Not a bad idea in concept. But as someone who has spent considerable time working in a gas mask, I can attest that the principle limitation is not clarity but distance. Even a "half-face" mask such as that depicted in the game for the rebreather does not impede jaw, lip or tongue movement. (Now a scuba mouthpiece that has to be held in the teeth for instance will restrict all three components to the point of barely understandable.) Thus words are clearly formed and audible over a radio, even one with an externally held handset. However, the mask does muffle sound somewhat which limits the distance at which it can be clearly heard. I would suggest perhaps a distance based or 10% of Charisma penalty rather than a fixed amount.
All that said, there is the "social" penalty for talking to someone as if they had poisonous breathe when the environment doesn't warrant it.
Indeed, it seemed like such an obvious change once he'd said it, and I figured that it would be a reasonably gentle introduction to modding Fallout New Vegas for me.
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Translation: "It doesn't matter if you can understand what I say, all that matters is my plan..."
All that said, there is the "social" penalty for talking to someone as if they had poisonous breathe when the environment doesn't warrant it.
-Dubious-
Pete