I've played Car Wars for nearly one year and it's the best roleplaying game I've played. But, in all this time, I've wondered...where are the boats and tanks? I think stats on these forms of transport will make Car Wars an unbeatable game system. I also thought I'd mention to all those players who are annoyed by not being able to see what goes on under helicopter counters that you can cut the choppers out with a razor and glue them to acetate.
- Mike Davis
Lincoln, NE
I just received my new ADQ today and I stand in awe of the brilliant ideas behind "Badlands Run." This truly fine scenario will silence those duellists who seem to think they own power second only to the Lord Almighty.
I am also writing this letter to reply to a question (and to correct the answer) asked by one Benjamin S. Hay, who so insolently said, "...I defy you to give me an example of an explosive that would not be set off by extreme heat (e.g., flaming oil, flamethrower, lasers)." This question was answered by ADQ's editor, who said that mines could be set off by flame. Well, dear sirs, modern-day practical plastic explosive will not detontate when set aflame - it merely burns in a fashion similar to black gunpowder. This form of plastic explosive will detonate only when hit by an electrical shock, which can be supplied by a small battery inside the mine...
Mr. Haring, I am shocked to find out that, as editor of ADQ, you didn't know this! For shame! I thank you for the opportunity to correct the misguided ways of both the editor of this fine magazine, and the peon from Virginia, who obviously needs to learn more about explosives.
- Clark Breslin
Albuquerque, NM
This is the place where I could mention that even though plastic explosive is indeed not set off by fire, that doesn't mean that Car Wars mines use that material. I could also mention that all the weapons in the game are generic-type weapons and not based on any specific piece of military hardware, past, present, or future. But it probably won't help.
- SDH
I just finished "Green Circle Blues" in ADQ Volume 2, #1, and was moved to comment.
It was a lot of fun, and allowed roleplaying. I never trusted his shifty little eyes anyway. The only complaint I have is more of a suggestion: You should have started off with a list of vehicles so the player could have prepared them beforehand and avoid the break in play caused by having to sketch out a Shogun 200 every few minutes. A simple list of every vehicle appearing would have saved a bit of tedium during the game. Since I was using a laser in a turret and a skill level of Gunner+3, each individual fight tended to be rather brief. I only took significant damage from the luxury car with linked MGs and the rocket launcher (until it blew up).
I'll bet Zeke was surprised when he found out what I was actually doing; and when I find myself thinking about NPCs after the game's over, it usually means I really enjoyed myself. Congratulations to everyone involved with "Green Circle Blues" and I am looking forward to Convoy with better tire rules and solitaire style.
- John Nowak
LaGrangeville, NY
I feel so left out! I just subscribed to ADQ, and was looking at the "Backfire" in the back of issue 2/1, and was dismayed at all the letters about issues that I don't have! For this reason, I would like to know if you have any back issues. If so, I would like to request their prices.
Secondly, a double Boo! Hiss! Replying to a letter about Autoduel Champions by saying it "spruces up a campaign game" is pretty sad. Speaking for myself, I'm getting tired of deep Roleplaying Games, such as D&D, Star Frontiers, Morrow Project, etc., and like to sit down to a nice, morbid game of Car Wars, but now, with this supplement, we're getting into another FRPG (Fantasy Roleplaying Game)! I am forced to buy this expensive disappointment because of your articles printed just for it, i.e., the Foxbat.
Also, I would like to ask you two questions that are kind of puzzling me. The first is, how many weapons can be mounted firing in one direction? That sounds pretty stupid, but in Truck Stop they have 2 oil jets, 2 minedroppers, and a surplus tank gun all mounted to the rear! The second question is, how many weapons can be linked? One? Two? One hundred? One thousand?
Lastly, I love everything else in your magazine with the exceptions above. Overall, keep up the good work!
- Peter Hedegor
Goose Creek, SC
The following back issues are still available: Vol. 1, Nos. 3 and 4; and Vol. 2, Nos. 1 and 2. Send $3.00 for each issue (the price includes all postage and handling) to us; the address can be found elsewhere in this issue.
There are a number of different opinions on Autoduel Champions, and you're certainly entitled to yours. But articles like the Foxbat (more accurately called the "ADQ Custom Feature") are not printed just for AD Champs; AD Champs stats are included for those who play - and complete regular Car Wars stats are given first.
As for your two questions, any vehicle may allocate up to one-third of its total spaces to weaponry firing from any one side; obviously, that's quite a bit of space when you're talking about trailers. And each link will link any number of weapons of the same type firing in the same direction (dropped weapons, since they're not aimed, may be linked even if they're different weapons and not facing the same side). You can also link weapons that aren't the same type or facing the same side, but then the fire must be considered as "automatic fire."
- SDH
I'm sick and tired of people knocking Autoduel Champions. I happen to like the game, and if I read one more bozo's complaint, I'll come looking for him with the members of my local AADA chapter and half-a-dozen superheroes as a clean-up crew!
Seriously, though, I like the idea of companies working with each other. It makes twice as many supplements available and I usually overlap my campaigns anyway. Supplements like Autoduel Champions show that gaming companies are capable of working together for the benefit of the players and are concerned with more than just profit.
Okay, enough Snow White idealism; Steve Jackson Games is good enough to survive on its own, and so is Hero Games - why don't you guys keep on collaborating and take over the world? I'll be looking for new supplements.
- Richard Suzuki
Saratoga, CA
You know, Rich, we never thought of that.
- SDH
In your issues of ADQ "Backfire," I have found it very distressing that you don't put the address of the writer at the end of the note as I would just love to challenge David M. Hoover of issue #4 to a fight any day of the week (prepare to feel the full wrath of the Blue Marauder, scumball!). And I would also be interested in joining Ron Matheson in his Car Wars marathon, as I have a neat little cycle gang (led by the Blue Marauder, of course) just itching to stomp your faces into the ground.
I have excluded this from my previous letters as I thought it was irrelevant, but as the complaints keep mounting I thought I should add mine to it. Your Autoduel Champions stinks. The part about the helicopters and superheroes is very good and I congratulate you on it, but the Champions bit was a little off-hand. I had a lightly armed car with a turreted laser go up against 3 superheroes, and he shot them all down in 5 rounds. I agree with Paul Huckabee's theory, let SJ Games stick to their own material and Hero Games stick to theirs. (Not that I object to Hero Games, as I own the game Champions and think it's wonderful). Note: I think you should publish this in ADQ as I think many people agree with me in both accounts. Please?
- Scott Madison
Albuquerque, NM
Okay, Scott. But see above and below for differing opinions.
- SDH
I recently received the AADA membership card and electrostatic patch - thank you very much for them. The card is in my wallet, laminated and next to my Bavarian Illuminati membership card, which was very useful for weirding out one of my physics teachers.
This bit about targeting cyclists at a -4 should really be a part of the 4th Edition Rules. As a matter of fact, a few experiments with a dark night, an interstate highway, and a shotgun have convinced me that hitting cyclists is quite easy. (To think people believe that roleplaying games instill violent behavior when they actually encourage clear, scientific modes of thought.)
...I've seen a lot of letters sneering at the idea of Autoduel Champions. I just want to sneer back at them for being stuffy. The last part of those rules makes human beings out of Car Wars characters instead of their being Driver+2, Gunner+3, Trucker. It covers a lot of things which, up to now, have been relegated to "two dice and pray." I like that supplement.
- John Nowak
LaGrangeville, NY
It's nice to be controversial, I guess, 'cause that means people are paying attention. But this is getting a little silly. Oh, well, perhaps it's the price we have to pay for success...
- SDH
