Frozen river or small lake, chest-height snow, fallen tree
2
Frozen ruin, collapsing bridge, snow covering a hidden powerline
3
New Hazards
Due to frigid temperatures and the snowy terrain, creatures may suffer damage from prolonged exposure to the elements. In addition, the snow can conceal other hazards and other threats.
hazard
effect
Falling icicles
3 DC Piercing Physical damage
Irradiated snow
2 DC Vicious Radiation damage
Snowslide
2 DC Stun Physical damage
Poisonous plants
2 DC Persistent Poison damage
Winter Environment Conditions
Winter conditions can impact a character’s Perception, gear, ranged attacks, and more. Conditions the characters might encounter while exploring the Commonwealth in winter include the following:
condition
effect
Flash Freeze
END tests increase in difficulty by +1, +2, or +3, depending on the length of time exposed to the elements.
Snow-Covered
Tests to spot or avoid dangerous objects or hazards increase in difficulty by +1, +2, or +3, depending on snow height.
Icy Surfaces
When a creature takes the Sprint action, they must make an AGI + Athletics test with a difficulty of 1-3, determined by the amount of ice. If the test fails, they cannot move, fall prone, and become stunned until the start of their next turn.
Blizzards
PER tests that rely on vision and attacks made at Medium range or further increase in difficulty by +1, +2, or +3, depending on the storm's severity.
Rad-izzard
At the start of a creature’s turn, if they are without shelter, they must make an END + Survival test with a difficulty of 1-3, determined by the severity of the radioactive ice storm. If the test fails, they gain 1 Fatigue and are inflicted with 2 DC Vicious Radiation damage.
New Dangerous Objects
Many potentially dangerous objects lie hidden underneath layers of ice and snow until an unsuspecting victim comes across them and suffers a bad day.
object
triggered by
test to_spot
damage effect
Rad beacon
Close proximity (action, entering a zone)
PER + Survival difficulty 2
4 DC Persistent Radiation damage
Anti-Rad dissembler
Close proximity (action, entering a zone)
PER + Survival difficulty 2
4 DC Vicious Energy damage, or 6 DC Vicious Energy damage to creatures suffering from Radiation damage and irradiated creatures