Wasteland 3 random encounters

While traveling through the world map, you'll run into random encounters. These can take the form of scripted interactions, where your squad can utilize various skills, combat engagements, or other events.

Character encounters

Encountering a fixed encounter.

These encounters are identified by a camping van with an OPEN neon above. These are usually fixed in location, but the contents of each are randomized. These are typically traders and offer various additional benefits. You can always gain a point of reputation with their factions with various levels of Kiss Ass.

• B. B. Gunn (Patriarch's Marshals): Trader selling confiscated goods. Will give the Police light ornament if reputation with Marshals is Liked or more.
• She-Monster (Monster Army): Trader.
• O'Leary Family (Wastelander Refugees: Traders. Will give the Caltrop launcher if reputation with Refugees is Liked or better.
• Zero Pricely (Hundred Families): Another trader. You'll receive the Neutralizer if your reputation with the Families is liked or better.
• Cheebus: Unaffiliated trader, son of Gob, and purveyor of top of the line weapons.

Caches

Identified by a cache with flashing red lights and a smoke marker. Identifies a static location.

Abandoned goods

A series of smashed up, wooden crates lie before you, scattered between muddy tire ruts as if they fell off the back of a speeding truck. They must must have fallen only recently, as snow is just beginning to lightly dust the tracks and splintered wood. Shielding your eyes against the wind, you spot a faint insignia for the Patriarch's Marshals on one of the few intact containers...

• Load up the remaining crates to return to their 'rightful owner.' (increases Patriarch's Marshals reputation)
• Finders keepers, let's crack 'em open!
  • Cracking them open is harder than expected, as each of the containers seems to have been carefully reinforced for the rough journey. That said, where there's a will, there's a way...With one last good kick and loud crack, the final crate finally splinters open to reveal an assortment of preserved foodstuffs and salted meat, no doubt taken as tariffs from homesteaders.
    • Go ahead and keep them safe for the Marshals. (increases Patriarch's Marshals reputation)
    • Stash them to donate to homesteaders. (increases Wastelander Refugees reputation)
    • Haul 'em back for the Rangers at base. (increases Ranger allegiance)
    • Take the food. Eating is a luxury out here. (yields random consumables)
  • Cracking them open is harder than expected, as each of the containers seems to have been carefully reinforced for the rough journey. That said, where there's a will, there's a way... With one last good kick and loud crack, the final crate finally splinters open to reveal a bunch of random shit. Looks like it must have been moving day for someone...
    • Look through the junk for anything worth scavenging. (yields random junk)
  • Cracking them open is harder than expected, as each of the containers seems to have been carefully reinforced for the rough journey. That said, where there's a will, there's a way.. With one last good kick and loud crack, the final crate finally splinters open to reveal an assortment of military gear and ammunition. Someone is going to really miss this cargo... Fortunately it won't be you.
    • Take it all. Better to ask forgiveness than permission. (yields ammunition and equipment)
  • Cracking them open is harder than expected, as each of the containers seems to have been carefully reinforced for the rough journey. That said, where there's a will, there's a way... With one last good kick and loud crack, the final crate finally splinters open to reveal an assortment of what looks to be mechanical components and spare parts.
    • Take it all. Better to ask forgiveness than permission. (yields ?)
• Give the insignia a closer inspection.
  • After careful inspection, it's clear that the Marshal insignia was applied only recently, painted on top of some sort of faded mountain clan symbol. In fact, the paint is still wet in some areas, partially smudged and smeared from being dropped on the hard ice.
    • [Perception?] You suddenly realize that this gear was being smuggled... Whoever was hauling it must have used the Marshals insignia to throw off any inspection by the Patriarch's forces.
      • Doesn't matter whose it was, its mine now.

Container

You find a steel crate. It's locked.

An old safe lies on its side in some rubble. It's locked.

Half hidden under some trash you find a footlocker. It's locked.

A big hard-plastic case sits in a pile of trash. It's locked.

• Pick the lock.
  • Yields loot.
• Smash it open. (random results)
  • [?] Well, you wrecked most of what was inside, but what's left isn't bad.
  • [?] There might have been some valuable loot in here, but you'll never know. You ruined it all.
  • [?] Damn! By some miracle you destroyed the crate without damaging what was inside. This is a nice haul!
• Leave it.

Trapped container

There's a lot of empty crates here, but this one hasn't been touched. Maybe that's because it's been booby-trapped.

A tempting crate, half-hidden in the snow, but be careful. It's been booby-trapped.

Someone's trapped this case. Hopefully that means there's something valuable inside.

Somebody has written in big letters on this crate, 'WARNING! BOOBY-TRAPPED. DO NOT TOUCH!'

• [Explosives ?] Disarm the trap.
  • You successfully disarm the trap and look inside. Jackpot! You hit paydirt!
  • You successfully disarm the trap and look inside. What's inside isn't bad at all. Well worth the risk.
  • You successfully disarm the trap and look inside. You shouldn't have bothered. This stuff is boring.
• Open it without disarming the trap.
  • Ouch! It explodes and you catch some shrapnel in the blast. At least some of the stuff inside was undamaged. It isn't much, but it's something.
  • Unsurprisingly, it explodes, knocking you on your ass and destroying everything that was inside. Nice work!
  • Incredibly, the trap fails to explode. The container opens without damaging you or the contents. And it's pretty good stuff too! How lucky can you get?
• Leave it.

Open container

You find a crate in the snow. Looks like it's unlocked.

A rusty old trunk. It's unlocked.

Among a bunch of battered suitcases, you find one that feels like it has something in it - and it's unlocked.

You find a half-buried crate. It's unlocked.

• Open it.
  • Whoa! Jackpot!
  • Not bad. There's some good stuff in here.
  • Meh. This stuff is pretty mediocre.
• Leave it alone.
  • You head back to the Kodiak without opening the container.

Toaster shrine

Ahead of you on the side of the road you see what first looks like an outhouse. As you get closer, you see it's a lovingly made wooden shrine, open at the front, but covered with a pitched roof. You get out to examine it, and see that, placed on the altar within is a broken toaster, with an inscription above it that reads, 'The warmth that transforms.'

• Pray to the toaster.
  • You feel all warm inside. (full healing for the whole party)
• [Toaster Repair 1] Repair the toaster.
  • Whoa! How the heck did that get in there? (random item, eg. full set of tactical armor)
• Smash the toaster.
  • It was broken before. Now it's unrepairable. Happy? (no effect)
• Leave.
  • You leave the toaster where it is and return to the Kodiak.

Bunkers

Exactly what it says on the tin.

Enemy encounters

Scorpitron 2.0

You can encounter the Scorpitron on the world map. Don't worry, you'll see it coming. When it approaches, you can use Nerd Stuff 8 to overload its sensors and attack. Note that you won't be fighting just the Scorpitron, but also several Killers and a pair of Slicerdicers.