NOVA’s Quarterly Newsletter
Yes, a lot of things had changed. For one the newsletter is now called the Nightmessenger instead of Starburst as it was called in our first three issues. No more candy jokes for us. The second change is the addition of new sections in the newsletter. The new sections are “Local Hero”, “NOVA Works”, “In The Arena” and ?On The Road”. This was done so that more gaming news can be covered.
We will also have started taking submissions for our different sections like “NOVA Works”, which is for new gadgets. “The Showroom” is for vehicle designs. Anyone contributing to the newsletter and is published will receive a free copy. Send all submissions care of NOVA. A clarification is needed in Starburst 1-3&4. I mentioned that NOVA would not attend the conventions run by Hobbytown stores but the names of the conventions were mangled in editing. The correct names are Lin-con and Nebraska-con. If you attend these cons don’t expect NOVA to attend. This is because we don’t think well of them. However, there is word that they may be changing.
We are still looking for submissions for the Midwest Encounter Guide and the NOVA Works Catalog: 2038. As mentioned above, a free copy for any submission(s) printed. Everything for both of these books will be sorted and selected this summer for printing in late summer, so you better hurry those submissions in. Please send all submissions in paragraph from and typed to save time on rewriting and editing. Remember to tell us if the submission is for the newsletter or the catalogs.
Sonar Torpedoes -- A sonar torpedo has an active sonar unit to track its target. A ship’s propellers need not move in order for a sonar torpedo to home in on the ship. They travel 5" per turn and have a maximum range of 120".
Mini-Sonar Torpedo -- To hit special, 1D6 damage, 1 DP, $500, 75 lbs., and ½ space.
Medium Sonar Torpedo -- To hit special, 2D6 damage, 2 DP, $750, 100 lbs., and 1 space.
Large Sonar Torpedo -- To hit special, 3D6 damage, 3 DP, $1,000, 150 lbs., and 1 space.
Heavy Sonar Torpedo -- To hit special, 6D6 damage, 6 DP, $2,000, 300 lbs., and 2 spaces.
Radar/Sonar Torpedoes -- These cousins of the sonar torpedoes use their duel guidance systems very effectively in their attack runs. However, these torpedoes must run very close to the surface, making them vulnerable to enemy fire. They may be targeted at -6 by the target and -10 for everyone else. All radar defenses are only half as effective as normal.
Radar/Sonar Torpedo -- To hit special, 2D6 damage, 3 DP, $1,500, 175 lbs., and 1 space.
Heavy Radar/Sonar Torpedo -- To hit special, 4D6 damage, 6 DP, $3,000, 350 lbs., and 2 spaces.
Laser Guided Bombs -- Uses the same rules as laser guided rockets but with some differences. Use either a laser guidance link or a targeting laser. $500 to tune the laser, $250 per bomb, and $250 per bomb replaced. Bombs are 10% heavier (use base weight) due to small guidance rockets attached to them.
Radio Scrambler -- Cost $2,000 and no weight/space. Hooks up to a CB or portable earth station. Can work regularly or use the scrambler system. In order for the scrambler system to work properly, the communicating radios must have this device installed plus each radio must be in range, on the same frequency, and same scrambler mode. There are currently 100 scrambler modes but future models may have more.
Tim Jacques of the Lincoln Avengers is the Midwest Regional Champion by duelmaster’s decision with Norman McMullen tied for third. For more details see the Gaming News section.
Unification Party candidate Kirk Stales was assassinated by a sniper on February 28, 2038. Stales was giving a speech in Lincoln at the time. Assassin and motives are unknown. A week later Stales’ wife, Barbara, filed as the new Unification candidate. The Unification Party has recently released its report on militarizing the autoduellists. Quoting from the report, “Autoduellists would be regulated by the government as primarily national military forces and be assigned to tasks deemed necessary to national safety by its leaders”. It doesn’t sound as terrible as first thought it would be. Only if they succeed would we be ordered to destroy the ARFs and BLUDs with support from other nearby autoduellists.
There was no reported BLUD and EDSEL support for the ARFs disproving the rumored alliance between these groups. EDSEL recently tried to attack NOVA headquarters, resulting in 100% EDSEL casualties. NOVA sustained minor damage on its HQ and few injuries. NOVA spokesperson Recoilless Ranger declared war on EDSEL for their foolishness and vowed to teach them a lesson they would never forget.
On May 14 NOVA performed an unsuccessful sneak attack on the main ARF force near Falls City, Nebraska. The dusk attack was a complete rout for NOVA as ARF destroyed all of the attacking vehicles, along with three NNG Dark Angel helicopters. ARF losses were one tank and several cars. The main reason for NOVA’s failure was that most of the attack vehicles had no radar proof armor. The ARFs, on the other hand, had radar in every vehicle, giving them an early warning network. The NOVA sneak attack came about when a government mole escaped the ARFs’ HQ with several cubes of ARF operations and base data. The NOVA attack was a preliminary round, with the major fighting done by the National Guard. The ARF declared war on NOVA after its “heartless” sneak attack, which NOVA called justice. This puts NOVA with the ARFs, BLUDs, EDSELs, terrorists, and some minor mafia gangs. There is a feeling that were going to be busy for the foreseeable future.
On June 6 Mary Gibberson won the Nebraskan Governatorial election. Two days later she resigned, giving the post to the Lieutenant Governor. He turned out to be General Chaos, our most hated enemy, in disguise. Since then Nebraska has had a civil war with General Chaos, and the ARFs declared matrial law statewide for the duration.
On June 11 the ARFs launched three cruise missiles. One hit the Lincoln Avengers headquarters, destroying it completely and killed 22 people. NOVA’s HQ was slightly damaged and 7 people died. The last one gassed Offutt National Guard Base with hallucinogenic agents as a warning. NOVA and the Avengers laid low until June 25. On that date they struck back and destroyed the ARFs mobile base, several tanks and cars, and their clone bank.
NOVA welcomes the Ground Zero Rads and a new unknown group which started meeting recently. Good luck on both. NOVA currently has good relations with the Rads. Hope to hear from both of these groups soon.
This is yet another section that covers the duelling records of NOVA members.
April 9, 2038 -- Ted The Toaster sets a new closed course speed record of 260 mph during a Division 2 Maniac Race at the Heartland Speedway in Lincoln, Nebraska. He did it in his jet powered Can-Am called “Afterburner”.
May 7, 2038 -- Robojed (wrongly called Robojet in the duelling schedule) rockets out of the Carter Lake Hydro Arena in a twin-jet powered cruiser. His speed was measured at 155 mph as he flew over the outer walls of the arena. The New Omaha Police reported that the boat achieved 380 mph before leaving the radar screens, heading northwest. Robojed ejected from his boat after running out of fuel over Fremont, Nebraska. He frighten a farmer half out of his wits upon landing. The boat, sponsored by Flyright Industries, crashed in Norfolk and destroyed in the process the city hall and police station. There were a few fatalities due to early warning from the city’s radar system. Of the armor piercing heavy rockets Robojed fired before ejecting no news has been announced of their final impact points.
May 7, 2038 -- A very strange day indeed. An airship on approach to Eppley suddenly blew up, cause unknown even though the pilot reported his ship was taking hits upon landing. In an unrelated incident Mad Mac’s Duelling Emporium in Council Bluffs blew up, cause also unknown. Also in the Bluffs Officer Jerry W. reported being hit by a rocket on his cruiser’s top, destroying most of the armor. An investigation has been launched into both incidents. On I-80, 13 miles outside of Council Bluffs, a McAlgae’s tanker was hit by something, damaging the outlet value. The algae in the tanker spewed out onto the highway, forcing ten cars to spin out. No injuries reported.
Millionaire Duelists -- Doc, with over 2.5 million, Bodacious Bob with winnings of 1.8 million and Mad Mac with 1.5 million. Most of this money was won in unlimited events during the 2034-5 season.
Due to the volume of the NOVA history files this section has been expanded so that more can be covered each issue. This section is now divided into “In The Arena” and “On The Road”.
This section appropriately covers the Midwest Regional, co-hosted by NOVA and the Lincoln Avengers. Sure to be memorable to all with its controversial issues and rulings. So, sit back and relax and enjoy our fast-paced regional. Any comments or questions on the regional can be written care of NOVA or the Avengers.
Midwest Regional
The Midwest Regional was plagued by a rules lawyer. The preliminary round was won by Tim W. when he used a controversial Mine Flinger to eliminate Don Jacques, the odds on favorite to win. Tim W. and three others advanced to the final round.
The duelists in the final found were: Tim W., Mike Doltan, Eric & Ted Hunter, Tim Jacques (Lincoln Avengers Champion), and Norman McMullen (NOVA Champion). On the left side of the Double Drum Arena the set up was as follows: Tim W. (TW), Tim Jacques (TJ), and Norman McMullen. On the right side it was Mike Doltan, Ted and Eric Hunter. At the starting gun the race began with TW and TJ running neck and neck towards the left passage while Norman bought up the rear. Norman fired a shot from this turreted MG towards TW rear tire but missed due to TW’s rear and front mounted smoke screens (it was a wonder he could see where he was going with no radar - ed). Mike left the Hunter brothers in the dust as he headed for the central choke point. At the start both Tims hit nitrous oxide to help boost their leads. TJ fired a heavy pistol with a/v ammo at TW, but it merely scratched his metal tire as both of them went through the left passage.
Mike went through the center choke point and headed counter-clockwise around the obstacle while the Tims and Norman headed clockwise around it. TW topped out at 115 mph before starting to slow with TJ kept accelerating with his second bottle of nitrous. Mike shot at TW as he passed by, resulting in no damage. Norman tried to hit Mike, but missed. Meanwhile, Eric shot some spikes into the center of the choke point before TW reached it. TW drove over the spikes and sustained minor tire damage. The others avoided the spikes easily. Norman and Mike topped out at 120 with TJ at 135 in a race for Gate 6. The Hunter brothers set up an ambush after realizing this was a race (they had the rules but ignored them - ed) and not a duel they were hoping for, but couldn’t hit their intended targets or catch them.
It was now the seventh second and the four speed demons were closing in on Gate 6. TJ and TW took opposite sides around the starting drum obstacle as they closed in. TJ passed TW, and was nearly 30 feet away from the gate. At seven and a half feet from the gate TW t-boned TJ in an attempt to stop him. Norman fired a fairwell shot at TW, but missed. TJ rolled through Gate 6 and part of the wall beyond, resulting in his victory of the regional, posthumously. TW rolled, destroying himself, his car, and the grandstands. 48 people were killed and over 150 were injured. Mike and Norman McMullen tied for third place and the Hunters tied for fourth.
The Robot Invasion
Everyone has seen “The Transformers” an their spinoffs. They’re not something you don’t want to meet on the road. NOVA met and destroyed a few of these nightmares. Their first appearance was in the summer of 2034. It all started one quiet Saturday before the arenas were open. Several NOVA members were relaxing at a local bar, drinking beer, when a stranger entered and started asking about NOVA. After a few memorable stories he revealed to us his identity. His name was Jonah Quinn and he was duelist from another dimension where he was fighting these transforming robots. These robots took over his world and Jonah was recruiting duelists to get rid of them. Suddenly, a King Dragon transformed into a robot named Phantasm and fired upon us and Jonah.
Jonah jumped into his car, the Nuclear Swordfish (the first nuclear powered car seen in New Omaha and armed with a x-ray laser). Into the air rose David MacKinnon’s helicopter. It lost its main rotors when Phantasm destroyed the rotor shaft by crushing it. With our anger now aroused we repaired our damaged vehicles and acquired new ones while Jonah followed Phantasm to his dimensional portal. The battle that followed went in NOVA’s favor until a robot named Seeker (a Fireball pickup) stepped in to help his wounded comrade. Finally someone got a bright idea and shot the dimensional portal, causing some damage to it and forcing the robots to leave. With that our vehicles got repaired at the recently opened Mad Mac’s Duelling Emporium (his first store, before he began his local franchise).
Our peace was short-lived as Seeker and Erg (a Scrambler) attacked New Omaha. On to battle we went for the third time in one day. Seeker had the ability to fire radar guided rockets while Erg lifted a semi tractor-trailer rig and used it as a projectile. During the battle Erg threw Jonah’s car into a NNG Leviathan, killing the pilot. Later on Mike Hirtes’s car was thrown into a nearby store and resulted in his death. Luckily the National Guard joined the battle, turning the tide in NOVA’s favor. Seeker was killed and Erg chose to shoot his laser into the street, setting off the gas mains and causing the munitions at Mad Mac’s to explode. This created a crater fifty feet in diameter, leveled four city blocks, and broke glass a mile around. The explosion was heard throughout the city. This crater is now a tourist attraction and continues to draw crowds each year.
The robots weren’t seen again for several months. They returned during our first anniversary event in which we went on an off-road patrol. During that patrol NOVA encountered a combined force of ARFs, BLUDs, and a robot called Sniper (a Joseph T Special with a sharpshooting ability). The battle raged with the ARFs and BLUDs taking heavy damage, but Sniper quickly damaged several NOVA cars. Luckily for us someone called for help and the National Guard answered. The enemy forces were quickly driven off.
Their next appearance took place in June of 2036. The location was Civic Arena during a unlimited duel. Most of the duelists were in vehicles sponsored by local industries. The vehicles ranged from a tractor trailers to tanks. The tanks included the Overlord, a x-hvy tank with nine gauss cannons, the Mauler, a medium tank with two turreted avenger guns, the Warhead, a scout tank with unusually heavy weaponry, and an unnamed heavy tank towing three 40-foot trailers. As an added challenge Doc of Doc’s Custom Specialties placed a briefcase containing a million dollars out on the arena floor. As the duel progressed the Mauler and Overlord took out most of the competition and arena structures. Eric Hunter revealed that his tank, the Warhead, was a transformer and shot his arch-rival of the time, Chris Horn. Someone shot Doc’s briefcase and it exploded. It contained nitroglycerin instead of money (so much for that surprise).
Then suddenly other arena vehicles started to transform into robots call “Decepticons” (the ones before were known as “Mercroids”). The Decepticons leader Megatron got on top of the Overlord tank, threatening to destroy it. One of Overlord’s gunners was a mage, and he summoned an Ogre that inconveniently materialized in the grandstands. Panic engulfed the audience. The Ogre mysteriously disappeared and everyone was relieved. Megatron ordered all duelists to abandon their vehicles. In response the Overlord fired its’ gauss cannons at Ramjet, blowing his leg off at the knee. ECM was activated and all the robot’s functions were disrupted save Soundwave, who in turn destroyed all the ECM units in the area. The Warhead tank was attacked by a Robosmasher and reprogrammed as a Decepticon. The surviving duelists abandoned their vehicles. This was the last time the actual transformers appeared and they haven’t been seen since.
The only exception was during the Mock ARF attack the ARFs used a hologram projector from a heavily armored car. This startled a couple of NOVA duelists. Fortunately, none have shown up in any form at the time of this writing.
The robots could transform from vehicle to robot mode in one turn and stood anywhere from 15" to 50" tall in robot mode. Each one had a special talent that is usually related to its name. Their armor is ten times as effective than ours. The origin of these nightmares is still a mystery and probably will be for a long time. Jonah Quinn hasn’t been seen since the first robot fight.
The vehicles seen in this section will be placed into The Midwest Encounter Guide, the first of which is to come out next month.
Sledge --- Mini-bus, x-hvy. chassis, small truck power plant, 10 PR tires, driver, gunner, TG front w/magazine and bumper trigger, 2 linked VMGs in universal turret, LDR, fire extinguisher, two targeting computers. Armor: F60, L55, R55, B55, T55, U16 with 6 10-point wheel guards. Accel. 2.5/5, top speed 100, HC 1; 14,399 lbs, $59,972. 9 spaces left and no weight.
Passenger or Cargo version -- replace VMGs with RLs and drop the TG magazine. Put in three passengers or 616 lbs. of cargo capacity in 10 spaces. 13,784 lbs. empty weight. $56,272.
Recoilless Ranger '38 --- Luxury, x-hvy. chassis, hvy. suspension, large power plant w/SC, 4 SBPR tires, driver, 2 linked RRs front, SS rear, 4 AP-MRs rear, targeting laser rear and LGL for rockets, fire extinguisher, spoiler. Armor: F69, L30, R30, B30, T14, U14 with 4 10-point wheel guards. 10 points of component armor each for driver and power plant. Accel. 5, top speed 90, HC 2/3@60+; 6,595 lbs., $19,730.
Cannon Ranger -- remove RRs, SS, and two points of armor. Add BC front w/magazine and 4 5-point wheel hubs. $22,440.
Christopher “Recoilless Ranger” Lynn, by Donald “RR” Jacques
Christopher “Recoilless Ranger” Lynn was born on May 5, 2006. He was an Air Force brat and lived with his parents in southern Omaha when the Food Riots of 2016 occurred. His and other military families moved into southern Bellevue so as to be better protected from the mobs. Thereafter Chris grew up and went to school in Bellevue and graduated from Bellevue Central High School in 2025. Afterwards Chris went into the Nebraska Air National Guard and attended UNNO. His job in the Guard was weapon maintenance and this is reflected by the tip-top way he maintains his weapons in his car.
After graduating from UNNO in 2029 with a degree in History and Philosophy Chris traveled across Nebraska to document the recovery of small cities and the prairie years after the blight. After four years of work he went back to New Omaha to start research for a new book on the city. However, his interest in dueling came up during an ARF raid in New Omaha. He wanted to know more about the rise of radical groups and the like. Chris joined NOVA to get “first hand info” on the ARFs and other organizations.
Chris saw some action in amateur duels and in the Guard, but his baptism of fire happened on January 22, 2036. A large BLUD force entered the Boneyards of New Omaha and was heading rapidly towards the downtown district. NOVA sent out a force of six division 20 cars and hid them ahead of the BLUDs path. The BLUDs were eight in number and consisted of mid-sizes and luxuries in the division 25 to 30 range. A BLUD Dragon luxury was leading a three car formation when Chris moved out and rammed it with his ram mid-size. The Dragon fired twice, but only scored one hit before turning into an oversized paperweight. Another BLUD car was aced by Chris when he fired his linked RRs into the BLUD’s weakened armor. A BLUD helicopter arrived and did moderate damage to the NOVA force, but Chris damaged it with his turreted MG. His dueling name, “Recoilless Ranger” , was due to his preference of recoilless rifles as his main weapons.
Chris does little professional dueling, preferring to fight ARFs, BLUDs, EDSELs, and any other threat to law and order, New Omaha, and NOVA. In the campaign against the ARFs in late 2036 Chris distinguished himself by destroying 4 ARF pedestrians while on foot and taking out a car with a well-aimed SMG burst. During the summer of 2037 he helped in the demise of a wandering gang of cannibals by placing industrial strength laxative in their water supply. The cannibals made a bee line for the nearest toilet and were quickly locked up by the police. Lately Chris has compiled an updated New Omaha city history book. This earned him almost one million dollars and a film documentary is in the wings.
Next to his ram car Chris preferred dueling vehicle is a division 25 luxury. The main guns are RRs followed by linked MGs in a turret. A rear mounted SS and a sunday punch of three laser-guided MRs round out the ordnance. This has wasted many unwary opponents. To keep the opposition guessing, Chris sometimes replaces his rear weapons with minedroppers, flaming oil jets, and HD paint sprays. As the number of laser-guided rocket armed cars increased, Chris had to improve his car. The first was to downgrade the turret to one MG with HD ammo. Wheel guards were added and tires were changed to solids. When that didn’t prove to be enough he removed the entire turret, added a spoiler and component armor for himself. He quickly used the power plant upgrades and installed a large power plant with superconductors. The weight saved was piled into armor. An additional MR was added and all of them were made armor-piercing. In a recent battle Chris took out a front tire of a fast moving pickup with his laser-guided MRs. The pickup crashed. “Some duelists never learn,” is Chris’s quote when faced with people who get creamed when they could’ve avoided it.
Chris has some advice for aspiring duelists. For beginners he advocates the RR. It’s inexpensive and has excellent durability. Next comes the HDFOJ, with its large radius you’re guaranteed to affect anyone behind you. It could also seal off important exits, ramps, etc. Laser-guided rockets come next. Chris prefers MRs because of their weight and cost. A latecomer, but definitely appreciated, is the Blast Cannon. A BC will do fourteen points of damage on average, enough to hurt even metal armor due to multiple chances to scrub it off. Chris is convinced that metal armor cars are only safe in division 10 duels now due to the BC. It costs as much as three RRs, but weighs 100 lbs. less than a pair of RRs. To date Chris has eight kills, 6 unofficial, and two probable. His skills are Driver+2, Gunner+2, Handgunner+1, Running, and Martial Arts.
“Keeping the Faith” by Norman McMullen
All opinions expressed in this editorial are those of Norman McMullen.
Lately Steve Jackson Games has forgotten Car Wars, as seen in the last two ADQs. The newest items released have been the arena book and the Midwest Atlas (mostly for GURPS). They have shown this problem clearly. SJ Games is the only gaming company named after its founder. This vanity has lead SJ Games from it’s infancy. The direction of this company is Steve Jackson’s will. Lately his big project is GURPS and its supplements. Car Wars is SJ Games biggest seller for the last five years, and this has seemed to be forgotten. Why:? Because Mr. Jackson has deemed it so.
This is stupidity. Equal interest should be given to both games, not just one. Look at TSR and the number of games they have under their roof. There is at least ten or more. No mad president running things there. Gygax was never that vain.
Steve Jackson Games is known for paying the lowest salaries in the business. Employees have been leaving like rats from a sinking ship. Mr. Jackson has the right ideas, but has forgotten his own rules. Diversity in a company is a sound practice, and a company never abandons a product at the cost of another. This is professional suicide if done wrong. Why sacrifice while you already have success? That’s asinine, but this is just what is happening at SJ Games.
Wise up, Mr. Jackson. Everyone takes risks, but take wise risks and not foolish ones. You’re cutting your own throat as it is.
NOVA members are currently working on several projects that will be finished before GenCon/Origins. Norman McMullen and Tim Jacques will be attending GenCon/Origins 1988. Next issue a report of the convention and its events.
Drive and fly offensively!
Norman McMullen, President
Don Jacques, Vice-President, Secretary
Re-editing of Nightmessenger Vol. 2, No 2 completed on 03/22/97 by Donald Jacques.
Chief Editor: Norman McMullen
Assistant Editor: Donald Jacques
Weapon Designers: Laser Guided Bombs & Radio Scrambler -- Tim Jacques
Sonar & Radar/Sonar Torpedoes -- Norman McMullen
Vehicle Designs: Sledge -- Norman McMullen
Recoilless Ranger '38 -- Donald Jacques
Articles
Local Hero -- Donald Jacques
Editorial -- Norman McMullen
Originally printed as a SpeedScript 3.2 document on a Commodore 64 with a Epyx extender cartridge. The issue was reentered as a WordPerfect 6.1 for Windows document, turned into a HTML document by KEYview 5.0, and edited again in Netscape Navigator Gold 3.0.