Differences

This shows you the differences between two versions of the page.

--- games:autowar [2013/07/10 14:34] – Added header brent
+++ games:autowar [2013/11/11 20:52] (current) – [Vehicle Options] Added Molotov cocktail brent
@@ Line 2: / Line 2: @@
 ====== AutoWar ======
-This is an attempt to create a modern, open, relatively light game similar to //[[http://www.sjgames.com/carwars/|Car Wars]]//.  These rules are still very much under development; feel free to edit this page and improve it.
+This is an attempt to create a modern, open, relatively light game similar to //[[http://www.sjgames.com/carwars/|Car Wars]]//.  These rules are still very much under development; feel free to [[brent@brentnewhall.com|email the author]] with improvements.
-Yes, that means **I want you to update these rules**.  You, the one reading this.  It's Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike licensed.
+This game is licensed Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike.
-This system uses only six-sided dice and graph paper.
+This system uses only **six-sided dice** and tokens to represent vehicles and hazards. Download printable tokens at [[http://zenseeker.net/PaperMiniatures/CarWars.htm|Zen Car Wars Paper Counters]].
 =====Introduction=====
-//It was when a tank of gas hit $200 that things really got bad.//
+//It was when a tank of gas hit $250 that things really got bad.//
-//The Middle Easterners just clammed up; don't think they ever really liked us anyhow.  Air travel became a luxury only for the super-rich.  Then came the riots all over the place, and the Oil Recession, and the New Great Depression.  Then the war, of course; at least that's over now.//
+//The Middle Easterners just clammed up; don't think they ever really liked us anyhow. Only the super-rich could afford an airplane ride. Then came the riots, and the Oil Recession, and the New Great Depression.  Then the war, of course; at least that's over now.//
-//Now oil's become a little more local and a little easier to find, but it's still precious.  Not that it stops the kids from racing around the wastelands, robbing and torturing any clutch of good folk they happen to find.  Not that there's much else to find; the riots drove away most of the city-folk to villages.//
+//Now oil's become a little more local and a little easier to find, but it's still damn precious. Not that it stops the kids from racing around the wastelands, robbing and torturing any clutch of good folk they happen to find. 'Course, there's much else to find; the riots drove away most of the city-folk behind the concrete walls of their villages.//
 //Which is why we need you.  A driver.  A new breed, with the firepower to drive away the jackals and take back a piece of the new world.//
-=====Basic System=====
-In the game, you play the driver of a car, which you build based on the following stats:
+=====The Basics=====
+In the game, you play the driver of a car, which you build by choosing a frame that can take a certain amount of weight, and adding equipment as long as you have the weight capacity to support it.
+You will then face off against other, heavily-armed cars, and attempt to survive.
+Your car conceptually is subdivided into a grid 2 squares wide by 4 squares long. The driver, engine, weapons, and any options that don't state that they modify another item must each be located on one of the eight squares of your car's grid. Up to three weapons can share a space, unless they say otherwise. On a motorcycle, the driver and engine both take up one square.
+All weapons except handguns are always mounted to point in one direction. You must choose a facing (draw a little arrow indicating your choice), unless the weapon is mounted on an auto-rotating mount.
+If playing a short game, drivers can take 20 damage points. If playing a long game, drivers can take 50 damage points.
+Whenever you're dealing with fractions, always round down.
+=====Vehicle Options=====
   * Frame
-    * **Light** //8 max speed, 120 pound capacity//
+    * **Light** //8 max speed, 170 pound capacity//
-    * **Medium** //6 max speed, 150 pounds capacity//
+    * **Medium** //6 max speed, 200 pounds capacity//
-    * **Heavy** //4 max speed, 250 pound capacity//
+    * **Heavy** //4 max speed, 275 pound capacity//
   * Engine
     * **4-cylinder**
@@ Line 32: / Line 45: @@
     * **Normal**
     * **Reinforced** //extra 20 pounds//
-  * Shocks? (ChattyDM: shocks should only come in to either allow for off road or give better manuverability... might be too much for light game)
+  * **Armor** //1 point per 1 pound, up to 30 pounds on each side (front, back, left, right, top, and bottom)//
-  * **Armor** //5 points and 5 pounds per half-inch of armor per side; max 3 inches//
   * Weapons
-    * **Light machine gun** //2 power, 10 pounds, 5 range//
+    * **Light machine gun** //2 power, 20 pounds, 4 range//
-    * **Heavy machine gun** //4 power, 20 pounds, 5 range//
+    * **Heavy machine gun** //4 power, 40 pounds, 5 range//
-    * **Flamethrower** //5 power, 40 pounds, 3 range//
+    * **Flamethrower** //9 power, 40 pounds, 1 range; lights target on fire//
-    * **Rocket launcher** //7 power, 50 pounds, 10 range, 3 rounds; must have its own grid square; only hits with a 3-6 on a die roll//
+    * **Rocket launcher** //7 power, 50 pounds, 7 range, 3 rounds; must have its own grid square; only hits with a 3-6 on a die roll; on a 5-6 lights target on fire//
-    * **Grenade launcher** //5 power, 40 pounds, 12 range, 3 rounds; must have its own grid square; only hits with a 2-6 on a die roll//
+    * **Grenade launcher** //5 power, 40 pounds, 6 range, 3 rounds; must have its own grid square; only hits with a 2-6 on a die roll; targets top armor//
-    * **Handgun** //1 power, 2 pounds, 6 range, 8 rounds//
+    * **Handgun** //1 power, 2 pounds, 4 range, 8 rounds//
+    * **Molotov cocktail** //3 power, 2 pounds, 2 range; lights target on fire//
   * Options
-    * **Gunner** //150 pounds//
+    * **Gunner** //120 pounds//
-    * **Kevlar vest** for driver //10 pounds, 5 extra damage points//
+    * **Kevlar vest** for driver //10 pounds, 10 extra damage points//
     * **Targeting computer** //5 pounds//
     * **Auto-rotating mount** for one weapon //25 pounds; must have its own grid square; requires a targeting computer//
-    * **Smokescreen generator** //25 pounds; must have its own grid square//.  When fired, it generates a 2 square by 2 square cloud of smoke directly behind the car.
+    * **Smokescreen generator** //25 pounds; must have its own grid square//. When fired, it generates a cloud of smoke directly behind the car as large as the size of the car. The smoke dissipates after 5 rounds.
+    * **Fire extinguisher** //5 pounds//
-As a driver, you have 10 damage points.
+Range is measured in car lengths (using the length of your own car).
-Your car is placed on a grid (using standard graph paper); each square represents approximately 1 square yard.  Your car is 2 squares wide by 4 squares long.
+You only need one targeting computer for any number of auto-rotating mounts.
-The driver, engine, weapons, and any options that don't state that they modify another item must all be located on one of the eight squares of your car's grid. Up to three weapons can share a space, unless they say otherwise.  On a motorcycle, the driver and engine both take up one square.
+----
-Weapons placed on one side of the car or another are pointing in that direction; if it's ambiguous for some reason, you've got to choose a facing (draw a little arrow indicating your choice), unless the weapon is mounted on an auto-rotating mount.
+=====Sequence of Play=====
-Each turn, first everyone simultaneously moves their vehicles and optionally makes a Maneuver action, then everyone makes an Attack action in sequence.  You may skip your Maneuver action or your Attack action (or both).
+Here's what happens during each turn:
-If people seem to be cheating about their movements, feel free to require each player to write down their Maneuver action before performing it.
+  - Everyone simultaneously moves their vehicles forward according to their speed.
+  - Each player in sequence takes a turn. During the player's turn, he or she takes two actions.
+  - Resolve fire.
-=====Maneuver Action=====
+Choose player sequence in whatever order is most sensible at the time. Clockwise around the table is usually easiest.
-You can accelerate or decelerate 1 square per turn.  Based on your frame and engine, you max out at a certain number of squares per turn (6 for a medium frame and 4-cylinder engine).
+----
-If you skip your Maneuver action, your vehicle maintains its current speed.
+=====Moving=====
+Your speed is measured in //lengths//, which correspond to the length of your vehicle.
+You can accelerate or decelerate by 1 length per turn (or just maintain your current speed). Based on your frame and engine, you max out at a certain number of lengths per turn (6 for a medium frame and 4-cylinder engine).
+You can go backwards, too. You can only accelerate to a maximum speed of 2 when reversing.
+----
 {{ http://brentnewhall.com/rpg/graphics/Highway_Playing_Grid.png}}
-====Turning====
+=====Actions=====
+You may take any 2 actions (including the same action) during your turn. You may also forgo your actions.
+====Action: Turning====
-You can turn your car up to 45 degrees during your turn, but you must decelerate by 1 square before doing so.
+You can turn your car up to 45 degrees during your turn, but you must decelerate by 1 length before doing so.
 ===Maintaining Speed During Turns===
@@ Line 81: / Line 109: @@
 If you attempt to increase your speed by 1 when you turn, roll a die.  On a 5-6, you succeed.  On a 3-4, you spin out (see below).  On a 1-2, re-roll; if you get a second 1 or 2 your car flips, while on any other number you spin out.
-===Spinning Out===
+====Action: 90-degree Turn====
-If you spin out, you may take no more actions this turn.  Next turn, your entire maneuver action is taken up by turning your vehicle another 45 degrees (a total of 90 degrees from your original position), reducing your speed to 0.
+If you want to do a 90-degree turn, you must decelerate by 1, and follow the rules as if you were accelerating during a turn.
-====Slamming on the Brakes====
+Motorcycles can perform a 90-degree turn as a standard maneuver, without any die roll.
-If you want to slow down dramatically, decelerate by 2 squares and roll a six-sided die.  If you roll a 1, you slide 1 square to the left.  If you roll a 2, you slide 1 square to the right.  Rolling 3 through 6 has no other effect.
+====Action: Bootlegger Reverse====
+If you want to do a 180-degree turn, roll a six-sided die.  If you roll a 1, your car flips and explodes. If you roll a 2-4, you spin out. If you roll a 5 or 6, you make the maneuver successfully, and your speed drops to 1.
+Motorcycles can perform a bootlegger reverse as a standard maneuver, without any die roll.
+====Action: Slamming on the Brakes====
+If you want to slow down dramatically, decelerate by 2 length and roll a six-sided die.  If you roll a 1, you slide half a length to the left.  If you roll a 2, you slide half a length to the right.  Rolling 3 through 6 has no other effect.
 When a motorcycle slides, it has a chance of flipping.  When sliding on a motorcycle, roll a die.  On a 1-3, you flip; on a 4-6 you're fine.
-====Collisions====
+===Spinning Out===
+If you spin out, you may take no more actions this turn.  Next turn, your first action is taken up by turning your vehicle another 45 degrees (a total of 90 degrees from your original position), reducing your speed to 0.
+===Collisions===
 If you have the unfortunate misfortune to slam into another vehicle at high speed, calculate damage as follows.
-If you sideswipe another vehicle (both are going in about the same direction, but one turns towards the other), each car takes one die of damage (roll separately for each car).
+If you sideswipe another vehicle (both are going in about the same direction, but one turns towards the other), each car takes one die of damage (roll separately for each car). Each car's speed decreases by 1.
+If one car rams into the side of another car, then for each car, roll one die per point of speed that the car was going, halve that number, and take that many points of damage. So, if the first was going 2 and the other was going 3, the first rolls 2 dice and takes half the result in damage, and the second rolls 3 dice and takes half the result in damage. Each car's speed decreases by 2.
+If two cars hit each other head-on, each car takes one die of damage per point of speed it was going.  So, if the first was going 2 and the second was going 3, the first takes 2 dice of damage and the second takes 3 dice. Each car's speed drops to 0.
+//Optional "Jarring Damage" Rule:// If ramming or hitting head-on, if a vehicle has no armor on that side, roll an extra die of damage for that vehicle.
+====Action: Attacking====
+During your attack action, you fire one weapon.
+Weapons can target any vehicle in a 45-degree arc in front of that weapon.
+If both actions in one turn are attacks, both attacks must target the same vehicle.
+If you have a gunner, the gunner gets a separate attack action. In other words, the driver can take 2 actions, and the gunner can take 1 attack action. The gunner must choose a different facing than the driver or can use a handgun. If the driver fires the auto-rotating weapons this turn, the gunner cannot. The gunner can target a different vehicle than the driver.
+===Attack Roll===
+To attack, roll 4 dice for short range, 3 dice for medium range, and 2 dice for long range.
+If one vehicle is moving a speed at least 2 more or less than the other vehicle, remove 1 die. If you want to specifically target an attack at one item on a car side with no armor (such as the driver), remove 1 die. If firing through a smokescreen, remove 1 die.
+If any of the dice roll 5 or 6, the attack hits.
+If after removing dice you are left with no dice, roll 1 die. If it rolls a 6, the attack hits.
+===Damage Roll===
+To calculate damage, roll a die, add the weapon's power, and subtract the total from points of armor on the side most facing you.
+Once all the armor is removed from one side of a car, future hits damage the driver or any weapons or options on that side of the vehicle. Roll a die to randomly determine where the damage goes.
+Weapons take as many points of damage as they have power.
+Note: if an attack removes all the armor from one side of a vehicle, any remaining damage from that attack is lost. It does not damage anything inside the vehicle.
+====Action: Use Fire Extinguisher====
+If you have a fire extinguisher, you may use one action to use up the extinguisher completely and put out the fire.
+----
+=====Resolving Fire=====
+If your vehicle is on fire, at the end of your turn, randomly choose an item in the vehicle. It takes 1 die of damage.
+If your driver or gunner is on fire, he or she takes 1 die of damage at the end of your turn.
+If the damage die rolls 1 or 2, you are no longer on fire (though you still take the 1 or 2 points of damage). Otherwise, you remain on fire.
+----
+=====Zombie Cars=====
+If your driver drops to 0 or fewer damage points, the driver dies. However, your vehicle is still moving! On your turn, roll a die to determine what happens.
+On a 1-2, your car flips and explodes. On a 1, slide the car 2 squares to the left. On a 2, slide the car 2 squares the right.
+On a 3, turn 45 degrees to your left. Maintain speed.
+On a 4, turn 45 degrees to your right. Maintain speed.
+On a 5-6, accelerate by 1.
+If you are involved in a collision while you are a zombie, you immediately explode.
+If you have a gunner, treat the car as a zombie for 1 turn. On the following turn, the gunner becomes the driver.
+====Exploding====
+If your car explodes, it deals damage as follows:
+  * 4 dice to every vehicle up to 1 length away
+  * 3 dice to every vehicle up to 2 lengths away
+  * 2 dice to every vehicle up to 3 lengths away
+  * 1 die to every vehicle up to 4 lengths away
+Roll damage for each target separately.
+The vehicle itself remains a smoking wreck, obstructing other vehicles.
+//Optional "Rolling Car of Fiery Doom" Rule:// After your vehicle explodes, it is on fire, and it decelerates by 1 per turn. This adds an extra hazard.
+//Optional "Self-Destruct" Rule:// You can take 1 action to activate a self-destruct. Your car explodes. Next turn, your vehicle moves 1 length forward, then stops.
+=====Leaving Your Vehicle=====
+At any time, the driver may leave his or her vehicle. If the car is moving, roll one die per point of speed the car was going, and deal one-quarter the rolled amount as damage to the driver.
+People move up to 1 length per turn, and they can move in any direction. They may take and wield handguns, and can fire them in any direction.
+//Optional "Passenger Pickup" Rule: Any vehicle going at a speed of 2 or fewer can pick up a passenger. The passenger becomes a gunner.//
-If one car rams into the side of another car, the first takes one die of damage per point of speed it was going.  The hit car gets double that damage.
+----
-If two cars hit each other head-on, each car takes one die of damage per point of speed it was going.  So, if the first was going 2 and the second was going 3, the first takes 2 dice of damage and the second takes 3 dice.
+=====Hazards=====
-====Hazards====
   * Active ground hazards
@@ Line 119: / Line 251: @@
     * **Fruit stands**
-If you enter a square containing a //passive// hazard on the ground (oil, water, //etc//.), roll a die.
+If you drive over a //passive// hazard on the ground (oil, water, //etc//.), roll a die.
 If you have regular tires, then on a 1 you decelerate by 1 and shift to the left; on a 2 you decelerate by 1 and shift to the right.  On a roll of 3-6 there's no effect.
@@ Line 125: / Line 257: @@
 If you have reinforced tires, then on a 1 you decelerate by 1 and shift to the left or right (your choice).  On a roll of 2-6 there's no effect.
-If you enter a square containing an //active// hazard (like a mine), roll a die + the hazard's power.  If you roll more than 3, the hazard hits, and deals the damage specified by the hazard.
+If you drive over an //active// hazard (like a mine), roll a die + the hazard's power.  If you roll more than 3, the hazard hits, and deals the damage specified by the hazard. This damage is dealt to the bottom of your vehicle.
 Obstacles do an amount of damage equivalent to the size and sturdiness of the obstacle.  Treat these like mines.
-You must make this roll every time you enter a square containing a hazard, even if you must do so multiple times in one turn.
+You must make this roll for each car's length of the hazard you encounter, even if you must do so multiple times in one turn.
-=====Attack Action=====
-During your attack action, you can fire one weapon at an enemy.  If you have a gunner, the gunner can also attack during the attack action, after the driver's attack.
+=====Other Vehicles=====
-====Attack Roll====
+Of course, you can also build a truck, van, or motorcycle.  Vans are 2x5 squares, while motorcycles are 1x3 squares. Vans may only take medium or heavy frames; motorcycles may only take a light frame.
-First, roll 3 dice, subtracting //distance// and //relative speed//.  //Distance// is the number of squares between the weapon you're firing and the side of the vehicle you're attacking, including partial squares.  //Relative speed// is the absolute difference between your vehicle's speed and the speed of the vehicle you're attacking.
+----
-If you want to specifically target an attack at one item on a car side with no armor (such as the driver), subtract another 1.
+=====Sample Vehicles=====
-If firing through a smokescreen, subtract 1 for each square of smoke you're firing through.
+Download a [[http://brentnewhall.com/rpg/Auto_Record_Sheet.pdf|blank record sheet for your car (PDF)]].
-If you roll a 3 or above, you hit.
+===="Kill Zone"====
-**Examples**
+//This is a weapon-heavy machine with minimal armor.//
-  You are 3 and a half squares behind your enemy, both going the same speed.
+Medium Frame, 4-cylinder engine\\
-  Roll 3 dice.  You roll a 1, a 4, and a 5, totaling 10.
+Armor:  5 points on front, back, left, right, top, and bottom\\
-  Subtract the 4 squares of distance (including that half square), for a total attack of 6.
+Weapons:  2 heavy machine guns (both pointing forward), 1 light machine gun facing left, 1 light machine gun facing right, and 1 flamethrower facing rear\\
-  This is above 3, so you hit.
+Options:  5 handguns\\
+Max speed:  6
-  You are 3 and a half squares behind an enemy.  You're going 2; he's going 3.
+===="The Black Panther"====
-  Roll 3 dice.  You roll a 1, a 2, and a 3, totaling 6.
-  Subtract the 4 squares of distance, and the difference of 1 between your speeds, for a total attack of 1.
-  This is below 3, so you miss.
-====Damage Roll====
+//This is an excellent all-around machine that balances weapons, armor, and maneuverability.//
-To calculate damage, roll a die, add the weapon's power, and subtract the total from points of armor on the side most facing you.
+Light Frame, 4-cylinder engine\\
+Armor:  20 points of armor front, back, left and right; 5 points of armor on bottom\\
+Weapons:  1 heavy machine gun forward, 1 light machine gun rear with auto-rotating mount\\
+Options:  Targeting computer\\
+Max speed:  6
-Once all the armor is removed from one side of a car, future hits may damage the driver or any weapons or options on that side of the vehicle. Roll 1d6 to randomly determine where the damage goes. (In case of four choices, roll twice to choose two, then roll off between those two; in case of 5 choices... you'll figure something out.)
+===="The Rock"====
-=====Other Vehicles=====
+//This heavily-armored car still gives you a useful set of weapons.//
-Of course, you can also build a truck, van, or motorcycle.  Vans are 2x5 squares, while motorcycles are 1x3 squares. Light frames are not available for vans; heavy and medium frames are not available for motorcycles.
-=====Sample Vehicles=====
-Download a [[http://brentnewhall.com/rpg/Auto_Record_Sheet.pdf|blank record sheet for your car (PDF)]].
+Medium Frame, 4-cylinder engine\\
-===="Kill Zone"====
+Armor:  25 points of armor front, back, left and right; 10 points of armor top and bottom\\
+Weapons:  1 heavy machine gun forward, and 1 light machine gun forward\\
-Medium frame, 4-cylinder engine\\
+Options:  Reinforced tires\\
-Armor:  1 inch on front, back, and sides; 1/2 inch on the top and underside\\
-Weapons:  2 heavy machine guns (pointed front and rear) and 1 flamethrower (pointed front)\\
-Options:  1 Kevlar vest for the driver\\
 Max speed:  6
-===="The Black Panther"====
+===="The Demon"====
-Light frame, 6-cylinder engine\\
+//This is a rocket on wheels.//
-Armor:  1/2 inch all around, plus an extra 1/2 inch on each side\\
-Weapons:  1 light machine gun (pointed front), 1 heavy machine gun (pointed right)\\
+Light Frame, 8 cylinder engine\\
-Options:  Reinforced tires\\
+Armor:  10 points of armor front, back, left and right; 5 points of armor on bottom\\
-Max speed:  8
+Weapons:  1 heavy machine gun facing forward\\
+Options:  Smokescreen generator\\
+Max speed:  10
 ===="Big Brother"====
-Heavy frame, 4-cylinder engine\\
+//If you prefer to stay back and take 'em out from a distance, say hello to Big Brother.//
-Armor:  2 inches on the left and right; 1 and 1/2 inches on front, back, top, and underside\\
-Weapons:  1 rocket launcher mounted in rear, 1 flamethrower (pointed forward), and one heavy machine gun (pointed forward)\\
+Heavy Frame, 4-cylinder engine\\
-Options:  Reinforced tires\\
+Armor: 10 points of armor front, back, left and right\\
+Weapons: 1 flamethrower on an auto-rotating mount, 1 rocket launcher on an auto-rotating mount, and 1 grenade launcher\\
+Options: Smokescreen generator, 2 handguns, targeting computer
 Max speed:  4
+----
+=====Scenarios=====
+====Road Rage====
+Rival gangs engage each other on a lonely highway road.
+====Convoy Attack====
+A convoy is driving through the desert. A central tanker must be destroyed.
+The tanker has 2x10 squares and has 40 points of armor on each side. It has 4 gunner turrets that can rotate in any direction (though a gunner cannot attack through the tanker), and each turret holds a gunner and a heavy machine gun. The tanker has a max speed of 4.
+====Arena Play====
+In arena play, an arena has been created in which multiple cars simply fight to the death. Many cars enter; one car leaves.
+====Tournament Play====
+Tournament play is an arena game in which each player builds 3 vehicles. Each driver can, at any time, leave his or her vehicle. Once a driver makes it off the arena, his or her player can re-enter the arena with his or her next vehicle.