The big news is that Car Wars 5^th Edition (with all its changes) is late. It is typical of SJG to swear up and down that something will be on time, and not deliver on that promise.
    ASP, BLUR and BLUD are at it again, causing all kinds of havoc with their operations. Sooner or later, the Death Knight is going to make their total eradication a personal priority.
    At NOVA, we have finally caught up with adding back issues to the website. This project has taken us a number of years to accomplish and we are quite proud of it. Despite this milestone, we have many more vehicle designs, arenas and race tracks to be posted.

The first item on the menu in this issue originated out of a certain discussion thread on Mike Owen's debate board

Vehicle-Mounted Mortar (VMM): ½ base weapon cost, ½ weapon spaces, 40% of weapon base weight, CPS and WPS for ammo are as for ordinary mortars; any artillery piece of up to 200 mm bore may be so modified.
    This weapon comprises the tube and firing mechanism of a standard mortar, except that there is no carriage mount included. A VMM may be turret mounted as if it were a tank gun, or internally mounted and set to fire out of the TF or TB armor locations. Like a normal artillery piece, a VMM can use long barrels and autoloaders. Mounting VMMs doesn't require the use of recoil spades.

Personal Armor System: $100/2 lbs per point, maximum of 30 points (60 lbs).
    PASs are custom fitted suits of armor built by treating each user as a component of less than one space. The cost & weight includes both armor and framework.

Car Wars 5.0 is about to debut at Origins, and we can only wonder how it will be received. If the buzz on the Debate Board is any indication, we are in for some interesting times.
    The Black ASP is running loose again, this time in the Free Oil States. This could be the result actions by the Mongoose or King Cobra. Otherwise, it could be the huge bounties placed on members of the Black ASP's organization. Those poor crunchies seem to be dropping like flies lately.
    BLUD and BLUR are up to their old tricks, but Death Knight's attentions are sure to cramp their style. We are of the opinion that the BLUDites and the BLURries will live longer if they surrender immediately.
    On a more pleasant note, the messages on Mike Owen's Debate Board have exceeded 14,000 and show no indication of stopping. Popular topics of late have been vehicle design challenges of one for or another and discussions on Car Wars 5.0.
    NOVA is presently getting ready for our annual road trip to Gen Con. Three of our older members will be going, which has caused me to consider titling the expedition "Grumpier Old Men". The 2002 season is notable for two reasons. The first is that this is the last year that Gen Con will be held in Milwaukee; the second is that Mike Garrity will not be with us for the first time since 1993. As to whether or not we go to Gen Con next year, only time will tell.
    Our next issue will have the customary write-up on the road trip as well as more news on CW 5.0

July 27^th, 2052: Ding Dong, the clock struck none!. Due to a highly selective attack by ASP infiltrators, the contents of this entire section have disappeared. This section will return in its entirety next issue, tick, tick, tick, tick........

Now Playing: The Scorpion King, Spider-Man, Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones, The Sum of All Fears, Men in Black II, Reign of Fire, Minority Report, K-19: The Widowmaker, Austin Powers in Goldmember

December: The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, Harry Potter 2, Die Another Day (new Bond film)

2003: The Incredible Hulk

Prequels: Star Wars: Chapter III (Vader Rising??)--2005

Sequels: Batman 5, Terminator 3, Aliens 5, Star Trek 10: Nemesis, Terminator 3, Indiana Jones 4, Matrix 3, Lord of the Rings: Return of the King

On Cubes: Behind Enemy Lines, Blackhawk Down, Rollerball (remake), Harry Potter, The Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring

Gen-Con 2002: August 8-11, 2002 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. This running of Gen Con will mark the end of an era, as the 'Con will be moving to Indianapolis in 2003.

Nuke-Con 2002: October 4-6, 2002 at the Days Hotel, 10909 M Street, Omaha, Nebraska. This 'Con will mark the debut of Car Wars 5^th Edition in New Omaha

Origins 2003: July, 2003 in Columbus, Ohio. Possible site of the World  ChamDuelingpionships.

Gen Con 2003: August 21-24, 2003 in Indianapolis, Indiana. This is the first year in Gen Con's new location. Possible site of the World Racing Championships.

Origins 2004: July, 2004 in Columbus, Ohio. Possible site of the World Racing Championships.

Gen Con 2004: August 19-22, 2004 in Indianapolis, Indiana. Possible site of the World Dueling Championships.

In Aeroduel, gliders take up barely one-quarter of a page and are not much more than a footnote in the supplement. There are also no sample designs available. Yet, they are an intriguing concept for Car Wars. Gliders are quiet and stealthy, but very weak in weaponry and armor. They are also limited to being of microplane size.
    In reality, gliders range in size from one-man to Large Cargo (an example being the MC-323 Giant). At their largest, they are true airplanes. Airplane-based gliders are very doable within the written restrictions. Most gliders (1- & 2-man) use a single wheel or skid for takeoffs and landings, yet the rules speak of three wheels or two wheels and a skid. Again, no stats are given for skids.
    Powered gliders are partially explained. However, there are questions about the engines as well as propellor placement. If you have a plane that sits only a foot off the ground, where would a propellor that is 3' in diameter be mounted? Definitely not on the nose. Mounting it to the back is just as unwise. The most practical solution would be to place it in an engine pod mounted above the wings. This would enable the prop to turn freely and not place the pilot at risk if he has to open his canopy. Engine pods can be targeted from the sides, top and front at a -2. They have 5 DP.

Landing Skid: costs $200, weighs 50 lbs, takes up 1 space and has 5 DP (metal).
    This item is retractable. It takes a firing action to raise or lower it.

Folding Propeller: adds $100 to the cost of a propeller.
    When a prop is feathered (stopped), this modification allows it to be folded alongside the fuselage

Liberty: Small airplane glider, 3 std car tires, pilot, 3 RLs linked F (1 fuselage, 2 wing-mounted), laser battery, SWC, Armor: F35, B35, R35, L35, T34, U34. Acceleration: N/A, HC: 3, Top Speed: N/A, 2,996 lbs, $12,612.

Independence: Medium airplane glider, 3 std car tires, pilot, 2 VFRPs linked F, SWC, laser battery, Armor: F52, B52, R52, L52, T51, U52. Acceleration: N/A, HC: 2, Top Speed: N/A, 5,000 lbs, $19,520.

Dayflier: Medium airplane glider, mini aircraft power plant, 3 std car tires, propeller, pilot, laser (F), SWC, 2 flush-mounted solar panels (in wings), Armor: F11, B10, R10, L10, T10, U10. Acceleration: 10, HC: 2. Top Speed: 360 mph, 5,000 lbs, $28,470.

Airblaster: Large airplane glider, 3 std car tires, pilot, 2 BCs linked F, SWC, laser battery, Armor: F53, B53, R53, L53, T53, U53. Acceleration: N/A, HC: 1, Top Speed: N/A, 7,992 lbs, $30,740.

Illuminator: Large airplane glider, 7-space std jet engine w/ 35-gallon duelling tank & fuel, retractable landing gear w/3 std car tires, pilot, RL (F), HrSwc, radar, radar detector, radar jammer, aircraft radio, refueling probe (F), RP Armor: F24, B24, R24, L24, T23, U23. Acceleration: 10, HC: 1, Top Speed: 512.5 mph, Base MPG: 5, 7,388 lbs, $145,445. Cargo Capacity: 8 spaces, 612 lbs (used for recon cameras and sensors).

Third Eye: Small jet fighter glider, 7-space std jet engine w/ 35-gallon dueling tank & fuel, retractable landing gear w/ 6 std truck tires, pilot, VMG (F), HrSwc, radar, radar detector, radar jammer, aircraft radio, refueling probe (F), RP Armor: F40, B40, R40, L40, T40, U40. Acceleration 5, HC: 3, Top Speed: 575 mph, Base MPG: 5, 12,230 lbs, $294,425. Cargo Capacity: 7 spaces, 270 lbs (used for recon cameras and sensors).

"Live free, Die well"
    --The Scorpion King

"You have been measured, you have been weighed and you have been found wanting"
    --A Knight's Tale

"The most powerful weapon on Earth is the human soul on fire "
    --Ferdinand Foch

Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones
    The Republic is fighting to hold itself together against assaults by the Separatists. In the midst of this chaos, Obi-Wan Kenobi (Ewan McGregor) and Anakin Skywalker (Hayden Christensen) must protect Senator Amidala from assassination by forces unknown. This in turn leads to much bigger things. Grand and minor battles ensue, filled with lightsaber battles, chases and more. This film is notable for being the first fully-digital movie. It has loads of amazing special effects and seems to be better than Episode I.***

The Scorpion King
    The Rock plays an assassin whose mission is to kill an evil king's assistant (his sorceress). Swordplay and action fill the beginning of this movie, which chronicles the rise to power of the Scorpion King. It is a decent prequel to the Mummy's Return.**

Rollerball
    This film is a remake of the classic film from the 1970's. Chris Klein stars as Jonathan Cross, lead player on the Horseman team, Just as in the original, players battle each other for control of the arena. The movie is muddled with third-world politics and lacks a strong story. It has decent action sequences and you also don't learn too much about the characters. One of the biggest mistakes is that the movie barely touches on the deathsport aspect of the game. Watch it if you want to, but don't expect anything like the original. It also stars Jean Reno, LL Cool J and Rebecca Romijn-Stamos.*

The Sum of All Fears
    This film is the fourth one to be made with the Jack Ryan character and also the third one to have a different actor portray the Ryan character. Jack Ryan (Ben Affleck) has to stop the U.S and Russia from going to war after terrorists detonate a nuclear bomb in Baltimore. To say more would give away the plot. Other notable stars are Morgan Freeman and James Cromwell. This film has action, suspense and political intrigue and is a for anyone who hasn't ever read any of Tom Clancy's books. If you're a Clancy fan, the omissions and plot changes in this movie will be rather obvious.***

Loud Paint: Sedan, x-hvy chassis, hvy suspension, large power plant, 4 SBPR tires, driver, SC (F), PG (B), FcD (B), SWC (SC), HTMs, tinted windows, Sloped Armor: F52, B45, R42, L42, T8, U8. Acceleration: 5 (10 w/ HTMs), HC: 3, Top Speed: 90 mph (67.5 mph w/ HTMs), 6,110 lbs, $19, 931.

FightBlaster F: Mid-size, x-hvy chassis, hvy suspension, 4 solid tires, driver, BC w/ HESH ammo F, 2 linked SDs w/ explosive spikes (1 R, 1 B), HrSwc, weapon link (BC/SDs), HTMs, HD brakes, overdrive, Composite Armor: F18/15, B7/14, R7/13, L7/13,, T0/2, U0/2. Acceleration: 5 (10 w/ HTMs), HC: 3, Top Speed: 92.5 mph (70 mph w/HTMs), 5,756 lbs, $19,852.

Sun Catcher: Large airplane w/ swept wings, small airplane power plant w/ upgrades and 3 sets extra power cells, airplane propeller w/ ducted cowling B, retractable landing gear w/ 3 std car tires, pilot & 2 gunners, VMG (F), 3 hi-res computers, radar, radar detector, radar jammer, aircraft radio, 4 flush-mounted solar panels (2 in each wing), 2 refueling drogues (1 in each wing), Armor: F75, B74, R74, L74, T74, U74. Acceleration: 5, HC: 1, Top Speed: 472.5 mph, 15,990 lbs, $102,225.

Octane: Large airplane w/ swept wings, small gas aircraft engine, 25 gallon dueling tank w/ fuel in fuselage, 2 45-gallon HD fuel tanks w/ fuel in wings, 2 70-gallon economy drop tanks w/ jettison joints (1 under each wing), airplane propellor w/ducted cowling B, retractable landing gear w/ 3 std car tires, pilot & 2 gunners, VMG (F), radar, radar detector, radar jammer, aircraft radio, 2 refueling drogues (1 in each wing), Armor: F100, B100, R100, L100, T100, U92. Acceleration: 10, HC: 1, Top Speed: 385 mph, Base MPG: 9, 15,998 lbs, $103,325.

High Octane: Large airplane w/swept wings, 9-space std jet engine, 70-gallon duelling tank w/ fuel in fuselage, 1 40-gallon HD tank w/ fuel in each wing, 1 70-gallon economy drop tank w/ fuel & jettison joint under each wing, retractable landing gear w/ 3 std car tires, pilot & 2 gunners, VMG (F), 3 hi-res computers, radar, radar detector, radar jammer, aircraft radio, 2 refueling drogues (1 in each wing), Armor: F78, B78, R78, L78, T78, U78. Acceleration: 5, HC: 1, Top Speed: 592.5 mph, Base MPG: 5, 15,992 lbs, $263,970.

National Tour: Large airplane w/ hvy lift/STOL wings, small airplane power plant w/ upgrades & 7 sets extra power cells, airplane propeller w/ ducted cowling B, retractable landing gear w/ 3 std car tires, pilot, universally-turreted VMG (U), HrSwc, radar, radar detector, radar jammer, aircraft radio, 6 flush-mount solar panels (3 in each wing). Armor: F45, B40, R40, L40, T40, U40. Acceleration: 10, HC: 1, Top Speed: 227.5 mph, 15,990 lbs, $113,525. Range: 1,600 miles (+ solar panels) at 135 mph.

World Tour: Cargo airplane, super aircraft power plant w/ upgrades & 20 sets extra power cells, airplane propeller w/ ducted cowling (B), retractable landing gear w/ 3 std car tires, pilot, universally-turreted VMG (U), HrSwc, radar, radar detector, radar jammer, aircraft radio, 10 flush-mount solar panels (5 in each wing), Armor: F5, B5, RF5. RB5, LF5, LB5, TF5, TB5, UF5, UB5. Acceleration: 10, HC; 0, Top Speed: 337.5 mph, 29,996 lbs, $310,970. Range: 4,200 miles (+ solar panels) at 202.5 mph.

World Tour II: Cargo airplane, std aircraft power plant w/ upgrades & 24 sets extra power cells, airplane propeller w/ ducted cowling B, retractable landing gear w/ 3 std car tires B, pilot, universally-turreted VMG (U), HrSwc, radar, radar detector, radar jammer, aircraft radio, Armor: F2, B1, RF1, RB1, LF1, LB1, TF1, TB1, UF2, UB2. Acceleration: 5, HC: 0, Top Speed: 275 mph, 29,992 lbs, $292,890. Range: 5,000 miles (+solar panels) at 165 mph.

NOVA is looking for roads less-traveled and new horizons as we prepare for yet another Gen Con; this one being the very last held in Milwaukee. Next year, it's the Brickyard.
    Our next issue will have the convention report, a write-up of the events we will be running at Gen Con and the annual Road Kill Count. The other usual features will also be included.

"DRIVE OFFENSIVELY"

NOVA Works
    Vehicle-Mounted Mortars & Personal Armor System: Mike Garrity,

The 10 O'clock News: Norman McMullen

Nuts & Bolts: Norman McMullen

Quotes: Norman McMullen

Cube Logs: Norman McMullen

The Showroom
    Loud Paint: Don Jacques
    FightBlaster F, Suncatcher, Octane, High Octane, National Tour, World Tour I & II: Norman McMullen

Typesetting & Page Layout: Michael Garrity

Editor: Michael Garrity

All other sections: Norman McMullen

The Nightmessenger is published quarterly by the New Omaha Vehicular Association, 2524 Madison St., Bellevue, NE 68005. All material is copyright 2002 by the New Omaha Vehicular Association. All rights reserved. Car Wars, Dueltrack, Boat Wars, Car Warriors, Crash City, Truck Stop, Convoy, Uncle Albert's Catalog From Hell, Autoduel and AADA are registered trademarks of Steve Jackson Games Incorporated, or are used under license. The above trademarks, and the characters and situations of the Car Wars background are the exclusive property of Steve Jackson Games Incorporated and are used in Nightmessenger under permission. Reproduction of any material published in the Nightmessenger without the express written permission of the publisher is prohibited. Any reproduction of Car Wars articles published in the Nightmessenger, or any unauthorized publication of fiction using the Car Wars background without the express written permission of Steve Jackson Games is strictly prohibited. Subscription rates (for 4 issues) are: Regularly attending club members: $4.00, U.S. subscribers: $6.00, International subscribers: $12.00.