[Johnny1A.2]

This is more like an aspect of a system, it could exist within many different constitutions and arrangements.

Imagine a society where assassination is an accepted means of moving up the power structure, but one where they've replaced assassination with 'counting coup', so to speak.

That is, if you manage to arrange a situation where you could kill your target, but don't, it counts the same as killing him for purposes of status. Counting coup might consist of any number of actions, but it would have to be something public, so people were aware of it, and a case whereby you could have killed him easily, but didn't.

That might mean that Mr. Target opens up his laptop and it triggers the ceiling to fall on his head. The fact that falling slab is made of Nerf foam is a side issue.

Or Ms. Target drinks her coffee in the public, begins to cough and choke, and her rival steps out and says, "You know, I could have used poison instead of a nasty tasting chemical..."