Base building helps when you were on survival mode when it allowed you the ability to link bases up, so you could share inventory. You didn't really need to go extreme, just have one or two settlers and then assign them to trade routes.
If you've got it on PC, there's a few nice addons that make settlements much less involved. SimSettlements is really nice because settlers upgrade things on their own and there's a lot less micromanagement needed.
If you've got it on PC, there's a few nice addons that make settlements much less involved. SimSettlements is really nice because settlers upgrade things on their own and there's a lot less micromanagement needed.