Car Wars is a tabletop game first released in 1981 by Steve Jackson Games. It is set in a dystopian future where players take on the roles of drivers in a post-apocalyptic world, battling it out in vehicular combat. The game has gained a cult following over the years and has spawned multiple expansions and editions.
Game Components of Car Wars
Counters and Tokens: Include vehicle counters, weapon counters, and other game tokens.Rulebook: A 64-page black and white manual on printer paper.Maps: Black and white printed maps, often folded, which can include arena maps with various features like concrete walls and pedestrian bunkers.Dice: Four low-grade 6-sided dice.Turning Key: A tool for tracking vehicle maneuvers, made of thin cardstock.Vehicle Record Sheets: For tracking vehicle status, handling, and damage.
How To Setup Car Wars
Setting up Car Wars involves several steps:
Choose Vehicles: Select or design vehicles, assigning them counters or miniatures.Set Beginning Speed and Handling: Mark the initial speed and handling status for each vehicle on the record sheet.Roll for Reflexes: Determine the drivers’ reflexes, which affect the vehicle’s handling class.Place Vehicles: Position the vehicles in their starting positions on the map.Prepare Maps: Use the provided maps or create custom maps as described in the scenarios section.
Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective
Turn Structure: Each turn is one second long, divided into ten phases of 0.1 seconds each.Maneuvers and Combat: Players execute maneuvers like turning, drifting, and firing weapons, with each action potentially affecting the vehicle’s handling and ammo.Handling and Control: Manage the vehicle’s handling status to avoid losing control; frequent maneuvers and hazards reduce handling status.Damage Tracking: Track armor damage, ammo depletion, and other vehicle status changes.Objective: The goal is to eliminate the opponent’s vehicles or achieve specific scenario objectives.
Player Experience
Playing Car Wars is a tactical and immersive experience. The game offers deep customization options, allowing players to design unique vehicles with various weapons and armor. However, the gameplay can be slow and complex, involving multiple die rolls and table lookups for each action. This makes the game feel like an accurate reenactment of a moving battle, but it also sacrifices some playability for this realism.
Pros
Customization: Players can create highly customized vehicles, balancing acceleration, armor, and weaponry.Thematic Appeal: The game’s post-apocalyptic setting and autoduelling concept are highly engaging and cinematic.Detailed Mechanics: The rules provide a very accurate and detailed simulation of vehicle combat.
Cons
Complex Rules: The game involves intricate rules and multiple die rolls, which can slow down gameplay.Low-Quality Components: Later editions, like the 4th edition, have been criticized for poor component quality, such as low-grade dice and paper maps.Slow Gameplay: The detailed nature of the game mechanics can make gameplay slow and laborious.
Personal Thoughts on Car Wars
Car Wars is a game that will appeal to fans of tactical combat and customization. It is particularly suited for players who enjoy complex game mechanics and are willing to invest time in learning and playing the game. While it may not be the best introduction for new players due to its complexity and component quality issues in some editions, it remains a classic and engaging game for those who enjoy the theme and depth of autoduelling.
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