Ionizing radiation, often referred to as simply radiation, is an ever-present enemy lurking in the wastelands.
Gameplay[ | ]
Ranger team Echo about to traverse a radiation hot spot.
In the sequel, radiation plays a slightly different role. It is primarily found on the world map as large stretches of irradiated waste. In order to safely traverse it (the party will otherwise take 12 points of damage per unit of water used on the trip), the Ranger team has to wear radiation suits.
Each radiation field has a specific intensity, marked at the center of the symbol. This intensity determines how protective the suits have to be in order to traverse the field without taking damage, i.e. a level 2 field requires suits that offer 2 points of radiation protection. Partial protection will reduce damage taken, i.e. crossing a level 3 field in level 2 suits will cause damage as if the team was crossing a level 1 field unprotected. However, this ends at level 4. Trying to cross a level 5 or 6 field in radiation suits that do not offer appropriate protection will deal 400 points of damage per second, killing the entire party.