Another quarter has flown by, and now it's fall. The combat football season is well underway, and nothing adds excitement to these crisp, autumn afternoons like the smell of ionized air and the burst of a Vulcan.
Welcome to another issue of Autoduel Quarterly. The leap to 48 pages was well-received, and we've managed to match that this issue. We've also done a number of other things that are in direct response to the suggestions of readers.
The main one is what we've done this issue with scenarios. In the past, ADQ has provided a monster game scenario usually requiring the players to draw their own map, draw up vehicle record sheets, and invest a weekend to play it out. This issue, we're thinking small. We've got three mini-scenarios for you that all share some common virtues - they're quick to set up and easy to play. All use preprinted maps and have simple set-ups. They play a lot faster, too. The only thing that's not skimped on is the action. If you like these minis, let us know and we'll do it again sometime. We're working on another elaborate slugfest for issue 2/4, but if the mini-scenario idea catches on, it's sure to return.
The AADA continues to grow - for details, check out the AADA News section elsewhere in this issue. Those of you who received this issue in the mail will notice something new inside the mailer cover - the opportunity to get some interesting "AADA Members Only" merchandise! Now, when you see your fellow Car Wars enthusiasts wearing, these special items, you'll know they're AADA members! If you don't subscribe...well, right now you're missing out. Of course, there's a subscription form inside the magazine for you to use should you wish to correct this deficiency.
Another article I wanted to bring to your attention is the piece on upscaling Car Wars by David Ptasnik and the rest of his autoduelling club, the Peoria Piledrivers. They've created an entirely new method for playing Car Wars that makes the game as exciting to watch as it is to play (well, almost). Using mostly homemade materials, the Piledrivers have made enough equipment to play Car Wars on a triple-scale level; that is, instead of using the scale of 15' to 1", they use a scale of 5' to 1". Cars are 3" long - the perfect size for HotWheels and Matchbox models. The grid is 3/4" square with heavy lines every 3 inches, and railroad model accessories fit in just fine as buildings, trees, and other details. Of course, all this stuff has to be handmade - but the article tells you how to do it, step by step. Now this isn't for everybody - but I saw the Piledrivers run the Car Wars tournament at GatewayCon in St. Louis, MO, using their upscaled equipment, and did it look good. Check it out.
There are some other goodies in this issue - including a dandy piece of fiction, some new vehicles, and some new rules for setting things on fire - but I'll let you find them for yourself. Enjoy yourselves, and see you this winter.
Keep on duellin'!
- Scott D. Haring
