The residents of New Omaha are asking "What's next?". They've been through cyborgs, snake people and dinosaurs. The damage has been heavy, with half the city in ruins. The local defense forces (NOPD, National Guard, NOVA, DKI, and Daimschel Tread Works) have been badly mauled by recent events. Area hospitals are filled to overflowing with casualties. The question on everyone's mind is who is behind all of this. Nobody knows for sure.
    The Worlds looms over us all. Who will win the top honors? Will Mike Garrity repeat his success or not? For the answers to these and more questions, tune in to this issue.
 

DKI Automotive of New Omaha is pleased to announce the latest innovation in vehicular power systems, the Broadcast Power Motor. As every aspiring car designer knows, the heaviest and bulkiest of a car's components is the power plant. This modification to a car's wheel motors will allow the power plant to be dispensed with. The statistics are as follows:

Broadcast Power Motors: $5,000 and 10 lbs per wheel, no extra space. This modification is made to the wheel motors of a car, cycle or trike. It uses the principle of induction to draw power from a grid buried underneath the arena floor. The maximum amount of power factors that the system can draw is equal to the vehicle's maximum weight. For example, a luxury fitted with BPMs can draw a maximum of 6,600 Pfs. Top speed is figured using the formula (360 x PF/PF + weight). The system can also be used to power energy-intensive devices such as lasers and gauss guns with no loss in range. The advantage of BPMs is that since the vehicle has no power plant, it can carry more armor and heavier weaponry. The main disadvantage of the system is that a vehicle with BPMs can't leave the arena (it has no power). Also, a vehicle with BPMs may not use regenerative brakes, PCS and/or SCs.

Sample Vehicle Designs

Warlord: Luxury w/CT frame, x-hvy. chassis, hvy/active suspension, 4 broadcast power motors, 4 SBR solid tires, driver, 2 gauss guns linked front, SS w/extra magazine under (all ammo is hot smoke), 2 linked SDs w/1 extra magazine each (all explosive) located one left and one right, MD w/1 extra magazine rear (all mines proximity fuzed) linked to SDs, neural-net combat computer, radar, 13 laser-reactive webs linked to SS, 10 points CA on driver, 10 points CA on gauss guns. Sloped composite armor: F18/50, L0/55, R0/55, B0/50, T0/10, U0/11 with 4 10-point wheelguards and 4 10-point wheelhubs. Accel. 15, top speed 180, HC 4; 6,595 lbs., $183,622.

Rapier: Heavy cycle w/CA frame, hvy. suspension, 2 broadcast power motors, 2 SBPR radial tires, cyclist, pulse laser front, SD w/extra magazine rear (all spikes explosive), HRSWC. Sloped armor: F55, B45 with 2 10-point cycle wheelguards and 4 10-point wheelhubs. Accel. 15, top speed 180, HC 3; 1,295 lbs., $33,320.
 

Booster Pack: A booster pack is an externally mounted booster rocket. It is mounted like EWPs with the same restrictions. Acceleration/deceleration is figured as rocket boosters.

One Space Booster Pack: $900, 200 lbs., 2 DP and no space. Has 100 lbs of rocket boosters.
Two Space Booster Pack: $1,800, 400 lbs., 3 DP and no space. Has 200 lbs of rocket boosters.
Three Space Booster Pack: $3,100, 600 lbs., 4 DP and no space. Has 300 lbs of rocket boosters.
Four Space Booster Pack: $4,500, 900 lbs., 5 DP and no space. Has 400 lbs of rocket boosters.
Five Space Booster Pack: $6,400, 1,100 lbs., 6 DP and no space. Has 500 lbs of rocket boosters.

Booster Packs automatically come with explosive bolts and can be ejected with a firing action. It takes a firing action to ignite a booster pack(s). They may be purchased in multi-turn burn configuration like rocket boosters.
    Booster Packs must be mounted in matched pairs on the sides or wings of the vehicle. One may be mounted on the top. Top speed is reduced by 10%, regardless of the number of packs carried. They can be made streamlined for 10% of cost and can be armored up to 10 points at a cost of $10 and 4 lbs per point. Booster Packs can be targeted at a -2 to hit.

Hexagonal Box Armor: Cost 3x more than regular vehicular armor. Same weight. It can be modified to fireproof (4x), laser reflective (10% extra weight, 3x cost), laser reflective fireproof (10% extra weight, 4x cost), radar proof (4x), radar proof fireproof (5x), and metal (5x, same weight). Hex armor can not be mixed with any other armor, except in a "hex metal/hex plastic" combination.
    Hex armor takes 10% (round down) less damage from rams, collisions, and sideswipes (in addition to any other bonuses) and -1 point of damage from each die of weapon fire (-1.5 for metal, round down). If set on fire, standard hex armor burns normally. Metal hex armor is destroyed the same way as regular metal armor.

Example: a vehicle equipped with hex armor is hit by a blast cannon. The damage received is 4d-4 (4d-6 if metal).
Example: A vehicle equipped with hex armor is rammed for 10 points of damage. Only 9 points are applied.
 

Recently a sound war has begun between Robodyne and Torgo's Pizza delivery services. Complaints abound, with reports of shattered windows and weakened walls. A multitude of crashes have also been caused by nearby delivery vehicles. The Police are stopping all sound polluting pizza delivery vehicles by any means possible.
    Dinosaurs have attacked the Metro area, and areas in Florida. Most have been captured or killed. Florida has filled its Natural History Museum with over 2,000 dinosaurs (mostly raptors). Three giant raptors have attacked in Nebraska with three more in Florida. Damage estimates are in the billions.
    The Jackal has returned with some surprises. He has switched sides and is now a member of the Gamemasters (NOVA South). Due to his cyborg nature some of his original programming was fouled up, which made him go bad.
    An old faction of the Jackal has restarted the Jackal's terrorism with minor effects. There are rumors of them hooking up with the Mob and drug dealer's again.
    The Dark Knight has been causing havoc with his Cyborg Commandos keeping C4 busy throughout the city. A rogue cyborg injured Dragonmazer of Gamemasters near old Toytown. They cyborg was destroyed by C4 in the Brazilian-owned Toytown area. Dragonmazer is currently recuperating at the Ratner Memorial Hospital.
    Daniel Sloan won the Racing Worlds again this year. See the GenCon Report for more details. Mike Garrity won the Midwest Racing Championship.
    On a different note, Soldiers and Swords Games went belly up in June. So, Car Wars in 3-D will not be coming out this year. SJG is looking to Sci-Fi Supply of Florida to pick up the project.
    The old Toytown area is now owned by Brazil, which has turned it into an entertainment center. It was heavily damaged by cyborgs and dinosaurs. The Brazilians are understandably angered by the damages.
    Rumors and incidents involving the so-called Snake Cult have been numerous. With the Police finding human sacrifices and other pagan rites done in city parks. Citizens and city officials are baffled by their sudden appearances.
    Mayor Bill the Cat and Police Commissioner Smith have been extremely busy by all the events of recent months. With wrecks, crazy cults, dinosaurs and cyborgs causing problems in the city. As of yet, none of the real villains have been caught.
 

July 4, 2045: An attempt to replace Commissioner Smith with a duplicate was foiled when Smith, returning from an unscheduled business trip, quite literally walked into his double at NOPD HQ. Damage to the area was minimal. Smith had no comment.

July 6, 2045: A new closed circuit speedway record was set at the Muskogee Speedway. Marc Elliott took a Radius Warp 10O-1 out for max speed trials. He set a four lap average speed of 520 mph.

July 7, 2045: Radius Race driver Marc Elliott set a new acceleration record during his continued test of Warp 10O (probably standing for Omygod) at Muskogee. He went from zero to 315 mph in 5 seconds, 365 mph in 7 seconds. Now that's fast.
    A huge cyborg attacked Detective Hammer and gassed him into submission. Instead of killing him, the cyborg gave Detective Hammer a noogie. The cyborg left a note saying that doing this to Detective Hammer means that no one in the city is safe from whatever he chooses to do to them.
    Police found bombs in Bill the Cat's and Joseph Ratner's houses. The bombs were safely defused and removed.

July 8, 2045: At 12:15 p.m. local time, an attempt was made to rob every one of the Torgo's Pizza outlets in the city of New Omaha simultaneously. The attackers were routed by TP Hypersound Systems, which literally vibrated them to bits.

July 10, 2045: Two distance records were set today at Muskogee Speedway by Radius Motors today. The first was set by Marc Elliott in the Radius XW10S by going 500 miles at 170 mph in 2 hours and 57 minutes with 4 pit stops, the second by Harry Kellman in the Radius XW10T by 200 miles at 242.5 mph in 50 minutes with one pit stop.

July 12, 2045: A huge brownout occurred during the morning in New Omaha. The power shortage affected New Omaha, Council Bluffs and neighboring communities, putting nearly half a million people in the dark. Local power companies are investigating this event.

July 13, 2045: Over a hundred vehicles went out of control in the city, causing a multitude of accidents and deaths. Two news copters opened fire for no reason on rush hour traffic, adding to the damages. NOPD phone lines were swamped by calls all day.

July 14, 2045: Midwest Air flight 3334 crashed a mile short of  Eppley Airfield. One hundred people died, with thirty people injured. The FAA is investigating the crash site. Airport controllers were rumored to have said "It just flew into the ground. It is as if the pilot thought he was higher up".

July 18, 2045: In an unusual development today, an unidentified aircraft flew over New Omaha and released an unidentified purple gas. Shortly thereafter, there was an extreme outbreak of spontaneous acts of kindness. NOPD received numerous reports of elderly ladies being helped across the street at bus stops and stolen purses being returned unopened. The strangest occurrence of all took place at the New Omaha City Hall, where the City Council had the most orderly meeting in its history. Witnesses to this unearthly event said that council members were polite to each other and that no arguments of any kind took place.
    Several reports of snake people attacks during the night were made. Some twenty people are reported missing. The NOPD is investigating.

July 20, 2045: An aid to the mayor was killed by a sniper. Police were unable to apprehend the suspect, who died of a self-inflicted bullet wound to the head.

July 21, 2045: A multitude of robberies occurred during the night, baffling the NOPD. Over a hundred vehicular incidents were reported with 150 people killed or injured. The NOPD continues its investigations.

July 22, 2045: Twenty bodies were found in the morning in alleys in downtown New Omaha. Their identities have yet to be made public.
    There were several reports of snake people being sighted in New Omaha. Numerous fires kept the Fire Department busy. The fires were started in an unknown manner. The Police and Fire Departments are investigating the incidents.

July 25, 2045: Death Knight attacked a C4 patrol on the outskirts of New Omaha early this morning. Four of the troopers were severely injured. The Master saw the attack and tried to stop Death Knight as he left the scene. The ensuing battle mortally wounded the Master and destroyed his vehicle.
    Snake people sightings continue to rise. Thirty traffic accidents occurred during the evening with 40 people killed and 80 injured. Last night the Fire Department was kept busy with over 20 fires that destroyed several buildings. The Police and Fire Departments have been run ragged by the last 30 days of turmoil in New Omaha.

July 26, 2045: NOPD issued a warrant for the arrest of the Death Knight in connection with the attack on the C4 patrol. Six State Police cruisers were destroyed when the State Police attempted to arrest Death Knight outside Sidney, Nebraska. Death Knight escaped and is now the subject of a statewide manhunt.

July 27, 2045: Governor Jerzy Belowzki ordered the Nebraska National Guard to assist in the search for the Death Knight. 8 officers from C4 headquarters in New Omaha have been detailed to help.
    Several rogue cyborgs attacked the West Omaha Police Station. They damaged the station and killed a few police officers then fought it out with C4. A few cyborgs were destroyed, but the rest escaped.
    This evening police interrupted what was described as a human sacrifice ceremony in Memorial Park. Some reports indicate that the Snake People were involved, but that wasn't confirmed. The Police are understandably tight-lipped on details of the horrifying events of late. No reports of deaths, but part of Memorial Park was scorched by fire.

July 28, 2045: DKI senior legal counsel IM Weed arranged Death Knight's peaceful surrender today. Death Knight promptly turned himself in to the State Attorney General's office in Lincoln. From there, he was transported to the maximum security wing of the State Prison annex at Eppley Airfield.

July 29, 2045: The North Omaha Police Station was attacked by cyborgs. C4 battled the cyborgs, incurring a few injuries. Most of the cyborgs were destroyed. The station sustained some damage and four officers were injured.
    Health officers report that cats and dogs have started disappearing at an alarming rate. They have no clue as to what's happening.

July 30, 2045: Velociraptors were sighted in the Orlando/Los Disneys area. Several deaths and injuries have occurred. No one can explain the dinosaurs' sudden appearance.

August 1, 2045: Dragonmazer was injured by a rogue cyborg called Murphy. Murphy went into the newly opened Brazilian Entertainment City-State and took it over by killing the mayor.
    The NOPD responded by sending Detective Hammer and some police officers to the city-state. A firefight started when Hammer tried to arrest Murphy. Over twenty people were injured in the battle.
    C4 was called in to assist. The ensuing fight destroyed several buildings and caused more casualties.
    The cyborg was finally stopped near the edge of the city. It reportedly went through three personality changes during the battle, sometimes arresting bystanders. Detective Hammer commented "That cyborg has got several loose screws. It's completely nuts!".

August 2, 2045: A biplane was downed near I-80. Identified as a Jackal craft, evidently it tried to drop a cloud bomb on a DKI semi-trailer, but failed.
    Raptor attacks continue throughout Florida. Thousands are reported dead or missing.

August 3, 2045: The true culprit behind the recent wave of violence was revealed when several New Omaha television stations received copies of a holocube that contained a statement from none other than Jonathan Dark!!! Dark said that he was responsible for the attacks by the Death Knight, who had been killed and a cyberninja duplicate put in his place. The final part of Dark's statement was as follows: "The reports of my execution have (to say the least) been greatly exaggerated! Sleep well, you mindless bunch of sniveling cowards!! Vorsted, you're next!!"
    Reports of packs of Velociraptors wandering the city scared citizens and Police alike. Over twenty people were eaten by the dinosaurs. The Police hunted the raptors down and killed them. Officials are baffled by the appearance of these dinosaurs.

August 4, 2045: Florida continues to be terrorized by dinosaur attacks. They are the heaviest around Los Disneys.
    The Police clashed with cyborgs and raptors last night with several dead and injured.

August 5, 2045: DSA President Hans Vorsted announced, "Jonathan Dark will not be allowed to destroy civilization. This is my word."

August 6, 2045: The Brownville Nuclear Station was destroyed by three giant velociraptors as they broke out of the fission core. No radiation leakage was detected, strangely enough. Plant officials are baffled as to how and why the raptors got in the core. Nuclear regulators are inspecting the station. The raptors were reported to be 100 feet high.
    The raptors destroyed over half of the New Brazilian area and continued to travel north. Over a hundred people were injured or killed. The National Guard has been called to deal with the monsters.

August 7, 2045: The giant raptors attacked Offutt National Guard Base with disastrous results. They then marched north, crushing and destroying everything in there path. Several thousand people were killed or injured. National Guard troops, Police, DKI, Daimschel Tread Works forces and NOVA tried to stop them. One raptor was killed.
    The raptors broke into the Fort Calhoun Correctional Facility, eating numerous inmates in the process. Strangely, the raptors broke into the damaged fission core and grew to a height of 300 feet.
    DSA forces engaged the raptors with "Kneebiter" Hover Assault Guns. The raptors were finally killed just outside of the wrecked power plant. The total damage from the raptor's attacks is in the billions. New Omaha, Bellevue and southeast Nebraska is under a state of emergency.

August 9, 2045: Today saw the arrival of a DGAG armored cavalry task force, brought in to support the NOPD in its efforts to stop the chaos. One observer commented, "Those guys look really pissed!"
    C4 fought over a hundred cyborgs in a pitched battle throughout the city. Numerous buildings and vehicles were damaged or destroyed in a battle that lasted over two hours. Casualties are estimated in the hundreds. Half the city has been closed for repairs. This and the recent attack by dinosaurs have paralyzed the city. The mayor is advising that everyone stay in their homes until further notice.
    Los Disneys was attacked by three giant raptors today. Reports place their height at about a hundred feet. They were positively traced from the Everglades.

August 10, 2045: All raptors were captured in Florida by the National Guard and Gamemasters. The three giant raptors were killed attacking Los Disneys.

August 12, 2045: Norman McMullen was t-boned at 175 mph by a fellow "racer", making Daniel Sloan World Champion in the Racing Worlds. Daniel commented "I didn't want to win like this". Norman stated "I didn't sign up for the World Crashing Championship". Tim Jacques was quoted saying "As far as I'm concerned Norman McMullen won the Racing World Championship".

August 13, 2045: Mike Garrity won the Midwest Racing Championship with a half straightway lead over Daniel Sloan. All racers commented about how much better run the Midwest was over the World Championship the day before.

August 15, 2045: The Weasel announced that he was coming out of retirement and will reform his Hammer's Slammers autoduelling chapter. His said he was doing this to show his displeasure at this year's Racing Worlds.

August 16, 2045: Joseph Ratner (NOVA President) announced that Dragonmazer regained consciousness. The recovering vigilante reassured everyone that he is alive and well and expects to be released next month.

August 18, 2045: Commissioner Smith officially received a test battlesuit from Schwain Cyborg Industries of Florida. Schwain left instructions that Detective Hammer is not to use the battlesuit.

August 21, 2045: Detective Hammer caught a rogue cyborg and gave him a "noogie" on local TV. Hammer commented "Hey, Dork Knight, you're next and your men are wimps".

August 24, 2045: Detective Hammer fought a cyborg one-on-one with Schwain's battlesuit. He destroyed the cyborg and the suit sustained major damage. Hammer commented "These suits are great. Bulky, but great".

August 30, 2045: Weasel comes out of retirement. In a press conference, Tim "The Weasel" Jacques announces his reactivation into the AADA. He will participate in both dueling and racing matches.
    "The 2045 Racing Championships were a disgrace," quotes Jacques, "the tournament officiating was a joke and the competition was weak. Some of the competitors were a real pain in the ass."
    Jacques has also restarted Hammer's Slammers autoduelling club. The club charter will be sent to Austin immediately.

August 31, 2045: Robodyne Pizza challenged Torgo's Pizza to a sound-off outside the New Omaha city limits. No comment from Torgo's Pizza.

September 5, 2045: Dragonmazer is released from the Joseph Ratner Memorial Hospital.

September 9, 2045: Four corporate Combat Teams -- all of approximately battalion-strength -- arrived in and around New Omaha. The Teams, all sourced from Central Europe, were brought in by Commissioner Smith to defend New Omaha.

September 13, 2045: Dark Knight and an unknown cyborg battled in west New Omaha. The battle lasted several minutes before it was broken up by the C4 unit. Several buildings and civilians sustained some damage during the incident. Both cyborgs fled the scene.

September 17, 2045: Chris French won his third NOVA Club Racing Championship title, overcoming Norman McMullen and Don Jacques on his way to the checkers. It was close most of the way, until on the third lap Norman tried to pass Chris, but lost control in the S-turns.
    This evening, DSA troops temporarily took over DKI, confiscating project files and materials. They also took over a town in Florida called Schwain, which was revealed to be populated by cyborgs.

September 18, 2045: Robodyne Pizza parlors in New Omaha and in Florida were destroyed this night. Both buildings and cyborg employees were disassembled and wrecked. Police are baffled by the incidents. Some commented "It looked like a bulldozer went through here, but we can't find any tracks at all".

Special News Item: 19 September 2045 *flash* 2200 hours Pretoria local time.

This announcement has just arrived from Pretoria, DSA: "It has come to our attention that certain threats to the general law and order have gathered, with intent to engage in acts contrary to law and order. Such threats will not be tolerated. Thus, at 1900 Pretoria local time, operations have been undertaken versus these elements. It has been discovered that the influence of these elements has penetrated many national governments and corporate control groups. These influenced government and corporate apparats have been shut down; the non-influenced apparats have been informed subsequent to shutdown and purge of influenced apparats. Success of operations -- total; illicit elements removed, operating apparatus destroyed, bases of operations purged. Collateral damage -- none. Disruption of non-influenced apparats -- heavy (shock effect). Further reports as events warrant."

Timetable of Operations -- Plan "Dragon Attack"

Stage 1 (zero hour): EMP bombs employed vs. civil government, banking computers, stock exchanges, etc.

(Z + 10) Combination computer virus/nanomachine strike vs. phone/ELMAY/Internet systems.

(Z + 30) ECM commandos bog down military computer/communication systems with bogus information, causing system collapse.

(Z + 35) Computer virus/nanomachine assault on civilian/military transport, causing supply misdirection, accidents.

(Z + 40) SFX teams send bogus news & information concerning events, behavior of individuals, inciting panic.

(Z + 45) Nanomachine assault vs. optical & other "hard data" systems, including military computers, on independent operations.

Stage 2 (Z + 1 hour) Insertion of troops to restore order, remove data, elimination of suspects.
 

August: Mortal Combat
November 17: Goldeneye (new James Bond film)
Still In Theaters: Waterworld
 

NukeCon 5: Sept. 29 & 30 in Omaha. NOVA will be hosting an event.

Spring Campaign '96: March or April in Ralston. NOVA will hold an event here.

Sunquest '96: January 4-7, 1996 in Orlando, Florida. Gamemasters (NOVA South) will be running IROC in a 3-D event.

Tachecon 7: September 8-10, 1996 in Orlando, Florida. Gamemasters (NOVA South) will be running IROC in 3-D with the Orange Blossom Special.
 

Revised Electric Outlet: $100 per power unit for item. Examples: laser rifle is $100, medium laser is $200.

Revised Van Maximum Weights: Increase to the following:
Light -- 6,750 lbs. Standard -- 7,500 lbs.
Heavy -- 8,250 lbs. Extra-heavy -- 9,000 lbs.

To expedite modification of old vehicles, following are the smallest power plants that can move a revised van:
Light -- Large w/ PC & SC.
Standard -- Super, or Large w/ HPF.
Heavy -- Super w/ SC, or Large w/ PC, SC, and HPF.
Extra-heavy -- Sport, or Super w/ HPF.

Following are the increases in weight for each chassis type:
Light -- +1,350 lbs. Standard -- +1,500 lbs.
Heavy -- +1,650 lbs. Extra-heavy -- +1,800 lbs.
 

New Cycle Power Plants

Name	Cost	Wght	Space	DP	PF
MkIb	3,500	300	3	7	1,400
MkIIa	4,000	350	4	8	1,600
MkIIb	4,500	400	4	9	1,800
MkIIIa	5,000	450	5	10	2,000
MkIIIb	5,500	500	5	11	2,200
MkIVa	6,000	550	6	12	2,400
MkIVb	6,500	600	6	13	2,600
MkVa	7,000	650	7	14	2,800
MkVb	7,500	700	7	15	3,000
MkVIa	8,000	750	8	16	3,200
MkVIb	8,500	800	8	17	3,400
MkVIIa	9,000	850	9	18	3,600
MkVIIb	9,500	900	9	19	3,800
MkVIIIa	10,000	950	10	20	4,000
MkVIIIb	10,500	1,000	10	21	4,200

Sport Plant Variants

Name	Cost	Wght	Space	DP	PF
Small	1,000	400	3	6	920
Medium	2,000	600	4	8	1,610
Large	4,000	800	5	10	2,300
T-Cat	24,000	1,800	8	15	7,705

New Car Plants

Name	Cost	Wght	Space	DP	PF
Ultra	7,000	1,500	7	14	5,000
Ultra Sport	14,000	1,300	7	14	5,750

This year our cheapness got us in the end. To begin with the car was too small. We ended up having to shoehorn everything in. On top of that it had no cruise control and bad handling on the road.
    Then on the way there we hit two big thunderstorms near Milwaukee. It shook up the driver badly and made the others on edge. When we got to the hotel and found out it was about a hundred years old with small rooms. We barely had room for everyone. The elevators were slow and jerky, scaring any and all passengers. Each room had it's own air conditioner. A Motel 6 probably would have been better.
    Very little road kill this year, only a few spotted. (a deer and several raccoons). Strangely, on the way home we spotted more broken vehicles within 200 miles of Omaha than anywhere else.

Well, this year's Godzilla won all three times. He received only 2/3 of his hit points in damage from one group. All players enjoyed the event. The last session saw Godzilla doing break dancing, tossing buildings and vehicles all over the map.
    Next year promises an even more disgusting and funny Godzilla adventure with new vehicles and weapons. More on that later as details become available.
    The winners of Godzilla's Smarter Brother events were: Thursday - Michael Garrity, Friday - Dave Wood, Saturday - Sean Stonecipher.

Not the best attended event of the con. Only seven in the final round out of a possible twelve, but only four showed up. Very few problems and those were quickly taken care of.

In the preliminaries most racers pushed their cars with new records each session.
227.5 mph - Jason Steinhurst - 1st Preliminary
237.5 mph - Tad Jankowski - 2nd Preliminary
240 mph - Jeffrey Hugh Kavanaugh - 2nd Preliminary
Headache Award for Daniel Sloan - Going from first to fourth in one lap in the first preliminary.

In the final round the racers again pushed their cars beyond their limits. Tad Jankowski had pole position, Mike Garrity had outside first row, Corey Cunningham inside second row and Daniel Sloan outside second row. The field accelerated into the first chicane with Tad in the lead. Mike started to close on Tad through turns 3 and 4 while Corey and Daniel battled it out side by side a little ways back.
    Mike caught up to Tad in the hairpin turns and passed him on the back straight away. Tad pushed his engine, breaking his transmission and blowing his head gasket. Meanwhile Corey and Daniel kept going head to head while pushing their power plants. Tad dropped back with his damaged engine, Mike extended his lead and his speed.
    Daniel let Corey pass him on the front straight away, only to open up on him with his two light flamethrowers. Corey pushed his plant too much and it exploded. His car eventually caught on fire, giving Daniel second place as he dropped back. Corey spun out on the back straight away and crashed into the wall near the beginning o f the hairpins.

1st: Mike Garrity 275 mph
2nd: Daniel Sloan
3rd: Corey Cunningham
4th: Tad Jankowski

Or shall I say the World Crashing Championship. This year it suffered from poor set ups, lousy players and worse GMing. It was more of a demolition derby than a racing event. Crashes were the highlight of all three rounds; few players advanced by completing laps.
    The second and final round track was supplied by Daniel Sloan of Gamemasters (NOVA South). The track as in 3-D matchbox scale, with two banked hairpin turns. Nice track, but does need to be longer and larger turns for higher speeds. The safest speed for the track is about 165 mph.
    In the final round it came down to Norman McMullen (who was about to complete his second lap and the win), Daniel Sloan (who was nearly out of control), and Chris (who had half a lap to complete with some heavy turns). Chris could have gone around Norman, but instead T-boned him at 175 mph. That was really dumb, considering he was assured either second or third place anyway. Everyone else had crashed out.
    The T-bone was a direct result of the poor set-up with cars traveling in two directions on the track. Scissoring at over 300 mph is not good racing set up. The fact that the game master wanted everybody to crash didn't help.
    Daniel took first place after the T-bone with Norman begrudgingly accepting second and Chris taking third. Norman was only given the choice of second or third, not first - which by all rights was his.
    Everyone agreed Norman was the only one to beat the track. But he didn't take the trophy home because of an idiot or two. Questions of cheating, bias, conspiracy and poor set up will forever shadow this year's "racing" worlds. Let it be on SJG's head for the disaster called the World Racing Championship. I for one would rather have a judge with more experience at racing championships administer the event. I will not be attending the Worlds that are run by incompetent judges.

The following is a letter from Daniel Sloan express his opinion:

"Something happened in the AADA World Racing Championship that I do not agree with. Norm had the race even when a bushwhacker decided to take someone with him in his crash. This is not racing, this is stupid. I thought the AADA Racing Championship meant showing your skills in racing, not how stupid you can be. To Norm you know I did not want to win this way. Let get this straight: NOVA members have made it their cause to get the Racing Championship run as a race, not a demolition derby.

Drive Offensively,

Dragonmazer

(Daniel Sloan, President of NOVA South, Gamemasters of Central Florida)
 

Kane Motors Max IV: Compact, x-hvy chassis, hvy suspension, medium power plant with PC, 4 PR tires, driver, HMG in universal turret, MD rear, link. Sloped armor: F39, L37, R37, B37, T35, U15 with 4 10-point wheelguards. Accel. 5, top speed 90, HC 2; 4,410 lbs., $12,210.

Indra Motors 2045 DT: Compact, x-hvy chassis, hvy suspension, medium power plant with PC & SC, 4 solid tires, driver, 2 linked MGs front, MFR rear, targeting computer. Armor: F60, L45, R45, B45, T8, U10 with 4 10-point wheelguards. Accel. 5, top speed 95, HC 2; 4,438 lbs., $12,769.
    DT Extra: remove MFR and 25 points of armor. Add two linked LMGs rear. $14,544.
    MD option: remove MFR and 8 points of armor. Add MD rear, computer to single weapon. 4,440 lbs., $12,715.

Mitsui 2045 Assassin: Mid-size, stnd chassis, hvy suspension, medium power plant with SC, 4 PR tires, driver, 2 linked RLs front, 2 linked HRs rear, 10 points of component armor for driver. Armor: F37, L32, R32, B32, T10, U10. Accel. 5, top speed 90, HC 3; 4,614 lbs., $9,548.

Amex Combat Autoworks Sizzler-10: Mid-size, x-hvy chassis, hvy suspension, medium power plant with HD transmission, 4 PR tires, driver, 2 linked FTs left, SD rear, PD rear. Armor: F50, L55, R45, B40, T10, U16. Accel. 2.5/5, top speed 70, HC 3; 5,758 lbs., $9,846.
 

Babs: "Possums."
Buster: "Gators."
Babs: "Dinner Theatre?"
Buster: "Main Course."
Babs: "Options."
Buster: "One."
Babs: "Bolt?"
Buster: "Bingo."
Babs: "Ready?"
Buster: "Go!"
Babs and Buster Bunny. Tinytoons - How I Spent My Summer Vacation.

"My gunhand is the hand I've got a gun at the moment." Niles Hansen in Northworld, a novel by David Drake.

"Bull, the last time you looked at me that way I spent three months in intensive care." Tazmania.
 

Stealth Driver: any competitor who remains unnoted by anyone until near the end of the event. Usually, this person's name is followed by the words, "Where did [s]he come from?!"
 

The 2046 NCRC began with defending Champion Chris French looking to collect his third consecutive crown and keep his sole ownership of that crown (the first year, 2043, all competitors died, so no winner was declared). Norman McMullen showed up looking to show up French and grab a victory for himself. Don Jacques appeared with an eye to being the spoiler.
    When qualifying was completed, Don held the pole, Norm second, and Chris the outside, a surprise across the board. They lined up line-abreast, and began the race at 100 MPH.
    The vehicles remained door-to-door through the first half-lap of the race; then Don pulled ahead, with Norm and Chris close behind. Chris managed to dive-bomb under Norm entering the first road-course turn on Lap 2.
    Disaster befell Don moments later; as he entered the 5th turn of the road course, he lost control -- at 215 MPH. He vaulted, disintegrating on impact. There would be no upset for him this year.
    French grabbed the lead, and held it for the rest of Laps 2 and 3. He and McMullen hammered at each other with AVRs for most of this time; most of Chris's armor was blown away, while Norm's left side was breached, damaging his plant, and his front was severely battered.
    Lap 4 saw Norm execute a desperation charge toward Chris; entering the backstretch he swung wide, and used his higher speed first to get his nose ahead of Chris, then to pull to a slight lead. Chris refused to give in; he held a tight inside line through the West Loop -- never mind that in most cases, Norm was occupying that line as well! Chris punted Norm repeatedly, forcing Norm into maneuvers which finally caused him to lose control and roll. Chris went on to polish off Lap 4 -- and complete the "hat trick", taking his third NCRC title.
    After the event, Chris said, "I managed to make a complete hash of qualifying, so I had to grind for position. When Norm botched a pass on Don, I was able to slip under him. When he slipped past me, I had to pop him one to get the inside line and go around him. Then, near the end, when he powered past me, I had to knock him out of my line. He kept coming back into me, and he finally got whacked hard enough to put him out. I'd rather not have won like that, but I don't cotton to being blocked. I hold my line." Norm commented, "To be knocked out like this so soon after the Worlds hurts a little." Don said only, "Hey -- I led a lap. Considering the way things have been the past couple years, that's a victory, in and of itself."

Results:
1st: Chris French (4 laps completed, 3 led)
2nd: Norman McMullen (3 laps completed)
3rd: Don Jacques (1 lap completed, 1 led)

Nuclear Banana VIII ST/S: Sedan, std. chassis, heavy susp., T-cat power plant, 4 std. RS, driver, streamlining, spoiler, airdam, 10 pts. CA (driver), overdrive. Sloped armor: F 2, B 45, L 20, R 20, T 0, U 0. $18,023. 5,093 lbs. Accel. 15 (10 w/ O-d), Top speed 225 (245 w/ O-d), HC 5 (6 @ 60+).
Driver's gear: BA, FJ, AVR w/LTS, 4 AVR clips. $1,960. Total cost: $19,983.
    A pure racer -- the abundant ammo for the AVR makes up for the inherent inaccuracy of the hand-held weapon. Note the lack of front armor -- the driver evidently planned to lead for most of the event.

Radius Motors Warp II: Sedan, std. chassis, heavy susp., T-cat power plant, 4 std. RS, driver, spoiler, airdam, streamlining, overdrive. Armor: F 40, B 40, L 5, R 5, T 1, U 1. $17,856. 5,098 lbs. Accel. 15 (10 w/ O-d), Top speed 225 (245 w/ O-d), HC 5 (6 @ 60+).
Driver's gear: BA, AVR, 5 AVR clips. $1,400. Total cost: $19,256.
    Another pure racer -- note the thin side armor (few side shots are ever taken in racing events). Despite this vehicle's similarity to the winning design, no legal action for copyright infringement is planned.

Amex Motors Downshift: Sedan, std. chassis, heavy susp., 350 cid engine w/ tubular headers, 4-gallon racing tank, 4 PR radials, driver, spoiler, airdam, streamlining, overdrive, LMG front, SWC (LMG), 10 pts. CA (driver). Sloped armor: F14, B20, L11, R11, T1, U1. $19,999. 4,001 lbs. Accel. 15 (10 w/ O-d), Top speed 225 (245 w/ O-d), HC 4 (5 @ 60+).
    An unusual design -- light, gas-powered, radial-tire-shod. It crashed out before its potential could be evaluated. However, the armor does seem rather thin, even for a racing vehicle.
 

As in years past, in this issue we'll be featuring racing cars. Some are from the World Championship, others are from Radius Motors with their record setting speeds. Please enjoy your visit to some of the fastest cars on Pit Row.

Radius Motors:
Warp 10O: Indy car, x-hvy chassis, 500ci gas engine, 5 gallon dueling gas tank, nitrous oxide, 4 PR racing slicks, driver, HD shocks, HD brakes, VP turbocharger, overdrive, 4 EWPs with 200 lbs of rocket boosters each (215 mph) located one each at left, right, top, and bottom. 4 EWP ejectors, active suspension, spoiler, airdam. Armor: F0, L1, R1, B0, T1, U0. Accel. 20 (30 with nitrous), top speed 177.5 mph (265 with nitrous) - without EWPs 197.5 mph (295 w/nitrous), HC 9 (10 above 60). 4,800 lbs. (without EWPs 2,800 lbs), $61,472. Estimated top speed 530 mph.

Warp 10O-1: Add magnetic suspension, stagger racing suspension to Warp 10O. Armor: F1, L2, R2, B2, T1, U1. HC 12 (13 above 60). Top speed same. $73,704.

XW10S: Indy car, x-hvy chassis, sports power plant w/PC & SC, 8 extra power cells, 4 PR racing slicks, driver, LDR w/scrambler, ABS, HD brakes, spoiler, airdam, overdrive, flush solar panel. Armor: F8, L7, R7, B8, T2, U3. Accel. 10, top speed 150, range 500 miles + solar panel at max speed, HC 8 (9 above 60). 4,800 lbs., $54,070.

XW10S1: Exchange solar panel for streamlining. Add 10 points of armor. Range is 550 miles at max speed. $53,340. Top speed is 165.

XW10T: Indy car, x-hvy chassis, T-cat power plant w/PC & SC, 2 extra power cells, flush solar panel, 4 PR racing slicks, driver, LDR w/scrambler, ABS, HD brakes, spoiler, airdam, overdrive. Armor: F8, L7, R7, B8, T2, U3. Accel. 15, top speed 222.5, HC 8 (9 at 60+); 4,800 lbs, $54,070. Range at max speed: 200 miles + solar panel.

XW10T1: Replace solar panel with streamlining. Top speed is 245. Range at max speed is 220 miles. $56,540.
 

Pickup, x-hvy chassis, OR suspension, 350ci gas engine, supercharger, VP turbocharger, 5 gallon racing gas tank, 6 PR racing slicks, driver with body armor, 2 linked HMGs in turret with incendiary ammo, improved fire extinguisher, targeting computer. 267 points of armor. Accel. 25, top speed 120, HC 3. 7,800 lbs., $40,044.

Sprint car, 300ci gas engine, 5 gallon racing gas tank, 4 PR racing slicks, drive with IBA, turreted HMG with incendiary ammo, overdrive, active suspension, HD shocks and brakes, spoiler, airdam, targeting computer. 80 points of armor. Accel. 25, top speed 160 (180 with overdrive), HC 8 (9 above 60); 3,200 lbs, $40,000.

Warp 8M (Norman McMullen): Sprint car, x-hvy chassis, 250ci gas engine w/TH & BP, supercharger, VP turbocharger, 2 gallon dueling gas tank, 4 PR racing slicks, driver with impact armor and PFE, MG rear, HRSWC, active suspension, HD brakes, overdrive, HD shocks, spoiler, airdam, nitrous oxide, ABS, no paint/tinted windows, radar. Metal armor: F11, L11, R11, B11, T1, U1. Accel. 20, (30 w/nitrous), top speed 142.5 (212.5 w/nitrous), HC 8 (9 at 60+); 3,830 lbs., $53,497.

Hydrophobia I (Mike Garrity): Sprint car, x-hvy chassis, 300ci gas engine w/TB & BP, VP turbocharger, supercharger, 5 gallon dueling gas tank, 4 FP PR racing slicks, driver with IBA and fireproof suit. FP spoiler & airdam, streamlining, HD shocks & brakes, active suspension, ABS, overdrive, safety seat, 3 EWPs w/rocket boosters. FP plastic armor: F20, L15, R15, B20, T10, U10. Accel. 25 (20 w/overdrive), top speed 190 (210 w/ovedrive), plus rocket boosters. HC 8 (9 at 60+); 3,585 lbs., $56, 685.
 

Sauber/Heckler & Koch SHK-6M: Sprint car, stnd chassis, sports power plant w/PCS, 4 stnd racing slicks, driver with body armor and flak jacket, MML (can be mounted F, L, R, or B), spoiler, airdam, streamlining. Metal armor: F9, L10, R10, B10, T0, U0. Accel. 10, top speed 197.5, HC 7 (8 at 60+); 3,200 lbs, $19,963.

Worp 0.5 (Mike Garrity): Indy car, stnd chassis, thundercat power plant w/PCS, 4 stnd racing slicks, driver, spoiler, airdam, HD brakes, streamlining, ABS, overdrive, safety seat, 10 points of component armor each for driver and power plant. Sloped armor: F10, L5, R5, B10, T5, U5. Accel. 15 (10 w/overdrive), top speed 255 (275 w/overdrive), HC 8 (9 at 60+); 3,815 lbs, $29,818.

Fireball (Daniel Sloan): Indy car, sports power plant w/PCS & SC, 4 HD racing slicks, driver w/impact armor, spoiler, airdam, 2 LFTs linked front, ABS, HD brakes, overdrive, streamlining, fire extinguisher. 80 points of armor. Accel. 15, top speed 200 (220 w/overdrive), HC 9 (10 at 60+); 3,320 lbs., $29,610.
 

Road Killers: Starring, unfortunately, Christopher Lambert (Highlander) in this desert road misadventure. Warning for sanity sake: DO NOT RENT OR WATCH THIS VIDEO. It stinks worse than Limburger cheese left out in the sun for two days. That is all. -***** (yes, negative five stars).

Batman Forever: The third Batman movie stars Val Kilmer as the Caped Crusader. Chris O'Donnell is Robin, Jim Carrey as the Riddler, and Tommy Lee Jones as Two-Face. It's a fast paced film which skims over a lot of character history. Examples are Two-Face and part of Robin's background. The Riddler and Batman are covered in detail.
    The basic story revolves around Bruce Wayne coming to terms with his Batman personality. Two-Face and the Riddler cause trouble in the city and Dick Grayson (Robin) is taken in by Wayne when Dick's family was killed by Two-Face. To spice up the story Psychologist Chase Meridian serves as Bruce Wayne's/Batman's love interest.
    The photography was great, the story so-so, the characters thin as paper at times, but it's worth watching.**

Judge Dredd: Sylvester Stallone is Judge Dredd, a law enforcer in the far-off future in Megacity One. Diane Lane is a fellow Judge. Max von Sydow is a chief justice and Armand Assante is Rico, a former judge and very psychotic villain.
    Rico breaks out of prison and frames Judge Dredd for murder. Dredd and a minor criminal that he arrested earlier don't make to the prison and come back to the city to clear Dredd's name. It ends up with a showdown between Dredd and Rico (what else). A good escapist film and nothing else. It's a good laugh too.**

Good -- The Terminator is back out on video, for those of you looking to complete your Terminator collection.
 

This year's Godzilla event at GenCon 95 had a new twist. Instead of the typical "random dice rolls" to determine Godzilla's actions, an assistant GM played the role. Tim Jacques (Car Wars fanatic and writer) volunteered for the ominous job. Here are his comments.

NOVA: Tim, what made you want to do this?

TIM: I had nothing else to do. The only alternatives was to waste my time at some stupid fantasy ball or role play a live action Deep Space 9 adventure (a very boring event if I might say). The GM looked like he needed some help, so I volunteered.

NOVA: How did you handle Godzilla? What was your spin on this character?

TIM: (Scratches head in puzzlement) Spare me the deep thinking questions. My only goal was destructive mayhem, but in more devious ways.

NOVA: Such as?

TIM: Oh, lets see. How about lifting an entire building and throwing it at the attackers. How about a headstand in which Godzilla head-butts a tank then fires his breath backwards. Then there's the time where he bellyflops onto a bunch of civilians.

NOVA: You're sick!!

TIM: Thank you! It will only get better next year when I put on a Godzilla suit and trash a 3-D Midville. By the way, tanks taste good with mustard.
 

There was a rumor and some talk about an invitation-only Racing Championship at next year's GenCon. No rules or competitors were stated. If the rules are properly stated and the competitors are true racers then maybe we'll attend it. As for the Racing World Championship, it's needs serious looking at and revamping. Need I say more?
    Next year's GenCon will see the return of IROC in 3-D by Gamemasters, the Midville Grand Prix, and Godzilla by NOVA. It should be interesting as usual.
    As some one pointed out just recently, we are quickly closing in our 40th issue of the NOVA newsletter, which would surpass Autoduel Quarterly for total issues published. Double or extra issues of ADQ appeared at times; there was a gap of almost a year between issues also. We will have to go back and count how many we've actually printed. We'll do something special with our 41st issue.
    Who's behind the chaos that has demolished New Omaha in the last few months? Is it just one group or two or maybe even more? Will the Jackal be caught again? Has the Jackal actually switched sides? Will C4 and the Dark Knight have an unpleasant meeting? Who else is involved? Does your chewing gum lose it's flavor on the bedpost overnight?
    Next issue will have more of the chaos that has gripped the city, more news from Florida and anywhere else strange things are happening.

Drive Offensively!
 
 

Norman McMullen NOVA President

Chris French NOVA Vice President

 

NOVA Works:
Boosterpacks: Norman McMullen
Broadcast Power Motors: Michael Garrity
Hexagonal Box Armor: Tim Jacques

10 O'clock News:
Norman McMullen, Michael Garrity, Daniel Sloan and Chris French.

Convention Calendar:
Norman McMullen and Daniel Sloan

Nuts & Bolts by Chris French and Norman McMullen

Movie Releases by Norman McMullen

GenCon Report: Norman McMullen, Chris French, Tim Jacques, Michael Garrity, and Daniel Sloan.

The Showroom:
Warp 10O, Radius Motors XW10S, XW10T, Warp 8M by Norman McMullen
Racing World Championship Round One and Two Cars by Jacob Abrams, Hydrophobia I by Michael Garrity

Midwest Racing Championship Preliminary Car
Sauber/Heckler & Kech SHK-6M by Chris French, Fireball by Daniel Sloan

Duelslang and Quotes by Chris French

Club Racing Championship Report by Chris French

Cube Logs by Norman McMullen

Closing Fire by Norman McMullen

2045 Vehicle Guide Update
Kane Motors Max IV, Indra Motors 2045 DT, Mitsui 2045 Assassin, and Amex Combat Autoworks Sizzler-10 by Don Jacques

The World "Out There":
Chris French, Michael Garrity, Norman McMullen, and Daniel Sloan

Typesetting by Don Jacques

Editors of the Great American Novelette:
Don Jacques, Chris French, and Norman McMullen

Work done on WPWin 6.1

Back to Nightmessenger Page

Back to Front Page