Exploring vs. following main quest

[krzys4]

Hello,
I have a question for FO4 veterans. I’ve searched online to get answers but the more I read, the more I worry I’ll learn about spoilers.
My FO4 experience started with FO4VR after purchasing HTC Vive and getting the game for free. I haven’t played non-VR FO4 or earlier versions of the game so I’m pretty new to the franchise.

With FO4VR, I’ve started out slowly; I’ve reached Sanctuary, started experimenting with building “things” and exploring surrounding areas, and eventually I’ve met Minutemen and was told to go to Diamond City. Looking at the map, that is FAR away which will leave a lot of ground unchecked. I’m OCD so would prefer to go in order (North-South), sweeping location-by-location, where it makes sense and pretty much expand my grounds using fallout4map.com as a navigation guide.

With that said, I do have a question on the main quest and a possibility of impacting the outcome of the game if I continue doing what I’m doing. Will I arrive at location(s) out of order and meet people that are meant for later in game and therefore change the outcome, miss specific items, etc? Will the game end sooner then if I was to follow the main path? I assume I'll run into various Factions at a random order so I worry that this will derail things.

I do care for the main plot but I also care (if not more) for exploring locations, gathering, defending, even doing side quests which are sending me all over the map. I’m ok with having dozens of open quests which I’ll accomplish “once I get there” but I am not ok with screwing up the story and not learning to what happened to my son and/or the world as a result.

Appreciate spoiler-free thoughts…

-Kris

[WarMachine]

First and formost, you cant mess anything up by running across it early. You might run across some back story, but the game is set up to anticipate that and move quests along your path, not a set game path.

Main story is kinda set, but you can do parts of them out of order without fear.

It's your story you write how you want, there isn't going to be much hand holding. Your decisions will be your own that shape your game path.

That being said, if you want a specific out come for the commonwealth, then you'll need to find a guide and follow that path. Kinda boring IMO, but to each their own. Best to do your story first, you can always make another character for a specific path you didn't take in the future.

[Red Leader]

Agreed with the above poster. Play the game as a process of discovery, let it flow.

[chuck]

It’s a game, you can’t derail it no matter how much you “break” the path. I treat this like a movie I get to star in, and worse comes to worse you can start over if you get in over your head, and you will, just like I did. My only advice is to save often and stay hydrated.

[Lurkz]

I don't even know what the main questline is and that's the way I like it lol

[krzys4]

Thanks for all the responses. Sounds like I'll be continuing to explore then.

[whisper]

Originally posted by chuck:

It’s a game, you can’t derail it no matter how much you “break” the path. I treat this like a movie I get to star in, and worse comes to worse you can start over if you get in over your head, and you will, just like I did. My only advice is to save often and stay hydrated.

I treat it as a book and every time I play I find something different in it or a new path to go. I just figured out what the sattlalite towers do and am following... well I don't want to spoil it

[chksix]

I go slow and explore every area throroughly to extract the max loot and XP possible. Was mad when the butler robot went ahead and cleared Sanctuary for me after I slipped on the menu selection :(

[Corrie Fisted]

Im no expert mate but i have done a bit of exploring myself and if you clear an area of enemies when you get sent back via aquest you will have to clear it again ,just dont shoot or rob any traders like i did :)

[WarMachine]

Originally posted by Corrie Fisted:

Im no expert mate but i have done a bit of exploring myself and if you clear an area of enemies when you get sent back via aquest you will have to clear it again ,just dont shoot or rob any traders like i did :)

All cells eventually respawn. You just have to stay away long enough. But traders never forget.

[chksix]

That was the problem I had when playing FO4 on the xbox. I was surrounded by "turbomutants" while out of ammo and nowhere to go due to respawning cells behind me :( It made me quit and lose interest. Now I'll try not doing the same mistake.

[Sir Kermitton]

Yo, I know you already got your awnser but keep in mind what Chksix said. The closer to the edges of the map you get the higher the enemies levels scale. Could put in a situation that isn't very fun for you; unless you like a challenge

[krzys4]

Originally posted by chksix:

That was the problem I had when playing FO4 on the xbox. I was surrounded by "turbomutants" while out of ammo and nowhere to go due to respawning cells behind me :( It made me quit and lose interest. Now I'll try not doing the same mistake.

Originally posted by Sir Kermitton:

Yo, I know you already got your awnser but keep in mind what Chksix said. The closer to the edges of the map you get the higher the enemies levels scale. Could put in a situation that isn't very fun for you; unless you like a challenge

Very good points gents. Does this apply to all edges, including north-east corner of the map or more applicable to south?

For example, if my memory serves me right, I am being sent by Preston to Greentop Nursery to assist with a kidnapping (which is then sending me pretty far south; don’t recall where). At same time, on a way to Greentop I ran into some settlers which asked me to check out some Insane Asylum which again, appears to be far north-east corner. I was planning to check these out before I make it to Diamond City but if that will make Diamond City more challenging, I might reconsider...

[Sir Kermitton]

I would go by the map on this page here:

https://nerdist.com/this-extremely-detailed-fallout-4-map-is-rad/

If you don't want to spoil anything then let me just say that the easiest area is around Sanctuary and the North-Western corner remains easy. Every other corner will give you much more of a challenge as you get closer to them.

[krzys4]

Very good map Sir Kermitton; I tip my hat to you! Thanks for sharing...

[JimM10]

You can't screw it up treking all the way to Diamond City is what I did after meeting the Minute Men and I ran into half a dozen other settlements, characters and new side quests before I ever made it there. There is no empty area in this game. At a low level I believe they try and not throw anything outrageous at you but just when you think nothing is happening is when it all happens and a big scorpion comes out of the ground.