Power Armor Frame

The power armor frame is a piece of armor in Fallout 4.

Characteristics
The power armor frame is the base on which all power armor parts can be added and requires a fusion core to function. 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. 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.

The Fallout 4 interpretation of power armor is unique in the series so far. Firstly, the usage of a 'frame' upon which all suits are built, whereas previous suits existed as holistic entities which were designed specifically to be used 'whole' aside from the helmet. The use of fusion cores as 'fuel' for power armor is at odds with previous lore descriptions of power armor even within Bethesda's own game series. Suits like the T51B are noted for having personal fuel systems capable of lasting centuries, whereas fusion cores even in mass numbers can only grant a few hours of usage. However, the size of the armor, its general movement and abilities all make it the most 'accurate' rendition otherwise to date. Unlike what the descriptions regarding Power Armor from previous Fallout games claim; the power armor frame does not appear to make use of any recognizable form of hydraulics system for strength enhancing purposes (unless they are somehow contained within the individual power armor plate segments that can be attached to frame). It instead appears to solely derive its strength boosting abilities entirely from servo motors strategically placed within key points of the frame. Wearing the power armor frame with no pieces reveals the frame does not include armored gloves but rather entirely separate mechanical hands controlled by the operator inside.

Locations

 * One can be found in the abandoned shack.
 * 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.
 * 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, higher models may spawn at a higher level)
 * 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 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 in the green container in front of the Federal ration stockpile.(One of the raiders will get into the armor during combat.)
 * 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 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 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 turrent.
 * 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 at a military checkpoint just south of Big John's salvage and north-west of Jamaica Plain.(Guarded by a Mister Gusty)
 * 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.)
 * 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 west of Murkwater construction site in the southernmost swamp. Beside a crashed vertibird guarded by a Mr. Gutsy.
 * One can be found north-northeast 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)
 * 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 a locked gate inside a shipping crate.(Note: X-01 MK3 FULL set found here at Level 39)
 * 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 in one of the Revere satellite array's dishes.
 * 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)
 * Northeast of Sanctuary Hills in between USAF Satellite Station Olivia and the Robotics Disposal Ground there is a crashed vertibird with power armor
 * One can be found behind an expert-level terminal at the South Boston military checkpoint.
 * 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 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 during When Freedom Calls or at any other time on the roof of the Museum of Freedom.
 * Just off the road at the southwest shore of Lake Cochituate, directly south of Natick Police department and Natick Banks.
 * 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. (Note: Only T45 set with 1 random part missing at level 39 with multiple attempts)


 * 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.