The Assassins' Guild: Michaelmas Massacres

What's all this, then?

The Michaelmas Massacres is a radical new rethink of the Assassins game. We propose that this term there will be not one term-long game but instead there shall be one game lasting about three weeks, and three games lasting a little under a week each.

How does that work?

The object of the game is to track down and eliminate the other players, while also staying alive yourself. "Assassination" is carried out with a variety of harmless toys or fake weapons which range from pens labelled as 'knife' to water pistols and the popular Nerf weaponry. Often people come up with more inventive and amusing ways to dispatch their targets.

• The first game is called Elimination. It will be like a traditional term-long game but will move at a faster pace:
  • At the start of the game, the list of players will be secret and each player is given details of three other players ("targets") to kill in the usual manner. These, together with people trying to kill you, are the only people you may kill.
  • If one of your targets dies, their name will be published on the website and you will be given the details of a new target.
  • If you die, you can no longer win the game, but you may join the police force if you like.
  • After one week, any player who has not made an attempt to kill another player will be made a legal target for all players and for the police. The police may organise raids to tackle these people.
  • At the end of the second week, any player who is still alive and has not yet made a kill will be a legal target for all players and the police force. The police will organise raids to try and find these people.
  • Shortly before the end of the third week, anyone who has as yet failed to make two kills will be removed from the game, leaving a small number of players free to combat one another
  • After a few more days, at a predetermined time, the 'Ultimate Showdown' will commence: The remaining players will meet in one place and fight to the death. Spectators are welcome!
  The full rules for this game are now available.
• The second game is called Mafia. It will last a little under a week. It will probably be similar to previous mafia games, but with multiple factions.
  • You will be assigned to a mafia based on your college/geographical location
  • When the game starts, you will be sent an e-mail containing the names and addresses of several people:
    • Your allies (people in your mafia, whom you should try to work together with)
    • Your targets (try to kill them using any permitted means at your disposal)
    • Your targets will be several members of two of the other mafias (and two mafias will be after you, but you will not be told which ones)
  • Whenever you make an attempt on another player's life, whether or not you succeed, e-mail the Umpire with a report. If someone tries to kill you, report that to the Umpire as well.
  • For every reasonable attempt you make on another player, you will be given another target in that mafia (if one exists).
  • For a successful kill of a member of a target mafia, you will be given the remaining members of that mafia as targets.
  • When you have completely eradicated one of your target mafias, the Umpire will send you the targets of the defeated mafia, so that you may target them as well.
  The full rules for this game are now available.
• The third game is called Triads.
  It will last a little under a week. Players form teams of three and attempt to accrue points by killing their targets (and other players).
  The full rules for this game are now available.
• The fourth and final game is called Mayhem. It will be a week long, and similar to the current Mayweek game:
  • A list of players will be published on the website.
  • Any player may attack any other player.
  • If you die, do not worry! You will return to life 4 hours later
  • Scores will be published on this website according to a scoring system to be explained before the game starts.
  The full rules for this game are now available.

In general, the same rules on weapons, play area and so on will apply throughout the term. Each of these games carries the same status and bragging rights.

Do I have to play all these games if I agree to sign up?

Not at all. These games are independent and you may play any or all of them. There will be a short break between each game. You can sign up for any game by emailing the Guild in advance of its start. If you sign up at the start of the term, don't worry! You are only signing up to play in the first, three-week game; there is no commitment to play the other games and you can retire at any time. Players will be given the option of playing in future games at the end of each one.

So who runs this, then?

Each game will be run by a different person. The one who runs the three-week game will be known as the Lead Umpire for that term. Once their game has finished they will be in a position to advise those running other games.

The three other roles, each in control of a shorter game, should be considered equally. Each is solely responsible for their own game. These 'Overseers' are intended to each have a much lighter workload than a traditional term-long Umpire appointment. The experience requirement is much less stringent so this would be appropriate for a more junior player who would like to get involved in running the Guild. This could also be appropriate for an older player who would not usually consider umpiring. Anyone in the Guild may put themselves forward (or indeed suggest someone else) for one of these roles, regardless of experience. Overseeing a game in this manner does not preclude you from Umpiring a larger game later on.

After due consideration of such candidates, an umpiring team will be appointed by past Umpires. This term, the first game will be run by Joshua Guy Blanchard Lewis (Jesus), the second game by Steven Shenton (Emmanuel), the third by Ben Weaver (Pembroke) and the fourth by David Smith (Peterhouse).

I don't like this

Sorry. We're trying this new format by popular demand. At the end of it we'll look at player numbers and listen to the opinions of those who played in deciding whether to run it again next year or not. Either way, the Lent and Mayweek games will retain their traditional format, so don't worry! If you think you have a better idea for a game, please, please, please tell us!

This concept was produced by Richard Gibson and Philip Bielby in 2007 after lengthy Guild consultation.

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