Rules: Weaponry

The following gives an outline of the various weapons which can be used against enemies. It is not an exhaustive list and players are encouraged to use their imagination; however, the GM may make any kills carried out with an unauthorized weapon invalid, so do come and check before using your latest creation in the heat of battle. In general, all weapons must be completely safe (for both people and property), defensible so as not to unbalance the game and materially and tangibly do something, to indicate to the victim that he/she has been killed. All non-obvious weapons must be clearly labelled; if you were carrying a real knife, you wouldn't be able to convince your target that it was a pencil by holding your thumb over the label, so don't do that either.

Messy weapons should be used sensibly; they should be carefully aimed and not used to excess. Don't use messy weapons against people carrying something expensive or wearing formal clothes as they might get annoyed.

Weapons should be specific to the victim — killing bystanders is to be avoided even when the effect is harmless.

Except where noted below, most weapons will kill the target instantly if they strike any part of the head or torso. If a limb is hit then it can no longer be used for the duration of the encounter for any game-related purpose, including to fire, reload or hold a weapon, to block a projectile, to open a door or window or to run away (although if you have to run away the GM will probably be lenient should you use an injured limb to take your weapons with you rather than leave them behind, as long as you don't use such weapons again in the encounter). Any assassin who continues to to use a limb with the knowledge that it has been injured will find that any associated kills are invalidated and possibly that the exertion is deemed to have caused death from blood loss.

DIRECT WEAPONS

Knives and other melee weapons
Knives made of foam, rubber or cardboard, plastic knives with retractable blades, ice-cream sticks, pens and pencils may all be used as knives. All knives should be clearly labelled "KNIFE". Please be careful when attacking people with pencils and anything else vaguely pointy. Knives should not be thrown.

Arbitary objects may not be turned into weapons simply by writing "KNIFE" on them; this may only be done to vaguely knife-shaped objects. No metal objects including cutlery knives may ever be used as knives.

Plastic or cardboard swords and toy lightsabers may be used as swords provided they are clearly labelled "SWORD". Actual fencing weapons should NOT be used as swords.

In the interests of safety, with all melee weapons, you should be careful to avoid attacks of a stabbing nature and should never aim for the head. Remember that this is a game of subtlety rather than combat.

Fluffy animals may be used as attack animals as long as they are labelled "KNIFE", "ATTACK ANIMAL", "KILLER RABBIT", etc. Ideally all attack animals should be presented to the GM first as he likes to see what embarrassing fluffy animals players own. Be creative with ways to use them, but if you wish to try something unconventional, then check with the GM beforehand.

INDIRECT WEAPONS

Contact poison
Represented by hair gel, jam, mustard, toothpaste, Vaseline or similar gooey substances, or by powder such as talcum powder. This will kill immediately after contact with the skin even if it is wiped off. This sort of contact poison is deemed to be no longer effective if it has dried enough that the victim does not notice it (be honest, please). Gloves or anything else which prevents the poison from coming into contact with the skin will protect you.

As contact poison is dangerous to anyone else who might touch the surface in question, you may not apply it to a surface in a public place unless you have a reasonable belief that a legal target for you will be the next person to touch that surface. You may not poison any door handles. That's worth repeating: contact poisoning a door handle will make you Wanted. In general, it is suggested you limit contact poison to things that only your target is likely to touch. Also, poisoning hard-to-clean or valuable personal belongings such as pencilboxes, wallets or bags is not allowed. Ask the GM for further clarification.

Paper planes with contact poison on the tip may be used as poisoned darts if they are appropriately labelled. Please take care not to use any substance likely to cause allergic reactions as a contact poison - the GM will inform you if your target has such allergies, but err on the side of caution in all cases.

Poisoned food or drink
Strongly-flavoured (edible!) substances added to a victim's food or drink count as poison and will kill the victim as soon as they notice the taste. If the poison is dilute enough not to be tasted it will not work. Note that experiments to establish the required dose may well end up killing the guinea pig. Be careful not to use as poison any substances which may cause allergic reactions, especially nut extracts.

Food which normally tastes strong or spicy does not count as poison on its own. Similarly, buying your victim catered food from the RI dining hall does not count as poisoning.

Special letters
Cards and letters may contain contact poison. Poisoned letters should usually be signed, and must always have a disclaimer reading something like:

This is a letter for the mock assassination game run by the Raffles Assassins Guild. The substance contained within is [insert name of substance] and is completely harmless. Queries should be addressed to the Gamemaster for this season, Ryan D of 07S03N.

Anyone failing to replace the text '[insert name of substance here]' with the actual name of the substance in question will be made Wanted for extreme stupidity.

Alternatively, you may send "exciting" musical greetings cards (use ready-made cards only, please — not cards you have made or modified yourself) to your targets. If such a card starts to play and you are touching it (even if you are wearing gloves), you are deemed to be so "excited" by the vibrations of the tinny, annoying melody that you become insane and commit suicide. Cards should contain a disclaimer such as:

This is an "exciting" card for the mock assassination game run by the Raffles Assassins Guild. Queries should be addressed to the Gamemaster for this season, Ryan D of 07S03N.

If the card is also poisoned, then you should include the relevant part of the poison disclaimer too. Please try to ensure that "exciting" cards are not opened during lectures or lessons.

For obvious reasons, powdered contact poison (talcum powder, flour, etc.) MUST NOT be sent through the post.

MISCELLANY

Other weapons
It is possible to use many other weapons not in this list. However, you must contact the Umpire to register any other weapon first so that the umpire can decide whether it is fair and safe. Any kills you make with an unlicensed weapon may be disallowed.

Shields
There are no shields in this game, and clothing, bags and weaponry will not block incoming attacks. This means that if you are hit in the back while carrying a bag, and the attack would have hit your body had you not been wearing it, you are dead. Weapons may likewise not block attacks and so hits to your weapon may count as having hit your arm or body as appropropriate if they would otherwise have done so. Assassins should be fair, however, and ensure that victims of attacks actually notice these attacks. There is nothing more infuriating than being informed that you are dead because someone stabbed your bag when you weren't looking.

Disallowed weapons

None of the following weapons will be allowed:

• Body armour
• Shields or tanks
• Poison gas
• Air rifles or any kind of "real" weapon
• Rubber pellet guns
• Thrown CDs or playing cards
• Any form of "bomb" or other "explosive" device
• Paintball guns
• Water guns