What is the best time to start DLCs?

[lemnchan]

Right now I'm level 40, I haven't finished the main story yet since I'm doing secondary missions... Would it be a good time to finish all the DLC?

[steventirey]

If you want to do the full questline of Nuka World, you really want a fully built farming settlement or two. Some decent equipment would be nice as well. The radio signal to start it (assuming you don't just go to the location yourself) comes at level 30, so thats the minimum level Bethesda expects you to be. You can do it earlier, however. Because the full questline makes Preston hate you, if you want Prestons companion perk its usually done either before meeting Preston at all (which prevents him from hating you), or done after maxing your affinity with Preston.

Far Harbor takes place on a different map, and has no impact on the base game. You can do it at any time. It doesn't have a specific level, instead popping up after you start the search for Kellogg in Diamond City. Vault-Tec takes place on the base game map, but its mostly in a single interior location, so no real impact as well. Its radio signal comes at level 20 if you haven't already discovered the area.

Automatron starts at level 15 when you approach a specific location. Starting the DLC causes Automatron random encounters to mostly replace standard random encounters, and some of the enemies can be tough. Some like to do it early, as then you can build your own robots. Some prefer to avoid the area and do it later, once you have some decent equipment and settlement defenses.

[Scythe Bearer]

The answer is "It depends".

If this is your first playthrough, I would ignore the DLC content until after you finish the main quest. If you do the DLC too early, you will miss some of the context when you get to Nuka World/Far Harbor.

If this is NOT your first playthrough, go nuts. When I am testing my mods (which I will be doing in a couple weeks) I go to Nuka World as early as I feel safe to survive Open Season.

Enjoy.

[Zekiran]

I would say that Far Harbor should wait until after you've finished the overall main plot, and when you have a good bunch of skills and equipment. The enemies there are stupidly cranked up in difficulty.

[lemnchan]

Thank you so much to all!!!