Rift is a newly released fantasy MMORPG set in the world of Telara, where rifts open on the surface, allowing monsters to enter. It is the goal of players to defeat these invaders as the creatures proceed in groups towards preset population points on the map where they will kill all the inhabitants.

Characters in the game can choose between four different callings, the Cleric, Mage, Rogue and Warrior. Two of the primary Rogue callings are that of the Rift assassin and the Rift marksman.

The origin of Rift assassins traces back to the dwarf Veselav, who was the illegitimate son of the King of Hammerknell by one of the queen’s handmaidens. Set on revenge when his mother was murdered by the queen, Veselav trained as an assassin under Bogdan, his uncle. As a legendary Rift assassin, he developed his own type of poison, which he named after Ursula, the queen herself.

The Rift assassin relies on traits of evasion and trickery to bypass obstacles in the game and launch surprise attacks on enemies. The Rift assassin also relies on the use of their poisoned weapons to defeat monsters, and this and their ability to blend into the shadows, is their greatest strength. Rift assassins, like Rift marksman, are not direct combat characters or “tanks,” and only survive if they can maintain the element of surprise and avoid any enemies that can overcome the venomous effects of the poisons they wield.

Rift marksman are another calling that relies on attacks from a distance, and by surprise. They are sharpshooters who fire on enemies from safe positions, and then run away before their targets can close on their position. Rift marksman rely heavily on mobility to survive, as Rift assassins rely on subterfuge. A Rift marksman can cripple the organized movement of attacking enemies if they can avoid being cornered in the process. Rift marksman who operate in groups can be a deadly force nearly impossible to stop.

Since Rift marksman don’t rely on brute force to accomplish their aims, their ranks can be populated by women or characters that otherwise look rather harmless. Therefore, Rift marksmen develop such attributes as “Keen Eye” and “Hasty Departure” to defeat stronger foes. A Rift marksman’s greatest ability is in the deadly accuracy and firepower of its weapons, and much of a Rift marksman character’s development is therefore focused on enhancing their weapons.