It just seems actively harmful to you? Having cyberpsychosis seems to be a prerequisite to even joining.
It just seems actively harmful to you? Having cyberpsychosis seems to be a prerequisite to even joining.
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I joined for the free healthcare.
You don’t. They just pick you off the street, mod you and now you’re one of them.
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fjQ0lpY1OgM](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fjQ0lpY1OgM)
They look pretty cool
Transhumanism is a concept that few people irl grapple with because our reality offers little else in the way of other options. The world of Cyberpunk, however, has an overwhelming array of options. This leads to transhumanists of all types at every level of society, including the less than appealing, a little more psychotic types.
Maelstrom offers these types a community to call their own. They typically include people who actively reject as much of their humanity as is possible, which is physically manifest by their purposefully inhuman-looking alterations.
Basically, the fact that you can’t see any good reason to join means you’re not as psychologically unwell as the types who end up in Maelstrom. In fact, it’d be concerning if you *did* see any good reason to join
From the moment I understood the weakness of my flesh, it disgusted me. I craved the strength and certainty of steel. I aspired to the purity of the Blessed Machine. Your kind cling to your flesh, as though it will not decay and fail you. One day the crude biomass you call a temple will wither, and you will beg my kind to save you. But I am already saved, for the Machine is immortal… Even in death I serve the Omnissiah.
Borderline cyberpsychos and chrome addicts.
I mean, if I had to join one of the gangs, yes.
No, but their eyes are cool in game
*gestures vaguely at Night City*
It’s a quasi-religion. If you find your truth with that vibe you’ll do just about anything. You can actually hear some of them talking about it diwn in the warehouse district. They use the same language as cult recruiters. Find someone vulnerable, like a runaway, emotionally strip them down, then chip them.
Big beats are the best, get high all the time
This is like asking “Why would anyone join a cartel? They do organized crime, sell drugs, kill and kidnap people and cause a lot of suffering”
Yet somehow, south american drug cartels are stronger than ever.
https://preview.redd.it/5psjzukgxvcf1.jpeg?width=3413&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=7d0fc2e2522a31c2159b793f7d027e4d3f98bf5f
I don’t know, but this is sick AF
no future-
Also I believe Maelstrom is a reference to the Edgar Allan Poe story “**Into The Maelstrom**”. It’s been a while since I read it, but as I remember it, the maelstrom is a metaphor for the feeling of madness, pulling harder and faster, like you are a vessel caught in a maelstrom.
There’s actually a bit of Maelstrom dialog that you can overhear where one gang member is describing to others which people to recruit. He starts with specific examples (e.g., “cops who have been thrown off the force”) and ends with the general description, “people who have nowhere else to turn.”
That’s at least one in-game reason.
From the moment I understood the weakness of my flesh it disgusted me. I craved the strength and certainty of steel, I aspired to the purity of the blessed machine. Their kind cling to their flesh, as if it will not decay and fail them.
they’re the most punk gang tbh
The Cyberpunk gang sorting hat sent me to them after it heard the clinking of funny gas cartridges, loose bullets, and vape battery in my pockets.
I think face tattoos are hideous but it’s a super popular thing. Maelstrom makes no sense to me but there’s people willingly all Lizzie Wizzied out in the game. They aren’t that different. One is like the metal punk rock version and the others are glam version but they’re both just different versions of the same thing.
Nihilism is a powerful motivation
Why would anybody willingly join a cult? Why would anybody willingly join a gang? That’s your answer. Maelstrom is a semi religious transhumanist crime organization.
Maybe rationalize it like the extreme implants offer some sort of rush or high, especially in a world where everyone has tons of implants in their bodies and brains to begin with.
These sorts of tabletop gaming worlds (cyberpunk, solarpunk, steampunk, DND whatever) don’t always make sense, and that’s OK.
To go beyond the flesh, to escape our cages of meat, to harness our will within steel and carbon… Plus Vexelstorm slaps.
Drugs?
Because they are cool. I’d join them just for the looks alone. I’d look great and lose my mind – pretty much my long term goals in real life.
Free augs choom! We’ll, cheaper
They’re into indie death metal, like dancing without rhythm!
And most importantly: you’ve got a horrifically ugly face, and the only way to fix that is to cover that shit up with some chrome quick. Even your mother agrees. (she’s also a member of Malstrom FYI)
Because I’m horny for Dum Dum
The same way someone willingly becomes a punk, metalhead a raver or any other kind of an alternative person in our world, Cyberpunk just takes this a step further.
Drugs and chrome
I could see the draw for PTSD adeled vets who were exposed to crazy amounts of implants and experimental drugs. Its not uncommon for vets to get out and join a gang of some sort, that’s how the original biker gangs formed.
For The same reason people join any gang. Poverty, desperation and lack of security. In cyberpunk having a cyberimpplant is so common that Maelstrom isnt even that extreme, plus there are probably a lot of vets or homeless people that due to poverty were forced to have very crude, and visible implants.