One of the main takeaways that I got from the discussion is that a number of players want automated / coded systems that align with or offer similar earning opportunities as what are available in the Mix. From that the sense I get is that there is a belief that there should be rough equality between Mixers and Corporate characters.
Am I just misreading that sentiment?
I do not want to derail the good interactions taking place on the Ideas thread by offering some alternative, and what might controversial observations about what I've seen in Sindome, and also about the larger thematic elements of cyberpunk and dystopian realities.
First and foremost, the corporations exploit EVERYONE. That means their own employees too. In Sindome, corporate characters give up access to the coded systems in the Mix in exchange for safety and steady paychecks. This specific point has been talked about plenty and there's nothing that I really have to add about the trade offs that players accept when they choose to create a corporate character.
I have the sense that a lot of corporate players (at least as they roleplay their characters) have a sense of entitlement. A sense of, "I'm a corporate employee. Therefore I should be making more than those mere mixers." They are so caught up in the divide that they do not / cannot acknowledge that they are just pawns too. But they are. This is completely themely. Withmore attracts an unlimited supply of disposable labor and grinds through it in pursuit of profit. Just as there are always immigrants willing to slave away at SHI and couriering crates, there are always Mixers looking to move up to become corporate security officers, PR people and whatever other jobs are available. "Welcome to Green. Here are your keys to a slightly larger and safer cage. Congratulations. Now get to work before we find someone willing to work harder, for less."
Corporations are there to exploit those beneath them. Corporate employees would do well to take that lesson to heart. Even though corporations exploit Mixers, they still pay them. They still give them subsistence wages to feed themselves and keep a roof over their heads. Mixers are labor for the corporations.
If corporate characters do not know how to exploit an endless supply of labor, they are probably not going to be very successful.
From what I have seen, corporations would do well to learn how to Faction from their syndicate counterparts. There is rarely a dull moment in the Mix, primarily because of the organizations that are constantly warring with each other. Now granted, CorpSec can't gear up and openly brawl on Gold. If only there were an endless pool of deniable assets who could be thrown at your enemies....
I think the game would be a lot more dynamic and full of earning opportunities for everyone if corporate players realized that Mixers are useful. If they started to view them as allies. Perhaps despicable, disposable allies. But allies none the less. Allies who want the same thing that everyone else wants. Chyen.
At a high level, the strategy for success is the same no matter where your character exists in the social structure. Make chy. Surround yourself with people who multiply your chy. Avoid people who cost you chy. Then beat those other fools and make their chy your chy.
