Railroad Survival Guide // TERMINAL

1. Operative Build Setup

Concept: The "Ghost Agent." High stealth, high criticals, and the ability to bypass security. You strike from the shadows using silenced pistols and rifles.

S.P.E.C.I.A.L. Allocation

STR: 3 (Armorer)
PER: 4 (Locksmith + Bobblehead)
END: 3 (Life Giver)
CHA: 6 (Local Leader)
INT: 4 (Hacker/Gun Nut)
AGI: 7 (Ninja/Sneak)
LCK: 1+ (Criticals)

Priority Perks

Perk	Rank	Utility
Sneak	Max	Survival/Mines
Mister Sandman	Max	Silenced Dmg
Ninja	Max	Crit Multiplier
Locksmith	3	Loot Access

Progression

Levels 1-10: Secure silenced pipe pistol, Max Sneak. Levels 11-20: Complete "Tradecraft" for The Deliverer. Levels 21-30: Unlock Ballistic Weave. Levels 31+: Max Ninja & Mister Sandman.

2. Joining the Railroad

The Railroad is secretive. You must find them before they trust you.

The Freedom Trail

Trigger "Road to Freedom" (Diamond City gossip or Tour Bot). Travel to Boston Common tour bot. Follow red brick line to Old North Church. Clear ghouls inside Church. Solve Crypt Puzzle: Spell R-A-I-L-R-O-A-D. Meet Desdemona (Select supportive dialogue).

3. Main Questline Roadmap

// OPERATION: TRADECRAFT

Essential for joining. Reward: The Deliverer.

Meet Deacon at Lexington. Infiltrate "The Switchboard". Recover Carrington's Prototype.

// OPERATION: UNDERGROUND UNDERCOVER

Long-term infiltration. Requires main story progress.

Build Signal Interceptor with Railroad help. Contact "Patriot" inside Institute. Supply weapons to rebel synths.

WARNING: Do not become hostile to Institute yet!

// OPERATION: PRECIPICE OF WAR

POINT OF NO RETURN: Brotherhood becomes hostile.

Secure Church and Catacombs. Assault Cambridge Police Station. Obtain the Vertibird.

// OPERATION: ROCKETS' RED GLARE

Fly Vertibird to the Prydwen. Plant explosives on main deck. Escape and detonate.

// OPERATION: NUCLEAR OPTION

Activate relay for Railroad heavies. Plant charge and destroy Institute.

4. Power Gear

Weapons

Item	Source	Why?
The Deliverer	Tradecraft	Low AP, Silenced
Tinker Tom Special	HQ Vendor	V.A.T.S. Accuracy
Railway Rifle	Big John's	Pins limbs
Gauss Rifle	Battle of Bunker Hill	Max Damage

Acquisition List

Get The Deliverer (Tradecraft). Unlock Ballistic Weave (Jackpot Missions). Scavenge Big John's Salvage for Railway Rifle.

5. XP Rush & Side Quests

Wear Lab Coats/Ushanka Hat when turning in quests for INT boost.

High Yield Route

Randolph Safehouse: 6-part clearing mission. Rewards "Institute Killer Weave". Weathervane: Place MILA sensors. Good vertical exploration. The Big Dig: (Goodneighbor) Long dungeon, massive XP. Cambridge Polymer Labs: Dungeon puzzle. Unique Power Armor chest reward.

6. Raider Cleanup Campaign

Phase 1: North (Early)

USAF Olivia: Clear Ack-Ack (Minigun). Get Locket. Corvega Assembly: Snipe from highway first. Vertical combat. Thicket Excavations: Fix pump (XP). Return later to clear raiders.

Phase 2: Downtown (Mid)

Hangman's Alley: Clear & Unlock. Vital central base. Back Street Apparel: Good loot, tight corridors. Combat Zone: Recruit Cait.

Phase 3: South (Late)

Libertalia: Floating city. Sniping required. Get unique shotgun. Hyde Park: Flooded town. Kill boss "Scutter". Quincy Ruins: Ultimate test. Gunners/Power Armor.

7. Settlement & Defense

Mercer Safehouse: PAM will assign a random settlement. Fortify this location first.

Perimeter: Use Junk Fences to funnel enemies. Turrets: Place Heavy Machine Guns on roofs to stop melee. Automation: Build Laser Turrets (requires Science!) - no ammo needed. Provisioners: Connect settlements to create trade route patrols.

8. Endgame & Cleanup

"To the Mattresses"

Hunt down the L&L Gang for Desdemona.

Complete 6 Boss Assassination missions.

Final Challenges

Dunwich Borers: Clear deep quarry. Get Kremvh's Tooth. Spectacle Island: Clear Mirelurks, unlock massive settlement. Collect all perk magazines.