Assassinating in Style: How to Run a Tabletop Roleplaying Game in the Style of Assassin's Creed

 

 

Assassin's Creed is a popular video game series that has been around since 2007. The games are known for their action-packed gameplay, intricate storylines, and historical settings. If you're a fan of Assassin's Creed and want to bring that same sense of adventure and intrigue to a tabletop roleplaying game (TTRPG) setting, this article is for you. In this post, we'll explore some tips and tricks for running a TTRPG in the style of Assassin's Creed.

    Use a Historical Setting: Assassin's Creed games are known for their historical settings, such as ancient Rome and Renaissance Italy. Use this same approach in your TTRPG by creating a historical setting that is rich in detail and provides a sense of authenticity to the game world.

    A suitable historical setting for a TTRPG in the style of Assassin's Creed would be the Renaissance period in Italy. The Renaissance was a time of great artistic and cultural achievement, but it was also a time of political upheaval and conflict between Italian city-states. This provides a rich and complex setting for a TTRPG, with a variety of factions, political intrigue, and historical figures to draw from. Additionally, the architecture and art of the Renaissance period provide a unique and visually stunning backdrop for the game.

    Emphasize Stealth and Assassination: Assassin's Creed games are known for their emphasis on stealth and assassination. Use this same approach in your TTRPG by creating challenges that require players to use stealth and assassination to achieve their objectives. This could include sneaking past guards, sabotaging targets, and assassinating key figures.

    Use a Secret Society: Assassin's Creed games are known for their secret societies, such as the Assassins and the Templars. Use this same approach in your TTRPG by creating a secret society that the players are a part of. This could include a guild of assassins or a group of spies and saboteurs.

    Use a Conspiracy Plot: Assassin's Creed games are known for their intricate conspiracy plots that involve political intrigue and historical events. Use this same approach in your TTRPG by creating a conspiracy plot that the players are trying to unravel. This could include a plot to overthrow a government or a conspiracy to start a war.

    Use Historical Figures: Assassin's Creed games are known for their use of historical figures, such as Leonardo da Vinci and George Washington. Use this same approach in your TTRPG by including historical figures as NPCs that the players interact with. This could include famous scientists, artists, or political figures.

    What are some historical figures that could be included in the game?

    There are many historical figures from the Renaissance period in Italy that could be included in a TTRPG in the style of Assassin's Creed. Here are a few examples:

        Leonardo da Vinci - The famous artist and inventor could be included as an NPC who provides the players with valuable information or technology.

        Niccolo Machiavelli - The famous political philosopher and author of "The Prince" could be included as an NPC who provides the players with insight into the political landscape of the time.

        Lorenzo de' Medici - The powerful ruler of Florence who was a patron of the arts could be included as an NPC who the players must protect from assassination attempts.

        Cesare Borgia - The infamous son of Pope Alexander VI who was known for his military conquests and political maneuvering could be included as an NPC who is the target of an assassination attempt.

        Galileo Galilei - The famous astronomer and physicist could be included as an NPC who provides the players with information about the stars and planets, which could be used for navigation or other purposes.

        Michelangelo Buonarroti - The famous artist and sculptor could be included as an NPC who provides the players with information about the art and architecture of the time.

        Caterina Sforza - The powerful ruler of Forli who was known for her military prowess could be included as an NPC who the players must ally with to achieve their objectives.

    These are just a few examples of the many historical figures who could be included in a TTRPG in the style of Assassin's Creed. Including these figures can add depth and historical accuracy to the game, as well as provide players with interesting and engaging NPCs to interact with.

    What kind of quests could be built around these historical figures?

    There are many quests that could be built around the historical figures of the Renaissance period in Italy. Here are a few examples:

        Quest for Machiavelli's Manuscript: The players are tasked with retrieving a valuable manuscript written by Niccolo Machiavelli that contains important political secrets. The manuscript has been stolen and is being held by a group of thieves who are demanding a high ransom for its return.

        Protect Lorenzo de' Medici: The players are tasked with protecting Lorenzo de' Medici, ruler of Florence, from assassination attempts by rival factions who seek to overthrow his rule. The players must use their skills and abilities to uncover the plots against him and prevent his assassination.

        Assassinate Cesare Borgia: The players are hired to assassinate Cesare Borgia, the son of Pope Alexander VI who is known for his military conquests and political maneuvering. Borgia is a powerful and dangerous target, and the players must use their skills and abilities to infiltrate his stronghold and carry out the assassination.

        Retrieve Leonardo da Vinci's Inventions: The players are tasked with retrieving a set of valuable inventions created by Leonardo da Vinci that have been stolen and are being sold on the black market. The inventions are valuable and dangerous, and the players must use their skills and abilities to infiltrate the black market and retrieve the inventions before they fall into the wrong hands.

        Solve the Mystery of Galileo's Telescope: The players are tasked with solving a mystery surrounding Galileo's telescope, which has been stolen and appears to have strange powers. The players must use their skills and abilities to track down the thieves and uncover the secrets of the telescope.

        Protect Caterina Sforza: The players are tasked with protecting Caterina Sforza, ruler of Forli, from assassination attempts by rival factions who seek to overthrow her rule. The players must use their skills and abilities to uncover the plots against her and prevent her assassination.

     

Suitable Player Characters:

•     The Assassin: A highly trained assassin with expertise in stealth and assassination.
•     The Spy: A skilled spy with expertise in gathering intelligence and sabotage.
•     The Thief: A nimble thief with expertise in pickpocketing and lockpicking.
•     The Scholar: A learned scholar with expertise in historical research and deciphering codes.

Sample Adventure Outline: "The Conspiracy"

Setting: Renaissance Italy, a city-state plagued by political turmoil.

Plot: The players are members of a secret society of assassins tasked with uncovering a conspiracy to start a war between two city-states. They must use their skills and abilities to infiltrate key locations, gather intelligence, and assassinate key figures to prevent the conspiracy from succeeding.

As they progress through the adventure, the players encounter a variety of challenges and obstacles, including guards, traps, and rival factions. They must use their wits and strategy to outsmart their enemies and stay one step ahead of the conspiracy.

Characters: The players could take on the roles of an assassin, spy, thief, and scholar, each with their own unique abilities and skills that complement each other in combat and exploration.

Suitable TTRPG Systems to Use

•     Blades in the Dark: A TTRPG system that focuses on a gang of criminals in a dark fantasy city. It emphasizes stealth, heists, and political intrigue.
•     Shadow of the Demon Lord: A TTRPG system that takes place in a dark fantasy world filled with danger and corruption. It emphasizes character customization and a fast-paced, action-packed combat system.
•     Savage Worlds: A TTRPG system that is designed for fast-paced, cinematic action. It emphasizes character customization and a streamlined, easy-to-learn rules system.

Conclusion

Running a TTRPG in the style of Assassin's Creed can be a thrilling and engaging experience, allowing players to explore historical settings, unravel intricate conspiracies, and assassinate key figures. By incorporating the tips and tricks outlined in this article, you can create a memorable and engaging game that captures the spirit of Assassin's Creed. So gather your friends, prepare your hidden blades, and get ready to uncover the secrets of the conspiracy.