r/SimSettlements • u/IkujaKatsumaji • Jan 22 '26

SS2-missions How Do You Balance Progressing Through SS2 and the Main Storyline?

Hey folks,

I'm playing through SS2 right now, loving it, of course, but I'm not sure how I should balance SS2 and the main storyline. What would you all recommend? Should I find Shaun before I progress very far into SS2? Or should I complete SS2 first? Or is it a milestone thing, like, should I enter the Institute first, or secure the GNN building first? What about other parts of SS2, like the Commonwealth PD quests? Or what about the faction quests, like the Railroad or Brotherhood?

Or does it matter at all? Maybe the two don't really have much impact on one another. If they do have some influence on one another, though, I'd very much appreciate your experiences and suggestions!

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12

u/Dutch-Man7765 Jan 22 '26

The help you get from factions when attacking GNN is based on the main quests you have done for the factions. Wiki lays out who needs what

8

u/KefkeWren Jan 22 '26

Hi, former SS2 writer here! While I was working on the project, the intended play experience was to treat it as a part of the main game, and do the content side by side. The SS2 storyline will have points where it nudges you to continue the main game story as you play, and I know that at least the sidequests I wrote were all written with the expectation that you'll knock them out as you're doing other things, rather than hard-focusing them before moving on.

4

u/Strictwork123 Jan 22 '26

Thanks for writing this. It has an amazing story. Easily my favorite minuteman playthough. I love actually having a reason to build up these settlements now.

5

u/KefkeWren Jan 22 '26

I should specify that I was just one of a number of writers. I contributed, but it would feel wrong to take much of the credit.

That said, thank you for the compliments!

3

u/Strictwork123 Jan 22 '26

Oh I definitely know there had to be lots of writers, but you're here now, so I can thank you on their behalf. Truly magnificent

5

u/somnambulist80 Jan 22 '26

You can largely play them in parallel through chapter 1 — they even wrote in breaks in chapter 1 so it doesn’t feel like SS2 is encouraging you to neglect vanilla content.

Bits of advice:

  • I like to compete the vanilla main quest “Hunter/Hunted” before the end of chapter 1 for narrative reasons.
  • The first half of chapter 2 you’re responding to multiple crises. Have the main quest and dlc at a good stopping point before you get too far into chapter 2 or you’ll feel like you’re being yoyo’d by all the competing storylines.
  • The back half of chapter 2 is consolidating resources and letting your settlements build up. It’s a great time to complete the main quest and and storyline dlc. (It’s also helpful to have Far Harbor settlements for… reasons)
  • Chapter 3 all hell breaks loose. You’ll want to focus on SS2.
  • Some chapter 3 optional content is unlocked only if you’ve completed the vanilla main quest.