 Corp Script is among us, Holiday Musing |
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 Dec 26 2007, 09:41 PM
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#1
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Moving Target  Group: Members Posts: 941 Joined: 25-January 07 Member No.: 10,765  |
One often ignored aspect of Shadowrun is the existance of Corp Script, that is money issued by the Megacorporation usable only in corp stores. Most of us are at least peripherally aware of it, but most of us rarely think on it or use it.
Of course, one aspect of having corp script has to be some measure of exchange. While certainly, Aztechnology doesn't want MCT corp script in the pockets of it's employees, doesn't want them buying MCT products, there is actually a number of good reasons to allow a former MCT employee (or the family members of an MCT employee shopping in the Arcology or what have you) to turn in their MCT script, or nuyen for that matter, for Aztech Script. And then there is nothing stopping a corp that manages to aquire a stockpile of a rival's corp script to use it in economic perfidy. The important part is the ability to buy Azzie (or whomever...) script for nuyen. Now let me turn your attention to the very real phenomenon of Gift Cards. You are paying real money for money only useable to buy products from a specific business. And good luck trying to get change in real money if you don't overspend on the gift card. Enjoy the Holidays.... |
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Dec 26 2007, 09:47 PM
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#2
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Great Dragon Group: Members Posts: 6,748 Joined: 5-July 02 Member No.: 2,935 |
You do know that actual corporate scrip has long existed in real life in various forms, ja? Wooden nickels and all that.
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Dec 26 2007, 09:53 PM
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#3
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Moving Target Group: Members Posts: 861 Joined: 27-November 07 Member No.: 14,397 |
I think corprate script is old, really old, like I'm sure the romans had it.
Anyway, there is actually no reason for a company to trade out another companies script for their own, here is why: You go and give a corp 10 :nuyen: for 10 :nuyen: worth of script. If for some reason you never use that script, the corp has just made 10 :nuyen: as pure profit. Thus, if I was Aztech and my emploies had Novatech scripit I would -encourage- them to go spend it, because unspent script is pure profit for Novatech. This is why companies love selling script/gift cards so much. There is a good chance that the money will never be spent, and even if it is, the person will either have to add more of their own money, or be unable to use the entier gift card. Thus gift cards are like freaking gold mines for companies. Thus corps would want to spend other corp's script, because it just means profit for that other corp otherwise. |
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Dec 26 2007, 10:07 PM
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#4
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Moving Target Group: Members Posts: 941 Joined: 25-January 07 Member No.: 10,765 |
AH: I made no claims to the newness of corp script, only that Gift Cards, something that we see a lot of around the holidays (now) are a form of it. :D
Karadan: You suffer a lack of imagination and your pants are stinky. Actually, I would suggest to you that while, yes, unspent corp script is essentially banked money (insamuch as Gift Cards are a great profit generator... only 75% of them are cashed in they tell me....), Corp Script, as it exists in 2070 is a slightly different animal, and there is no reason to suspect that the corps are backing their script with 'real assets'... the gold standard of yore if you like. Thus, holding onto an amount of a rival's corp script could be used, possibly, for judicial market tampering. Never mind its value in 'black ops', handing an infiltrator genuine corp script to use on their mission, using it as a template, and then mixing it in with, for vast amounts of counterfit bills. Then there is the potentially long, involved, discussion for exactly what corp script DOES for the profit line of a corp (as compared to a means, dubious at best, of keeping employees chained to 'The Man'.) |
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Dec 26 2007, 10:19 PM
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#5
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Moving Target Group: Members Posts: 861 Joined: 27-November 07 Member No.: 14,397 |
I don't see how that is any different then gift cards of today, they arn't really backed up by anything except the value of the company itself. And if you think that Novatech is actually going to be able to hand out more script then its massive value... well I just find it unlikely. I also doubt corp script is actual script, as in paper of some kind. I'm sure it is the same as :nuyen: something that really only exists in electronic format. I would assume that in 2071 it would be utterly impossable to make something that is unconterfitable, especially something as simple as paper currency. |
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Dec 26 2007, 10:25 PM
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#6
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Midnight Toker Group: Members Posts: 7,686 Joined: 4-July 04 From: Zombie Drop Bear Santa's Workshop Member No.: 6,456 |
In Rome, you could purchase a coins with depictions of various sex acts printed on them which could be exchanged for those depicted acts at most brothels. The video arcades had their tokens. Before money was standardized most banks printed their own, which was usually only redeemable at that bank. |
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Dec 26 2007, 11:01 PM
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Moving Target Group: Members Posts: 941 Joined: 25-January 07 Member No.: 10,765 |
Oh, I doubt you'd ever bring a mega to its knees just by fucking with their corp script, don't get me wrong. But that's not the point of 'black ops economic monkeyworks' anyway. And if you think electronic only money (legitmate or corp) is going to be the end of counterfiting I have some nice land in Florida to sell you. Comes complete with a bridge in New York. |
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Dec 26 2007, 11:02 PM
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#8
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Bushido Cowgirl Group: Members Posts: 5,782 Joined: 8-July 05 From: On the Double K Ranch a half day's ride out of Phlogiston Flats Member No.: 7,490 |
...transit tokens/ticket books/passes also come to mind.
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Dec 26 2007, 11:15 PM
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#9
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panda! Group: Members Posts: 10,331 Joined: 8-March 02 From: north of central europe Member No.: 2,242 |
hell, anything thats made of a material that have no real value on its own can be seen as a kind of corp scrip.
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Dec 26 2007, 11:59 PM
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#10
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Moving Target Group: Members Posts: 941 Joined: 25-January 07 Member No.: 10,765 |
That is a true enough statement, but as generally you are not purchacing 'money' when you by a token or a transit slip, but an actual 'service' it makes it a little less extreme. With a gift card you a litterally buying money with with to purchace goods, transferable and storeable just as money is, only limited to that vendor. Combine this with the tendency of certain employers to use 'employee discounts' as job incentives and it gets a little more Shadowrunny. :D |
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Dec 27 2007, 12:45 AM
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#11
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Running Target Group: Members Posts: 1,379 Joined: 16-April 02 From: the LI shadows Member No.: 2,607 |
There's also the Metrocard here in New York (which, once again, the MTA is screwing with).
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Dec 27 2007, 12:58 AM
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#12
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Shadow Cartographer Group: Members Posts: 3,737 Joined: 2-June 06 From: Secret Tunnels under the UK (South West) Member No.: 8,636 |
All those supermarket loyalty cards count under some of the definitions in this thread. They're annoying. Some years ago I went through a phase of seeing what names I could get away with registering those cards under. I remember I managed to get a Hugh Jorgan and my mate managed to get a Tesco's card with Penelope Pittstop on it. I think the rest we never heard back from, though. The interesting question about corp scrip in Shadowrun, would be is it inflationary or not? If it were tied to shares in the company in some manner, you would have a "gold standard" of a kind. Hmmmm. Internal economics of a corporation. Material for thought, there. |
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Dec 27 2007, 01:06 AM
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#13
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Running Target Group: Members Posts: 1,326 Joined: 15-April 02 Member No.: 2,600 |
I think the book that probably went into the most detail on Corp Script was the old SR2 book who's name I can't recall. Maybe Corporate Download? A friend of mine had it and it seemed like it went into a lot of detail on the various aspects of finances useful to runners. I seem to recall Corp Scrip fluctuated with the vicissitudes of the market, but I don't know how much of that was the book and how much we came up with. (This was like 10 years ago, people.)
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Dec 27 2007, 01:29 AM
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#14
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Bushido Cowgirl Group: Members Posts: 5,782 Joined: 8-July 05 From: On the Double K Ranch a half day's ride out of Phlogiston Flats Member No.: 7,490 |
...somewhere's in Beograd Serbia there's an R. Kovec getting Safeway junk mail. :grinbig: |
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Dec 27 2007, 01:52 AM
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#15
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Shadow Cartographer Group: Members Posts: 3,737 Joined: 2-June 06 From: Secret Tunnels under the UK (South West) Member No.: 8,636 |
Corporate Shadowfiles. Possibly the finest game supplement I ever read. Masses of brilliantly clear information on corporate shenanigans with relevant, yet amusing Shadowtalk. Chromed Accountant - you are sorely missed. (I theoretically have a copy, but I haven't seen it in years).
I'm being naive, aren't I? R. Kovec? arekovech? :( |
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Dec 27 2007, 02:08 AM
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#16
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Bushido Cowgirl Group: Members Posts: 5,782 Joined: 8-July 05 From: On the Double K Ranch a half day's ride out of Phlogiston Flats Member No.: 7,490 |
...actually an NPC baddie from my RiS campaign.
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Dec 27 2007, 02:16 AM
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#17
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Target Group: Members Posts: 85 Joined: 16-June 07 Member No.: 11,924 |
I'm not sure corp scrip is roughly equivalent to a gift card. If I go and buy a $10 gift card, the value of that card is still tied to the value of the dollar. If 9000% inflation hits the dollar before I spend it, SOL. On the other hand, corp script is a separate currency, so if I trade in 10 nuyen for 10 nuyen worth of azzie script, if the nuyen goes to hell, that script's value is retained.
This of course presumes that the corps set different prices in nuyen and scrip. If I'm wrong about that, then this means nothing. |
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Dec 27 2007, 02:29 AM
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#18
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Runner Group: Members Posts: 3,382 Joined: 22-February 06 From: Shadowland Member No.: 8,297 |
There will always be a blackmarket for different kinds of corp script with fluctuating exchange rates included. Why? Because some runners get paid in script and then can't or won't try to purchase anything with it. After all, most smart criminals (and even some dumb ones) know to launder money before using it.
Our play session for That Other Game™ feel through due to sick kids so I have some time to try to put some exchange numbers together this evening. |
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Dec 27 2007, 02:29 AM
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#19
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Moving Target Group: Members Posts: 861 Joined: 27-November 07 Member No.: 14,397 |
Well, not alot of detail is provided (maybe in corprate enclaves? I haven't read it), but I would assume script is tied directly to the value of :nuyen: If I get 10 :nuyen: worth of script when burgers are a nuyen each, then all the sudden burgers are 10 :nuyen: I'm sure it will still take 10 script. After all, you only gave them 10 :nuyen: why should you suddenly be able to get 100 :nuyen: worth of burgers with that?
Plain and simple it makes sense from a 'cover our asses' standpoint, and it is just plain simpler to say X costs 50 :nuyen: will that be cash or script? After all, if something costs 100 :nuyen: or 50 script, what happens if you only have 30 script? You can't use your script in that case, since script is supposed to be worth 1 :nuyen: but in this case it isn't, confusing huh? Much easier to just let 1 script be 1 :nuyen: and be done with it. Oh, and I know electronic stuff is counterfitable, but it is more difficult then paper money, especially since I'm sure that the company keeps track of every script issued to spesificly prevent that sort of thing, just like modern companies keep track of their gift cards. |
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Dec 27 2007, 02:46 AM
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#20
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Shadow Cartographer Group: Members Posts: 3,737 Joined: 2-June 06 From: Secret Tunnels under the UK (South West) Member No.: 8,636 |
Big wrong assumption. Corporate Script is an actual, separate currency. It's value is determined by the issuing corp and although the value of their script could be pegged to the nueyn, it isn't necessarily so and probably isn't as it would hinder a AAA's ability to manipulate its own economy (though it might provide stability). In your example, if you swap your nuyen for Renraku scrip and then the value of the nuyen dives, you're going to be able to buy a lot of burgers with your money (simplified - I know). I have Corporate Enclaves. Quite like it, though I haven't finished it yet. There's nothing that I've come across yet regarding corporate economics in this level of detail and don't think there's going to be. Scrip has quite a long history in Shadowrun cannon, however. I see it's biggest advantages to the megas as being a means to keep wealth in the closed loop of the corporation and making it more costly to leave your parent corporation behind; perhaps also it affords some shelter from global recessions. But extraterritoriality pretty much mandates a separate currency does it not? Using the actual currency of the host nations would create more problems than I can currently think of. EDIT: Should have mentioned that neither the UCAS nor the CAS have the nuyen as their actual legal currency. They both have their own. It's just that the nuyen is accepted everywhere and quite honestly, perceived as more stable. I think that simple fact says more about the state of the nation than any number of times people say the setting is "dystopian." |
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Dec 27 2007, 03:11 AM
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#21
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Runner Group: Members Posts: 2,883 Joined: 16-December 06 Member No.: 10,386 |
Yeah, the main book makes it pretty clear on page 38 that a black market scrip trading scene exists and that there's speculators out there willing to take advantage of it, leading to a sort of underworld stock exchange. Personally though, I wouldn't get within a country mile of such a thing; just imagine the opportunities for insider trading and skullduggery in general.
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Dec 27 2007, 04:10 AM
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#22
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Moving Target Group: Members Posts: 861 Joined: 27-November 07 Member No.: 14,397 |
Did we start talking about politics? That aside, I suppose your right about the script. Though that still doesn't change the fact that Aztech would -want- people to spend Renraku script, because otherwise it is just banked money. One thing all that seems to indicate is that it is quite likely to actually go and buy script of any kind for :nuyen: unless you go through black market means. Certainly brings a whole new light to getting script as shadowrun payment. Oh, and even if a person quits at Renraku, what is to stop them still buying stuff from them? I may work for Aztech, but nothing says I can't spend my saved up Renraku script on Renraku food or whatever. |
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Dec 27 2007, 04:35 AM
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#23
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Running Target Group: Members Posts: 1,326 Joined: 15-April 02 Member No.: 2,600 |
That's it, Corporate Shadowfiles. You know, stats come and stats go, but great fluff will always be useful. I remember someone in my SR2 group had it, I'll ask around to see if anybody still does. It seems to me that it was after that book came out that getting paid in Corp Scrip became the industry standard in our group for awhile. I vaguely remember the book had introduced (or hinted at) ways certified cred could be tracked, faked and tagged and even if it wasn't common or easy, we were still paranoid enough to get paid in cash. There is something about stacks of paper or mylar money that just speaks to people, wads of cash. That was one thing I've always really liked about SR supplements being written like in-game documents. Very snazzy way to handle it. You get across the fluff, the mechanics, drop hints, leave people some ambiguity so the GM isn't roped into a corner. Good stuff. |
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Dec 27 2007, 05:58 AM
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#24
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Runner Group: Members Posts: 2,883 Joined: 16-December 06 Member No.: 10,386 |
That depends on your definition of "politics". I'm just saying that such a black market would have to police itself, which is a pretty dangerous thing, and not necessarily just for your pocket book. For example, let's say that the corps regularly declare old scrip worthless and phases in new stuff or otherwise limits who can actually use the scrip they pay out. This isn't necessarily that impractical of an idea; it discourages counterfeiting and wouldn't be very hard to manage because they can always set up a program where only registered employees (the only ones who are supposed to have the scrip in the first place) have a limited window to exchange their old scrip for the new stuff with no fuss while Joe SINless out in the streets is left with a wad of scrip that's now a pain in the ass if not impossible to exchange for goods or services, crippling its value. This greatly benefits the corps, since as people have pointed out, unspent scrip is raw profit and they want to keep anything they pay out locked into their system. If YOU know that one of these phase outs is looming on the horizon but some other buyers haven't caught wind of it yet, there's nobody out there to stop you from dumping all your soon-to-be-bad money off on someone else (and subsequently getting murdered for ripping off the wrong guy). Of course, this scenario begs the question: Why in the hell would the underworld be interested in using corp scrip if it's unstable? And the answer of course, is that many are willing to take the risk that they'll be the guys to come out a bit ahead rather than get ripped off and the simple fact that many people won't have much choice in what specie they use to begin with. Look at the Seattle Yakuza; Runner Havens says they pay well, but they also only pay in MCT scrip and have cornered the black market on the stuff because they happen to be joined to MCT at the hip and are always in a position to redeem it for goods and services. No matter what happens the big boys always win and I could easily imagine shit like this is why the SINless masses don't have a chance in hell of improving their lot; they simply can't afford to turn down scrip and demand a lesser amount of nuyen instead, even if the nuyen IS more stable. It's part of how I justify how "little" (which, sadly, is still more than the suggested paydays I've seen in the RAW...) I pay out in the runs I've GMed; the fact that you're consistently getting paid in large amounts of good ol' dependable nuyen at all is actually a pretty damn big step up from the life of a SINless squatter in my world. At least you know what it'll be worth in the morning. |
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Dec 27 2007, 04:13 PM
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#25
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Moving Target Group: Members Posts: 617 Joined: 28-May 03 From: Orlando Member No.: 4,644 |
Sounds like that episode of M*A*S*H where Charles is collecting all the Govt scrip from the local Koreans and paying them a 10th of the face value and then turning it in for the new Govt Issue. |
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