement with settlers.

[ironhead1969]

Originally posted by Relic62:

Originally posted by ironhead1969:

I have a dozen settlements with brahmin and not a single stalk of razorgrain.

None of the existing brahmin need razorgrain, only a tub to feed from, if you want extra brahmin you have to trap them with a cage and initially it costs 4 razorgrain then one thereafter when you reset the cage.

Razorgrain can be bought from traders, there is some under the overpass near tenpines usually an amount of 2 or 3, and a ton of it south at university point.

You can plant it and harvest it, if you have a settlement with settlers.

Again, not true I have 4 brahmin at sanctuary, 6 at the drive in and 6 at sunshine tidings also 10 at spectacle island all with no razorgrain.