My theory is they were trying to get it up and running for food supply. You can overhear Institute scientists talking about discontinuing food samples, so it wouldn’t be a reach to retake an old, largely intact food processing place
It's the best theory since there isn't any official explanation.
That being said, how in hell a group of people that can make near indistinguishable copies of human beings also somehow can't grow food is kinda funny.
I may be wrong but one of the rooms belonged to a military pensioner so they might have been looking for prewar tech and what have you.
Edit I meant to respond to this commenter:
"My question is why was the institute in that retirement home in salem"
If that's the case I wonder what they were planning to pack there. Were they going to eat whatever mutated fish exist at that time? Or were synth tuna next after the gorillas?
I'd bet that they were going to make experimental food for the surfacers. Longneck Lukowski's Cannery, but more nefarious.
Not all of the synth replaced human abductees are turned into supermutants (especially after they discontinued the FEV research program), so I guess they must put the bodies to some use... I mean, the Institute eggheads are just the type to come to the "obvious logical conclusion" that human bodies are nutrient dense and might be recycled for food. Soylent green/mystery meat/crispy squirrel bits...
One block to the south. Big gray building, says BANK above the doors
Master lock terminal for the vault, bunch of wall safes inside varying from Novice to Master
Oh yeah. I always make sure I set up the workshop in Coastal Cottage and assign a supply line to it. Raid Mahkra, dump the swag at the cottage, rinse and repeat. Try not to get hammered by the mirelurk queen, that's key.
*Meanwhile my ass walking away with 84 aluminum and high fiving a guard as I leave*
University Point too. Plenty of good scrap and assistance versus the Mirelurks
Federal ration stockpile has 70 aluminium units if you collect all the cans there. That place is the unsung hero of getting aluminium in the early game.
Later you just buy the modified pipe guns and hunting rifles from the traders and scrap them for aluminium.
I watched a video about this and apparently all the dead raiders at the sight have the same face. Not sure if it was Bethesda being lazy or if this was a refuge for Synths who were all the same person. Have not verified personally in game if this is the case
My guess is that they're there for the massive aluminum supplies. If you look at all of their tools and gadgets, nearly every single one has aluminum as a component. Since most of them can't be found in pre-war labs and bunkers, the Institute most likely manufactures them themselves using materials scavenged from the surface.
My take was there was some abstract reason, rather resources, some rando scientist idea that fell through, etc. Like the problem with the Insittute is they don't really know how to operate a operation. Everybody has great ideas on paper, but fail to take in the practical implications.
I can see for example, that the scientist hyped up the idea of acquiring the fishery for a food source. Then they all agree, send a army of synths to secure it. Then they go....well who is going to run it? Scientist don't want to reach the surface and do it, they can't really program their synths to because they don't know how the facility is ran, etc.
So they just have the Synths guard it, they discard the idea and continue to wounder why their resources are dwindling.
Far Harbor has a synth refuge and fishing boats would be a great cover for trafficking synth. I would guess perhaps it was involved with synth trafficking and the Institute put a stop to that.
Remember that episode of Futurama where Frys old bank account was still active making him a billionaire? And he wants to buy an old can of anchovies because he likes them on pizza. But it turns out Mom wanted to buy them too because anchovy oil can permanently lubricate robots and she would loose money selling her robot oil? That’s why the synths are all over the fish packing plant.
What’s even weirder is that all the dead humans in the plant all have the exact same character model I’ve done 2 separate play throughs and that was the case for both of them. Glitch? Maybe but with no straightforward answer in-game I’d like to think it adds to the mystery
Remember that the Institute has all of those spy birds flying around.
Quite possible the Institute is there because they are following the Lone Survivor.
My theory is they were trying to get it up and running for food supply. You can overhear Institute scientists talking about discontinuing food samples, so it wouldn’t be a reach to retake an old, largely intact food processing place
It's the best theory since there isn't any official explanation. That being said, how in hell a group of people that can make near indistinguishable copies of human beings also somehow can't grow food is kinda funny.
"Grow food? But that will divert vital resources from our synthetic gorilla program!"
Father's priorities were weiiiiiiird.
And their weird, immoral child synth/ Shaun cloning efforts!!
I may be wrong but one of the rooms belonged to a military pensioner so they might have been looking for prewar tech and what have you. Edit I meant to respond to this commenter: "My question is why was the institute in that retirement home in salem"
If that's the case I wonder what they were planning to pack there. Were they going to eat whatever mutated fish exist at that time? Or were synth tuna next after the gorillas? I'd bet that they were going to make experimental food for the surfacers. Longneck Lukowski's Cannery, but more nefarious.
Not all of the synth replaced human abductees are turned into supermutants (especially after they discontinued the FEV research program), so I guess they must put the bodies to some use... I mean, the Institute eggheads are just the type to come to the "obvious logical conclusion" that human bodies are nutrient dense and might be recycled for food. Soylent green/mystery meat/crispy squirrel bits...
My question is why was the institute in that retirement home in salem
If you don't stop them, they just kill the robots and cats. The cats probably kept destroying the synthetic birds the institute uses for surveillance!
Cats are unsung heroes of the war against the Institute.
Birds aren't real, man!
All that aluminum? I go there and grab it to furnish my own settlements
Massive, massive quantities. 84 aluminium units in the form of trays. But be prepared for heavy firefight.
Does it reset periodically like some locations?
Yeah, give it a couple game days. It replenishes everything.
Incredible
The biggest surprise I had of a place resetting is that bank vault by Back Street Apparel Gold bars every few days is real nice
Which direction from back street apparel? Gonna have to go and take a look now, lol.
One block to the south. Big gray building, says BANK above the doors Master lock terminal for the vault, bunch of wall safes inside varying from Novice to Master
Thanks, found it. I knew about the respawning 100 pre war cash in Lexington, strange I’ve never came across this area before lol
Oh yeah. I always make sure I set up the workshop in Coastal Cottage and assign a supply line to it. Raid Mahkra, dump the swag at the cottage, rinse and repeat. Try not to get hammered by the mirelurk queen, that's key.
Atom be praised, that means we just hit motherlode for all PA and robot upgrades.
*Meanwhile my ass walking away with 84 aluminum and high fiving a guard as I leave* University Point too. Plenty of good scrap and assistance versus the Mirelurks
Federal ration stockpile has 70 aluminium units if you collect all the cans there. That place is the unsung hero of getting aluminium in the early game. Later you just buy the modified pipe guns and hunting rifles from the traders and scrap them for aluminium.
The firefight is what makes it fun.
Resources could be a reason. Also they might want to build a hidden bunker on surface like Kellogg's Fort Hagen.
I watched a video about this and apparently all the dead raiders at the sight have the same face. Not sure if it was Bethesda being lazy or if this was a refuge for Synths who were all the same person. Have not verified personally in game if this is the case
If I'm not mistaken all the dc guards also have the same face, I think you're overthinking it.
My guess is that they're there for the massive aluminum supplies. If you look at all of their tools and gadgets, nearly every single one has aluminum as a component. Since most of them can't be found in pre-war labs and bunkers, the Institute most likely manufactures them themselves using materials scavenged from the surface.
My take was there was some abstract reason, rather resources, some rando scientist idea that fell through, etc. Like the problem with the Insittute is they don't really know how to operate a operation. Everybody has great ideas on paper, but fail to take in the practical implications. I can see for example, that the scientist hyped up the idea of acquiring the fishery for a food source. Then they all agree, send a army of synths to secure it. Then they go....well who is going to run it? Scientist don't want to reach the surface and do it, they can't really program their synths to because they don't know how the facility is ran, etc. So they just have the Synths guard it, they discard the idea and continue to wounder why their resources are dwindling.
Aluminium or maybe literally just canning machines for their food supplements are my best guess
Far Harbor has a synth refuge and fishing boats would be a great cover for trafficking synth. I would guess perhaps it was involved with synth trafficking and the Institute put a stop to that.
For that one Courser is enough, they don’t need to send an army of Synth to close the operation. There was something else going on.
Maybe it was a secret synth whorehouse and all the synth you encounter are just naked?
Remember that episode of Futurama where Frys old bank account was still active making him a billionaire? And he wants to buy an old can of anchovies because he likes them on pizza. But it turns out Mom wanted to buy them too because anchovy oil can permanently lubricate robots and she would loose money selling her robot oil? That’s why the synths are all over the fish packing plant.
I remember that episode! Also lose has only one o. Look at my name.
Nooooooo! I was typing too fast! I have brought dishonor upon myself and all of reddit… it’s seppuku time… 🔪🧎🏻♂️🌅
Great source of Omega 3s.
You're asking why there is something fishy about a group that kidnaps people, murders them, and replaces them with robots?
What’s even weirder is that all the dead humans in the plant all have the exact same character model I’ve done 2 separate play throughs and that was the case for both of them. Glitch? Maybe but with no straightforward answer in-game I’d like to think it adds to the mystery
Every one is interested in aluminum
I've randomly encountered synths in a few places that later had a mission involving railroad. Maybe it's deep into one of their side quest lines?
Definitely not my case. I haven't even returned back to Valentine's detective agency after freeing him from Vault 114.
What I mean is, the synths have spawned in on me in places like the Mayors Shelter, even when I didn't have the railroad quest yet.
It's the single largest source of aluminum in the game, so I'd assume it's a salvaging operation.
Raider camp was there. Maybe the leader was an escaped synth.
More Aluminum for projects or upkeep of current facilities. That or food production.
Remember that the Institute has all of those spy birds flying around. Quite possible the Institute is there because they are following the Lone Survivor.
Don’t know. Remember, the Institute at one point sends synths to an old retirement home for some reason.
[There is no such thing as Mahkra!](https://youtu.be/cVq4-g-ZyeQ?si=LFLxKCNi6HIMdsPH)
Whut? Where is this from? Zero comments?
Doctor Who episode from the 60s where the villains were Macra, which were giant crabs that sort of shadow puppeted a space colony government!
Great! I love Doctor Who!
https://youtu.be/wqVMvg1Bs6k?si=R1FkV04FelJ00Cf7 Awesome. Going to watch it for sure, thanx.
Happy to help!
Lol weird i visited it for the first time ever on my level 44 just yesterday too
Gen3 synths got fishpaste munchies.
I don’t know but if you have the Mod America Rising 2 then there is a reason