Car Wars (Sixth Edition) (2021) Board Game

Car Wars is a classic game that was first released in 1981 by Steve Jackson Games. The game is set in a dystopian future where players take on the roles of drivers in a post-apocalyptic world, competing in vehicular combat. The sixth edition of Car Wars was released in 2021, bringing updated rules and components to the game.

Game Components of Car Wars

Miniatures: 12 pre-assembled, unpainted 1/64-scale plastic car models.

Dashboards: Four thick, durable chipboard player dashboards for tracking armor, tire points, and power plant points.

Game Cards: Over 200 cards including car design decks, accessories, upgrades, weapons, and crew cards.

Counter Sheets: Six sheets with turning keys, wreck tokens, dashboard sliders, barriers, and various other tokens.

Dice: A pack of 20 dice in different colors used for attack rolls, defensive rolls, and movement rolls.

Vehicle Record Sheets: Six double-sided sheets.

Rulebook: A 24-page rulebook covering all game rules.

How To Setup Car Wars

To set up Car Wars, start by selecting your vehicle build points and distributing them among armor, vehicle components, and crew. Each player chooses a dashboard and places their vehicle miniature on the playing surface. Players then draw cards to equip their vehicles and crew. The game includes pregenerated car build mats for a quicker setup or the option to build custom vehicles using the build point system. Ensure each player has the necessary tokens and dice before beginning the game.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Mechanics

Vehicle Customization: Players customize their vehicles using build points.

Dice Rolling: Combat and movement are determined by rolling colored dice.

Dashboards: Track vehicle damage, speed, and armor.

Control Chits: Manage vehicle control based on speed and tire condition.

Ace Tokens: Allow for rerolling dice.

Game Objective

Dominate the Road: Players aim to eliminate opponents’ vehicles or force them to surrender.

Autoduelling: Engage in high-speed combat in arenas or on freeways.

Player Experience

Playing Car Wars (Sixth Edition) is a fast-paced and strategic experience. The game simplifies many of the complex table lookups from previous editions, using chits and dice to speed up gameplay. New players can quickly jump into the game using pregenerated car build mats, while experienced players can enjoy the depth of customizing their vehicles. The game is designed for 2-4 players and can be completed in a few hours, making it an engaging and fun addition to any game night.

Pros

Streamlined Gameplay: Simplified rules using chits and dice.

Customization: Detailed vehicle and crew customization.

Quick Setup: Pregenerated car build mats for fast setup.

Components: High-quality miniatures and durable dashboards.

Versatility: Can be integrated into other RPG systems like GURPS or D20 Modern.

Cons

Missing RPG Aspect: Unlike previous editions, it lacks an RPG component.

Complexity for Newbies: While streamlined, the game still requires some learning curve.

Limited Scenarios: Initial release did not include all promised scenarios due to delays.

Personal Thoughts on Car Wars

Car Wars (Sixth Edition) is ideal for fans of tabletop combat strategy games like Battletech or Risk. It appeals to both veteran players of the series and new players looking for a fun, strategic game. The game’s design makes it accessible for those who prefer quicker games without the complexity of extensive table lookups. However, it may not be the best fit for players seeking a deep RPG experience, as it focuses more on combat strategy. Overall, it’s a great addition to any gamer’s collection, especially those who enjoy vehicle combat and post-apocalyptic settings.

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