Settler quests trigger. I figured it out.

[Lancars]

Don't talk to them unless you're using their vendor. Don't trade with them or greet new ones as it triggers the sheep into getting kidnapped or whining about something far away from the settlement.

You won't suddenly see a settler vanish and one come over "Help they kidnapped my friend" Since for some reason all the enemies have the ability to rip open portals and kidnap people.
Or the "We have a prrrrooobleeem *whine sounds*"

 

[jsalemi]

There’s a mod that cuts the number of quests Preston gives you; we need one that does the same for the random settler quests. Especially those that send you to places like Revere when you’re level 12.....

(I also want a mod that lets me shoot Preston in the face when he says “What are you going to do with that?” for the 20th time on a scrap collecting run.)

(Oh, and we're not ready to take the damn castle back yet, Preston -- I just got to Diamond City...)

 

[Lancars]

There’s a mod that cuts the number of quests Preston gives you; we need one that does the same for the random settler quests. Especially those that send you to places like Revere when you’re level 12.....

(I also want a mod that lets me shoot Preston in the face when he says “What are you going to do with that?” for the 20th time on a scrap collecting run.)

(Oh, and we're not ready to take the damn castle back yet, Preston -- I just got to Diamond City...)

I have it but the settler kidnappings are timed and they send me to areas i'm not ready for yet. That's the problem so if i can just avoid it all together and go and clean those places out i don't have to deal with them for a couple of ingame months. So its best to ignore the sheep and they won't get kidnapped or bleat about something across the wasteland.

 

[jsalemi]

Yea, I agree -- until I have most of the map open, if I see a settler heading my way I run in the other direction.

 

[Ain't Much]

Don't talk to them unless you're using their vendor. Don't trade with them or greet new ones as it triggers the sheep into getting kidnapped or whining about something far away from the settlement.

You won't suddenly see a settler vanish and one come over "Help they kidnapped my friend" Since for some reason all the enemies have the ability to rip open portals and kidnap people.
Or the "We have a prrrrooobleeem *whine sounds*"

I had that happen at The Slog. I took their first quest to kill off the mutants, that were actually right next door! Shocking, I know*. When I turned in the quest, I did a slow 360 camera roll because I heard someone fighting the Forged next door when a settler walked up and said, Help! Kidnappers!"

A 360 degree circle of the camera was all it took. Of course the kidnappers wanted caps, and were located at the Malden hospital . . . mutants wanting caps . . .. Yeah. They wanted caps to bring more humans to their gaping maw!

* I always complain to the County Crossing settlers when they have troubles with mutants because the mutants are never next door. "Oh them? No! Not them," the settlers reply. "We have BBQ's with them on Sundays." grrr.

 

[Jonnan]

I had that happen at The Slog. I took their first quest to kill off the mutants, that were actually right next door! Shocking, I know*. When I turned in the quest, I did a slow 360 camera roll because I heard someone fighting the Forged next door when a settler walked up and said, Help! Kidnappers!"

A 360 degree circle of the camera was all it took. Of course the kidnappers wanted caps, and were located at the Malden hospital . . . mutants wanting caps . . .. Yeah. They wanted caps to bring more humans to their gaping maw!

* I always complain to the County Crossing settlers when they have troubles with mutants because the mutants are never next door. "Oh them? No! Not them," the settlers reply. "We have BBQ's with them on Sundays." grrr.

Honestly I don't seem to get that many of them, but I wouls love a mod that set the quest to areas in the general vicinity. Honestly, I currently have a complaint about the bug at taffingington boathouse, from Oberland Station.

4,000 raider between here and there, not bothering you, but the bugs at taffington? Do you like, *bathe* in mosquito pheromones?