Tyger Claws

Once under the thumb of Arasaka, the Tyger Claws have broken away and become a dangerous protector gang for the Asian community of Night City. They have had a significant role in rebuilding the sections of Japan Town after the 4th Corporate War. Tyger foot soldiers are easily recognized by their Asian luminous tattoos, fast street bikes, enhanced reflexes and killer martial arts. Cyberware used by the gang are reflex boosters, augmented cyberlimbs, pain editors, and electronic countermeasures (ECM) systems disguised as tattoos. As a gang the Tyger Claws are well-organized, efficient and savvy – but also unpredictable. Their business decisions are purely rational, but when it comes to their enemies or a disloyal gang member, their methods can be shocking.

Equipment

The Tyger Claws prefer melee weapons, especially ceramic tantos and katanas (though the biggest and baddest of their number use the classic carbon steel variety). They also pack pistols and submachine guns, the latter usually cheap, plastic, multi-colored and unreliable. Their motorcycles, on the other hand, are sleek, modern and made of highly advanced fibers and fabrics. Tyger Claws often install special implants that let them ride at insane speeds in tight quarters. They replace their skin with non-flammable abrasion-proof Realskinn, which they then cover with luminous tattoos of Japanese demons fortified with microchips to confuse targeting systems. The combined package lets them strike hard and fast, blowing past defenses and decapitating their target before anyone even realizes what's going on.

Gang colors

The tiger claws are visually defined by a lot of red and pink, their unmistakable glowing gang tattoos and the Asian culture ingrained in their style.

History

2020
Formed in 2020, the 'Tyger's Claw' was a small defensive combat gang who claimed turf in the original Japantown, and the residential community surrounding it. Generally the gang was not drawn to cyberware, preferring to rely on martial arts, traditional Japanese weapons, and enhanced reflexes. It was rumored that they were backed financially by Arasaka. 2045
After the Fourth Corporate War, Tyger's Claw changed their name to the Tyger Claws. By 2045, they had broken away from Arasaka, and their goal was to protect the Asian community of Night City. The gang had a significant role in rebuilding the Old Japantown district, continued to have killer martial arts and enhanced reflexes, and had become known for their fast bikes. They were slowly moving into the Watson Development area.

Culture

The business strategy of the Tyger Claws is similar to the Yakuza. Crossing the lowest level member can cause a quick and violent reaction from the entire gang, but if they get what they want everything should be fine. The top brass of the Claws believe business is preferable to war in the long run, but many of the rank-and-file gangers are sadistic brutes prone to violence. Abduction, torture, sexual assault, and cruel or unusual killings are just a few examples of their depravity. It is not uncommon for young, brash, or drunk Tygers to undermine the gang's ideologies by abusing their status on their turf, harassing outsiders, and provoking fights. This behavior would be considered dishonorable by their crime bosses, but an outsider reacting to ganger's behavior in kind will rarely go unpunished. Most people outside of the gang's ranks who are provoked wisely avoid direct confrontation with Tygers - unless they have connections with high-ranking members of the gang.