Boostergang

Boostergangs (or "Boosters") are bands of street gangs, typically enhanced with cybernetic technology. They can be benign or outright violent, and in all cases, extremely territorial. They form together out of necessity, due to the dangers of urban living — especially in lawless Combat Zones. Boostergangs come in the following types (some gangs are more than one type), with examples from Night City.

Boostergangs
Boostergangs are any gang whose members enhanced themselves with cybernetic technology. They are also the most common type of gang. Due to members typically suffering or near the edge of cyberpsychosis, they tend to be the most violent type of gang.

Chromatic Metal Gang
Chromer gangs like centering activities around their favorite rock bands, interpreting song lyrics as orders from their heroes. Most Chromatic rock gangs are into totally senseless, random acts of violence as a means of expression. Some of them (such as the Silver Slash) are benign.


 * Typical Chromer Gang: Steel Slaughter Slammers

Combat Gang
Combat gangs are centered around a type of "warrior's code". Elaborate combat rituals, ranks, and body armor are all part of the mystique. Combat gangs are dangerous, because once they declare a war on someone, they never give up. Most of them occupy their time fighting each other.


 * Typical Combat Gang: Maelstrom

Cult Gang
Made up of youths dedicated to a specific belief or ideology (like aliens saviors, new-age Druids, the coming of John Frum, etc). They will pursue their goals with an extremist's zeal. Symbols and idols are typical trappings with these gangs. Most cult gangs are dangerous (because, well, they're crazy), but not predatory.


 * Typical Cult Gang: The Inquisitors

Dorph Gangs
While drugs are common with most gang, 'dorpher gangs like to use synthetic endorphins in combat or to cause havoc.

Family Gang
They form an extended family, which protects runaway children. A few older "adults" run the gangs and protect the turf, while the younger members steal and deal for family support. Extended families are territorial and fiercely protective of their members.


 * Typical Family Gang: The Bradi Bunch

Go Gang
Are the urban counterparts to the more nomadic Bōsōzoku (“speed tribe”) motorcycle gangs. Unlike Bōsōzoku gangs, Go Gangers are not always Japaneses.


 * Typical Chromer Gang: Steel Dragons

Guardian Gang
Guardian gangs are local vigilantes who from in reaction to the violence of other gangs. For the most part, they are peaceful, and would usually not cause problems, but will act when a local gang gets out of hand.

Hate Gang
Regardless of race, a Hate Gang is made up of young males united around racial supremacy. Uniforms, flags and militaristic slogans are the rule. They will attack anything that they think isn't "right" (read: just like them).


 * Typical Hate Gang: Red Chrome Legion

Nihilist Gang
Also called Terrorist Gangs, nihilist gangs go beyond the normal acts of violence and mayhem seen with many gangs and into a campaign of fear and atrocities. Much like a cultie, they are known for being suicidal or self-destructive in their violence, but unlike culties, they have no belief or ideology beyond the belief that life and existence has no meaning.


 * Typical Nihilist Gang: Voodoo Boys

Party Gang
They party, drink Smash, take (and deal) drugs, and mug people — all as part of a "just because" lifestyle. To these guys, The Party is everything.


 * Typical Party Gang: The Piranhas

Prankster Gang
Prankster Gangs are centered around pranks of one sort or another. This can range for the generally benign and harmless (Philharmonic Vampyres), to the dangerous and sadistic (Bozos).


 * Typical Prankster Gang: The Philharmonic Vampyres

Posergang
A poser is anyone that tries to emulate someone famous. It could be a movie star, a historical figure, or even fictional characters. There are practical benefits as well. Posers adopt the clone look for protection (they all look like), identification and impact (a score of clones can be a pretty disturbing sight). These gangs center on recreating their own bizarre interpretations of their heroes, which often includes biosculpting to look the part.


 * Typical Posergang: The Kennedys

Self-Defense Gang
They are an otherwise peaceful group who formed out of the need to defend themselves from a persistent and dangerous threat. They are relatively peaceful, as long as folks stay off their turf, and leave them alone.


 * Typical Self-Defense Gang: The Julliard

Reference
FISK, C. Night City Sourcebook. 1st ed. Berkeley CA: R.Talsorian Games, 1991

Boostergangs