Assassin (game)
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Assassin (also called Assassins or Killer) is a game commonly played on college campuses. Assassin is, essentially, a live-action roleplaying game where players' goal is to "kill" each other, and to be the last surviving assassin.
Assassin is described as a "lifestyle-invading" game in Salem and Zimmermann's Rules of Play. Play is not restricted to a specific time interval, but is integrated into the players' everyday activities. A game will last for days or weeks, and while the game is in progress, all players are targets of some other player, and have targets of their own. The game is intended to induce an atmosphere of paranoia, since an assassination attempt could occur at almost any time.
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History
As Assassin is mainly a tradition on college campuses, where turnover is high, it is not known precisely when and how the game originated. The MIT Assassins' Guild was reportedly running games as early as 1983 and possibly before. By the early 1990s, there were groups operating regular games at a number of colleges including Cambridge University and Hampshire College, where the game is known as "Wassassins".
Rules
Assassin is not a published game (although Steve Jackson Games has published a booklet on it, under the name "Killer") and rules vary considerably from group to group. There are certain common elements, however. At any given time, each player has a "target" (or possibly more than one) that they are trying to kill, and each player is in turn the target of another assassin (again, or possibly more than one.) Players are assigned their targets by the game's coordinators, but do not know know the identity of the person assigned to target them. In larger games, players may not know the identities of any players other than their target or targets.
Kills
"Kills" are made by various means, as defined by the rules of whatever variant is being played. Some games have only one way to make a kill, or have a short list of well-defined methods. These may involve the use of fake weapons such as water guns, Nerf weapons, or balled-up socks. Other games allow more creative means like "poisoning," "mail bombs", "knives", or even "bombs". The key is that all players agree on what methods are legal and how they can be implemented.
Witnesses
Some variants restrict assassination attempts made in the presence of witnesses. Kills made in the presence of witnesses (or in the presence of a sufficient number of witnesses) may be disallowed or may result in the publication of the assassin's identity (in games where the players do not generally know each other.)
Safe zones
During required activities like classes and work, a player is required by outside obligations to be at a certain place, at a certain time. For assassins to approach them in these environments would be unfair, especially, say, in classes where the game would be disruptive and unwelcome by the professor. Hence, places associated with these activities are "safe zones". Typical "safe zones" include classrooms, while class is in session, places of employment, and, more rarely, dining halls, and libraries, among others. Places of residence are typically not safe zones, and some games may explicitly allow entering a target's dorm room, house, or apartment without the target's knowledge.
Other variations
There are numerous other possible rules. Some games have enforcer squads or police forces whose job is to track down rulebreakers (these squads often being composed of eliminated players.) Some require each kill to be made within a time limit, or penalize players for not making assassination attempts. Others allow for non-players or eliminated players to participate, for example as informers or bodyguards.
Weapons
Assassin variants differ widely in the types of weapons are allowed. A few examples are listed below. These are by no means exhaustive, and some games explicitly allow creativity.
Guns
Various types of guns are used. The most common are probably water pistols, Nerf weapons, and rubber band guns. Pellet guns and BB guns are generally considered too dangerous.
Knives and Swords
"Knives" may be either toy knives, or other objects that approximate the size and shape of a knife. The same goes for swords.
Poison
Some variants allow "poison", which can be implemented by adding strong flavors such as Tabasco sauce to the victim's food. Rules might also cover "poison gas" or contact poisons.
Bombs
Many variants allow "bombs," which may be implemented in various ways. Some require the bomb to "go off" in some way, and hence might use alarm clocks or other timers.
External links
About the game
- http://homepage.schleswig-holstein.de/holzhauer/assassins/ - a page about the game, with photos and lots of links to other sites.