This game is very hard for loners. Even if not in a big faction, a small group of friends helps allot.
make your faction most powerful on wasteland ;]
And how do you measure power without any noticable outcomes of your actions?
Hard how? If there's no goal, it can't be hard or easy.
But what about guys like me that never get in faction?
Everyones initial goal is to level up and get some cash to supply yourself with a base, car, ect. There are goals, they are just not laid out for you.
Survival.... isnt enough goal? :S?
We can't die permanently so we always survive.
If you want to make enemies, try to change something.
Well, water would just be another "upkeep", its not really a goal. - I'm a fan of hardcore mode, so its not that I don't like the idea. - A goal in that area would more be to control a reservoir, or water caravan, or something like that.
A goal would be more like: Become the highest rank in the BoS (or any other faction) or capture and control X for BoS (or any other faction).
Another upkeep? More like first. But yeah it wouldn't be the actual goal, the goal would be how to get that water which could exactly be about having access to a water pump somehow. If there was at least one thing players had to do, there would be less time for foolish activity like griefing in towns or undetermined goofing around. Gotta keep the players at their toes.
Yes this is also a goal. However the problem here is that players don't have to do this. There's no "or else..." consequence like there is if you don't have access to water. So it gives an option for griefing/loitering and activity that has nothing to do with fallout.