Raiders (Fallout 3)

Raiders are a group of hostile gangs in the Capital Wasteland in 2277.

Background
The raiders of the Capital Wasteland are mostly hostile, lawless, chem-addled ruffians who roam the wastes of the Washington, D.C. area. They have little in common with the raider clans of the West Coast, except for the Fiends of the Mojave Wasteland. They are one of the most common enemies in the game, and are often encountered in small groups and are armed with a fairly wide range of weaponry. They often carry low caliber pistols, hunting rifles, sawed-off shotguns as well as melee weapons and grenades. At higher levels, they begin to carry SMGs, assault rifles, combat shotguns, and even some big guns like the missile launcher and flamer. Very rarely, one may even be found carrying a Gatling laser likely taken off a dead Outcast. They can occasionally be found hunting with guard dogs as well. All raiders wear some form of raider armor.

Territory
Raider territory tends to be marked with spray-painted symbols and mutilated bodies hung up with meat hooks on chains. These symbols include a green-blue circle with the number 21 in the middle, a "FUCK YOU" written in blood, and a colorful mushroom cloud.

Relationships
Raiders have no alliances with other factions and will attack everyone but other raiders or slavers. They appear to be quite cruel, as places they inhabit are usually filled with the mutilated bodies of other raiders and wastelanders, implying that they torture captured enemies and occasionally their own. The raider sadist armor is equipped with several dismembered hands that the raider has kept as trophies. Raiders appear to show no mercy even toward each other; some mention killing one of their own just to make him shut up. Raiders also show very little respect for new recruits, as shown by conversations with one another. Raiders also appear to be cowardly, like Talon Company mercenaries, they will flee if the tide of battle is turning against them.

Appearances
Raiders appear in Fallout 3.

Behind the scenes
Raiders may have been intended to become friendly towards players based on their Karma at some point during development. Raiders are set as Allied with another, mostly unused faction,. The description for this faction is "Used for Very Evil players".