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1.0 INTRODUCTION:

These rules are for the May Week 2003 game, and as such, the rules are different from normal games of Killer.

The game will run from midnight on 13th/14th June to seven days later, midnight on 2Oth/21st.

1.1 PREPARATION:

1. Full name (and optional pseudonym)

 
2. College (or Department if applicable) and address in Cambridge

 
3. E-mail address (full if not @cam.ac.uk, although this is strongly preferred)

 
4. Your official address and if different the address at which you will be living (ie sleeping and spending a reasonable number of hours at) during the course of the game. In this game this will be published on the web page, to prevent unfair advantage to those at colleges where the porters refuse to give out room numbers. Any player with a real-life psychopath trying to kill you, explain to the Umpire and you will be excused [The Umpire also stresses that these players should seek psychiatric and/or (real) police help].

 
5. If you live relatively far from the city centre, brief details of city centre visits that you regularly make. The Umpire shall use his discretion in deciding which details to pass on to the assassins. The aim is to involve outliers more in the game, since trekking out to Girton to kill a target is usually only done by a few of the keenest players. College/Departmental computer rooms or offices are not valid city centre visits.

 
6. Water Weapons category. Possible room categorisations:
• No Water Weapons Zone: Default state ; also no messy weapons (eg silly string, artificial snow, flour, confettis) zone
• Water Weapons with Care: No waterbombs. No heavy calibre. Medium calibre guns (SS50, XP70, XP270, which are single-barrelled guns of up to about a foot in length) are only ok if used accurately to hit the target. Small Calibre is ok. If you choose this option, list any delicate items in particular to avoid (e.g. computer, expensive hi-fi, TV, etc.) No messy weapons.
• Next target of Bush's anger: Full-scale war allowed. Even so... Avoid unnecessary abuse of firepower on the room. i.e. Be sensible and professionally accurate. Inanimate objects usually don't strike back.

1.2 PRELIMINARIES:

1. For any deliberate breach of the rules a player may be given a warning and, in serious cases, disqualified from playing. Other disciplinary measures may be taken at the Umpire's discretion. For serious blunders a player may have a bounty set on his/her head. The amount of reward will be determined by the Umpire. Details of this will be published on a relevant page.

 
2. The spirit of the rules is more important than the actual rules themselves. Rules are made to be bent here and there. However, exploiting possible loopholes might not be tolerated - at least not for long.

 
3. Participants may have non-player accomplices. You are responsible for the conduct and safety of your accomplices - getting them killed intentionally might yield nasty results. If killed, accomplices respawn every four hours. Targets cannot be assassinated by an accomplice.

 
4. In general, a victim is not dead unless they know about it. No weapon can be considered to have any effect unless it actually does something (the more dramatic the better!). Guns have an effect if you point them and say 'BANG', but only if you are at point blank range (i.e. less than one metre). In this game, the victim also needs to know who killed him/her.

 
5. No one may attempt to impersonate the Umpire (either in person or through messages, etc.). Taking or attempting to read items in the Umpire's pigeon-hole, or trying to hack into the Umpire's or any player's computer accounts, is also strictly forbidden.

 
6. Exercise common sense. Players are *entirely* responsible for their behaviour. In particular, avoid inconveniencing other people.

 
7. Players are expected to report all kill attempts they make, and also any attempts on their own life. Feel free to dramatise the events in your report.

 
8. This game depends on trust and gentlemanly/womanly conduct. Please be honest about whether or not you are dead. Honour amongst murderers and all that....

 
9. Dead players should not warn others of the presence of another assassin. As we all know Necromancy is a bad thing(tm).

 
10. This game is NOT about brute force. Knocking people over or forcing your way through doors against the will of whoever is trying to close them just because you're a lot bigger than them is not acceptable. Likewise it is not about knocking weapons out of other people's hands. A gentle tap with a cosh has that effect.

 
11. Death is instant on being critically shot or struck. The victim has no time to "get even". If it's very close as to who hit who first, you should resolve the issue on the spot, if necessary having a second shoot out to decide. During such shoot outs you're immune to being killed by any of the other players. Once it is decided who is dead, the winner can be killed by other players. The loser resurrects 4hrs after the original incident. Note however that poison has a five second delay which can be used to fight back.

 
12. In case of a siege, either the attacking party or the one besieged may propose a duel to be fought with whatever weapons they prefer. If a duel is proposed and agreed to, both players are immune to being killed by others for approximately fifteen minutes. If the duelists fail to resolve the winner during this time, a no-kill zone is no longer in effect and both can then be killed by other players. In other words, duels should be resolved on the spot, one (or both) of the duelists must be killed, and the survivor will have a chance to go away unharmed, provided the fifteen-minute time limit has not been exceeded.

 
13. Suicides are not allowed. If for some reason you wish to be removed from the game, you should contact the Umpire. If however you succeed in somehow killing youself in a very Durham-like fashion, please email me, I might find it amusing.

 
14. Dead players (and accomplices) remain dead until they are officially resurrected by the Umpire as reported on the web page. This usually happens after four hours.

 
15. It is a serious offence to impersonate porters/bedders/cleaners when knocking on players' doors. The player may be inclined to disbelieve the person knocking and this may be a problem if university officials are really knocking on their door.

 
16. There should be no real life threatening behaviour towards other assassins you meet.

 
17. You are advised to use common sense in all game-related activities. In particular, avoid inconveniencing non-players, especially members of college staff and porters.

 
18. It is noted that moving vehicles should NOT be used in the game, except for bikes, which may be used only where it is safe to do so, if you are using a bike to attack from or get away on, you must accept that the person pursuing you is likley to fire at or chase after you. If you are attacking someone on a bike do so only when the road is clear and it is not likely to cause accidents.
     
19. For reasons of general safety, in this game a special code word (ceasefire) will be in use. Upon being said by an assassin/active accomplice, players are immediately required to hide all weaponry and, if applicable, leave the premises. Some situations where a ceasefire can be called are porterial interventions, injuries, spotting the university security heading your way etc. This measure is for emergency situations only and should not be lightly used.
     
20. In order not to annoy people, if you are involved in standoff in a public place which civilians are trying to get by, please do not attempt to use them as cover, as CPSs do not fall under the category of "discriminatory" weaponry. Instead, pause and let them pass.
     
21. Excessive pedantry is likely to annoy the Umpire. You've been warned.

2.0 AIMS:

1. The main aim of the game is for everyone concerned to have a good time.

 
2. The aim of each player is to kill as many other players as possible while staying alive.

3.0 VICTIMS:

4.0 WEAPONS:

• be completely safe to people and property.
• actually DO something, to indicate to the victim that he/she has been killed.

Indirect kills are not permitted during the May Week game. This includes bombs, contact poison, etc.

Weapons marked (*) in the following list should be used with extra care.

1. Guns
• If using water weapons, you must get a definite hit with the main jet. If you just splash them with water (e.g. at extreme range or out of ammo) then it is only a flesh wound - they can carry on as normal. If they are hit in the head or torso then they are killed instantly.

If you have delegated you room a No Water Weapons Zone, it then automatically becomes ILLEGAL to use any water-based weapons in the room. Note that other non-messy weapons may still be used. The disadvantage is that you may not fire a water pistol OUT of such a room.

Water pistols may not be used in shops or parts of shops where the PRINCIPAL goods on sale are electrical appliances, books or other goods which are likely to be the worse for it. Obviously if the adjacent goods are tinned foods or pencil sharpeners, you may shoot away. This should be common sense, but is worth emphasising.

By default, staircases and other indoor areas are Water With Care zones. Using CPSs, water bombs and other messy weapons in such an area will not count for a kill and could get you in trouble. If you want to change the status of an indoor area, you should contact the Umpire.

If small water pistols are used, it is a good idea to confirm the kill immediately with the victim who might not have noticed the hit if wearing thick clothing. This avoids arguments later, when the water has evaporated, or, as it is not uncommon for Cambridge, when it is raining.
 

• Cap pistols may also be used, although almost point blank range (clear shot from less than one metre) is needed to claim a hit.
• (*)Soft air guns may not be used, however guns firing soft rubber pellets are an acceptable weapon. Always present these first to the Umpire for a safety check, before using them.
• The type of gun commonly known as an RPG may be used - these fire soft orange pellets which can be reused, but the guns themselves must be painted a colour other than black. If you are at all uncertain whether your gun falls into this category please contact the umpire.
• The new RPG pistols with the rifle action mechanism are to be treated like rifles in the fact that they fire their projectiles quite fast and as such must be used only for bang kills to range less than 1m. Beaking this rule will meet with quite harsh penalties.
• (*)RPG rifles are allowed this mayweek, however do not discharge at point blank range (less than 1m) instead use them to make a "bang" kill. People breaking this rule are likely to find themselves suffering from a bounty and/or a ban.
Again I stress, if it could concievably be mistaken for a gun by the public, please paint it in bright neon colours such that there is absolutely no chance you could be reported to the police.
• (*) Rubber bands are an acceptable weapon, as long as head shots are avoided.
• Flamethrower - represented by a bottle of Champagne, hose-pipe, snow spray, shaving foam, etc. Rules much as for water-pistols, except that it is unneccesary to completely coat the victim in your flames. A sufficient spurt to "burn" the vital vertical line (head, torso, stomach) will do.

 
2. Contact poison - Not permitted during the May Week game.

 
3. Club or Cosh - represented by a labelled cardboard poster tube or a newspaper rolled up and stuck with Cellotape. The effect depends upon the location of the hit:-

        Head .......... Unconscious for 5 minutes.
        Body .......... Immobilised but conscious for 5 minutes.
        Arm or Leg .... The limb is immobilised for 5 minutes.

Note that anything you do with an arm that has been coshed is invalidated. If you run away after being coshed in the body or leg, then you are dead. Please allow your murderer to finish you off in style, they might have spent a long time trying to find you... (reasons for this - the satisfaction the assassin will recieve when they Finish him/her)
 
4. Blades - Foam, soft rubber, retractable plastic or cardboard knives may be used. If the knife has been made by you e.g. from cardboard, it must be plainly labelled 'KNIFE'. Plastic ones which are more obviously knives don't need this.

All knives can be thrown.

Weaponry specifically made for LARP(Live action roleplay) may be used, however I stress that it should only be used those who know how to use it. If in doubt ask someone who knows how to use it. Headshots should be avoided and stabbing is specifically banned. Unsafe use of this will probably get you banned from the game.

Carrots are acceptable knives, as long as they are labelled and caution is taken if they are thrown. In particular, avoid head shots - and use small specimens only.

Multiple throwables: At most 3 per hand or 5 from one hand only. You may only throw more than one weapon at ranges fo less than 10m, (just under CPS range) for ranges outside this, only throw one. Here "At once" means over a given 2 second period.

Plastic swords are permitted only on inspection by the umpire, cheap ones will not be allowed due to their tendency to fracture after the first exchange of blows, resulting in a dangerous weapon. Lightsabers do not suffer as much from this and so are allowed. Cardboard swords must be clearly labelled 'SWORD'. A rolled up paper tube is a cosh, not a sword. And yes, lightsabres count as swords. Representations of Ninja Stars and Razor Blades may also be used (a real razor is out of the question). Razor-edge hats may also be used if the brim is visibly marked with the word "ASSASSIN" on it.

Any other items should be presented to the Umpire before labelling them as a knife.
 

5. Garrotte - Represented by handkerchiefs, or, far better, toilet paper.

 
6. Grenades - Confetti in bags made from tissue paper, water bombs, or (small) flour bombs may be used. You may also employ snowballs. Use common sense with the last three. They will kill if they strike any part of the head or body. If they hit a wall and splash your head or body appreciably (i.e. if you're wettish) you are dead. If they just splash your arms or legs, you are only wounded, and survive. Please note that all grenades count as messy weapons by default. Do not use them in non-full water areas.

 
7. Poisonous Gas is again DISALLOWED during this May Week.

 
8. (*) Dart or Arrow - represented by a grape fired from a catapult or a dried pea from a pea-shooter. They may be liscenced as poisonous with the umpire. Otherwise, this has the same effect as a gun. Avoid head shots. A paper plane may be used as a poisoned dart, provided it is clearly labelled as one. Being hit by a random one in a boring lecture does not count...

 
9. Poisoned Food or Drink - Use Tabasco sauce or peppermint essence in sufficient quantities to taste. N.B. Experiments to establish the lethal dose are liable to kill the guinea pig (more innocent victims!). Nut-based essences are banned as they are a major health hazard. If at any doubt, please register your poison with the Umpire.

Again, the poison disperses as soon as the perpetrator leaves the scene. Indirect kills are not permitted!
Buying your victim a Pizza Gamberi from Pizza Express does not count as a poisoning, even if they do go a bit strong on the Tabasco. However, leaving an extra-strong Phileas Fogg Tortilla Chip in their pigeon-hole, which they then proceed to eat, does. And no... Gardies burgers do not count as poisoning (in the game).
 
10. Special Letters - not permitted in the May Week game.

 
11. Bombs - not permitted in the May Week game.

 
12. Poisoned Umbrellas are not permitted in this May Week game.

Open Umbrellas, labelled "Shield" count as protecting you from whatever waterpistol fire you may encounter. Note that, in general, the heavier-calibre guns will get round/through an umbrella. Be honest, if any water gets on your head or torso, own up to being dead. This reflects that bulletproof technology has limitations. Furthermore, if your shield is hit by any class of grenade (see 4.6 above), then you are dead as it explodes into shrapnel that tears your body apart. Anti-tank weaponry will also get through a shield. Note that Body Armour is forbidden in this game. However, lines of riot cops or Roman military-style tortoises are allowed tactics.i There are also Anti Shield only weapons which only destroy the shield, not you (see below) Note that umberellas will stop the bullets of most other hand guns.

Umbrellas count as carrying weapons only when up and properly labelled.

Weapons with extensions count as shields wiht an offensive capability
 

13. Anti-shield units

Soft, non-wet tennis balls and (small) onions may be labbeled as "ASU"s and they then destroy the shield (not tanks) they hit, or act as a normal hit to a body location, while being under the same rules for multiple thorwables as for knives, above.

If your shield is hit by one of these, it (and any weapon it is attached to) will be destroyed, however it will take hits for a furhter 3 seconds if it is not moved, you should drop it in the place where it was hit to indicate this (ie it will not take hits for a further 3 seconds if you are moving any apprecable distace) - anything hittting it after this time is considered to have gone through it.
 

14. Fridgeing or Safeing - Dropping a large (i.e. of side at least 40cm) piece of polystyrene or of light cardboard packing from the height of at least two metres onto your victim. It must be labelled either 'FRIDGE' or 'SAFE'. It may then be reasonably assumed that they are dead.

 
15. Tanks - Cardboard boxes, possibly with extra card or plastic added, may be used as tanks - they must be recognisably box-shape, and completely contain their occupant(s).

A tank is a proof against anything that cannot penetrate it - but note that larger water guns (and any well aimed projectile weapon) can penetrate - and will take full effect if they do. Grenades affect tanks as they do shields, fridges/safes will crush them, and a lightsaber collapsed against a tank has impaled the driver.

You are warned that other weapons may be licensed with various anti-tank properties.
 

16. Soft toys - check with the Umpire first. Simply labelling your teddy "Incredibly Threatening Fluffy Teddy Bear of Torture" (or anything else, at that) will not automatically make it a legal weapon. Also, you cannot throw a weapon of this kind - in effect, they will work like buses (see below).

 
17. Running over. Being hit by a (matchbox model) bus has the effect of squashing the intended victim. This should be enough to kill the victim. However, the following rules apply:
1. The bus must be small (no longer than 10cm), in order to not cause injury to the victim.
2. The bus must not leave the assassin's hand for two seconds either side of the attack. Victims will be dead as soon as the bus hits, but knocking the bus out of the assassin's hand to invalidate the kill will be deemed cheating. If the assassin lets go of the bus after the kill but before the two second time has elapsed, then the victim will after all have never died, and all counter-attacks will be valid.
3. The bus must have a clearly visible run-up of at least half a metre. This is because the bus is a real kill weapon, and as such must be handicapped against the cosh.
4. Feel free to make engine noises.
5. Be gentle - remember that weapons must not cause real injury.

5.0 DEATHS:

Deaths should be reported as soon as possible after the event, stating all salient details (when, where, how, and whether any innocent bystanders were killed). It is best if both assassin and target report the death to make sure there is no mistake. Creative/amusing reports are encouraged as they will be used in the news. All assassins should at some point receive a walk-through for the automatic reporting system.

1. Injuries - Any limbs hit by a weapon other than a cosh are rendered useless for the length of one hour. If you use an incapacitated limb (i.e. run away when one or both of your legs have been chopped off) you are dead.

5.1 POLICE FORCE:

6.0 RULES OF ENGAGEMENT:

6.1 PERMISSIBLE TARGETS:

1. Anyone currently playing the assassins game. The game news web page contains a list.

 
2. Anyone holding a weapon or having one in full view, whether or not they are about to attack you. Once the weapon is hidden, the person is no longer a legitimate target.

Be careful with players bearing musical and/or large electrical instruments (e.g. TV). Players carying such objects are ONLY to be attacked with non messy/non water weapons. They should also not be attacked from behind as this might surprise them and cause them to drop their instrument. Do note that picking up a random instrument does not qualify as protection. You need a valid reason for carrying your respective instrument if an attempt is made.

Also, exercise caution and common sense when attacking people on bicycles.

Moving vechiles are considered out of bounds due to being dangerous, fast moving and expensive.

Note that players who are in St. John's Ambulance uniform are effectively out of the game for the whole duration they are in uniform. They may not be killed, and they may not kill or be an accomplice. Attempting to gain a tactical advantage from a uniform is a serious offense, and will not be tolerated. You have been warned!

Similarly, people working in the Bumps are out of the game during the time they wear their umpirical jackets/uniforms. As to the details, see above. The boat crews are illegal targets as long as the team is still together and involved in the bumps.

People working in a May Ball are illegal targets as long as they are on duty (working in a food stall, entertaining, whatever). When they are off-duty, you may kill them at your leisure. Needless to say, they cannot kill you as long as they are working. Please be honest if asked.

6.2 OUT-OF-BOUNDS AREAS:

1. Lecture theatres (including after/before lectures) - Though attending lectures in may week may cause much ridicule from your peers.

 
2. Practicals/laboratories.

 
3. Hospitals/libraries/sports-halls.

 
4. Churches/chapels/synagogues/mosques/temples/stupas!

 
5. Formal college dining halls - Informal college cafeterias/butteries are in the playing arena.

 
6. Any OFFICIAL university society meeting (e.g. speaker meetings, formal halls). Kills at unofficial social meetings (e.g. the ucam.chat pub meet) are permissible. Note the society need only be registered with CUSU, not with the university. Such meetings must be in a fixed place to count.

 
7. Seminars and supervisions.

 
8. Boats (except in leisurely outings, e.g. punting).

 
9. Firefights across busy roads (ones with cars on) should be avoided if possible, fighting across a stream of traffic is not a good idea, in addition to the possiblity of hurting oneself you can also cause annoyance to the drivers and also possibly an accident. This particularly applies to Grange road and Silver street at particular times of the day.

 

1. Outside the hours 9am to 5.30p.m.

 
2. Use only weapons which CANNOT POSSIBLY damage equipment (e.g. garotte, knife, cap gun, etc.) - i.e. no messy weapons (also applies to Music Rooms and Lifts).

 
3. Minimal inconvenience to any other users (players or bystanders). So, for example, pointing a cap gun and saying 'Bang' rather than actually firing it. If you want to be scrupulously fair, say 'Click' every once in a while to simulate a misfire.

 

May Balls are designated no messy weapons areas. That means no water, no flamethrowers, no grenades.This includes the queues outside. Poisoning food is fine though, as long as you stay to see the kill. Try to keep a moderately low profile in May Balls - we aren't an official society, and porters are liable to to throw gun-toting maniacs out of May Balls. Such is life.

Inside university faculty buildings will be designated no messy weapons areas, unless it is blatantly obvious that the building will be oblivious to the mess. In general, use your common sense. If there's a carpet, notice board, fellows, milling crowd, or anything similar, then that place is definitely NO MESSY WEAPONS. Courtyards in university buildings are okay though.

Any further suggestions should be communicated to the Umpire as soon as possible. Please use your common sense!

6.3 TIME RESTRICTIONS:

7.0 WITNESSES:

8.0 PLAYER RANKING

All players are listed on the web page in a table. This table includes information on which assassins each player has killed, and which assassins each player has been killed by.

However, the computer will sort the players on this statistics page, approximately as a ranking from best downwards.

8.1 MAFIAS:

The problem comes when a mafia becomes too influential and starts ruining the game. In these circumstances, the Umpire will use whatever means necessary to keep the game enjoyable for everyone else.

Please, have some consideration. It may be fun for you if you are crimeboss of a mafia that is killing everything in sight, but think of all the other people playing. It gets boring if no-one dares to emerge from their rooms.

9.0 THE UMPIRE:

The primary method of contacting the Umpire is through email, though players are welcome to visit to contact him via IRC, where his nick is "Kirika".

The Umpire is immortal. The Umpire's room is Flat 21B, St Chads. No one may be killed in the Umpire's flat or on the first floor of Chads, including the staircases leading there from the other floors. This area is also a no water weapons zone. Rest of St Chads is fair game, but again, use common sense. If people want to use St Chads as a battle ground, please contact the umpire and he may rescind the no kill zone for those participants on the grounds they may not shoot anyone else.

If you have any queries, visit/mail the Umpire, preferably before the query becomes a matter of life and death (yours or anyone else's).

Player-Umpire communications may be made public at the end of the game for everyone's enlightenment and amusement. If you do not wish a certain communication to be made public, please tell the Umpire. Thanks.

NOTE: It is the responsibility of the players to check the game web site often. Information on which players are alive is posted on the web page, along with how many points one would receive on killing any particular victim.

If any information on the web site is inaccurate (especially kill reports), then send the umpire an email. Reports automatically go onto the web site as soon as they are submitted, but the Umpire should be able to sort out most problems.

10.0 NEWS AND INFORMATION

10.1 NEWSGROUP

If you wish to post something anonymously to ucam.rec.games.assassin, ask the Umpire to do it for you.

10.2 WEB PAGES

http://www.srcf.ucam.org/assassins

10.3 IRC Channel

IRC server: kern.srcf.ucam.org, IRC channel: #assassins

To avoid waste of bandwidth, game news will not be distributed by email, although important announcements may be.

11.0 COMMENTS

1. The Umpire's Rule is law. There will be no right of appeal against a disqualification.

 
2. Official complaints about a person's behaviour will almost certainly result in disqualification. Involvement of the (real) police will definitely cause you to be disqualified.

 
3. It is considered that taking part in this game implicitly allows people to enter your room through an unlocked door or open window. Entering a room by any other means is STRICTLY FORBIDDEN. If you don't want trespassers, make certain they can't get in. If you live in a shared room/flat please inform your neighbours.

 

The history of this set of rules is thought to be:

Author unknown.
Typed in by Paul Roberts (per10).
Later history unknown.
Used by CUSFS for a while.
Martin Hardcastle (mjH12) made some modifications.
Julian Birch (jmb29), some modifications and clarifications.
Richard Fairhurst (rjf1001), further modifications and clarifications.
Ben Jameson (bfj1000), yet more modifications.
Jim Cameron (jc10007) and Elizabeth Pringle (EMPP1), even more, mistyped, modifications.
David Allsopp (dna1000), surprisingly, made some modifications.
Paul Menage (pbm1001) was Easter 1995 Umpire, and initiated 3 targets per player.
Nigel Harris (njH17) made modifications.
Ben Harris (bjH11) changed even more things, notably the bomb blast radius formula to be based on a cube root.
Chuan-Tze Teo (ctt20) modified still more rules.
Martin Read (mpr22) corrected the text of the bomb rules, and set a (semi-)codified timing rule (after a few shoutings, getting the wording right)
Lynnette Dray (lmd21) modified a few more things, surprisingly.
Tom Oinn (tmo21) htmlified the whole thing.
J Doe made some modifications to counter the more modern forms of organised crime endangering the game's status.
Nadim Nehmé (nn211) incorporated Ed's changes into Tom's html form and declared a different form of Necromancy.
Matthew Wakeling (mnw21) was the May Week 1999 Umpire, and completely rehashed the scoring method.
Alex Churchill (gaec2) hasn't modified much yet.
Claire Bordenave (cb302) modified the rules for May Week 2001.
Ed Nokes (emn23) made a brand new May Week programm.
Päivi Pasi (pap26) made some changes for the May Week 2002, with contributions from J Doe and Simon Ford.
Jonathan Hogg (jdh41) made some changes for the May Week 2002, with contributions from J Doe.