Vampire Assassins
Encyclopedia
Vampire Assassin is a live-action game
spin-off of the game Assassin. For additional information on game play, see Assassin.
In Vampire Assassin, about 10-15% of players start out as 'king/queen vampires' and the rest of the players start out as 'townsfolk'. The townsfolk are not told who is a vampire.
The king/queen vampires are aware of their fellow vampire's identities and can create other (non-king/queen) vampires. Any vampires can 'turn' townsfolk into vampires by touching them with an set object, such as a cardboard cutout of fangs. The townsfolk can kill a vampire, thereby removing them from the game, by touching them with a set object, such as a cardboard cutout of a stake.
The game ends when either only one townsfolk is left or if all the king/queen vampires are killed. The winner can be calculated in two ways. The last person standing can be named winner or the person/vampire with the most kills/turns is named winner. Some games are played with two winners - the last human standing the person with the most kills/turns.
Some games are played with an additional rule set that only allows vampires to turn townsfolk at night and townsfolk to stake vampires during the day. This adds an additional level of strategy.
Like Assassins, this variant revolves around a mixture of paranoia and deception. However, 'Vampire Assassins' adds the additional element of teamwork. Because no one has a particular target, players can try to work together or create elaborate ruses.
In some games, townsfolk cannot stake vampires. Instead, a player suspected of being a vampire must be brought in front of the town council, who will then decide to to 'stake' the player or not. Usually this decision is made after players give testimony by a vote of all who are present. If the town council stakes a player, he or she is dead regardless of if the player was a vampire or not.
Additional rules can be added to help players identify vampires. In college dorms, it is sometimes declared that vampires cannot enter another person's bedroom without receiving an invitation, although this invitation may be subtly solicited. Another rule which can be implemented is to order that all kills be made without the presence of another vampire. If a vampire is present, he or she reports this to the game host, who declares the 'staked' vampire still undead. Similarly, it is sometimes ruled that humans cannot be turned in the presence of other humans.
A second way of winning exists in some ways which allows vampires to fully participate in the game. By this second method, each player is awarded a point when they kill and/or turn another player. If a player becomes a vampire, he or she retains the kill points and begins adding one point for every person turned. Often killing a king/queen or town council member (if applicable) will yield 5 points instead of one. The game ends when one last human is standing or when all the vampire king/queens have been staked. At the end of the game, the game hosts tally points and award the title winner to whomever has the most points.
Game hosts can allow players to win both ways simultaneously - declaring one winner for staying alive and another winner for gaining the most points.
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Live-action game
A live-action game is a game where the participants act out their characters' actions. Live action gaming was created in 1978 in Branford, Connecticut, USA, by John Dillon III and Walter Gailey.-Play overview:...
spin-off of the game Assassin. For additional information on game play, see Assassin.
In Vampire Assassin, about 10-15% of players start out as 'king/queen vampires' and the rest of the players start out as 'townsfolk'. The townsfolk are not told who is a vampire.
The king/queen vampires are aware of their fellow vampire's identities and can create other (non-king/queen) vampires. Any vampires can 'turn' townsfolk into vampires by touching them with an set object, such as a cardboard cutout of fangs. The townsfolk can kill a vampire, thereby removing them from the game, by touching them with a set object, such as a cardboard cutout of a stake.
The game ends when either only one townsfolk is left or if all the king/queen vampires are killed. The winner can be calculated in two ways. The last person standing can be named winner or the person/vampire with the most kills/turns is named winner. Some games are played with two winners - the last human standing the person with the most kills/turns.
Rules
Game hosts begin the game by choosing a number of vampire kings/queens. These kings/queens are made aware of each others identities, but the other players (townsfolk) are not told who the vampire kings/queens are. This allows the vampire kings/queens to plot together. Vampire king/queens attempt to turning townsfolk by touching them with an object, such as a cardboard cutout of a fang. If a townsfolk is touched by the object, they become a vampire. If a townsfolk uncovers a vampire, he or she can 'kill' the vampire by touching him or her with an object, such as a cardboard cutout of a stake. Anytime a kill or turn is made, it must be reported to the game host who keeps a record.Some games are played with an additional rule set that only allows vampires to turn townsfolk at night and townsfolk to stake vampires during the day. This adds an additional level of strategy.
Like Assassins, this variant revolves around a mixture of paranoia and deception. However, 'Vampire Assassins' adds the additional element of teamwork. Because no one has a particular target, players can try to work together or create elaborate ruses.
Variations and Additional Rules
Some games utilize a 'town council'. The town council is chosen by players and may thus include vampires who try and foil the council. The goal of the town council is to discover the king/queen vampires as soon as possible. The town council might gather townsfolk together to hear evidence and testimonies which suggest a certain player is a vampire.In some games, townsfolk cannot stake vampires. Instead, a player suspected of being a vampire must be brought in front of the town council, who will then decide to to 'stake' the player or not. Usually this decision is made after players give testimony by a vote of all who are present. If the town council stakes a player, he or she is dead regardless of if the player was a vampire or not.
Additional rules can be added to help players identify vampires. In college dorms, it is sometimes declared that vampires cannot enter another person's bedroom without receiving an invitation, although this invitation may be subtly solicited. Another rule which can be implemented is to order that all kills be made without the presence of another vampire. If a vampire is present, he or she reports this to the game host, who declares the 'staked' vampire still undead. Similarly, it is sometimes ruled that humans cannot be turned in the presence of other humans.
Winning
Two main ways of calculating the winner exist. By the first method, the last human standing is declared winner. This allows the game to be played until all but one are turned into vampires.A second way of winning exists in some ways which allows vampires to fully participate in the game. By this second method, each player is awarded a point when they kill and/or turn another player. If a player becomes a vampire, he or she retains the kill points and begins adding one point for every person turned. Often killing a king/queen or town council member (if applicable) will yield 5 points instead of one. The game ends when one last human is standing or when all the vampire king/queens have been staked. At the end of the game, the game hosts tally points and award the title winner to whomever has the most points.
Game hosts can allow players to win both ways simultaneously - declaring one winner for staying alive and another winner for gaining the most points.
Security Fears
Vampire Assassins was developed in part due to the security fears of the Assassin game, where the fake guns and other objects used raised security alerts. Because Vampire Assassins uses fantastical concepts, it is not easily mistaken for a real security threat. For more information on the security issues of Assassin, see Assassin (game)Assassin (game)
Assassin is a live-action game...
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