Wastelander (Fallout 3)

Wastelander is a catch-all term for anyone living in the wasteland who is not affiliated with any other groups. They make a subsistence living off the land, trade with local settlements, and try not to be ravaged by the abundant (and usually hostile) wildlife, or bands of roaming raider gangs. Most are not aggressive but will defend themselves if attacked.

Background
Some wastelanders will not want to open dialog and tend to be rude, while others are pleasant and friendly towards the Lone Wanderer. Most are encountered by the Lone Wanderer in random encounters. These wastelanders are usually fleeing from anything from mole rats to a deathclaw, others may fight against these creatures, and some unlucky wastelanders are encountered already dead.

Daily schedule
All generic wastelanders, and most involved in random encounters, will wander aimlessly in their general area; however, some may disappear after a while.

Locations
Wastelanders not involved in random encounters can be found in fixed locations such as:
 * A wastelander being chased by a raider with a flamethrower will appear just outside the Calverton chapel.
 * A wastelander wired with a bomb will appear outside the canyon leading to Evergreen Mills after the completion of The Waters of Life if Broken Steel is installed.
 * Two hostile ghoul wastelanders live inside the pylon shack.
 * Three hostile ghoul wastelanders occupy the ghoul outpost.
 * Four hostile ghoul wastelanders occupy the wasteland gypsy village.
 * One wastelander is the unlucky target of the claw aboard Mothership Zeta.
 * One can be found dead near a wasteland captive. She can be found down the highway near Friendship Heights. She has a unique model, unused by any other NPC. Nearby, near the fire behind the steel walls set up by super mutants, lies another dead wastelander with a unique model. These wastelanders may be found alive.
 * One can be found fighting a super mutant in the back of a blue truck just outside of Pennsylvania Avenue. If he or she survives, they will wander around the Brotherhood checkpoint.
 * One can be found dead just across from an entrance to Metro Central and down the street from the Brotherhood checkpoint in Pennsylvania Avenue, secluded behind sandbags and car.
 * Two can be found in the wastelander campsite, usually sitting near the fire.

Inventory
* 25% change of spawning headgear. ** 20% chance of spawning a frag grenade.

Notable quotes

 * "I'll mind my business, you mind yours."
 * "I've got nothing to say to you. Best move on."
 * "I'm not looking for trouble, or conversation either."
 * "Let me be blunt. Go away."
 * "I don't know you, you don't know me. Let's keep it that way."
 * "How about you just mind your own business, okay?"

Notable wastelanders

 * The Preacher: A crazed inhabitant of Seward Square. His hostage, who offers some unique dialogue, is also called "Wastelander".
 * John: An inhabitant of the wasteland killed by a pack of vicious dogs.
 * Ghoul scientist: A hostile scientist attempting to use the United States' nuclear arsenal to eradicate life on a massive scale.

Wastelanders in random encounters
Although a majority of wastelanders offer little dialogue or are encountered dead by the player character, there are a number of wastelanders in random encounters that offer some unique interactions. The following is a list of these wastlanders.

Appearances
Wastelanders appear in Fallout 3, although the word wastelander is used in Fallout 2, and characters that can be considered wastelanders appear throughout the series.