Seeking a little DM advice

[Taelorn76]

In the FR campaign I am starting I am thinking of having an assassin in the group, basically a mole, hired out by a boss to kill a member or the group, have not decided on which just yet. Now I don’t want him to turn on the group right away, I want them to trust this character. Right now the group consists of five players and me as DM. One of the five is a very good roleplayer. I was thinking of having him play the assassin, because he would play it better than me playing as an NPC.

Here is my dilemma once I approach him with this idea
1. If he refuses, I would have to scrap this plot twist because he would know to expect it sometime down the line.
2. If he accepts and carries out his mission or fails in his mission he is out of the group. I doubt that they would keep him in the group, let alone let him live.

So I am just looking for a little advice on whether I should play the assassin as an NPC or approach him, if anyone has ever done anything like this your input would be greatly appreciated

Thanks

 

[Wippit Guud]

My DM pulled something similar on my about a month ago, except she was my cohort (had just picked up Leadership)... well, I *thought* she was my cohort...

 

[Crothian]

Be careful with this. You know your players, so be careful that they don't see this as preferential treatment towards this one player. And make sure they won't take it personally if the player kills their chareacter and that you set this all up.

 

[DiFier]

My DM pulled something similar on my about a month ago, except she was my cohort (had just picked up Leadership)... well, I *thought* she was my cohort...

that is just wrong

 

[Wippit Guud]

that is just wrong

Heck no, I loved it... well, afterwards. I was actually saved by the guy who was supposed to be my cohort.

 

[Kyramus]

suggestion, talk with the pc, tell him that you have something secret planned but you can't exactly tell him, but for him to play along and see where the dice falls.

then proceed with giving him a fake background, then yank the plot or what there was from TOTAL RECALL, then use it. hehehehehe

 

[Taelorn76]

I don't think that they would see it as preferential treatment toward that player. My main concern is about the player playing the assassin, I would hate to make him create another character if he fails in his mission and the others kill him or if he succeedes he is bascily a playing solo.

 

[EricNoah]

How about if the player makes a character and you run him as an NPC (maybe even a little suspiciously so the other players think he's shady), and your accomplice runs the NPC assassin as a PC. Then when the assassin is exposed, switch.

 

[silentspace]

PC assassin = TPK. He'll just kill them in their sleep.

After that, what will you do?

 

[Crothian]

PC assassin = TPK. He'll just kill them in their sleep.

After that, what will you do?

Start a new campaign.....