This wasteland seems a lot more dangerous than it used to be. My Natasha has died 3/4 times trying to get to Shady Sands.
The animals and bad guys move way WAY too quickly on the tactical map. They are impossible to avoid and just keep attacking in waves until Natasha is killed. Otherwise, this seems to be an improvement and I'll fork out the $5 for the post-beta version.
Had a similar problem when I first played it.
Notices then you can just press escape and run away.
You get a few seconds of idle time from the enemy to choose the direction and run to the edge of the map.
works great in the wasteland not so much in caves and vaults.
But lets you at least avoid the coyotes.
Also seem you can block advancement, if you get the rope in Shady Sands and then get captured by the coyotes, as you loose all inventory and I have not seen a way to get a new rope from either the village or the merchant.