Railroad HQ serves as the new base of operations for the Railroad after the Institute’s raid on their previous base, the Switchboard. It’s concealed within the crypt of the Old North Church, accessible only by following the Freedom Trail and solving a puzzle to open the hidden door.

• Central Chamber: Features a circular table where Desdemona usually resides. Adjacent to the entrance are Doctor Carrington’s medical supplies and Tinker Tom’s research area.
• Rest Area: Where Drummer Boy and Glory can be found. P.A.M.’s chamber lies on the opposite side.
• Escape Tunnel: Leads to a ruined building north of the church.

• Desdemona
• Doctor Carrington
• Drummer Boy
• Glory
• Mister Tims
• P.A.M.
• Tinker Tom

• Astoundingly Awesome Tales: On a desk near the central circular stone table.
• Lab Scale: Found near Tinker Tom.
• Blackbird Report Holotape: Carried by Doctor Carrington.
• Fusion Core: Inside a generator in the escape tunnel.

• Boston After Dark
• Butcher’s Bill
• End of the Line
• Jackpot
• Randolph Safehouse
• Tactical Thinking
• Underground Undercover
• Weathervane

• Railroad HQ allows fast travel, making it convenient for the player.
• Leading X6-88 into the HQ will cause the Railroad to turn hostile.
• Morse code messages can be decoded by a Railroad agent at a ham radio.
• One doesn’t need to follow the entire Freedom Trail to input the access code.

• Players can get stuck on the central circular stone table.
• The main entrance door might close without reopening.
• Power armor stored in the station may become corrupted.
• Railroad quests may suddenly fail, leading to hostilities within the HQ.

Railroad

Originally known as Fort Independence, the Castle is a historic landmark in the Boston area, serving as one of the first forts in the United States. Over time, its name evolved to Fort Adams and then to Fort Independence. However, after the Great War, it came to be simply known as the Castle. It was the headquarters of the Commonwealth Minutemen until 2240 when it was attacked by a massive mirelurk queen, resulting in significant damage and loss of Minutemen leadership.

Rebirth:
47 years later, the Commonwealth Minutemen, led by the Sole Survivor, can reclaim the Castle by eliminating the mirelurks infesting it. After clearing out the creatures, they can reactivate the communications equipment and convert the Castle into a Settlement.

The Castle is a star fort consisting of five triangular bastions connected by walls. Most of the infrastructure is housed within these walls, including the workshop and the Radio Freedom transmitter. The fort’s walls were partially demolished during the mirelurk attack, with the west bastion, containing the armory, becoming inaccessible except through the tunnels.

The Castle Tunnels:
Accessed through a hidden entrance in the east bastion, the tunnels are winding but linear. Hazards include mines, explosive gas, and a hostile sentry bot named Sarge. General McGann’s body is found near the armory’s exit.

Settlement Information:
The Castle courtyard is spacious and well-fortified, suitable for settlement construction and crop cultivation. The fort’s defenses make it resilient to attacks, but additional resources may be required via supply lines. The tunnels provide extra salvageable materials.

• General McGann (Deceased)
• Up to five Minutemen (optional)
• Ronnie Shaw (optional)
• Sarge

• Guns and Bullets issue #8
• Fat Man and mini nuke
• Nuka grenade
• Various laser musket upgrades
• The Last Minute (sold by Ronnie Shaw)
• Bottle message #2
• Two Stealth Boys

• Taking Independence
• Old Guns

• Also a Clinic. Some of these crafting stations are only available once the quest Old Guns is completed.
• The Castle can be cleared out before retaking it with the Minutemen.
• The mess left by the mirelurks will remain until cleaned up by the Minutemen.
• The Castle’s walls can be repaired effectively in build mode but may cause spawning issues for enemies.
• Unlike other settlements, the Castle’s guards patrol instead of remaining at guard posts.

• Issues with the Radio Freedom transmitter’s power supply.
• Exploits allowing early access to the armory.
• Problems with assigning guards to guard towers.
• Beacon power requirements not registering correctly.
• Occasional issues with the castle door not opening.
• Exploits involving power armor glitching into the armory.

Eliminate the mirelurk queen that takes up residence at the Castle after destroying a certain number of eggs.

• The Castle is based on Fort Independence, one of the oldest fortified defenses in the United States.

South Boston

Zone 18

The Caslte (Minutemen)

The Institute, a secretive scientific society nestled in the Commonwealth, has a rich and intricate history, shaping its present and future endeavors.

The Institute traces its origins back to the Commonwealth Institute of Technology (C.I.T.), which existed before the Great War. When the bombs fell, survivors sought refuge underground within the C.I.T. ruins, eventually founding what would become the Institute. Over time, they expanded their underground facilities and developed revolutionary technologies, notably including teleportation and synthetic humans.

The Institute’s relationship with the outside world has been fraught with tension. Initially attempting to cooperate with the Commonwealth, their isolationist tendencies grew due to mutual mistrust and internal conflicts. Incidents like the Broken Mask Incident and the Massacre of the CPG further soured their reputation among surface dwellers.

The Institute operates under a directorate system, with individual heads of divisions overseeing various aspects of its operations. The divisions, including Advanced Systems, BioScience, Robotics, Synth Retention Bureau, and Facilities, function relatively autonomously but come together under the director’s leadership to set policy and resolve disputes.

Each division specializes in crucial areas, such as advanced physics, biotechnology, facilities management, synth manufacturing, and synth retrieval. Despite their autonomy, divisions often operate in silos, with information compartmentalized to a significant degree.

Founded by descendants of Commonwealth Institute of Technology members, the Institute embodies generations of devotion to technological advancement. However, their society reflects isolation, elitism, and moral ambiguity. Despite claiming benevolent intentions, Institute members justify their actions, including resource scavenging and synth retrieval, as necessary for technological advancement.

Scientists within the Institute are highly intelligent and motivated but often lack social skills and empathy, having spent generations in isolation. They maintain a productive yet pushy demeanor, especially towards Gen 1 and Gen 2 synths performing menial labor. However, outsiders who align with Institute values, like Dr. Madison Li, are welcomed.

Outside Relations:
The Institute views threats to its secrecy, autonomy, and technology with apprehension. It employs infiltration, subterfuge, and sabotage to address perceived threats, preferring to avoid direct confrontation. Major adversaries include the Brotherhood of Steel and the Railroad, both of which oppose Institute activities.

Military:
While primarily a scientific institution, the Institute boasts a formidable military force composed of synths. Synths, particularly Coursers, are highly capable operatives deployed for combat, reconnaissance, and retrieval missions. The Synth Retention Bureau oversees synth retrieval efforts and maintains a network of informants and surveillance devices.

Technology:
The Institute stands at the forefront of technological innovation in the wasteland. Their achievements include synthetic entities, teleportation, advanced weaponry, armor, and genetically modified crops. They leverage pre-War technology, such as the C.I.T. Code Defender, and continue to advance their capabilities, seeking energy independence through the revitalization of a nuclear reactor.

Cambridge

Zone 7

The Institute

Born after the defeat of the Enclave in 2277, the Prydwen was designed and constructed by the Brotherhood of Steel over several years, launching its maiden voyage in 2282. Named by Elder Maxson, it served various roles, including aerial advantage and command center, before being redeployed to the Commonwealth in 2287 in response to Institute threats. Weighing 40,000 tons, the Prydwen is a rigid-frame dirigible utilizing hydrogen as a lifting gas. Its propulsion is powered by a nuclear fusion plant and features heavy armor for protection.

• Divided into flight deck, command deck, main deck, and forecastle, with various compartments serving different functions.
• The flight deck accommodates Vertibird docking, while the command deck houses the bridge and observation room.
• The main deck hosts crew quarters, infirmary, power armor bays, and research facilities, while the forecastle provides a sharpshooter’s stowage.

• Notable inhabitants include Elder Maxson, Knight-Captain Cade, Lancer-Captain Kells, Proctor Ingram, Proctor Quinlan, and Proctor Teagan.
• Optional crew members may include Madison Li, Paladin Brandis, P.A.M., and Professor Scara.

• A Loose End
• A New Dawn
• Airship Down
• Blood Bank
• Duty or Dishonor
• Feeding the Troops
• From Within
• Getting Technical
• Leading by Example
• Learning Curve
• Outside the Wire
• Reactor Coolant
• Rockets’ Red Glare
• Search and Destroy
• Shadow of Steel
• Show No Mercy
• Tour of Duty
• With Our Powers Combined

Coastal Commonwealth

Zone 4

The Prydwen