Guide to Equipment
Survival in the wasteland isn’t just about skill and instinct—it’s about having the right gear. Whether you're exploring ruins, facing down raiders, or navigating the Enclave’s strict resource economy, equipment plays a key role in your journey.
This post breaks down the essential categories of equipment, from weapons and armor to cybernetic enhancements and vehicles. Whether you rely on scavenged tech or high-end Enclave manufacturing, knowing your options is the first step to staying alive.
Ammunition: The Fuel of Firepower
It doesn’t matter if you’ve got a state-of-the-art laser rifle or an old-world slug thrower—without ammunition, it's just dead weight. Ammunition is more than just bullets; it includes energy reserves, fuel cells, and specialty rounds.
Some weapons, like plasma ejectors, need high-tech power cores, while more common firearms use conventional slugs. Managing your ammo is just as important as picking the right weapon—because in the wasteland, every shot counts.
Armor: The Difference Between Life and Death
Even the most skilled warriors won’t last long without protection. Armor comes in many forms, from lightweight scavenger gear to heavily reinforced power armor.
- Light Armor – Offers mobility but minimal protection.
- Medium Armor – A balance between protection and flexibility.
- Heavy Armor – Absorbs damage but restricts movement if you lack the strength.
Scavenged armor might be patched together, providing unreliable but necessary protection, but Enclave armor is freshly made suits.
Bionetics: Enhancing the Mind and Body
Bionetics are biological augmentations—a step toward evolution without relying on machines. These enhancements boost intelligence, reflexes, and endurance.
Bionetic Augmentation can only modify the body so much and impact mystical powers' ability to execute.
Cybernetics: The Machine Within
For those willing to embrace technology, cybernetics provide powerful mechanical enhancements. From enhanced limbs and sensory upgrades to internal processors that improve reaction time, cybernetics offer a tangible edge in both combat and survival.
However, cybernetic augmentation comes at a cost:
- High-tech maintenance is required.
- Cybernetic instability can interfere with psychic abilities and totem aspects.
- Some factions distrust heavily augmented individuals.
Despite these risks, many wastelanders turn to cybernetics for raw power and survivability.
Power Armor: The Enclave’s Heavy Hitters
The pinnacle of battlefield technology, power armor turns an ordinary soldier into a walking fortress. Equipped with reinforced plating, enhanced targeting systems, and integrated weaponry, power armor is the ultimate defense.
However, power armor isn’t for everyone. It requires:
✔ Specialized training to operate.
✔ A power source to function.
✔ Regular maintenance to remain combat-ready.
Within the Enclave, power armor is highly regulated—only elite warriors and security forces have full access to these machines.
Vehicles: Dominating the Wasteland
The wasteland is vast, and travel on foot isn’t always an option. Vehicles provide speed, cargo capacity, and firepower for those who can afford them.
From scrap-built desert bikes to Enclave-issued transport carriers, vehicles are a game-changer. Some come armed with mounted weapons, while others are purely for fast escapes and long-distance travel.
Fuel and maintenance are constant concerns, but in a world full of raiders and mutated beasts, having a ride can mean the difference between survival and death.
Weapons: The Art of Combat
No wastelander is complete without a reliable weapon. Whether you prefer brutal melee combat or precision ranged attacks, there’s a weapon for every fighting style.
- Melee Weapons – Simple, deadly, and never run out of ammo.
- Slug Throwers – Traditional firearms, ranging from handguns to assault rifles.
- Energy Weapons – High-tech and devastating but require energy reserves.
- Heavy Weapons – Grenade launchers, missile launchers, and other battlefield wreckers.
Picking the right weapon depends on your playstyle, resources, and available ammunition. In the wasteland, every fight is a test of skill, firepower, and survival instincts.
Final Thoughts
Equipment isn’t just about having the biggest gun or the toughest armor—it’s about strategy, adaptability, and knowing what to bring into each fight. The right gear can mean a long and successful journey—the wrong gear can mean a quick death.
Whether you rely on scavenged supplies, high-tech augmentations, or sheer grit, mastering your equipment is essential to survival.