Power Armor Frame

The power armor frame is the basis for all power armor in Fallout 4.

Characteristics
In order to be used, power armor parts must be added to a frame. Contrasting with previous games, any combination of parts can be equipped. It does not exist in the inventory, instead being an object in the world that can be used, but a power armor station must be used in order to change parts and alter modifications.

The base frame provides a boost to Strength, Damage Resistance, and Energy Resistance, even without any armor added on; however, it will negate all effects of other apparel underneath. It requires a fusion core to function and the fusion core's power drains over time. Actions that consumes AP depletes additional power. Once the fusion core is drained, the Sole Survivor will be over encumbered and unable to use V.A.T.S.. Falling in power armor negates all damage you would receive from falling, and triggers an impact landing, which damages other characters near the point of impact.

Comparison to previous portrayals
This interpretation of power armor in Fallout 4 is unique in the series so far. First is the frame upon which separate parts are mounted, as compared to previous suits which existed as holistic entities which were worn whole aside from the helmet. Additionally, the player interacts with the frame in the world to use the power armor, instead of equipping the power armor via the inventory. Second, the use of fusion cores as 'fuel' for power armor is at odds with previous lore descriptions of late-generation power armor &mdash; even within Bethesda's own game series. Apart from the earliest variants of the T-45 (which were noted to use disposable power cells at an alarming rate), suits like the T-51b are noted for having personal fuel systems capable of lasting centuries. By contrast fusion cores even in mass numbers can only grant a few hours of usage. Third however, is the most 'accurate' rendition to date with regards to the size of the armor, its general movement and abilities. Unlike the descriptions regarding Power Armor from previous Fallout games, the power armor frame does not appear to make use of any recognizable form of unified hydraulics system for strength enhancing purposes (unless they are somehow hidden inside the segments or the base frame itself). It instead appears to solely derive its strength boosting abilities entirely from servo motors strategically placed within key points of the frame. Finally, the frame does not include armored gloves but rather entirely separate mechanical hands controlled by the operator inside.

Locations
The level of armor on any frame found is determined when the player comes within range for the first time, regardless if the player sees or interacts with the armor at all. The following are ordered roughly by those the player will encounter soonest, and those further out or in harder to reach places last.


 * One can be found during When Freedom Calls or at any other time on the roof of the Museum of Freedom in Concord.


 * Northeast of Sanctuary Hills in between USAF Satellite Station Olivia and the Robotics Disposal Ground there is a crashed vertibird with power armor.


 * On train tracks just East of Tenpines Bluff under the cliff, one set can be found behind a blue cargo. Locked cage requires advanced hacking.


 * A frame can be found on the top of the double-layered overpass highway triangulated in between College Square, Graygarden and the Corvega assembly plant. If the player character fast travels to College Square and heads west, they should see a small yellow elevator that can take the Sole Survivor to the second layer of the overpass. There's a crashed vertibird hanging over the edge with a leveled power armor standing next to it. It can be accesed from Graygarden by building stairs to the upper level of the bridge (lower can be accesed without stairs) and jumping small gap in the bridge.


 * One can be found to the south of Drumlin Diner nearby a destroyed train, behind a sealed security gate that can be opened via an advanced-level terminal.


 * One can be found underwater next to a crashed Vertibird in the northern end of the lake outside Covenant. Most of the Vertibird is submerged, with only a small part of the tail section visible above water. The power armor is on the right hand side of the aircraft.


 * One can be found locked inside of a cage at a military checkpoint, which is located northeast of Mass Gravel & Sand (which itself can be located north-northeast of the Cambridge Police Station). The cage is locked with an Advanced difficulty terminal.


 * One can be found in the green container in front of the Federal ration stockpile.(One of the raiders will get into the armor during combat.) Allowing the raider to use the armor will let the player kill and loot the armor pieces, and then have the power armor frame and new parts re-spawn later, making this one of the few places to get respawning power armor other then Raider.


 * One can be found in a locked trailer at Fiddler's Green Trailer Estates east of Fort Hagen, The Trailer can be opened by key found inside a novice-locked safe within the Office Building near the pool or by picking Master difficulty door lock.


 * One can be found near the beginning of the bridge (in a small guard house) to Fort Strong when walking to it.


 * One can be found in a warehouse south of Greater Mass blood clinic.


 * One can be found standing at a military checkpoint under a billboard southeast of Greater Mass blood clinic and northwest of Mass Pike Interchange.(Just walk straight between the 2 locations, the check point is on the road in between)


 * One can be found on top of Mass Pike Interchange. There is a yellow elevator below that will take player to a gunner camp, the power armor can be found near the end next to a turret.(One of the Gunners will get into the armor during combat.) Allowing the Gunner to use the armor will let the player kill and loot the armor pieces, and then have the power armor frame and new parts re-spawn later, making this one of the few places to get respawning power armor other then Raider.


 * One can be found in the National Guard training yard behind a master-level locked door and a terminal that must be hacked.


 * One can be found on the northwest outskirts of the National Guard training yard, a suit can be found behind an expert locked gate inside a shipping crate.(Note: X-01 MK2 FULL set found here at Level 35, X-01 MK3 at Level 39)


 * To the northwest of Revere satellite array and northeast of the National Guard training yard and direct west of Finch farm, on the road there is a military convoy guarded by a Mr. Gutsy. A frame with a set of parts can be found inside the truck. (Level Dependent on armor)


 * One can be found in one of the Revere satellite array's dishes.


 * One can be found north of the Old North Church. The power armor is located on a partially sunken barge. It is easily recognizable from the Vertibird that has been tipped on its side, as well as there being several APC-like vehicles present. Hidden among the vehicles will be a cage with a Terminal on the side. Simply hack terminal in order to unlock the security gate on the cage and gain access to the armor. This suit can be found with a fusion core already inserted.


 * One can be found at a military checkpoint just south of Big John's salvage, north-west of Jamaica Plain and south-east of Relay Tower 0SC-527.(Guarded by a Mister Gusty)


 * One can be found behind an expert-level terminal at the South Boston military checkpoint.


 * One can be found in a small body of water southeast of Jamaica Plain and northeast of Hyde Park, in front of a partially sunken APC. *Note the suit may be sunken out of sight.


 * One can be found northeast of the Poseiden Energy Turbine 18-F and direct south of West Everett Estates next to a crashed plane and broken down tank and an utility protectron.


 * One can be found during the quest The Big Dig for Bobbi in Goodneighbor, in an optional side-passage that can be drilled by the robot. There are Mirelurks inside.


 * One can be found in Mass Bay medical center in the mass bay radiology room. (One of the raiders may get into the armor during combat.) Allowing the raider to use the armor will let the player kill and loot the armor pieces, and then have the power armor frame and new parts re-spawn later, making this one of the few places to get respawning power armor other then Raider.


 * One can be found on the top of Court 35, west of Custom House tower. Guarded by a sentry bot and an assaultron. The frame is in a locked room that opens when the red buttons in the room the robots came from are pressed. Both robots will automatically self-destruct if the player character gains the Hidden status after releasing them, leaving the power armor completely unguarded.(Confirmed X-01 FULL set at level 28, MK2 at level 32, MK3 at Level 46 higher models may spawn at a higher level)
 * One can be found west of Murkwater construction site in the southernmost swamp. Beside a crashed vertibird guarded by a Mr. Gutsy.


 * One can be found north-northwest of Nahant Sherrif's Department, on a cargo floater with military vehicles on it. The frame is found inside an open blue container behind an advanced locked door.(Note: T51 FULL set found here at level 39)


 * Four frames can be acquired in the mechanical bay of The Prydwen, two can be acquired without stealing. The first is acquired if the Sole Survivor has aligned with the Brotherhood of Steel and been promoted to knight. Another is given after completion of Blind Betrayal.


 * One can be found in Pickman Gallery


 * Just North East of Neponset Park. It is underwater, in a pond beneath the overpass. Look for the pond that also contains a partially submerged, rusted APC. Alternately, head directly north from the small refueling station near the road to Neponset Park


 * Just off the road at the southwest shore of Lake Cochituate, directly south of Natick police department and Natick Banks.


 * Inside Cave in the glowing sea, just west of directly between the two crashed airplane sites Vertibird Wreckage and Skylanes Flight 1665. Area is highly irradiated and contains high level enemies including specialy named Radscorpion and Deathclaws, recomended to wear another suit of power armor out to locate the fast travel location, leave that one behind, fast travel the retrieved one somewhere safe, fast travel back and quickly jump into your good suit again.


 * Bought from:
 * Atom Cats garage from Rowdy. One can be stolen from this location as well.
 * Commonwealth Weaponry in Diamond City
 * KL-E-0 in Goodneighbor
 * One can be ordered from Proctor Teagan on The Prydwen.

Bugs
If one tries to modify a power armor frame that has no pieces on or in the inventory, the Sole Survivor can become stuck in an inescapable animation loop. Loop stops after about 30 minutes if you wait. One can get out of this by using the movement button rather than the back button that that would've been used to exit the modification menu, similar to getting out of chairs while sitting.
 * If the player character brings all companions to the Red Rocket truck stop all equipping full X-01 power armor, call the companions with the bell then fast travel to Sanctuary Hills, then back to the truck stop then randomly a Brotherhood knight with appear to kill X6-88, the knight who appears is also dressed in full x-01 power armor with jet pack. All companions will then kill the knight and his equipment can be taken. Danse will not dislike the act.