All non-dlc settlements are acquired, heavily defended, and walled-in with concrete walls. All main quests apart from obtaining the castle were avoided, this is essentially a fresh-start save. Sim settlements was used to establish buildings in many settlements. Character is level 24 with a two-shot combat rifle. 

I used a variety of mods but the required ones most likely are:

• Homemaker
• Sim Settlements
• Hud Framework
• Stackable DLC foundations
• Better Settlers 
• Homemaker
• Advanced Settlement Turret Set
• Place everywhere
• Transfer settlements