Our friend Wood Ingham just released MSGâ„¢, a RPG that is getting fine reviews. Like this one, excerpted on his blog.
It defies many of the characteristics we normally ascribe to a tabletop RPG — in the context of a very cynical, and very cool, cyberpunky future where even the minimal constraints on corporate action that currently apply are removed, and any residual ethical norms for businessmen are considered the domain of chumps.
Sounds like way too many investment bankers, mortgage brokers, and bond traders, doesn’t it? While some might call for Sympathy for the Devil, if this crap keeps up it, could be more like Street Fighting Man soon.
Scott Adams of Dilbert weighs in on this.
I generally dismiss conspiracy theories. If something sounds ridiculous, it’s probably not true. Now I find out that the Governor of Illinois was selling a U.S. Senate seat to the highest bidder.
The most evil conspiracy theory I have ever heard involves the idea that the 9/11 attacks themselves were planned by the U.S. government as a pretext for military action and subsequent profit by some industrialists. I don’t believe that’s true, but again, thanks to Governor Asshat, I can no longer rule it out simply for being too ridiculous to consider. The bar has been moved.
I don’t know if the Mafia fixed the election for President Kennedy, then had him whacked because he didn’t return the favor, but it is well within the realm of non-ridiculous.
What other theories do you think are now in the realm of not-too-ridiculous?
That a bunch of amoral greedheads control the financial system? Oh yes, I know they all give lavishly to charities and wear $5,000 suits, but like the Fugs say, “Sometimes the gutter wears a tuxedo.”
When two or more conspire to act… 9/11 was an inside job.
Weird thing is, at least one person on a forum has not liked my game because it’s too, too absurd. And yet, mostly, the sci-fi elements laid on top of it are only there because otherwise it’d be a more or less straight presentation of the worst corporate excesses. And that would be far too grim. The world of business is already completely amoral. Which is like you said.