Fallout 3 random encounters General information . Random encounters in " Fallout 3 " take the form of unique situations , friendly and / or hostile encounters , or small tasks for the player to perform which are randomly drawn from a broad list of possibilities , and occur in various predetermined encounter areas across the Capital Wasteland . They should not be confused with scripted events that only occur in certain pre - defined locations . Once a random encounter has been activated in a particular area , no other random event will occur in that area . The game can be saved before entering a triggering area , allowing the player to reload the prior save if an activated encounter occurs that is less than desirable . Unique vs . repeatable . Encounters can be unique or repeatable . Unique encounters can only occur once per play - through whereas repeatable ones can occur at multiple locations . Encounter types . Random encounter locations are divided into two groups . Some encounters occur only in one group of locations ( " A " in the location table ' s " Group " column ) ; others occur only in the second group of locations ( " B " in the location table ' s " Group " column ) . Very few encounters are available in all locations . ' Type A ' encounters , in practical terms , have only one spawn point in the area they can appear , and will usually not leave the immediate area around it unless drawn or forced away from it . The few ' Type A ' encounters not set to stay near their spawning point will eventually move to predetermined destinations or patrol routes far across the map . Such movement , however , is often limited to the player being within the same map cell , resulting in the encounter being lost or misplaced when the player leaves the area . ' Type B ' encounters are slightly more complex . Though Type B encounters always follow a predetermined patrol route at an encounter location , they have multiple , sometimes less than apparent , spawning points . They can also cover the distance of up to two full - sized map squares ( as seen in one ' s Pipboy ) . Additionally , due to terrain features , the AI pathing between spawning points ( which are also way - points ) can create a broad and sometime elaborate patrol route . The location information provided in this article is by no means the sole triggering method for the listed encounters . Trigger zones can be as far reaching as the distance between spawning points , which can result in accidentally and unknowingly triggering and locking an encounter . Most spawn points for encounters are positioned in such a way as to have the encounter appear from around blind corners so as not have the encounter appear out of thin air , and to have opposing factions appear at the farthest spawn points from one another . Using the wait feature along an encounter ' s patrol route within view of a spawn point can cause an encounter to be seen appearing abruptly as it moves to where the player is . List of encounters . The encounters are grouped by living characters or creatures they contain . There are no duplicate listings ; if you are looking for an encounter which involves multiple parties , make sure to check all potentially relevant sections . There are encounters not described below which involve the Talon Company , the Enclave , raiders , and super mutants which are scripted events occurring at specific locations . These encounters are not random . See individual location pages for encounters outside of what is listed below . Karma - related . Note : if the player happens to have changed his Karma orientation during the game ( either by losing Karma when Karma was positive , or by accomplishing positive acts while Karma was negative ) , it is possible to be , although rarely , attacked by both Regulators and Talon Company mercs , and sometimes even at the same time . Locations . Trigger approaches . Approaches that will trigger the encounters are listed below .