GymRat steps out to address the masses, flexing his fresh pump for all to see...

Never mind, fuck that shit. These fucks don't care about the Streets or maintaining any sort of respect for what this place used to be.

Even the little that makes it to the streets is not canon or in character.

Announcements are being made by low ranks who seem to know everything about the mafia despite only hours of experience.

Omerta is broken regularly with no repercussions from the puppet leaders.

Funerals are full of shit. Gravepissing is rife, even by those who are supposed to be representing a family.

I could go on forever complaining about the state of this place, but it's completely pointless. There aren't enough people who care enough to reverse it. Those running the game don't give a shit - take a look at the crews page: https://mafiareturns.com/news/localcrews.php

How many of them are new players? How many of them are day-old Hands who've been pushed straight back into authority to continue their rotting of this place?

Arianna-: 18-day-old CL in South Side with a 0-day-old Thug for a RHM.

StripheCorelli: 26-day-old CL with a 0-day-old Thug for RHM and no one set as LHM.

SantoRubio: No Hand set despite a 12 others in his HQ - are none of them trusted? Are none of them active enough?

Svent: 21-day-old CL with a 10-day-old RHM.

Napkin: 1-day-old Gangster LHM

Blur: 31-day-old Earner RHM

Crystalize: 7-day-old Earner LHM.

This list would be longer but Svetlana just did an absolutely beautiful job at cleaning up some of the shit. None of these people care about this place. Most of them are placeholders just set in bold or slants to stop the games mechanics making absolute power difficult for them. These are spots that used to be taken by people who were pushing time, money, effort and inspiration into the game. These positions are supposed to be the motivation for our presence. While these positions are continually promised to the same few bloodlines, most of you are simply wasting your time trying to progress. You're just a pawn in someone elses game of chess. 

Historically when this website was being throttled like this, players would take to the streets to remind everyone of the core values and sentiment that always held this place together. However, that response has been well and truly strangulated. We're way past arguing with the dickheads at the top. At this point, they're fully aware of what they're doing, they simply don't give a shit about the game or anyone who isn't on the perpetual auth/hand/promotion list. That likely includes you, whether you realise it or not. Although, I'm sure many of you realise it. Look around, how can you miss it?

So what the fuck are you all doing exactly? Let's ignore the dickheads at the top, they're a small percentage of this game. I'm talking to the rest of you though - especially those capable of getting a rank beyond Wise Guy, what the fuck are you doing? You're a huge part of the reason this place is going down the shitter. This game has always been at the mercy of those who have found ways to abuse the mechanics at any given moment of its evolution. It's a tale as old as time - "power corrupts, absolute power corrupts absolutely" - it's to be expected at this point. But the mid-ranks who sit on their thumb and let them completely ruin the game over the long term - the sycophants - you are the real problem here.

With every regime, there comes a tipping point where the divide between 'them' and 'us' is drawn. In the middle, there always lies those with the potential to flip either way. Oftentimes, outside relationships built during previous runs is what sways these one way or the other. It all happens through WhatsApp, Discord, etc. Real, out-of-game relationships.

Now - everybody calm down, I know we're used to grabbing our pitchforks and shit but we're not 1950s mobsters anymore, remember? That game is dead! This is the metagame! It's 2025, people! Wise up, they're out here with spreadsheets tracking you motherfuckers! You think they're not making phone calls at 3am to talk about your online time and whether you should be allowed to continue playing? Have you got enough gold stars next to your name to keep bolstering their numbers and continue enabling them to destroy this game for an increasing amount of players?

I digress. My point is, the worlds changed and half of you are stuck playing this game the old way. You can be as disgruntled as you like about "WhatsApp Avenue" and "Discord Lane" but this is the reality now. No one wants to make the effort to write stories anymore. The well of inspiration for mobster media has well and truly run dry - we've got vampires for fuck sake - so much for roleplaying mobsters.

The immersion of crews, omerta, respect, loyalty has all long gone.

There is no earning your way up the ladder through petties and drug runs, you need to swipe your card or amass generational wealth by flipping credits or perhaps getting lucky on dice.

Ranking up is almost entirely pointless and actually puts you at risk for being purged - simply playing the games most basic mechanics immediately makes you a target, even if you're brand new (I'm told they really exist). Crew Leader is not a position that is saved for those who have earned it within that character. It is just given to those who can be trusted to not form their own opinions or question orders. If you're not in that circle, the best chance you've got is a month or so of experiencing the game before your inevitable culling. But you'd better be sure to kiss the ring every step of the way or you'll be added to the wrong list sooner rather than later.

None of these are particularly new things, although some of it has become more prominent over time for a mess of reasons. In a nutshell, the game is decades old, it's basically solved and while that has always been somewhat true, there was an underlying 'agreement' between most players to allow most everyone some chance of enjoying the game to its fullest. That has ceased to exist. There is a new world order and it's not designed for the average player.

Don't get me wrong - there's no point crying over it, this is the way it is. People have been crying about it forever. Stop asking for your game back. You're wasting your time. It's time to lean into it. The game has evolved. So many of you are still playing by their rules while they're pissing all over them with absolutely no remorse.

"Rules for thee and not for me."

There is no omerta. There is no honour. There is no earning your rank. There is no progression for the majority. There is no freedom for many.

Purging is commonplace.

Yet "roguing" is frowned upon.

Bullshit.

The rulebook is gone. You are not beholden to any agreement or authority. That's all been tossed out the window.

It doesn't matter what crew you are in. It doesn't matter who your sponsor is. It doesn't matter how much you kick up. It doesn't matter whether you build a huge gun for your family. It doesn't matter if you invest in protection. It doesn't matter if you step into the streets to represent your family. None of what you do in this game matters anymore. All that matters is how the few people at the top feel about you.

Don't believe me? Take another look at the CLs and Hands.

When was the last time you were trusted to use that gun you put all your effort into?

How confident do you feel sitting in lounge and shooting RATs?

Do you feel you have equal right to an opinion?

Are you happy with your existence here?

What are you investing your time and effort for? What's your goal? Are you having fun?

Are you achieving great accolades?

Have you lived to 100 days?

Have you been entrusted with Don?

Do you feel involved in the running of your crew? Are you a part of the family?

Are you invited into war rooms? Discord calls?

Many people do not have positive responses to these questions. What should these people do in response, do you think? 

If they quit, the game continues to spiral into irrelevancy.

If they attempt to make amends, they are fed bullshit, allowed to build a character for a while before ultimately being purged. Yeah - Spacepole is probably going to come out and tell you all the MR Dream is well and truly alive and anyone can make it if they just beg long enough! Who knows what he did for such an opportunity? Who even cares? Is that what this game has become? You can play so long as you remain spineless and beg for the opportunity?

The only other option is the classic we all love - rank up and do something about it.

So this brings us to now and what we all just experienced: Svetlana ranking up and doing something about it.

"OH MY GOD, IT'S A ROGUE!"

Nope - new rules, remember? No such thing as a rogue. If purging is legitimate, why not roguing?

Svetlana wasn't a rogue. Svetlana was a freethinker - a BOLD freethinker!

Anyone helping Svetlana? Freethinkers!

Fuck the rules. Fuck the authority.

If you're not enjoying the game, find a new way to play it.

Sick of training a gun and not getting to use it? Fuck it, just use it! There are a LOT of people who will pro you and they're only growing in numbers.

Enjoy earning money but fed up of feeding the top table and seeing nothing for it? Amass your wealth and donate to the next Freethinker you see stepping out to enjoy the game.

Click your petties and your felonies. Run your OCs and do your drug runs. But stop wasting your progression, stop investing in MRs decline. Invest into the game YOU want to see.

Too many of you fear the permadeath. But its no longer possible to make a mark in the lifespan of just one character. They've truly destroyed that notion - by design. The plan is to slowly grind down your spirit and warchest until you no longer return - remember that quote? He'll fucking do it again!

Freethinkers don't fear the loss. They continue throwing their resources at the problem with absolutely no concern. This is not the game many of want to see, so we're set on changing it. We are growing in popularity and numbers. It is inevitable when a regime continues to ignore tradition and abuse the mid-ranks.

The time is coming for the order at the top to be shuffled. When that time comes, do you wish to remain as cattle? Or do you wish to explore the game and enjoy yourself to the fullest?

We're at a crossroads. The regime is weak. For them to continue, they need the support of the mid-ranks. They need you. You will be asked to help keep the game running on maintenance mode while they rebuild their main characters to climb back into the big seats. Now is the best opportunity to step up and play how you want to play - to shape the game you want to be a part of. Now is your chance to break the cognitive dissonance and truly change the course of the decaying system you're complicit in creating.

You can choose to continue ignoring the problems and pretending like you're one of the good guys while you're supporting this, but it will not change the outcome. Maybe not this time, but eventually this regime will flip and you will be remembered for what you did or didn't do. Life here is cyclical. Anything that you are party to will come back around to bite you. Make your decisions wisely. Put a little thought into it. 

Don't be afraid. Think freely!

Loosen up Rat Man, have a dance, baby. 

Truly an outstanding contribution to finally, a well-written thread, Jimmy. 

I made this name to write more, but then my job became exhausting. 

But its true, those who are constantly angry at the game but also terrified that grudges will be held against them until they finally stop playing - so? Do you care what your enemy thinks? You don't respect them, so why do you give a shit if they respect you? 

I don't really play, I just drink and abuse people in lounge or tell "fun" stories about myself since this is the only place I can pretend anyone cares what I have to say... But the game is stale. If you post you're working on vision to war. If you're active in lounge you're building a gun. If you've bought CAs you're planning an orgy. 

Its never ending. 

And I like the point about the unknown hands. People who only come back because their friend got guilted into auth because they're easily manipulated or used. And I like Spike and some of the people, but the way they play the game is exhausting. 

So maybe people will take your words to heart, and I can finally play again without actual concern that I'll be forced into being a hand (Which you still can't refuse or control) or stuck in hours long phone conversations about MR and the people who play it. 

It feels like people just shout about it, occasionally a rogue/freedom fighter pops up, and the same group stay in power regardless. How about the people who don't like the actions of those in power get themselves in to power rather than doing the plan A of killing everyone but ignoring the take control part?
 

I'm somewhat confused here, you want people to just "get into power"? The ones attacking or aiding the attackers aren't the types of people that would be given power by this regime. Unless you're going to people and begging for a chance and hoping that this is the time that they don't just shoot you at 40 days old, you're not going to be given any sort of power.

These guys are only looking for people like Tutte, Profitt, Adeline, or Jimmy. They don't want anyone who might accidentally one day activate a few of their neurons and put together a coherent thought, they like them dumb. Even Striphe has lost a few IQ points since he's starting hanging out with these guys, they must make you drink something before you take auth.

They want you docile and in constant discord calls. It's tiring.

I don't want people to just get in to power. I'm saying if there is such a large group of people who are unhappy with something, they should perhaps prepare beyond just killing the current leadership, and be ready to step up and step in when larger resets happen. Let's take Svetlana as an example. Killed a decent chunk of people, weakened the current regime. Then what? Wheres the next step that was planned to have other allies of Svetlana step in and seize power?

Ennis it’s very hard to have a plan outside of let’s just kill some of these assholes when 1 in 20 live long enough to actually build a gun. Unless you’re part of the grand circle jerk happening at the top. 
Svetlana was a hero to many, and a villain to a few. But if you’re a villain to the actual villains, in retrospect are you not just purely a hero at that point? 

Getting wack attempts from LHM while I'm fresh off the boat. I guess this regime hasn't learned to leave people alone and just let them be. 

@Gordon_Ramsey, I'm going to Bobby Flay your ass. 

There have been multiple attempts on the lives of the uppers since the creation of this thread with two notable fatalities: Joji and Joseph_Ligambi. Nice shots!

Last I heard Gordon_Ramsey was in Bricktown and Spacey in Brooklyn - he'll be prod for now though. 

"No man is free who is not master of himself."

Keep blasting!