[last updated: Thursday, 20-Sep-2007 16:12:17 PDT]
Official Alley Assassin 2004 Rules
Rule changes/updates since the start of play are in blue.
Rule 1. Arbit0r
I, Kevin Duncklee, am the all-knowing, all-powerful Arbit0r. If there are any disputes regarding the rules stated here, those disputes will be settled by me. My word is final.
Rule 2. Assassination
Murdering your fellow Moles is a simple task. All that is required is a suitable bomb.
A bomb is any device that obeys the following restrictions:
- The bomb must be detonated by the target, and only the target.
- A bomb detonation must involve some visual or audible sign produced by the bomb. Like a boom, for instance. And said detonation must be noticed by the target.
- If your bomb does not produce a sound or a visual signal, it might still be valid if the victim will clearly realize that they have been killed because of something else your bomb does – but you must clear any such bomb with me, the Arbit0r, in advance. You may get points for creativity if you can come up with a particularly good method, but only if you verified it with me ahead of time – otherwise it may not count as a successful bomb at all.
- The bomb must include the name of the target and the name(s) of the assassin(s).
A lame bomb is a bomb which produces a sub-audible/sub-visible detonation.
A defused bomb is a bomb which is detonated by someone other than the bomb's intended target. Note that since a bomb must have a note, if the note is removed from a bomb, the bomb is considered defused.Any given target can be assassinated only once, at which point they must run and hide in shame. Master Assassins become targets for their alley as well (see Rule 7), and can be assassinated in the same way. Up to three (but no more than three) assassins can work as a team to eliminate a single target, and share the points gained in doing so. In addition, any would-be assassin can personally deliver a bomb to a target (suicide bomb) once during the course of the game.
Rule 3. Spoils
In a successful assassination attempt, the detonated bomb returns to the assassin's possession.
If the attempt at assassination fails, the bomb goes into the defuser's possession. This is only for the duration of the game; you must return people’s property to them after the game is done!
Rule 4. Lameness
If a lame bomb is detonated (the bomb goes off), but the target does not even realize it, the target's alley will lose points (for insufficient paranoia) and the assassin's alley will lose points (for lameness). You must confess. If however, you decide to retrieve it before it even tries to detonate, that's a non-scoring event and you don’t have to report it. For instance, if you rig a door for twenty minutes but unrig it before anyone comes through it, well, you're free to do what you want with your time! You must be on pass/fail.
Rule 5. Virtual Assassination
In general, the detonation of any virtual bomb (a bomb that exists only on a computer) will not be considered a true assassination. Generally, bombs must have a hardware component – you can’t send someone an e-mail that says “you have been bombed.” (Well, you can, but they’ll just consider you generally foolish.) Hence, a virtual bomb is no bomb at all.
Rule 6. Damage, personal and property
Don't actually kill or maim anyone. No matter how much you want to.
Don't make a bomb which will actually cause real damage to the Hovse or anyone’s personal property. Real explosions don't make good Alley Assassin bombs, as tempting as they might be. Actual injuries will hurt your score, and let's just say the BoC ninjas are real.
Rule 7. Master Assassins
Assassins who manage to make three successful assassinations become Master Assassins. A Master Assassin becomes a target for their own alley. If a Master Assassin is killed, they cease to be a Master Assassin and instead become Lame. Lamers must score an additional three kills to regain their Master status. If a target becomes a master assassin before being killed, his new targetness is due to that. No double-points for killing him-- you get enough extra credit as it is (see rule 8). If a Master Assassin scores the three additional kills before being killed they do gain the additional 40 points and can still only be killed once.
In short, kill Master Assassins as fast as you can.
Rule 8. Scoring
It isn't really a rule, but it is important. Here's how the scoring works:
All alleys start with 0 points. Assassins gain points by having their name on a successfully detonated bomb. The points received from an assassination attempt are split among the assassins involved. If an attempt is made on an at-large target, only the assassin's alley receives a point change; the target's alley does not.
Event
Your alley scores...
Target's alley scores...
Successful assassination (of one regular target)
+20
-15
Failed assassination (with lame bomb)
-2
-5
Failed assassination (with defused bomb, saving target)
-5
+5 (defuser’s alley, not target’s)
Become a Master Assassin
+40 (plus kill)
0 (no further loss)
Assassinate a Master Assassin
+30
-15 (and a thumpin')
Of course, this doesn't take into account style points, which means that depending on how you make your assassination attempt, I may award or remove points solely on the basis of how cool or lame you are (respectively).
Note (from an emailed question): The kill and points are divided among those involved. So if you and two others killed a target, each would get .33 kills and 6.67 points. This can be split between alleys as well. The main factor is who is written on the note.
Rule 9. Questions
If you plan to do something that is questionably legal, and you ask first, you will be given special consideration. If any rules are unclear, ask and I will clarify. All inquiries are confidential.
Rule 10. Fin
The game ends when (a) there is only one alley's target(s) remaining, or (b) when the cannon fires, signaling the end of first term, whichever happens first.
Rule 11. Affiliations
For purposes of the game Katie Stoy is from Pub, Dima is from Batcave, James Mao is from Avery, and Valerie is from Heaven. Roommates of targets are automatically part of the alley associated with the target (some targets have non-mole roommates).