CJ can recruit a maximum of 7 members at any given time. Recruiting homies is done through a special command performed based on controls, such as Up on the D-pad whilst targeting a member (PS3), holding the RMB and pressing G (PC), or aiming at a gang member and tapping the 'recruit' button (iOS). The feature returns during the mission Home Coming, in the Final Missions strand. After the mission The Green Sabre, CJ no longer has the ability to win new territory, or defend his own. Gang wars and territory are introduced during Sweet's mission Doberman. Other gangs may try and take your territory, and it's up to you to defend it. That area is now highlighted green on the map.

Survive the 3 waves, and the area is yours. Sometimes cars will even turn up with gang members shooting out of the windows doing a drive-by.

If possible, shoot from long distances or from rooftops. They may attack unexpectantly or in large numbers, so make sure you have a plentiful supply of health and armor before starting the war. Keep a close eye on the radar, and watch where the attackers are coming from. The opposition attack in 3 waves to defend their land. Killing 3 members ON FOOT will provoke a gang war, and the area under attack will flash red on the radar. Enter the area you wish to control, and kill every opposition member in sight. Winning territory involves gang war, and this must be done carefully. This is bad, because not all sets get along, and good, because there's always plenty of backup available. In Los Santos, 2 of the 4 gangs are split up into different 'sets'. Each gang has its own territory, indicated by street warnings, wall graffiti, or simply violence. These are useful for two reasons - it allows police to identify a gang set or victim, and it allows gang members to interact with one another. Gang members are recognised by their clothing, tattoos, and hand signs. San Andreas gives you the ability to 'take over' areas of the map, and recruit new members into your gang to help and defend you. In some areas of the map, you are welcome, and in others, you are not.

Generally, gangs cause a bit more trouble than they did in previous titles-toppling cars, crowding streets and using various new methods of attack.

As well as having the large, dominating gangs, we see smaller, more local gangs. Firstly, the number of gangs has increased. Gangs play a much larger role than they did in Vice City. Rockstar North conducted massive amounts of research before developing the gangs of San Andreas, research that involved talking to DJ Pooh, Mister Cartoon, Estevan Oriol, and hundreds of other well-known faces.

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