Free Radical (perk)

Free Radical is a challenge perk in Fallout: New Vegas. You gain enhanced effects from Rad-Away.

Effects
Upon completion of this challenge, RadAway will now do three times its normal effect. This applies regardless of Hardcore mode being activated - in Hardcore mode, while RadAway will still reduce radiation over time (as opposed to all at once without Hardcore mode), the amount of radiation removed will still be three times its normal.

Behind the Scenes

 * The name of this perk is a reference to atoms, molecules, or ions with unpaired electrons on an open shell configuration.

Bugs

 * At least in hardcore mode this perk is not working. RadAway's description shows as effectiveness being tripled (-30 for 10 seconds instead of -10, using 41 Medicine), but effects list shows -10, not -30, and total of 100 radiation removed. This has been confirmed in multiple accounts, but it does Not occur on normal mode. (Patched PS3)
 * This perk is bugged, if the player has the perk, he gets a once-only instant bonus to radiation level removal of 10 points, regardless of level. So the reduction in rad level is 50 base + 10 base =60 on NON-hardcore level and 10 base /10 seconds + 10 on Hardcore level. These values are obviously modified by the medicine skill, so the final values are higher. It's supposed to be 150 base on NON-hardcore level with this perk and 15 base / 10 seconds on Hardcore mode. For PC users, a fix here can be used to alleviate this problem. (Patched PS3)