Meet Red Dead Redemption 2's Van Der Linde Gang

An outlaw is only as strong as the gang that rides with them and, in Red Dead Redemption 2, your posse is going to be full of some colorful characters. Rockstar Games has released brief bios on many of the members of the Van der Linde Gang, giving players an idea of the sort of cowpokes they'll be consorting with once the game finally launches on Oct. 26.

While players got acquainted with several members of the Van der Linde gang in the original Red Dead Redemption, that rough and tumble group of scoundrels and outcasts will grow considerably in Red Dead Redemption 2. That's because the game is set a full 12 years earlier, back when Dutch and his crew were riding strong rather than being broken and scattered to the four winds.

To help with the introductions, Rockstar has taken to its blog and social media to roll out brief profiles for 23 members of the gang. Keep in mind that many of these folks aren't your typical desperados. You're basically a traveling community in Red Dead Redemption 2, including everything from cooks and animal handlers to craftsmen and even children.

Having so many folks relying on your actions and hanging out in camp is sure to make RDR2 a less lonely experience. You played as John Marston in the original game and, for the most part, he roamed the wilds and took care of business solo. This time around you'll be playing as Dutch Van der Linde's second in command, Arthur Morgan. Marston is still present and accounted for, but he's younger and less experienced when it comes to being a gunslinging badass.

As Morgan, you're going to have quite a bit of freedom when it comes to shaping the ideals of the gang. As Rockstar has revealed in a recent gameplay walkthrough, players will have more dialogue options in RDR2 and choices when it comes to how they want to handle various situations out in the game world. How you behave will determine whether you and your camp are seen as cutthroat outlaws or something more akin to Robin Hood and his Merry Men.

With Red Dead 2 set to launch in about a month and a half, Rockstar is still being pretty tight-lipped with the details. We know that the shooting has been refined and that other systems have been overhauled, but information about the campaign (and online options) have been scarce. We know that the game kicks off in 1899, just as the days of the Wild West are starting to come to a close. A bank job goes wrong in Blackwater, putting the gang on the run from the law. Players will travel to several key locations on their journey, setting up camp and growing in numbers and usefulness along the way.

It looks like there will be quite a few folks to get acquainted with along the way, so be sure to visit the full rundown and say "howdy."