New player settlement rules clarifications

So as a new player I am finding a couple of things a bit confusing in the settlement rules.

1.) So far I’ve built an armor stand and scavenging stand, which allows the drawing of a random card from those specific items, so I got the pack armor and a blood pack. In the 1st scenario I also found a western pistol, brought it back with my maintenance shed. So with that being said, I get these items to equip from the stores structure I believe but since I only have 1 I can only bring 1 item out, and I brought out the pack armor. Do the other 2 items get scrapped?

2.) How can I equip these items that I found, again? Do I have to pay for them using the caps I recieve from completing scenarios/finding junk? Or can I just purchase them using point cost of the item towards my force creation now? This could have a major impact on my following questions.

3.) How many stores do you build on average? I feel like the more equipment and items you get from structures/explore cards/Scenarios the more stores you need and is almost a necessity to build 1 store after every battle, but considering you only get 200 caps if you complete the mission progression is halted, but maybe it’s designed to feel that way? You all let me know.

4.) As for maintenance sheds. You can only bring 1 item back that isn’t on your default units AI card, from what I understand that includes the new items you brought with you from your settlement into the scenario. So this goes back to the concern of my previous questions. Don’t you need to keep up with this almost every time you get new items and gear, and purchase sheds all of the time?

5.) Can you make different lists of your force per scenario? Or should you be sticking with what you used from the start? Can you mix your faction? Have BOS and Enclave in your force? (Stupid I know haha) but I’m just wondering if that is completely against the rules somewhere and just couldnt find it or see it. This question is regarding standard campaign book as I dont have the Homestead expansion!

I know its alot of questions but I appreciate the answers in advance!

Not sure if completely correct as I am going off memory, but:

  1. The items can be stored in a locker (check the FAQ/errata for details), otherwise they must be sold off/scrapped.
  2. Items taking from your stores only count toward your force creation total. You only pay out caps for new stuff iirc.
  3. You have it right. You have to build many stores/lockers if you want to carry items out of the scenario and into the next.
  4. As far as I remember, you keep everything you had when you made your force and only need shed(s) for the stuff you find in the scenario (in order to bring it back to the settlement).
  5. It is acceptable to make different lists as long as you don’t go over the force limit (otherwise you would have to keep playing bigger and bigger battles). Not everyone would muster out of the settlement for every misson.
    You are free to mix factions if you want, within the limits stated on faction cards. So no nonunique Super Mutants in a BoS force. You could take both Enclave and BoS units in the same force (strange wars make strange bedfellows), but you would be missing out on the abilities Enclave has on you nonEnclave units. Iirc you also can only benefit from Leader abilities when you are the same faction as the Leader.

Again, this is all from memory of reading the rules a couple years ago. Hopefully one of the official mods visits this forum presently.

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This was very helpful thanks. Follow up question.

Is the building cap the 5 (for each Stores, Sheds and lockers respectively) as on the settlement sheet, or is how much Land you have the only limitation and you can build well over 5?

and just a small tip/trick: when drawing cards, I always try to keep the ones with unique icon - unique items do not require storage nor maintenance sheds to bring back to settlement from battle if I understand it correctly - you still need the store slot to take such an item into the battle though.