Assassins as a Heroic Archetype?

[Dragonhelm]

I should probably say up front that I tend to play heroic games. I'm not a huge fan of mercenary style games. I like games that are good vs. evil.

One thing I have trouble with is thinking of the assassin, no matter the edition, as a heroic archetype. When I look at the various classes, I can see each one as a hero, whether it be the noble paladin or the swashbuckling rogue.

Yet for some reason, the assassin throws me for a loop. Maybe it's the name. Yet the whole concept of it, at its very core, is a character who murders another character. It isn't that a character is killing another character. This happens in D&D all the time. It's the reasons behind it.

If a paladin kills somebody, it's probably because he was being evil and trying to kill the paladin or those he loves. He does what he does out of defense. Heck, even the avenger can come across as the Batman type, where you're doing good, but you're more of a Chaotic Good type.

The assassin, though, comes across to me as a cold-blooded killer. He kills for many reasons, but most notably because a) he was paid to or b) he enjoys it. There's nothing innately heroic about this archetype, at least that I can tell.

Perhaps I'm not seeing the bigger picture. Maybe I'm missing something here.

Can the assassin be a heroic character? Or, will he always be a mercenary at best and a cold-blooded killer at worst? Or are they anti-heroes, like the Punisher? What are some good examples of some heroic assassins?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Treebore]

James Bond is an assassin.

 

[Leatherhead]

James Bond is an assassin.

Technically he is a spy, which is covered by the Rogue class.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

The assassin, though, comes across to me as a cold-blooded killer. He kills for many reasons, but most notably because a) he was paid to or b) he enjoys it. There's nothing innately heroic about this archetype, at least that I can tell.

As a mechanic once said to me, "There's your problem right there!"

Assassins come in all kinds, just like other types. While its true they've devoted their lives to mastering ways to kill- similar to the Fighter, but different in focus- they don't all do it for money or enjoyment.

Some do it for King & Country.

Some do it because they feel killing a few key people prevents wars that kill many.

Some do it because they're being forced to- perhaps by having their family held hostage.

Some are brainwashed into it, are born into it as the family business, or are even driven by faith to master the art of the kill. (In fact, the name "assassin" comes from the practices of an Islamic sect. The Straight Dope: Does "assassin" derive from "hashish"?)

Some see it as an art in and of itself.

 

[Treebore]

Technically he is a spy, which is covered by the Rogue class.

No, he kills people as directed and has a "license to kill", clearly an assassin.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

Well, "Bond, James Bond" is kind of both. He's done his fair share of spying, but he's DEFINITELY done his share of killing.

He's rarely been given an explicit order to kill "Mr. X," but is instead given a blanket license to kill "people who need killin'."

 

[Umbran]

No, he kills people as directed and has a "license to kill", clearly an assassin.

With respect, the James Bond most of us are familiar with (in the movies) is generally not ordered specifically to kill. He's ordered to do other things, and has carte blanche on killing if he feels it is necessary to achieve his objective. This in comparison to other agents, who have to justify killing, or even discharging a weapon.

 

[Pseudonym]

I know an assassin class has precedent in earlier editions, but isn't it more a job description than a defined character role? Any class or alignment can find a justification for assassinating people.

 

[Dannager]

Not that the 4e assassin class really bears a hard flavor similarity to the modern, real-life conception of an assassin, but if you want to take a look at an assassin character that can easily be viewed as heroic, look no further than Altair from Assassin's Creed.

He's clearly a professional killer - singular in purpose. Every move he makes brings him closer to his ultimate goal of killing his target. He is not, however, evil or even mercenary. He kills the oppressive, the corrupt and the conniving. He is driven by a belief system, firm with the knowledge that he is morally justified in his actions. He is not paid handsomely for his duties, nor does he receive widespread, favorable public recognition. He fits very nicely into the heroic archetype - faced with constant struggle, he overcomes challenges with his own prowess in the name of a higher moral calling.

 

[Treebore]

With respect, the James Bond most of us are familiar with (in the movies) is generally not ordered specifically to kill. He's ordered to do other things, and has carte blanche on killing if he feels it is necessary to achieve his objective. This in comparison to other agents, who have to justify killing, or even discharging a weapon.

Strange, every James Bond movie I have seen has him killing his "target". In fact, I do not remember him ever taking a "target" alive.

Maybe they never issued him a directive to "kill your target" in order to have "plausible denial ability"?

They always said it nicely, like, "007, please take care of Dr. No, will you?"