Curse

Pevil Lihatuh · Mar 12, 2006, 11:40 AM // 11:40

yeah it sounds solo... but then why the hell does DnD have thieves fighting in groups with clerics and paladins? A thief wouldn't be out fighting, he'd be hiding in a corner ready to swipe stuff out your pocket. Just think of it like that; the assassin is your group member who keeps out of the main melee then runs in and finishes off the enemy after you beat it up badly and finishes him off swiftly and efficiently. Now I'm sure it won't play exactly like that, unless you go for a caltraps type assassin, but its gonna be a similar kinda thing surely

Numa Pompilius · Mar 12, 2006, 12:37 PM // 12:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by Toben_Hexx

Not the proff, the name.

Well, it's a lightly armored and lightly armed warrior, relying on stealth, speed, and conditions.
It should've been called 'scout', but that's taken, they couldn't call it 'rogue' because WoW's got'em, plus everyone spells it rouge anyway. He's sortof a ninja but not quite, and Chuck Norris beats ninjas. So what's left?
Assassin.

SilentAssassin · Mar 12, 2006, 01:36 PM // 13:36

well I use Silent Assassin so that makes me a kid? ...

Well I am 19, find it quite weird to say stuff like that, oh well...

about why assassin?

assassins are closest related to ninja's (in games), its an obvious name...

Cjlr · Mar 12, 2006, 02:45 PM // 14:45

No no no. It's because it has a very sexy abbreviation...

ShadowMagus · Mar 12, 2006, 03:08 PM // 15:08

Put simply, the name assassin was probably chosen because of the proffessions play style.

The assassin specializes in hit-and-run techniques, suprising the opponent by teleporting right next to them, launching a chain of fast attacks for high damage, and dissapearing again.

Further, assassin does not neccesarily imply solo - it is mearly a style of "combat" for eleminating the enemy. Assassins can come in groups of any size, depending on their target and circumstances.

WasAGuest · Mar 12, 2006, 05:08 PM // 17:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by JiggyFly

Well using that logic than I suppose Monk is the worst name, because in all other games I've ever played a Monk was a H2H melee character.

heh, I was gonna say that. We've all seen the monks martial art inspired dance. I wonder if at one time, the monk was gonna be a h2h character...

MalVeauX · Mar 12, 2006, 06:51 PM // 18:51

I personally don't like the "assassin" name either. Look at the character types we have:

Globals:

Warriors - Global name.
Monks - Global name.
Elementalist - Global name.

They're global because it's a name that can represent a great deal of things. One can be less of a fighter, or more of a defender, etc. They have many options and each name doesn't neccessarily mean that they're the exact thing in your head. These names are pretty universal.

Specifics:

Necromancer - (Read: Not Sorceror!) Type name.
Mesmer - (Read: Not Sorceror!) Type name.
Ranger - (Read: Not Warrior!) Type name.

These are all more specific name types of a larger global name. Funny how it's in groups of 3's....

New Names:

Ritualist - (Read: Not Sorceror!) Type name again.
Assassin - (Read: Not Warrior!) Type name again.

Now, the Assassin is different though. The name isn't just a type name, it's quite different. It doesn't really fit into other categories, because the idea of a Fighter or Warrior doesn't work well with the idea of an Assassin. Assassins kill people not monsters. And in PVE that makes it a very silly idea. In PVP however, it makes slightly more sense, but again, it's not that useful because they're in a team. What's the point of calling them an assassin if everyone techically is one in PVP.

The Assassin should have a different name. Maybe a Head Hunter or something. Martial Artist? Ninja? It would just make more sense to get a more non-specific name.

An assassin is a very specific name in the idea of names. There's no question about what an assassin is or does unlike the other names, even the more specific type names above. Assassins are as specific as it gets out of all these names. It just doesn't fit.

Cheers!

Grimm · Mar 12, 2006, 07:02 PM // 19:02

That made no sense. There is nothing intrinsicly "global" or "specific" about any classes. They all can do many different things from offense to defense. Where do you come up with "sorceror" anyway?

You can try to split classes into "casters" and "fighters", but assassins do both. They have attacks and hexes, enchantments, etc.

X of Thulcandra · Mar 12, 2006, 07:40 PM // 19:40

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sol_Vie

Hell yes they do.

Dear. God.

Da Cebuano · Mar 12, 2006, 07:51 PM // 19:51

Konoha ninja were taken, as well as shinobis.

UndeadRoadkill · Mar 12, 2006, 09:34 PM // 21:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by jciardha

Well, the original word "Assassin" derives from a medieval Middle Eastern religious cult, the Hashshashin. Yet, Anet decides to put them into a pseudo-Far Eastern culture instead. If you're into historical purism anyway.

Anet has all kinds of goofy person/place names and character accents all over their world, there doesn't seem to be much ethnic consistancy.

Sagius Truthbarron · Mar 15, 2006, 02:25 AM // 02:25

"Assassin" has become a pretty term global for 'hired killer; stealthful payed murder'. While its origins might not be global, the name now is among the English speaking.

They say that Abraham Licoln was assassinated. Was he killed by Muslim government operatives in 1200 A.D.? Something tells me, no.

They say there was an 'assassination attempt' against Ronald Regan. Does this mean a group of men on camels ran up to him, attempting to beat him with their curved sword thingies?

Fine, let's just get over with it and call the class 'Thief' or 'Rogue'.

Tell me another word that means 'Hired, stealthful, trained killer'. Hitman?

Diablo™ · Mar 15, 2006, 02:32 AM // 02:32

The word Assassin did originate from ancient Islam, according to most scholars, but the profession it represents is universal and originates in any cultures that employs a hired killer.

Diablo™ · Mar 15, 2006, 02:43 AM // 02:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by AeroLion

Seriously. Because if they called them ninjas, it would only be a matter of time before the pirates start peg-legging their way into Cantha. And we all know what happens when ninjas and pirates get together....

I don't know... but let's find out.

stickyballs · Mar 15, 2006, 02:47 AM // 02:47

Dunno, ANet just tried to make a cool name. How cool they will really be will be seen when Factions comes out. PvP weekend only let us see a glimpse of what they're all about. Pretty cool from what I saw. Combo, combo, combo, combo, Shadow Step, etc. I think they were just trying to get a catchy name.

And who votes there will be way more Assasins than Ritualists?

/raisehand

Desbreko · Mar 15, 2006, 03:17 AM // 03:17

To me, the name Assassin implies a style of play similar to how I played my trap/interrupt build on my ranger. In the case of trapping, I'd let the warriors aggro and draw the attention of the monsters, then run in and lay my traps among them. After my first Dust Trap was sprung, nothing could hit me even if they tried to attack me, and my Spike Trap would keep them snared in my follow-up Flame Trap. I couldn't kill things on my own with this build, but while working in the shadow of the warriors, I could do nasty, nasty things to the baddies.

Or, against casters, I'd be placing my bow shots carefully to interrupt important spells. Again, I couldn't really kill things on my own, but as a support fighter I could cause great havoc among enemy mobs.

I picture the Assassin similar to that, only as a melee character who has a little more killing power. Sneaking in behind the warriors, or teleporting in, to sow chaos among baddies and finish off weak targets. Hopefully I'm not too far off, because that's the sort of melee character I enjoy playing; the current warriors have never appealed to me as much.

NatalieD · Mar 15, 2006, 05:02 AM // 05:02

Malveau, I think I get the point of what you're saying, but how the heck is "elementalist" more general than "mesmer"?

Metanoia · Mar 15, 2006, 11:38 AM // 11:38

I remember reading something about the Assassin's outfits, It went a little like this... "When death is your business, you don't hide it, you wear it for all to see" - hence the spandex and razorblades theme... obviously.

What does this actually have to do with assassination? Assassination is all about efficiency. You want someone dead, do you send your army? No, you send an assassin or possibly a really good lawyer, depending on where you're from. On second thought, it's probably a lot cheaper to just hire the assassin. Then again, nobody likes lawyers, so maybe it'd be even cheaper to hire the lawyer and then get an assassin to kill them after they win at a discount fee.

Ninjas were often used as spies and assassins, d'ya think they walked around with neon-lit signs above their heads that read "Assassin. Come get some!". Of course not, bet they didn't run like monkeys either.

Edit: So to reiterate.
Assassin: Discrete efficient professional killer or partially-shaved, ballet dancing, spandex and razorblade wearing killer monkey?

*grumble grumble*

*moan moan*

Oh and Samurai > Ninjas.

*runs away*

wolfe2dale · Mar 15, 2006, 12:13 PM // 12:13

This thread should be re-named the 'Geek of Assassins' thread....

Talk about over-analysing a new character class.

The way I see it the reasons are pretty straight forward....

1.) Assassins are considered cool by lots of people.
2.) Nothing like a girl with 2 big knives & a skintight outfit to increase player numbers, (Especially in the under 18 category).

So, new sexy character class = new players who want to play it.

Simple really.

Metanoia · Mar 15, 2006, 12:23 PM // 12:23

If I may interupt the e-pwning, wolfe2dale.

Everyone already knows WHY they did it. People are just a little disappointed in them for actually doing it.

Edit: Not that anyone is being serious. Besides, since when is an excuse to post kitten-ninja videos a bad thing?