🚚 Nomads
“You got your ride, you got your family, and you got the open road. What else do you need?”
In the Time of the Red, Nomads have evolved from homeless outcasts to the essential backbone of civilization. They control the roads, the skies, and the seas—if you need something moved, you need a Nomad.
🗺️ Major Families
Land-Based
| Family | Focus | Territory |
|---|---|---|
| Aldecaldos | Transport, Construction | Night City Badlands, American Southwest |
| Jodes | Farming, Agriculture | American Midwest |
| Blood Nation | Entertainment, Performance | Mobile |
| Meta | Military, Security | American Southwest |
Sea-Based (“Ship Rats”)
| Family | Focus | Territory |
|---|---|---|
| Various Ship Rat Clans | Shipping, Smuggling | Pacific, Atlantic |
| Nomad Pirates | Piracy, Salvage | South China Sea, Caribbean |
Air-Based (“Sky Pirates”)
| Family | Focus | Territory |
|---|---|---|
| Aerozep Clans | Cargo hauling | Continental |
| Deltajocks | Fast courier, Orbital access | Upper Atmosphere |
📊 Nomad Overview
What Makes a Nomad?
- Family first — Loyalty to the clan above all else
- Freedom of the road — Rejection of static life
- Self-sufficiency — Fix it, build it, grow it yourself
- Strong bonds — Marriages and alliances between families
Nomad Economics
Nomads are essential to the Time of the Red economy:
| Service | Description |
|---|---|
| Transport | Moving goods across dangerous territory |
| Escort | Protecting cargo and VIPs |
| Construction | Building and rebuilding cities |
| Scavenging | Recovering lost cargo from the war |
| Trading | Buying and selling at Nomad markets |
🔗 Campaign Connections
NPCs
| NPC | Family | Appears In |
|---|---|---|
| Patch Ramos | Aldecaldos | Mission 01 |
Locations
| Location | Description |
|---|---|
| Aldecaldo Camp | Main encampment outside Night City |
| Badlands Trade Posts | Various stopping points along routes |
⚔️ Nomad Enemies
Raffen Shiv
Outcast Nomads who turned to piracy and banditry. Universally hated by legitimate Nomads.
- No family loyalty
- Attack anyone for resources
- Often violent and unstable
Road Gangs
City-based gangs who prey on travelers:
- Boostergangs with vehicles
- Territory-based toll collectors
- Fuel pirates
🎲 GM Resources
Using Nomads in Play
As Allies: Nomads can provide transport, information about the Badlands, and combat support.
As Employers: Common Nomad jobs include escort missions, cargo recovery, and dealing with Raffen Shiv.
As Background: Nomad convoys add movement and life to any road scene.
Random Nomad Encounter
| 2d6 | Encounter |
|---|---|
| 2 | Raffen Shiv ambush |
| 3-4 | Nomad convoy passing through |
| 5-6 | Broken-down vehicle, needs help |
| 7 | Nomad trading post |
| 8-9 | Nomad patrol (curious about strangers) |
| 10-11 | Nomad camp, willing to trade |
| 12 | Family leader with a job offer |
🔗 Related Topics
- Factions MOC — All factions
- Vehicle Combat — Road combat rules
- The Badlands — Nomad territory
- Nomad Role — Playing a Nomad character
(Source: Cyberpunk RED Core Rulebook, pgs. 38, 161-162, 334-336)