The CH Guild of Assassins

[Eruresto]

No, CH hasn't become Ankh-Morpork...

Following a successful pilot with the Scouts last term, I have, with help from other institutions as lofty as the universities of Cambridge and Durham, set up an "Assassins' Guild" at CH.

For those who aren't familiar with the game, Assassins is a live-action game where each player must "assassinate" their targets whilst staying alive and avoiding/outsmarting the people hunting them. "Kills" are made using mockup weapons, such as cardboard swords, water pistols and pieces of paper saying "poison". The game in Lent Term will be open to all GE+, as well as a small number of UF with whom I am piloting to see if they are suitable.

I wonder, do any of you have any experience with the game? I'm umpiring this term's game, and have designed some logos for the guild (those of you on Facebook can view them there). You can follow the term's game (starting 18th January) at the Assassins' forum, at http://s13.invisionfree.com/CHAssassins.

[NEILL THE NOTORIOUS]

I wonder if I dare to comment -----
Yes, we all played "Cowboys and Indians" and " Killing Nazis" during the War (Is that now politically correct ?) and I think that any outdoor activity is to be encouraged, particularly if it involves planning and strategy.
HOWEVER ---- I sometimes wonder if these things can be carried too far, most of us realise, today, that Baden - Powell was half-training Soldiers,( Of that era) in the Scout Movement, and we in the Army welcomed ex- Scouts for that very reason. I was one of them.
I do believe that "War Games" need to be approached with care, they are great fun, but are somewhat lacking in the actual Blood and Guts which shock One in the real thing,---- and there ain't no training for that !
I know whereof I speak !

[Eruresto]

I agree - which is why Assassins, not just at CH, is "mock" in both senses - the game is, particularly in the "open-season" variant which we played last term, very light-hearted, and real combat rarely features. The key to success does not rely on personal strength - the rules stipulate that, for instance, one may not force a door if someone is hiding behind it - or even really on "the bigger gun", but about being quick-witted enough to work out, for example, how get to lessons when you know someone has warned you that they will be after you, and thinking outside the box. For instance, I foolishly decided that yes, I could, in full housey, chase and catch a 1st XI player in civvies. Needless to say I didn't catch him, but the next day, after a lot of warning "I'm still after you!" he discovered that he and I were marking next to each other in band parade. That time it was the biro that did the trick: held in the hand it was invisible to the people watching marching (including the head) and as the house went in and we did the whole phalanxy bit either side, out it came.

There are even unarmed versions of the game where people have to attach a peg to somebody to get them, and suchlike. But at the moment I'm too interested in watching the school run out of cardboard boxes as they are cannibalised for swords and watching players bring back their children toys - one player last term brought in a rubber Morning Star, which sadly saw little use.

[Great Plum]

So this is what you have been going on about on Facebook Josh!

[Eruresto]

Yes! The logos look rather nice, if I may say so myself...

[Sallz]

Im so jelous, the closest thing we had last year was "the game"

[Eruresto]

Starting midnight Sunday! Very exciting...

Of course the best bit will be when I get the chance to use the Wanted posters I've designed for players made "open season"