by J. G. Martin
6. Mind your own business
7. Always Pay Attention
8. Water is Life
9. Take everything you can carry, you never know what you might need
10. Always watch your back
11. If you can’t fight, run; if you can’t run, hide; if you can’t hide, fight
12. The safest looking place is always a trap
13. The weak serve the strong
14. Never sleep in the open
15. Always be prepared
16. Don’t rely on technology
17. Bullets don’t discriminate
18. You can never have enough ammo
19. Don’t draw any attention to yourself
20. Always carry a blade, it never runs out of ammo
21. Never give up your weapon
22. Don’t waste time talking, just kill your opponent
23. Don’t look for trouble
24. Don’t share anything you don’t need to
25. Never leave anything behind for your enemies to use
26. Know your enemy
Wasteland Rules Glossary
The Aftermath – The chain of events following the Collapse that led to the virtual destruction of the planet as we know it. It started with an exchange of nuclear, biological, and chemical weapons; and ended with violent storms and climate change.
Aztlan – Country formed out of Northern Mexico by returning immigrants from the U.S. They control small parts of southern California and Arizona. In constant conflict with the N.R.T. over their borders. Sometimes referred to as the Reconquistadors.
BDU – Battle Dress Uniform – Standard military non dress uniform.
Bikers – Gangs of traditional one-percenters (outlaw bikers) that ride the highways looking for victims.
Burners – Small gangs of young men on performance bikes. They are multicultural in make-up.
C.C.A. – Confederated Cities of America – Sometimes referred to as the Second Confederacy. It is a loosely affiliated group of southern cities. They share economic and military ties. It was formed after the U.S.T.G. conquest of Cincinnati. They are loosely allied with the New Republic of Texas.
The Cartel – The world’s largest drug cartel. They control much of the Carribbean, Miami, and part of Mexico. They have a Spanish feudal system of rulership.
The Collapse – The collapse of society and civilization brought on by a crop virus that wiped out most of the world’s food supplies. Wars and rioting resulting from the famine caused the collapse of all the world’s governments. It was followed the Aftermath.
The Collective – They are an insular group of technologists that control part of the West Coast. They make heavy use of cloning and cybernetics. They are very advanced technologically and not altogether human. They are connected into a semi-hive mind by the LINC. It is controlled by former software billionaire Stefan Doors.
Cult of the Machine - Also known as Machineheads, they are wannabe Humeks who have made mechanical alterations and additions to themselves.
Drinkers – Large mutants that appeared in the Aftermath. They get their name from the fact that they drink human blood for sustenance and their mouths are often stained red.
Drone – A human being implanted with a computer chip in their brain that makes them little more than a robot. Often they are clones. They were created by the Collective. Used for labor and as soldiers.
Express Station – A fortified gas station and convenience store. One chain is run by Texas.
Faceless – Clones created without a face, capable of having any face surgically attached to them. They have one noticeable flaw, a small mole on the back of their neck. They dissolve into goo if killed.
FedPol – Federal Police – The national police force of the U.S.T.G. They are the only law enforcement in the U.S.T.G. and are a combination of the FBI and local law enforcement.
Freehold – A free town located in the wasteland.
G-21 – The alliance of 21 gangs that controls the remnants of Los Angeles, California.
Hauler’s Guild – Formed from the remnants of the Teamsters Union, almost all long haul truckers belong. They provide protection for their armored trucks and are a powerful political force. The threat of cutting off shipping to any faction usually wins concessions for the Guild. Based in Indianapolis under the “protection” of the U.S.T.G., they are still generally politically neutral.
HRT – Hostage Rescue Team, similar to SWAT.
Humek – A human being who underwent radical surgery to have cybernetics implanted in them. They are the most loyal followers of the Collective. They do have some free will.
ICV/IFV – Infantry Combat Vehicle/Infantry Fighting Vehicle – Once known as armored personnel carriers, they provide fire support in addition to transporting troops.
Illuminati – Secret societies rumored to be controlling the world and the course of history from behind the scenes.
Imperator – Ruler of Los Angeles and head of G-21. Former LAPD.
LAW – Light Antitank Weapon – Usually a disposable tube launched rocket capable of destroying light armored vehicles.
LINC – Layered Integrated Neural Connection – A wireless network that connects the members of the Collective into a semi-hive mind. Users with total access can see anything any connected member sees or access any connected members sensory memories.
Merks – A generic term for mercenaries. They are general considered unreliable but willing to do anything for money. They have no overall organization.
The Party – Shorthand for the Neo-Conservative Party. The only legal political party in the U.S.T.G. They run everything and you must be a Party member to have any power or wealth.
Patrician – The elite and wealthy leaders of the C.C.A. They are the male heads of wealthy and powerful families that control most of the businesses in the C.C.A. They live privileged lives.
Praetorians – The elite troops of G-21 that serve as the Imperator’s personal bodyguard and enforcers. All former law enforcement or ex-military. Well-armed and well trained.
NBC – Abrreviation for Nuclear, Biological, and Chemical.
New Republic of Texas – N.R.T. – Often just referred to as Texas or the New Republic. New Republic dollar or NRD is their currency.
Night Children – Also called Children of the Night – They are families of cannibals that existed underground before the Collapse. They now operate more openly, trapping and eating travelers in their booby-trapped lairs.
The Order – A well organized group of Neo-Nazis that have taken control of large parts of Louisiana and Mississippi.
The Outfit – A large and well organized group of merks. They have their origins in the private military companies that were prevalent before the Collapse. They are well equipped and only take on large well-paying jobs. Their biggest customer is rumored to be the U.S.T.G.
Raiders – They are gangs of criminals that attack travelers and settlements. They are organized into a clan structure and mark themselves with tattoos on their foreheads.
Reapers – The remains of a European Union invasion force. Infamous for their cannibalism, they ravaged the remains of the East Coast.
Red Berets – Elite Special Forces of the U.S.T.G. Also known as the Bloody Berets. Only two hundred or so out of thousands successfully pass the training.
Regulators – A slang term for the Brotherhood of Justice – It was formed by former law enforcement officers to protect their communities. Later multiple smaller groups merged into the larger organization that is spread across the wasteland. It is headquartered in Texas and receives some financial assistance from them. They pay bounties for criminals and often perform basic law enforcement duties in unaligned towns.
Roadhouse – A fortified compound housing at least a hotel and restaurant. They are usually built up around hotels at key road junctions like interstate exchanges. They are well fortified and well-guarded.
The Society – The Illuminati group that runs NASA. Rora�
�s father was a member. They consider themselves the Anti-Illuminati and work for the benefit of mankind, not to control it.
Technical – A pickup or SUV armored and armed with a heavy weapon like a machine gun.
UAV – Unmanned Aerial Vehicle – unmanned aircraft usually piloted remotely. Smaller than a normal plane. Used primarily by the Collective. Collective UAVs have an onboard computer that controls them in addition to the main network.
UCV – Unmanned Combat Vehicle – unmanned tanks or IFVs usually piloted remotely. Same size and model as normal. Used primarily by the Collective. Collective UCVs have an onboard computer that controls them in addition to the main network.
U.S.T.G. – United States Territorial Government – The remnants of the old United States of America It is a single party state run by the former Vice President Rickard Channing and the Neo-Conservative Party. It is a very structured and controlled economy and culture. Very expansionist, they lay claim to the entire continent of North America. It is a repressive police state. The U.S.T.G. dollar is their form of currency.
Wrecker’s Guild – This is a loose organization of tow truck drivers and wreckers. They retrieve broken down vehicles and scavenge damaged or abandoned ones. They drive armored tow trucks and are generally unmolested.
Zeta Force – The best of the best Red Berets. A platoon sized elite force given the toughest and most sensitive missions.