Just how evil are your Corps?, Power corrupts, absolute power corrupts absolutely Options Track this topic Email this topic Print this topic Download this topic Subscribe to this forum Display Modes Outline Switch to: Standard Switch to: Linear+

[kanislatrans]

I got a chance,between changing diapers and not sleeping,to sit down with a couple of players from my younger group and one of the things they had problems grasping was how a mega could be so damn powerful and as corrupt as SR corps seem to be. They are young enough(bless their innocent little hearts) and although they have a suspicion of the powers that be, were debating the idea that corporations could be powerful and also be a force for good in the world.

We talked about that for an hour or so and although I think some of my paranoia and cynicism may have sunk in, they still believe the corp line about "for the good of all"

However, I just came across this article and have emailed it to them with the question "If modern companies that are supposed to be helping people are capable of this type behavior, How do you expect a company hundreds of time large to behave any better"
marketing the disease and selling the cure


And so, fellow DS'ers, I will put the same question to you...

[Kruger]

I dunno how "evil" we've ever presented the corps as. They just... are. When you have a monstrosity with that much money and power, and decentralized control, you're going have abuses, sure. But the corps, with maybe the exception of Aztechnology, have never really felt evil. The Japanacorps got a bit of the negative light in the older editions since they were written when the Japanese still were an economic powerhouse, but that was probably subjective bias of the time.

I think if you make the corps inherently, or actively evil, it works for a "Fight the man!' style game. However, I don't think it's a very realistic way to portray them. The corps have it good in the world of Shadowrun. They have no interest in upsetting the balance. Their profits lie in maintaining the status quo, but they didn't entirely create that status.

And really, in the end, if the corps are evil, and the players are working for the corps furthering their interests, then the runners are evil too. I think everyone involved is just human. Looking out for their own best interests most of the time. And with a corporation, you amplify that into a sense of collective interest.