Radiated (Fallout 3)

Radiated is a condition in Fallout 3.

Gameplay
Eating and drinking most food items or entering an irradiated zone gives the Lone Wanderer rads. SPECIAL attributes drop at certain thresholds, and radiation poisoning kills the Wanderer at 1000 rads. Radiation does not directly affect hit points, through penalties affecting Endurance, Maximum Health may be lowered.

The Pip-Boy 3000's dosimeter will appear in the upper right during exposure. There are five major ticks (200, 400, 600, 800, and 1000 rads), with minor ticks at multiples of 66.67, e.g., 67, 133, 200, 267, 333, 400, etc. The rad status can also be checked in the Pip-Boy to see Rad Resistance and rad level. There is also a dial in the upper-left of the Pip-Boy that shows the approximate radiation level.

Exposure
Rad exposure is usually limited; only very rarely will zones be so irradiated that venturing into them results in a quick death. One needs to stand in +1 rad water for a significant time and more generally it is possible to move through radioactive water dozens of times before reaching the 200 rad threshold. Rads can be flushed by: {{columns|2|
 * Paying 100 caps to a doctor to remove all rads.
 * Using a RadAway, depends on Medicine skill (max -150 rads).
 * Using the personal infirmary to remove all rads.
 * The Rad Absorption perk slowly decreases the radiation level.
 * The Nuclear Anomaly perk gets rid of all rads upon activation.
 * {{Icon|FO3PL}} Consuming certain foods, such as cave fungus or wild and refined punga fruit.

Resisting
Radiation can be resisted by equipping certain types of apparel, such as radiation suits or Power Armor. A dose of the chem Rad-X also grants the player character radiation resistance based on their Medicine skill, but the effects do not stack. This resistance is applied to all sources of radiation, from the external environment to irradiated consumables.

The Lead Belly perk halves the rads taken from any irradiated water drank while the Rad Resistance and Cyborg perks raise the overall radiation resistance. Also, if completed the 'contract radiation sickness' part of Wasteland Survival Guide with a reading of 600 rads or more (the optional objective), the Rad Regeneration perk is given.