🚗 Vehicle Combat

“In Night City, the car chase is an art form. The artistry? Surviving it.”

This chapter covers everything you need to run exciting vehicle combat, chases, and highway firefights.

🌍 Lore: Vehicles in the Time of the Red

The Dark Future hasn’t yielded any staggering new transportation breakthroughs. Years of economic strife and the 4th Corporate War have left a patchwork of badly up-kept roads, abandoned airports, and trains plagued by gangs. Most vehicles run on CHOOH² — a synthetic alcohol fuel produced by Biotechnica — since petroleum is nearly gone.

Private vehicles are a luxury. At 20,000–100,000eb, even a basic bike costs more than most Night Citizens earn in years. Corporate execs drive armored groundcars with escorts. Nomads run heavily armed convoys of 100+ vehicles — Kombis, escort cycles, armored trucks — and control most long-distance transport, including Aerozep cargo blimps. For everyone else, there’s the unreliable NCTC bus system or your own two feet.

Air travel is rarer still. Commercial airlines are effectively dead. If you need to fly, you hire a Nomad Aerozep or pay a “deltajock” — ex-military pilots running suborbital scram-jets, no questions asked. AVs are exclusively corporate or military hardware; Trauma Team runs a fleet of AV-4s, and that’s about the only time civilians see one up close.

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🚙 Vehicles Overview

Land Vehicles

Vehicle	Description	SDP	Seats	Combat MOVE	Cost
Roadbike	Common CHOOH² powered bike	35	2	20	20,000eb
Superbike	Exotic high-speed streetbike	35	2	60	100,000eb
Compact Groundcar	Common CHOOH² powered car	50	4	20	30,000eb
High Performance Groundcar	CHOOH² powered sportscar	50	2	40	50,000eb
Super Groundcar	Exotic extreme-speed sportscar	50	2	60	100,000eb

Sea Vehicles

Vehicle	Description	SDP	Seats	Combat MOVE	Cost
Jetski	Personal watercraft	35	2	20	20,000eb
Speedboat	CHOOH² powered speedboat	50	4	20	30,000eb
Cabin Cruiser	Luxury powerboat with rooms	60	2/room	10	30,000eb/room (min 2)
Yacht	Luxury pleasurecraft with rooms	100	4/room	10	50,000eb/room (min 4)

Air Vehicles

Vehicle	Description	SDP	Seats	Combat MOVE	Cost
Gyrocopter	Tiny rotorcraft	35	2	20	20,000eb
Helicopter	Full featured helicopter	60	4	40	40,000eb
AV-4	Urban assault aerodyne	100	6	40	50,000eb
AV-9	Extreme-speed aerodyne	60	2	60	100,000eb
Aerozep	Modern cargo blimp with rooms	100	2/room	20	30,000eb/room (min 2)

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📋 Core Vehicle Rules

Structural Damage Points (SDP)

• All vehicles have SDP instead of HP
• As long as a vehicle has at least 1 SDP, it can still move
• At 0 SDP: Vehicle is Destroyed
  • No longer provides cover
  • Cannot move without repairs
  • Repair requires appropriate Vehicle Tech Skill

Targeting Vehicles

• Vehicles cannot dodge like humans
• Shooting a vehicle still uses the Range Table from Combat Rules
• While inside a vehicle, you can still dodge attacks targeted at you (not the vehicle)

Weak Points

Called Shots on Vehicles

To hit a vehicle’s weak point (engine, tires, driver):

1. Use Aimed Shot (entire Action)
2. Take -8 penalty to your Check
3. If successful: Multiply damage that gets through by 2

CRB Note

The book references “damage that gets through the vehicle’s SP” but the vehicle tables have no SP stat — only SDP. In practice, vehicles have no armor SP unless the GM adds custom plating, so ×2 typically applies to the full damage roll.

Getting In/Out

Action	Cost
Getting INTO a vehicle	1 Action
Getting OUT OF a vehicle	Part of Movement (free)

Starting/Stopping

Action	Cost
Starting a vehicle	1 Action
Stopping a vehicle	1 Action

When a Vehicle Starts

• Driver moves to top of Initiative queue
• Vehicle’s MOVE becomes driver’s MOVE
• Driver cannot use Run Action while driving

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🚗 Basic Driving

Automatic Driving

If your REF + Control Skill is greater than 9, basic driving requires no check.

Struggling Drivers

If your REF + Control Skill is 9 or less:

• Use your Action every Turn to attempt a DV 10 Check
• Roll: REF + Control Skill + 1d10
• Failure: Lose Control of the Vehicle

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⚡ Maneuvers

When the GM calls for a maneuver, it requires both your Action AND your Move Action.

Maneuver DVs

Maneuver	DV	Description
Swerve	13	Quick lane change to avoid obstacle
Sharp Turn	13	90° turn at speed
Emergency Stop	13	Full stop without losing control
Bootleg Turn	17	180° turn, continue in opposite direction
Jump	17	Launch vehicle off ramp or obstacle
Landing (Air)	13	Safe touchdown
Aerobatic Maneuver (Air)	17	Loop, roll, or dive

Failing a Maneuver

Any failed maneuver causes you to immediately Lose Control.

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💥 Losing Control

When you lose control of a vehicle:

1. You cannot take other Actions until control is regained
2. Vehicle moves in an unpredictable direction (GM decides)
3. May collide with obstacles or other vehicles (see Ramming)

Regaining Control

The CRB does not specify an explicit mechanic for regaining control. The GM determines when and how control can be recovered. A common homebrew ruling is: REF + Control Skill + 1d10 vs. DV 13 on your next Turn.

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🚗💨 Ramming

When a vehicle collides with something that has HP (person, cover, another vehicle):

Damage

Both the vehicle AND the target take 6d6 damage

Whiplash

Everyone involved (drivers, passengers, pedestrians) suffers the Whiplash Critical Injury:

• -2 to all Actions for 1 hour unless treated

Breaking Through

• If the target’s HP reaches 0 from ramming damage, your movement can continue
• Otherwise, your vehicle must stop

Dodging a Ramming Vehicle

Dodging on Foot

Check: DEX + Evasion + 1d10 vs. DV 13

• Success: Dive out of the way, no damage
• Failure: Take 6d6 damage, Whiplash injury

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🔫 Fighting From Vehicles

Driver Actions (RAW Clarification)

What the Rules ACTUALLY Say

The Core Book states:

• Basic driving (REF + Skill > 9) requires no Action
• Maneuvers (sharp turns, jumps, etc.) require your Action AND Move Action

This means: If you’re not performing a maneuver, your Action is free!

Situation	Can Driver Attack?
Cruising straight, REF + Skill > 9	✅ Yes (basic driving is automatic)
Performing a Maneuver	❌ No (maneuver takes Action + Move)
REF + Skill ≤ 9	❌ No (must use Action to maintain control)
Stopped vehicle	✅ Yes (not driving at all)

Homebrew: Drive-By Shooting

For vehicle-to-vehicle or drive-by combat where the driver shoots:

• One-handed weapon only (pistol, SMG)
• -2 penalty to attack (driving distraction)
• No Aimed Shots while driving
• If attacked, must pass DV 13 Drive check or Lose Control

Passenger Actions

Passengers can attack normally from a vehicle:

Factor	Effect
Ranged attacks	Use standard Range DVs
Melee attacks	Only if vehicles are adjacent or you’re leaning out a window
Two-handed weapons	Only if not holding on (GM discretion)

Homebrew: Passenger Penalty

Some tables apply a -2 to attack rolls for shooting from a moving vehicle. The CRB does not specify a penalty for passengers — this is a common homebrew.

Shooting AT Vehicles

Target	Notes
The Vehicle	Standard attack vs. Range DV, damage reduces SDP
A Person Inside	Aimed Shot (-8) to target a specific occupant, or shoot through vehicle
Tires/Engine	Aimed Shot (-8), ×2 damage, may cause Loss of Control

Targeting Occupants

The CRB doesn’t explicitly cover targeting people inside vehicles. The Aimed Shot (-8) approach is a widely-used GM ruling based on the Weak Points mechanic.

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🏎️ Example: Vehicle Combat Turn

Vehicle Combat in Action

Situation: Marcus (Solo) is driving a Compact Groundcar (MOVE 20, 50 SDP). Two Maelstrom gangers on Roadbikes (MOVE 20, 35 SDP each) are chasing him. Kira (Fixer) is in the passenger seat.

Round 1:

Initiative:

• Marcus rolled 18 (REF 8 + 1d10)
• Kira rolled 14
• Ganger A rolled 12
• Ganger B rolled 10

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Marcus’s Turn:

• Marcus’s REF 8 + Drive 4 = 12 > 9, so basic driving is automatic
• He’s just cruising (no maneuvers), so his Action is free
• Marcus draws his pistol and fires at Ganger A (about 10m away = DV 15)
• Attack: REF 8 + Handgun 6 + 1d10(7) = 21 vs DV 15 → Hit!
• Damage: 3d6 = 11. Ganger A has SP 7 body armor → 11 - 7 = 4 damage
• Marcus’s car continues moving forward at MOVE 20

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Kira’s Turn:

• As passenger, Kira can attack freely
• She fires at Ganger B (also about 10m) with her Heavy Pistol
• Attack: REF 6 + Handgun 4 + 1d10(8) = 18 vs DV 15 → Hit!
• Damage: 3d6 = 14. Ganger B has SP 7 → 14 - 7 = 7 damage

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Ganger A’s Turn:

• Tries to pull alongside Marcus’s car and shoot into the cabin
• Ganger has REF 6 + Drive 3 = 9, so must spend Action to maintain control
• ❌ Can’t attack this turn! (REF + Skill = 9, needs Action to drive)
• Pulls up alongside the car

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Ganger B’s Turn:

• REF 7 + Drive 4 = 11 > 9, so can attack!
• Fires SMG at Marcus through the windshield
• Needs Aimed Shot (-8) to target Marcus specifically, or just damages the car
• Attacks the car: REF 7 + Handgun 4 + 1d10(6) = 17 vs DV 15 → Hit!
• Damage: 2d6 = 9 → Car takes 9 SDP damage (down to 41 SDP)

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End of Round 1:

• Marcus: Full HP, car at 41 SDP
• Kira: Full HP
• Ganger A: Took 4 damage
• Ganger B: Took 7 damage
• Positions: Gangers are alongside Marcus’s car

Note: This example uses RAW (no vehicle shooting penalties). If your table uses the homebrew -2 penalty, subtract 2 from each attack roll above.

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🏎️ Vehicle Chases

These rules work alongside the standard vehicle combat rules above, providing a framework for quick, tense chase sequences where driving ability counts as much as vehicle speed.

Setting Up the Chase

The GM sets up a Chase Grid — an abstract track where each square represents one band on the Range Table.

# of Squares	Range Band
1 square	0–6 m/yds
2 squares	7–12 m/yds
3 squares	13–25 m/yds
4 squares	26–50 m/yds
5 squares	51–100 m/yds
6 squares	101–200 m/yds
7 squares	201–400 m/yds
8 squares	401–800 m/yds

Example: Chase Grid Setup

The Crew’s car chases a thief’s truck. The thief has a 3-square head start:

[Crew Car] --- [ ] --- [ ] --- [Thief's Truck]

The Crew is 13–25 m/yds behind.

Initiative

Operators (drivers) roll Initiative normally — they do not automatically jump to the top of the queue like when starting a vehicle.

Chase Rounds

Each participant gets one Move Action and one standard Action, just like normal combat.

Move Actions

• Change position inside the vehicle (e.g., jump into turret seat)
• Climb onto the roof or vice versa
• Leap from vehicle to a location within range based on MOVE stat — even another vehicle
• Can be held to sync with the operator’s maneuver (e.g., wait for a Pull-In Close)

When leaping, use the far end of the current range band unless the operator performed a Pull-In Close maneuver.

Standard Actions

• Any Action you could perform in normal combat, accounting for circumstances
• Range to other vehicles = position on the Chase Grid
• Melee attacks require vehicles to be adjacent AND a Pull-In Close maneuver first

Positioning (End of Round)

At the end of each Chase Round, every operator makes a Positioning Check — a vehicle control Skill Check. This is not an Action.

Positioning Check DVs:

Combat Speed	DV
60 MOVE	13
40 MOVE	15
20 MOVE	17
15 MOVE	21
10 MOVE	24
8 MOVE	29

• Success: Move forward 1 square on the Chase Grid
• Fail: Stay where you are
• Maintain speed: Choose not to move (no check needed)
• Slow down: Move backward 1 square (no check needed)

Damaged Vehicles

A vehicle below ½ maximum SDP makes the check as if one Combat Speed category lower (e.g., 10 MOVE instead of 15 MOVE). If this would drop below 8 MOVE, the vehicle spins out and crashes (CP:R p. 192).

Operator Restrictions

• Operators do not use Move Action to move the vehicle — that’s the Positioning Check
• If REF + Control Skill + bonuses < 9, the operator cannot take a Standard Action — all energy goes to maintaining control
• If the operator leaves the control seat, someone else should slip into it immediately

Chase Maneuvers

The GM can place obstacles, hazards, or sharp turns in the path during a Chase Round. When this occurs, all operators must use their Standard Action for a Maneuver Check (standard rules, CP:R p. 192). Failure = fall back 1 square or spin out (GM decides by severity).

In addition to the standard maneuvers, operators can perform the following during a chase:

Maneuver	DV	Requirements	Effect
NOS	13	Vehicle has NOS	Activate as Standard Action. Automatically move 1 square forward. Check determines if you maintain control.
PIT Maneuver	15	Adjacent to target	Tap the target vehicle. Target’s next Positioning Check treats speed as one category lower. If that drops below 8 MOVE → spin out and crash.
Pull-Ahead	17	Adjacent to target	On success, move 1 square ahead of target. On failure, spin out or hit obstacle (CP:R p. 192).
Pull-In Close	13	—	Push to the lower edge of current range band until end of Round. Enables leaps between vehicles and melee attacks.
Ramming	17	—	Focused attempt to crash into target while maintaining control. Otherwise follows standard ramming rules (CP:R p. 192).

Passenger Actions

Passengers take any normal combat Action from inside (or on top of) a moving vehicle. They can also provide Complementary Skill Check bonuses (CP:R p. 130):

• Local Expert — Shout directions → bonus to operator’s next Positioning Check
• Perception — Spot obstacles → bonus to operator’s next Maneuver Check
• Tactics — Direct ally fire → bonus to an ally’s Attack Check
• Creative options — Paintball on windshield (impose penalty), throw obstacles (force emergency Maneuver), etc.

Ending the Chase

A chase ends when:

• A vehicle can’t continue (destroyed, stopped, occupants surrender)
• Vehicles move more than 8 squares apart on the Chase Grid — the lead vehicle vanishes into the urban jungle

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❓ Quick Answer Reference

Can the driver shoot?

Yes, in some situations!

• If your REF + Drive Skill > 9 AND you’re not performing a maneuver, basic driving is automatic and your Action is free.
• If you ARE performing a maneuver (sharp turn, jump, etc.), no — the maneuver takes your Action.
• If your REF + Skill ≤ 9, no — you need your Action to maintain control.
• Common homebrew: -2 to attacks while driving, one-handed weapons only.

Can passengers attack?

Yes! Passengers can attack normally using standard Range DVs. The CRB does not specify a penalty, though some tables use a homebrew -2.

What happens if my vehicle hits 0 SDP?

Vehicle is Destroyed. It stops, can’t be driven, and no longer provides cover. Repair requires Tech skill and time.

Can I ram people on foot?

Yes! They can dodge (DV 13). If hit, they take 6d6 damage and Whiplash Critical Injury.

Does armor help against ramming?

Yes. The 6d6 ram damage is reduced by the victim’s body armor SP as normal.

Can I shoot out tires?

Yes! Aimed Shot (-8) to tires. Success may cause the driver to Lose Control (GM discretion).

How do I escape a chase?

Get more than 8 squares ahead on the Chase Grid. Once you’re that far, you vanish into Night City’s urban maze. Alternatively, if the other vehicle can’t continue (destroyed, stopped, surrendered), the chase ends.

When do I jump to top of Initiative?

When you Start a vehicle. You immediately go first.

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🔗 Related Topics

• Combat — All combat rules
• Ranged Combat — Shooting from vehicles
• Weapons and Gear — Ammo types, weapon quality
• Damage and Wounds — Taking damage
• Armor and Cover — Vehicles as cover

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(Source: Cyberpunk RED Core Rulebook pp. 189–192; Tales of the RED: Hope Reborn pp. 180–182)