Fallout 4has enough factions and side quests to keep any Sole Survivor more than busy as they work through the main plot to rescue Shaun. However, there is one faction in particular that can be overlooked, due in no small part to its lackluster story missions and many radiant quests.
Nevertheless, there is one quest belonging to that faction that is worth completing in any playthrough. Within the plot ofFallout 4,four major factionsplay crucial roles, with the Sole Survivor eventually having to choose between these groups as part of the main story.
From the iconic Brotherhood of Steel and the shadowy Institute, to the Railroad operating as an underground rebel faction,Fallout 4allows you to align with very different groups depending on your playthrough. But it’s worth dipping your toes into each of them early in the game before picking a side, as there are some great rewards you might otherwise miss out on.
Old Guns Has Fantastic Rewards
Building Artillery Opens Up Combat Options
Should you decide to aid Preston Garvey at the Museum of Freedom in Concord,you will be able to start the Minutemen questline early in anyFallout 4playthrough. This can often be seen as a chore without the help of mods, as much of the faction’s story involves rebuilding the Commonwealth, one settlement at a time, apparently by hand.
However, I recommend following the story, at least for a time, for one excellent quest which unlocks some useful tools.
When following the Minutemen questline, you will eventually retake their main base, the Castle. This will unlock the quest “Old Guns,” which will allow you to get not only the Minutemen General’s Uniform and Minutemen General’s Hat.
It will also unlock Ronnie Shaw as a merchant. Most importantly,you’ll gain the schematics to build artillery for your settlements, and this really opens up some fun when travelling in the Commonwealth.
45 damage resistance, 80 energy resistance & +1 Charisma
Minutemen General’s Hat
+1 Charisma
Artillery can be placed at different settlements to defend them and will give any settlement plus six to their defense rating. However,it is most effective when used to take out large groups of enemies.
I like to place at least one piece of artillery at every settlement to get full coverage for the whole map. I can then use the smoke grenades to rain down damage on clustered groups of raiders or Super Mutants and have found this to be a fantastic way to deal with them when using amelee build inFallout 4.
The Tunnels Beneath The Castle Are Filled With Lore
Learn How The Mirelurks Took Over
The material and mechanical rewards of “Old Guns” aren’t the only reason to help the Minutemen, asthe lore hidden beneath the Castle is just as good. As part of the quest, you, Ronnie, and whatever companion you have with you will delve into the tunnels under Fort Independence to access the armory.
Toward the end of the journey, you’ll find the body of General McGann, former leader of the Minutemen, and his terminal entries, which shed light on how the Minutemen lost their headquarters.General McGann’s body can be found in the final section of the tunnelson the other side of a locked security gate.
Still dressed in his General’s uniform, McGann will be surrounded by several empty bottles of Amontillado wine, which is a greatFallout 4Easter eggfor Edgar Allan Poe’s short story“The Cask of Amontillado.”On the desk next to McGann is a terminal with some chilling entries.
There are only three terminal entries from McGann, with the first explaining thatthe Minutemen were woken in the middle of the night by a crashas a huge creature broke through the wall of the Castle. McGann mistakenly believes it to be a Super Mutant Behemoth as he waits for his men to dig him out of the tunnels. As he realizes help isn’t coming, McGann chooses to drink the wine and toast to his fate.
What struck me when reading these entries was how McGann’s decision to go straight into the tunnels himself to secure the armory probably contributed to the Minutemen losing the Castle. With their General missing,the Minutemen would have had no clear leadership during the crucial battle. Swarmed by mirelurks, including a queen, the scattered Minutemen would have lost any advantage they had without a clear battle plan.
Old Guns Has Several Key Steps
Not All The Quest Is Straightforward
Starting the quest “Old Guns” is fairly easy, but the quest isn’t the most intuitive in parts. To unlock the quest,you must first have completed “Taking Independence,”where you will have to reclaim the Castle from the Mirelurk queen. After three days in game, Ronnie Shaw will come to the base, and you’ll get a message from Preston.
You will need to recruit four settlements to get the quest “Taking Independence”.
Speaking with Ronnie is fun, and I love her no-nonsense approach, as she explains about the Castle’s defenses and gaining access to the armory. To clear the entrance to the tunnels, you will need toenter settlement build mode to scrape the rubble. From there, it is a straightforward dungeon crawl; however, there are plenty of frag mines around, so taking your time is a good idea.
Sarge is too big to effectively move around in the tunnels, so keeping a pillar between you is key. Be careful when Sarge’s health is low, as it will explode and deal out a hefty dose of radiation.
After defeating Sarge, the Minutemen sentry bot, Ronnie will instruct you to build and test an artillery piece.You only need to build one for the questand place it on the battlements of the Castle. Throwing a smoke grenade will complete the test firing, and speaking to Preston will finish the quest.
Completing Old Guns Moves The Minutemen Storyline Forward
Ronnie & The Artillery Are Needed For A Minutemen Ending
While “Old Guns” is a great quest just for the artillery and a new outfit, it also serves as a turning point in the Minutemen questline. After the quest, you can now choose to complete the game with the Minutemen, with Sturges able to build the signal interceptor to reach the Institute.
This is vital for a Minutemen ending toFallout 4, which leaves other factions in the Commonwealth intact except for the Institutes. However, for those who also want to get rid of theBrotherhood of Steel inFallout 4to fully make the Commonwealth a better place, then “Old Guns” is essential.
Should you become hostile with the BoS, then the optional quest “With Our Powers Combined” will trigger inFallout 4. This requires artillery pieces to be built at five settlements to take out the Prydwen, leading to a final fight between the Minutemen and the Brotherhood.
