Is it really summer? Hard to tell with all the rain we've been having lately. However, summer is still out there (somewhere). Be sure to enjoy it when it comes.
    The format for the World Championships in dueling and racing has been decided upon. Specific details about these two epic contests are available on the Web. The main point of dissension between NOVA and The Chapter Formerly Known As TRAACS was over the structure of the dueling worlds and how points were to be awarded. More on this later.
    Once again, NOVA has been selected to run the World Racing Championship. This particular contest promises to be rather interesting, as it is the first WRC to be held off-road.

This month, the offering from the armament shops focuses mainly on pedestrian-type weaponry. So, on with the section.

Portable Auto-Grenade Launcher (PAGL): To-hit: 7, $500, 2 GE, 10 shots, CPS: by grenade type, Damage: by grenade type, Maximum range: 80". The PAGL can fire 1-2 (user's choice) grenades per turn. It may be fitted with a rotary magazine at a cost of $500.

Laser Computing Sight: $5,000, 1 GE (0 GE if mounted on weapon). For rifles, assault rifles, grenade launchers, AVRs & HAVRs only.
    Use of this device gives the following benefits:
1) High-resolution viewing: This function makes the range modifier -1 per 20".
2) IR laser rangefinder: This function gives a +2 to negate range penalties. It also works as a communications laser.
3) Light amplification: Works like a vehicle-mounted light-amplification system.*
4) Thermograph: Works like a vehicle-mounted thermograph.*
*: The user must choose which of these functions is in operation at any one time.

Advanced Modular Rifle (AMR): To-hit: 7, $2,000, 3 GE (12 lbs), Shots: Special, Damage: per ammunition type, CPS: Special. This device comprises a 20-mm grenade launcher, under which is mounted a short-barreled assault rifle. The grenade launcher carries 5 mini-grenades in its magazine, and the rifle can use standard assault rifle magazines (with the same CPS & damage figures). The AMR is designed to use a laser computing sight.

Military Grenades: To-hit: 7, CPS: $50, WPS: normal. This type of grenade is considered to be the standard ammunition for all vehicle-mounted grenade launchers used by the military. It comes with an impact fuze (at no extra cost). Military grenades travel at a velocity of 40" per mm, and have a maximum range of 650" (minimum range is 5"). Military grenades do 2d6 damage within a 1/2" radius, and a further ld6+3 damage in a 2" radius to pedestrians & tires. A thrown version is available for the same cost. It has a to-hit score of 9, and does the damage listed above.

Military Mini-Grenades (MMG): To-hit: 7, CPS: $25, WPS: 1. This item has the same CPS as a regular grenade, along with the same damage figures. It has a regular time fuze built-in, and may use the MUFO (see below). This grenade is much smaller than a normal grenade because of the use of powerful new types of explosives. It is military-issue only, and is the standard type of grenade fired from the Advanced Modular Rifle (see above).

Multiple-Fuzing Option (MUFO): +$100 to grenade CPS. This fuzing system allows the user of a grenade launcher to select how the grenades will be detonated. The options are; A) impact fuze, B) Airburst (detonates the grenade in the air over a target, thus denying the benefits of frontal cover or trenches), and C) variable time (any time-delay up to 60 seconds is possible). Ordinarily, changing the fuze setting takes 5 turns per grenade (usually done before combat begins). However, grenade launchers equipped with a laser-computing sight may use the sight's communications laser to automatically change the setting. This takes only one turn (the user presses a button) and the sight programs the grenade fuze while in flight.

Barrel-Launched Adaptive Munition (BLAM): CPS: 10x base, normal WPS. For tank guns & artillery pieces only. This round uses a system of small gas jets built into the shell. These jets are slaved to a ladar-homing unit which is also built into the shell. The use of BLAMs eliminates range penalties for the weapon firing them. Other penalties (such as speed and vehicle facing) still apply.
 

With Pyramid now on line, there has been some discussion of this August publication making the same leap. Back issues are available through the NOVA website. Current issues will continue to be mailed to all subscribers. This makes it a little harder on us, but the quality of the Nightmessenger is such that the effort is worth it. I think our subscribers will agree.
    The NOVA website will be expanding in June to make room for some much-needed additions (Which include more back issues of the Nightmessenger). As you read this, the NOVA Works 2046 Catalog Update is now on-line and available for your perusal. The next supplement that will be added is our 2047 Vehicle Registry. This massive work represents three years of effort and contains more than 500 (!!) designs. We hope you like it.
    The Worlds are pretty much decided upon. If TRAACS has their way, the Dueling Worlds are sure to be a disaster in their present form. NOVA is fighting to restore some sanity to this most-revered of all dueling contests. Hopefully, TRAACS will see reason. Even though TRAACS has been around since about 1988, they still act like rookies. This is a very bad thing. I apologize for being so open about this matter, but bottling up bad feelings does no one any good. On a more positive note, the Racing Worlds Championship has been ready to go for months. Just a small amount of fine-tuning was necessary.
    New Omaha has had no major happenings of late, except for the end of Mike Garrity's winning streak. After a run of 14 consecutive wins, he was finally defeated at the Hourglass Arena by Norman McMullen. This duel also saw the Brothers Jacques destroyed in a savage contests of fire and maneuver.
    The Tank Police Division of NOPD has been sidelined lately due to questions over its budget. Hopefully, these questions will be answered and the Division fully operational soon. Only time will tell. These last-minute obstacles have had Police Commissioner Death Knight on pins & needles (figuratively, of course).
 

Now Playing: Armageddon, Lethal Weapon 4, Small Soldiers, Godzilla, The X-files, The Mask of Zorro

Fall: Mighty Joe Young

Upcoming Releases: Blade

On Video: Home Alone 3, Godzilla vs King Ghidorah, Godzilla vs Mothra (1992), U.S Marshals, Tomorrow Never Dies, Starship Troopers, Gamera (1995)

Future Sequels: The next installment in the Star Wars saga is due out sometime in 1999.
 

Tacticon: Denver, CO. September 11-13, 1998. Confirmed site of the AADA World Championships.

Nuke-Con: Omaha, NE. October 2 - 4, 1998. Site of some midwest-based Car Wars events.

WorldCon 2002: Seattle, WA. Possible site of the 2052 World Championships.
 

April 19, 2048: The City Accounting Office began to audit the NOPD. No explanation was offered, although it is said that they are looking for alleged irregularities in the budget.

April 25, 2048: Police Commissioner Death Knight announced that the audit being conducted will focus on his pet R & D project, the New Omaha Tank Police.

May 2, 2048: Mike Garrity defeated Don Jacques and Norman McMullen in a back-to-back Division-20/Division-30 duel at Aksarben Arena. His winning streak continues.

May 5, 2048: Mad Mac's Dueling Shop North exploded in a huge ball of fire today. The State Fire Marshall's Office is looking into the causes of the explosion, which rattled windows for three miles in every direction. The number of casualties is unknown at this time.

May 6, 2048: A 50' crater now occupies the site where Mad Mac's Dueling Shop North once stood. An NOPD spokesman said that two people were killed and about fifty were injured.

May 9 2048: In a press conference today, Police Commissioner Death Knight said that Detective Hammer had been investigating a black-market weapons ring and had been following a lead which said that some of the conspirators were working out of Mad Mac's business. When questioned about the actual cause of the explosion, Detective Hammer said "How was I supposed to know that the display model was loaded? It was a really nice gun too!"

May 12, 2048: Mad Mac announced that he is rebuilding his shop at the former location. He said that the crater would figure in his reconstruction plans. He also asked for several thousand cubic yards of fill dirt.

May 25, 2048: Mayor Bill the Cat announced that the Audit of the New Omaha Police Department has been completed and that the results will be available in late June.

June 6, 2048: Mike Garrity won a Division-15 duel against Norman McMullen which took place in the Hourglass Arena. A Division-20 duel in the same arena later that day saw Mike's streak of consecutive wins ended at 14, said defeat being inflicted by Norman McMullen.
 

In this installment we'll address both the effects of sloping on the 1/3 spaces per side rule as well as the subject of dropped-weapon spillage. The topic of dropped-weapon spillage has gathered much attention of late because many duelists are beginning to use multiple types of dropped weapons (or multiple examples of the same dropped weapon) in their vehicles (witness Garth Anderson's use of 3 TDX minedroppers in last year's World Dueling Championship). The main point of contention is how many dropped-weapon counters can be placed in the same area, and what effects does this have. No one disputes that a dropped gas weapon and a dropped liquid/solid weapon can be placed in the same area (they're mutually exclusive). Examples are smoke over mines or spikes, and flame clouds over flaming oil. It gets interesting when multiple counters of the same type are placed in the same area.
 

DROPPED GASES
    One would think that dropped gases don't suffer from spillage problems, but they actually do. When two gases of different temperatures or densities are dropped together, they will separate quickly. An example is the deployment of a flame cloud along with a paint cloud. The flame cloud will rise above the paint cloud, and the combined counter will expand by I/4" on all sides. A side effect of this is that the flame cloud will not affect the bottom armor of a vehicle which drives through the combined counter (the flame cloud has pushed the paint down towards the ground).
    When two or more similar gases are dropped together (flame cloud & cloud bomb), the combined counter will expand by 1/4" for each counter beyond the first. The cloud bomb will explode after one phase (on a to-hit roll of 3 or better), taking the flame cloud with it and doubling the damage rolled (a rather lethal side-effect).
 

Gas Densities (in order from lightest to heaviest)
Cloud Bomb (hottest); has a to-hit score of 6. Missing the roll means that the counter fails to explode.
Flame Cloud
Smoke
Toxin Gas
Paint
Chaff (coldest)
    As a rule, the hotter gases will rise above the colder ones. The temperature differences will also delay the effects of the hotter gases. With combined flame cloud/paint cloud counters, the flame cloud would explode on a to-hit roll of 6 or better in the first turn. If it didn't explode in the first turn, it will automatically detonate in the second turn. This is because the paint will no longer affect it. Smoke will delay the explosion of a flame cloud, giving it a to-hit roll of 6. Cloud bombs with smoke will be delayed even further, as their to-hit score is now 8. Exploding cloud bombs will automatically disperse any other gas deployed with them.
    Chaff weapons (dischargers & droppers) are described as being dropped solid weapons, but they actually are dropped gas weapons and should be listed as such.
 

DROPPED LIQUIDS
    Similar liquids will expand the counter by 1/4" on all sides. Some liquids will not mix together easily. Obviously, flaming oil & ice will not work together. In this case, the flaming oil will ignite on a roll of 8 or better. Ice & oil will not mix together. Instead, an oily slush will be formed; this only gives a D2 hazard. The ice can't fully freeze and the oil is partially dispersed. This goes for both standard oil and flaming oil when ice is involved.
    Regular oil will delay the ignition of flaming oil by an additional phase. A roll of 6 or better is also required. If the flaming oil doesn't ignite in the second phase after being dropped, make an additional roll in each of the next four turns. If it hasn't ignited by this time, the volatile chemicals which cause the oil to ignite are considered to have dissipated. The counter is now treated as if it was regular (non-flammable) oil.
    Flaming oil will melt ice in four turns (if it ignites). The required roll is 8 or better. The oil will partially rise to the surface of the ice. Since the two liquids were dropped simultaneously, the ignition process will be very slow (in game terms).
 

DROPPED SOLIDS
    Most dropped-solid weapons don't completely cover the area they were deployed in. This allows for up to three counters to be placed on top of each other before spillage occurs. The counter will expand by 1/4" on all sides for every dropped solid after the third. In most cases, the 1/3 spaces per side limit will prevent this from happening. Dropped solids can be mixed almost at will. Mines, spikes and junk will mix without problems. Spike plates will also expand the counter by 1/4" when placed with other dropped solid weapons.

Spillage can be controlled by dropping weapons of different types next to each other. Another way would be to mount dropped weapons on different sides of the vehicle. An example would be to place an oil jet on the right side of a car, and an ice dropper in the rear of the vehicle. The two counters formed when these weapons are activated are right next to each other. This technique can also be employed with dropped solids. An example of this is to place three spikedroppers on the right side of a sedan, and two minedroppers in the rear of the vehicle. The total number of spaces exceeds 1/3 the spaces of the sedan, but since the weapons are mounted on different sides, this rule is not violated. The effect of using dropped-solid weapons on the sides and rear of the vehicle will be to create a "checkerboard" pattern of counters. Any other vehicle which crosses this pattern will directly strike one of the counters, and will touch two others. This can be extremely lethal if explosive spikes and proximity-fuzed mines are involved.

We would also like to take this opportunity to address a small controversy which has arisen recently. It concerns the effect of sloping upon the "1/3 spaces per side" rule. Robert Deis is of the opinion that sloping does indeed affect this rule, because CWC2 and UNACFH both say that sloping reduces internal vehicle spaces. NOVA has played for years under the idea that sloping does not affect the 1/3 spaces per side rule. Robert has questioned as to why this is, and we have found factual justification for our position. In GURPS Vehicles (2nd Edition), as well as GURPS Robots and GURPS Mecha, it specifically says that "....sloping and streamlining increase a vehicle's internal space." Under this rule, sloping obviously would not affect the 1/3 spaces per side rule. Some of you might ask why we use GURPS as a back-up for our reasoning, as it is a different game. The simple reason is that GURPS Autoduel (the GURPS adaptation of Car Wars) uses the basic vehicle design system presented in GURPS Vehicles, GURPS Robots and GURPS Mecha. GURPS Autoduel is of much later vintage than Car Wars, and is therefore assumed to have the last word on vehicle construction.
 

"Oz never did give the Tin Man nothing he didn't have already." --Tin man song, by America

"You, sir, are in a position to demand nothing. I, on the other hand, am in a position to grant nothing." --Khan Nooninn Singh, Star Trek II

"I am so cool!!" --The Robot from the Lost in Space LJS commercial

"Size does matter." --Godzilla (1998) movie trailer

"Aye, sir. The more they think over the plumbing, the easier it is to stop up the drain". --Scotty; from Star Trek III

"Hello, Vinnie! It's me, your Uncle Bingo! Time to pay the check!!" --The Joker; from Batman (1989)

"Die without honor!" --Maj. Chip Hazard; 'Small Soldiers'

"There will be no mercy!" --Maj. Chip Hazard; 'Small Soldiers'
 

Give-me points: Points earned without much effort by the duelist. Common examples include checkpoints, targets & jumps.

Elemental: A duelist who is nearly impossible to defeat. This term is usually applied to someone who wins more than a dozen duels in a row.

Bumper Sticker: A car that follows an oversized vehicle too closely. Alternately, a vehicle with bumper spikes.
 

Wheels on Meals: One of Jackie Chan's latest films, it was filmed in Spain. Chan plays the part of Thomas who (along with his cousin David) owns a mobile canteen. Among the many occupational hazards they face are fights with a cycle gang and the Mob. They also have to fend off the attentions of a pickpocket and find a missing heiress. This movie has a good car chase (what other kind of chase could there be?--Ed.) and a great deal of Kung Fu Fighting.* * Trivia buffs will note that Jackie Chan made an appearance in the first Cannonball Run movie.
    A word from the Editor: I and Norman McMullen both went to see the following movie at different times. Needless to say, our opinions of it were (in a word) diametrically opposed.

Godzilla (1998): An enjoyable remake of the classic monster film. The new Godzilla is quick, agile and even seems to be intelligent at times. This combination gives New York City more headaches that they can easily deal with. Godzilla looks a little like the T-Rex in Jurassic Park (except for his long arms). He's also leaner and meaner than his Japanese-made counterpart. Overall, he doesn't seem to be as invulnerable as his past incarnations. The ending seems to remind me of King Kong in some ways. ***** (NM)

Godzilla (1998): This writer (being an inveterate fan of the Big G) had high hopes before going to see this movie. Unfortunately, devotion was rewarded by disappointment. If ever there were a case of a movie being more over-hyped than this one, it is unknown to yours truly.
    Godzilla starts off well enough, with an opening sequence which shows that the creature originated as the result of genetic mutations caused by nuclear testing (in French Polynesia this time). Those historians in the audience will note that archive footage of the 1946 Bikini Island blast was used in this sequence. So far, so good. Next, we see that a storm-tossed Japanese fishing vessel gets attacked by a mysterious sea creature. In the fashion of the great Godzilla movies of the 1960's, all hands are lost, except one.
    Matthew Broderick heads up a largely-wasted cast (which also has Jean Reno playing the part of a French intelligence agent). Broderick plays the part of an American nuclear scientist who gets drafted onto a team of other scientists charged with the task of discovering what was behind the attack.
    From the movie's initially promising start, things go rapidly down hill. First, there is that matter of the new Godzilla's appearance and behavior. When the creature makes his way to New York City and begins stomping all over Manhattan, it is some time before we get a complete picture of this new Godzilla. The creature is a vast disappointment, bearing only a slight resemblance to his distinguished predecessor. Gone are Godzilla's distinctive roar, triangular dorsal fins and upright stance. Instead, the roar of this "new for the 90's" Godzilla seems to be derived from the roar of the T-Rex in Jurassic Park and The Lost World. The creature's cantilevered posture is also directly copied from these two movies. Another way with which Godzilla fans will find fault with this movie is the near-total dis-use of Godzilla's fiery breath. In the old movies, Godzilla's flaming breath was considered to be a concentrated form of radiation (plasma) which was generated from within his body. Impending use of this breath weapon was signified by a radiant glow emitted from Godzilla's dorsal fins. This new movie only shows two examples of the new Godzilla using his flaming breath. In both of these cases, the radiant glow from the dorsal fins is absent. The flame also seems to be a side-effect of the force of Godzilla's roar.
    This movie's most unbelievable sequence is a battle between Godzilla and several Los Angeles-class attack submarines, said battle taking place within New York Harbor and the East River!! The battle sequence also shows Godzilla outmaneuvering several torpedoes. Other ways in which the movie falls flat are the use of incorrect military vehicles (AH-64 Apache helicopters do not have side-mounted miniguns), incorrect weaponry (a Harpoon is an anti-ship missile, not a laser-guided bomb), vastly-overstated weapon effects (a pair of Sidewinder missiles should not be capable of blowing off the top of the Chrysler Building), and Godzilla's vulnerability to small-arms fire. In the old movies, Godzilla was seen as a "force of nature", able to withstand onslaughts that could sink most of the U.S. Navy. During Godzilla's attack on New York City, we see him being hit and injured by weapons as small as M-60 machineguns.
    Despite its shortcomings (and there are more than those listed here), this movie will make a ton of money, both at the box office and through movie-related merchandise). For this reason alone, there will be a sequel (unfortunately). In fact, the movie sets up this very possibility, showing one of Godzilla's eggs hatching after having survived the missile attack which destroyed the rest of the eggs in the nest at Madison Square Garden. * (out of a possible five *). (MG)
 

This installment of one of our more-popular features has four heavily-armored cars. Anyone out there got a nutcracker??

Iron Dragon: Streamlined mid-size w/CA frame, x-hvy chassis, hvy suspension, blueprinted 150CI gas engine w/tubular headers, VP turbocharger & 5-gallon dueling tank, 4 SBPR tires, driver, RL w/extra magazine F, FOJ (B), Swc, Sloped Composite Armor: F20/40, B 15/30, R15/20, L 15/20, T0/10, U0/10. Acceleration: 10, HC: 3, Top Speed: 82.5 mph, Base MPG: 45, 5,740 lbs, $29,243.
    Arena Option: Remove 40 pts plastic armor. Add 4 10-pt wheelguards & 4 10-pt wheel hubs. +$96.

Conqueror: Sedan, x-hvy chassis, hvy suspension, blueprinted 150CI gas engine w/tubular headers, VP turbocharger 8,: 5-gallon racing tank, 4 solid tires, driver, VFRP w/extra magazine F, HDOJ (B), HDSS (U), HrSwc, weapon timer, weapon link (HDOJ/HDSS), blow-through concealment for HDOJ, Sloped Armor: F75, B65, R60, L60, T8, U8. Acceleration: 10, HC: 3, Top Speed: 72.5 mph, Base MPG: 45, 6,119lbs, $28,465.

Battle Brick: Mid-size, x-hvy chassis, hvy suspension, large power plant, 4 PR tires, driver, 2 RRs w/1 extra magazine each (1 F, 1 B), targeting computer, Armor: F56, B65, R55, L55, T10, U10. Acceleration: 5, HC: 3, Top Speed: 92.5 mph, 5,760 lbs, $14,560.

Big Gun G: Mid-size, x-hvy chassis, hvy suspension, large power plant, 4 PR radial tires, driver, ATG (F), SD w/explosive spikes B, Swc, 2 bumper triggers (1 F, 1 B), weapon link (ATG/SD), blow-through concealment for SD, 4 10 pt wheelguards, Sloped Armor: F60 (ram plate), B46, R45, L45, T6, U8. Acceleration: 5, HC: 3, Top Speed: 92.5 mph, 5,755 lbs, $14,830.
 

Is it that time already. I guess it is. And so, most faithful readers, we close out yet another issue.
    In our next episode, we'll cover the road trip to the World Championships at Tacticon. Up to now, the debate over who's going to run what event at the Worlds has been a nagging pain. Recently, NOVA applied some general anesthetic to this pain and took over the running of the World Dueling Championship. TRAACS is going to be rather upset, but they have mishandled setting up the WDC so badly that losing the privilege of running it is the least punishment they should suffer.
    Until next time, keep your car on the road and your weapons hot. Most of all,

"DRIVE OFFENSIVELY"
 
 

Norman McMullen	Michael Garrity
NOVA President	NOVA Secretary

 

NOVA Works: Michael Garrity

The 10 O'clock News: Norman McMullen

Nuts & Bolts: Norman McMullen & Michael Garrity

Quotes: Norman McMullen & Michael Garrity

Duelslang: Michael Garrity & Norman McMullen

The Showroom:
    Iron Dragon & Conqueror: Michael Garrity
    Big Gun G: Norman McMullen
    Battle Brick: Don Jacques

Typesetting & Page Layout: Michael Garrity

Editors: Michael Garrity & Norman McMullen
 

The Nightmessenger is published quarterly by the New Omaha Vehicular Association, 2524 Madison St, Bellevue, NE 68005. All material is copyright 1998 by the New Omaha Vehicular Association. All rights reserved. Car Wars, Dueltrack, Boat Wars, Car Warriors, Crash City, Truck Stop, Convoy, Uncle Albert's Catalog From Hell, Autoduel and AADA are registered trademarks of Steve Jackson Games Incorporated, or are used under license. The above trademarks, and the characters and situations of the Car Wars background are the exclusive property of Steve Jackson Games Incorporated and are used in Nightmessenger under permission. Reproduction of any material published in the Nightmessenger without the express written permission of the publisher is prohibited. Any reproduction of Car Wars articles published in the Nightmessenger, or any unauthorized publication of fiction using the Car Wars background without the express written permission of Steve Jackson Games is strictly prohibited. Subscription rates (for 4 issues) are: Regularly attending club members: $4.00, U.S. subscribers: $6.00, International subscribers: $12.00.

PS-TRAACS or as they now call themselves RMADA (Rocky Mountain AutoDueling Association) have control of the Dueling Worlds again. This comes from SJG. And sends it right back into the committee rules. Who knows how long it takes to get it all ironed out. It better be quick, because they're running out of time. Until next issue keep your wheels on the road.

Take care,
Norman McMullen- NOVA President

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