Don't rush the main quest. After leaving Vault 111, head to and Concord , but then focus on building a small base.

This is widely considered the best story in Fallout 4. It offers deep moral choices and the Kiloton Radium Rifle , arguably the best mid-game weapon.

Join the Railroad early just long enough to do a few "PAM" missions. This unlocks the ability to put armor stats on regular clothes (like suits or fatigues), allowing you to wear armor over them for double protection.

If you finish this DLC by siding with the gangs (specifically the Pack and the Operators), you get massive damage resistance and suppressed weapon buffs that make you a god in the late game. 5. The Grand Finale: The Commonwealth Fate

You can become the Overboss of three Raider gangs.

Completing this early lets you build custom Robot Sentries for your settlements. They are far more effective at defending your workshops than human settlers. 3. The Far Harbor Mystery (Level 20–25)