5 Wasteland Hacks for Naming Your Post-Apocalyptic Gang

Congratulations, you survived the end of the world. That means you’re very capable, pretty clever, or extremely lucky. Regardless of how you survived, not dying is just the beginning, and life after the apocalypse is not going to be easy. Be prepared for the end of the world as we know it and the post-apocalypse with Wasteland Hacks. 

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The Apocalypse Name Game

Not everyone sets out to form a gang. Sometimes it just happens. You meet some folks, you share a few campfires, you band together as a means to survive the end of the world, you raid a few encampments and sack a few settlements and the next thing you know, you’re a wasteland gang. You might as well make it official with a name.

Here are a few pointers for christening your bad-ass band of brigands.

Make it Intimidating

This may seem obvious, but a lot of gangs start as a group of friends and friends tend to embrace inside jokes. A gang named the Merry Mutants or The Boom Boom Baddies may elicit chuckles back in the gang’s clubhouse, but they will hardly instill fear in your victims out in the wasteland. Remember, despite your willingness to embrace violence to separate people from their possessions, the more you can rely on intimidation, the less risk you take. Go for names that make people cringe in fear and not cringe in, well, cringe.

Be Careful with Animal Names

Naming your gang after an animal can be pretty awesome. But you have to remember that if you name your gang after an animal that your gang will occupy a parallel place as that animal in the food chain of wasteland gangs. While the Rad Rats is a solid name for a group of raiders, they will be inferior to the Atomic Tomcats who will, in turn, be bullied by the Badland Bulldogs. If you insist on choosing an animal-based name, it’s best to go with something like the FAFO Honey Badgers and declare dominance right away.

Don’t Name You Gang After the Gang Leader

Blade’s Bandits sounds like a pretty great name for a gang, but when Blade ends up getting shivved in the alley behind some post-apocalyptic brothel, you’re going to have to repaint every sign, restitch every patch, and rethink the ink on every tattoo to update the team’s logo when Razor gets promoted. And, let’s be honest, Razor isn’t going to last long in the position because, despite the name, he’s not that sharp. Then you’re back to square one with the tattoo gun. Honoring a leader is admirable, but it’s not a crime to be a little pragmatic.

Stay Away from Colors

You want to avoid putting a color in your name. The Black Death or the Crimson Plague may sound awesome, but you don’t want to lock yourself into a motif. Black gets hot in the summer and a crimson outfit is a poor choice for stealth work. If you do choose to have a color in your name, be sure to incorporate a dress code escape clause into the gang’s bylaws.

Find Inspiration In your Surroundings

If you’re struggling to find a name that works for you and your bloodthirsty friends, take inspiration from what’s around you. The Hole in the Wall gang was named for a hole in the wall, and that ended up really working out for Butch and Sundance. Does your gang operate around a monument or place of historical significance? You could be The Dealey Plaza Devils or the Liberty Bellboys. It doesn’t even have to be a famous landmark; it could be a nearby building and you could call yourselves the Highrise Hellraisers. Be selective. Don’t just pick a random item. No one is afraid of the Dumpster Behind McDonald’s That Smells Like Filet O Fish Gang.

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When naming your wasteland gang, it’s important to have fun. But your name will have lasting consequences so don’t rush into it. Take your time and settle on a practical name that’s not going to get you laughed at, picked on or murdered a bunch.

Have a great apocalypse.

Ben