DragonsNest Dynamic Radiation Overhaul

☢️ Dynamic Radiation Overhaul (DRO)

Transform radiation from a simple world hazard into a dynamic environmental survival system.

Radiation intensity is controlled by a custom map unique to each world, allowing dangerous areas to be placed anywhere. From isolated hotspots and contaminated towns to entire high-risk regions. As radiation intensity increases, so does the danger.

DRO features four escalating exposure tiers: Elevated → Hazardous → Severe → Lethal

The risk isn't determined by radiation intensity alone. Time of day, shelter, protective equipment, medication, and accumulated Radiation Sickness all matter!

☢️ Dynamic Radiation Exposure

DRO reads the red-channel intensity of a custom radiation map, allowing smooth transitions between safe areas and increasingly dangerous environments. This makes it possible to create anything from small localized contamination to sprawling regions that become progressively more dangerous as you travel further.

Each world can have its own radiation layout, and worlds without a matching radiation map simply remain radiation-free.

☢️ Four Radiation Tiers

Elevated

The lowest level of contamination. Basic radiation protection can prevent direct health damage, although prolonged exposure can still contribute to Radiation Sickness.

Hazardous

Radiation becomes considerably more dangerous. Shelter and protection become increasingly important, especially during daytime exploration.

Severe

Heavy contamination where partial protection may no longer be enough to completely prevent health damage.

Lethal

The most dangerous radiation environment. Outdoor exposure can remain harmful even with both Nomad Armor and Potassium Iodide.

Radiation intensity also affects the displayed RAD CPM, giving you an indication of just how bad an area has become.

🏠 Environment Matters

DRO considers more than simply whether you're standing inside a radiation zone.

Indoors vs. Outdoors

Buildings provide meaningful shelter from radiation. Depending on the exposure tier and your protection, moving indoors can substantially reduce or eliminate direct health damage.

Day vs. Night

Radiation damage is less frequent at night, making nighttime exploration potentially safer from radiation.

🥽 Radiation Protection

A complete set of Nomad Armor provides radiation protection.

Potassium Iodide provides additional temporary protection and helps reduce accumulated Radiation Sickness.

At lower radiation intensities, either form of protection may be enough to prevent direct damage. As exposure increases, combining both becomes increasingly important.

In the worst environments, even full protection cannot make outdoor exposure completely safe.

Radiation protection is intended to require compromise.

☣️ Radiation Sickness

Avoiding immediate health damage does not necessarily mean you're safe.

Continued exposure can accumulate Radiation Sickness, even while protected from direct radiation damage.

Radiation Sickness persists after leaving the contaminated area and can eventually begin damaging your health on its own.

Potassium Iodide gradually reduces accumulated Radiation Sickness, with severe cases becoming progressively harder to treat.

🗺️ World-Specific Radiation Maps

DRO uses a separate radiation map without modifying the game's normal biome radiation system.

Place your radiation PNG inside:

Mods/DragonsNest_DRO/RadiationMaps/

The filename must match the active world name:

RadiationMaps/<WorldName>.png

For example:

RadiationMaps/Navezgane.png

RadiationMaps/Pregen06k01.png

RadiationMaps/Pregen08k01.png

Linux dedicated-server users: filenames are case-sensitive. Match the world name exactly.

If DRO cannot find a matching radiation map, radiation is simply disabled for that world.

The included example maps can be renamed/copied as needed, or you can create completely custom radiation layouts.

🖥️ Dedicated Servers

DRO can be installed server-side without requiring connecting players to manually install the mod.

A small C# component reads the active world's radiation map and exposes its intensity through DRO's custom dnestRadiationLevel value.

The XML portion of the mod handles the actual gamep