By: Alexis LeMieux

Inspired by the Nerf wars that typically take place during the spring, Bellbrook seniors were interested in planning out a Senior Assassin competition.

The objective of Senior Assassin is to eliminate your assigned target with a water gun until only one player remains. Each elimination will earn you your target’s assigned person.

“We talked about it last year and we were like, this will be fun because we do Nerf and this will be fun too,” senior Zoe Howard said. Howard is one of the three planners. “If nobody else wanted to run it, then I decided to help do it because I thought it’d be fun.”

“I decided to do Senior Assassin because it’s a fun way to bring the senior class together and make lasting memories before graduation,” senior Symone Costner said. Costner also is one of the planners.

“The process involves creating rules, setting deadlines for sign-ups and payments, organizing the system for how the assassin assignments would go, and making sure everything stays fair and safe,” Costner said.

To register, you must give $15 to any of the three planners, seniors Calle Caldwell, Costner, or Howard, by Friday, September 19, and signup through the Splashin App with the code provided on the Instagram page, @bellbrook_senior_assassin26.

The game officially begins Monday, September 22 and ends October 4. Rounds are played weekly, and at the end of each week, the remaining players will receive new targets. If less than five players remain, the final round will be a free for all.

Rounds may feature bounty rounds, where at random times, bonus eliminations can be earned, encouraging faster play.

The money from each participant will be gathered and put together for final prizes at the end of the game. The winner will receive 70% of the prize pool, while runner up gets 20%, and the one with the most creative elimination gets 10%.

The three had to come together while planning to agree on different factors of Senior Assassin, making the planning process simpler. “We came up with a list of rules that we thought would be good,” Howard said. “Then, we posted the rules on Instagram.”

Rules were carefully decided upon in addition to the general planning to ensure player safety. 

“I tried to think of different scenarios that could happen and make the rules based off of that,” Costner said. “When I initially made a list of rules I showed the two other girls who are helping me run it for some input as well. We also added safety measures to make sure everyone is comfortable.”

The general rules include gameplay rules, safety rules, safe zones, and a code of conduct.

Gameplay rules:

• One target assignment at a time
• To eliminate someone, soak your target with a water gun. Proof of your elimination must be sent to organizers
• Eliminated players must turn over their target assignment to their eliminator
• If you fail to eliminate your target within the round’s timeframe, you may be eliminated by a penalty rule
• Safe item rule: A designated safe item, which will be chosen and announced before the game begins, may be worn or carried to grant temporary immunity. While the item is visible, the player can’t be eliminated. Once removed, the player is open to eliminated
  
  Safety rules:

• Only water guns can be used. No modifications or dangerous equipment is permitted
• No headshots. Chest, back, limbs only
• No physical contact
• Protective eyewear recommended
• No play in unsafe areas. (Anywhere that can lead to confusion or danger)

Safe zones where students cannot play the game:

• Inside school buildings or on school grounds during school hours
• Religious services or events
• Workplaces during active shifts
• Sporting events (games, practices, gyms)
• Grace period rule: Players can’t be eliminated during the 10 minutes immediately following the end of a school practice or game

Code of Conduct:

• Play responsibly, respect property, and keep it fun
• No trespassing, breaking laws, or endangering others
• Breaking any rules will result in disqualification with no refund