Scavenger (Fallout 3)

Scavengers are generic traders in the Capital Wasteland in Fallout 3.

Background
Talented salvagers with a knack for trade, scavengers are a common sight throughout the Capital Wasteland, picking through the ashes of the Old World looking for items to restore and sell. Although varying in terms of stock, weapons, and entourage (they can be alone, with guard dogs, robots, or even a tame yao guai), they are easily identifiable by their trader outfits, complemented by some sort of wasteland headwear.

Locations

 * Scavengers are frequently encountered across the wasteland in both random encounters and fixed locations. The latter include:


 * In random encounters, scavengers may be encountered near an object they are attempting to salvage, such as a robot, a vehicle, or a random spot in general. In this case, the scavengers may turn hostile if the player approaches them too closely or intrudes on the spot they are attempting to salvage. They will usually issue a warning, and attack once the player ignores it and approaches the target.

Other interactions

 * Scavengers generally offer an opportunity to purchase various wares from them, ranging from generic junk to a variety of weapons. They can carry a very broad range of weapons, from meager hunting rifles all the way to missile launchers or flamers. Their entourage will also participate in the fight, and can prove more dangerous than scavengers if said party includes a yao guai. The scavengers themselves are above average fighters, roughly comparable to  Lyons' Paladins, but hamstrung by their poor armor. Most scavengers will not respawn if killed or mezzed.
 * In Broken Steel, scavengers can occasionally be found in charge of water caravans with aqua pura: Themselves, an aqua pura brahmin and a pair of guards from either either Rivet City Security or Lyons' Brotherhood of Steel.
 * The player can also come across a scavenger with a malfunctioning Mister Handy. They can repair it with a high-enough Repair skill in return for fusion cells and 100 caps (with a Speech check).
 * Note that the robot can become hostile if there are other hostile robots in the area, and attack the player.
 * Another random encounter includes a scavenger who mentions a strange light to the north and carry a holotape that will mark the Oasis on the player's world map.
 * Finally, the player can decide to obtain a discount and shoot the scavenger in the face. Since all caps paid for their wares are returned to their inventory, this allows for getting money back fast.

Appearances
These Scavengers appear only in Fallout 3.