You're not seeing double, and the issue number is correct. This is our second fall issue this year. With the overflow of vehicles, etc., it was decided to do a second Fall issue.
    New Omaha is expanding westward, nearly doubling the city proper, bringing along with it new problems. New police and fire units are being formed. Some former suburbs are seeking independence. It's going to be a long winter.
    NOVA has announced the formation of branch chapters in the rest of the country. The first one is Gamemasters (NOVA South) of Orlando, Florida. Daniel Sloan is the chapter president. Daniel is also the new World Racing Champion (see the Worlds article). NOVA is looking forward to forming NOVA North in Illinois, considering all the correspondence we have in that state. Five people are needed to form a chapter, followed by a vote for a president for that chapter. Those interested in forming a chapter please contact NOVA.
    I won't name names, but I recently told one correspondent that we were not interested in forming branch chapters. So, I'm eating crow. Hey, I can change my mind, can't I?
 

Like the rest of this issue, we'll have a mixed bag of items. All the more to kill you with.

Fake Vehicle Body: Costs $100, weight 50 lbs. (as cargo), takes up cargo spaces equal to half the space of the vehicle type. The fake body covers a vehicle, hiding it's true details such as size, weapons, accessories, etc. This item does not sit on, the vehicle it is covering, because it comes with small supports which holds it over the vehicle and does not count against the vehicle's max. weight. A fake body can be discovered as such on a 1 in 6 chance roll from ten or further feet away. It is discovered on a roll of 4 in 6 from ten or feet less. The fake body can be customized like a regular car; fake weapons and accessories are an extra $10 for each one.

Touch-Reactive Body Blades: Double cost and weight of normal body blades, no space. Touch-reactive body blades are specialized anti-personnel blades that can be retracted under the armor. They activate when 5 or more pounds of pressure is placed on the armor location to which they are attached. This means any significant amount of pressure (including bullets) will cause them to snap out (Moral: don't wear this item while dueling!).

Heavy-Duty Gas Streamer: $300, 100 lbs., 2 spaces. 2 shots, 2 DP. This device produces a 10" x 2" counter of smoke (CPS $100, WPS $50), paint (CPS $100, WPS 20 lbs.), tear gas (CPS $200, WPS 50 lbs.) or toxin gas (CPS $20,000, WPS 50 lbs.).

The world is always in motion. Change is the only constant we can count on. Yeah; what's my point, right? Well, sometimes we have to step back to see the whole picture.
    Race tracks are being built at an alarming rate in eastern Nebraska and western Iowa. Four new race tracks have opened this fall; two more are opening next spring. The Flashfire Racing Circuit Committee has already scheduled races on the new tracks.
    Bellevue has petitioned the state for independent status. This has angered some New Omaha city council members. The council chambers have become a war zone; luckily no one has been killed yet. The independence issue has made local politics a hot topic. Currently the state is debating as well the independence of La Vista, Papillion, and Ralston. It may be months before the whole issue is settled. Mayor Bill The Cat and Police Commissioner John Smith are keeping an eye on the situation.
    This year's NOVA club champion was a first, as Chris French won both the Dueling and Racing events. In the same events the second and third place positions were held by Michael Garrity and Norman McMullen, respectively. Tim "The Weasel" Jacques has come out of retirement for next year's Regionals.
    Mob activity has recently dropped; it seems they are pulling out. Only time will tell. Small-time criminals have come out of the woodwork, giving the local vigilantes plenty of work.

Aug. 14, 2043: Michael Garrity swept the Twister Arena of opponents. He scored four kills, a rare occurrence in dueling.

Aug. 19, 2043: Daniel Sloan barely wins the first World Racing Championship qualifier at the Gladiator track. He outpaced Norman McMullen, despite Norman's pushing his power plant above the 190 mph mark.

Aug. 20, 2043: Chris French and Norman McMullen qualified for the second round of the World Racing Championship. They finished first and second, respectively.

Aug. 21, 2043: Chris French and Norman McMullen finished first and second again in the second set of qualifying rounds. They qualified for the final round. Dan Sloan was third and Jason Winters came in fourth.
        Mayor Bill the Cat cut the ribbon for the Aksarben Speedway. The Knights of Aksarben built the Speedway for all forms of racing. It will be open for racing from May to September and will be added to the Flashfire Circuit.

Aug. 22, 2043: Dan Sloan of Gamemasters (NOVA South) won the World Racing Championship, second place went to Norman McMullen (by only four car lengths and going 300 mph). Third place went to Jason Winters. Chris French and Jeff "Gunboat" Rakow (former Racing World Champion) were eliminated as Chris T-boned said Gunboat driver at 260 mph.

Aug. 25, 2043: Three huge explosions rocked New Omaha as NOVA stopped an unknown terrorist group. NOVA vowed to find and destroy this new group.

Aug. 26, 2043: The Des Moines Racing Association announced its program of city-street races for next summer. To formalize the event, they scheduled NOVA and SAS to run the preliminary race course this October. The race will be televised throughout the Midwest.

Aug. 27, 2043: Today the Playland Amusements Corporation announced it has begun construction of an amusement park and arena/speedway near the Missouri river in Council Bluffs. The park is scheduled to open next summer, with the arena/speedway ready by next fall.
        Los Disneys, Florida, shuddered under a huge explosion near the city. Terrorists were believed to be involved. Officials are still inspecting the wreckage.
        Four NOVA agents apprehended four mob cars and captured eight mob members in cooperation with the New Omaha police today. Additionally, several mob-owned businesses were raided.

Aug. 28, 2043: Gamemasters reports encountering NOTS in Florida. "The comedy terrorist must have gone south for the summer," reported Dragon Mazer, president of Gamemasters.
        NOVA welcomed Kieran MacLeod, Michael Woodward, and two other initiates into its ranks.

Aug. 29, 2043: Nebraska Governor Doug Zander cut the ribbon for the Heartland Speedway in Lincoln. The Speedway will feature all forms of racing from May through September, and will be added to the Flashfire Circuit.

Sept. 2, 2043: Three Essex duelcars destroyed a local synagogue, killing over a hundred worshipers. Three NOPD Blastcruisers easily tracked down and destroyed the offending duelcars and their drivers. The vehicles were two 2042 Zaitech Paybacks and a 2042 Counteract. The drivers are known to come from Chalco, but their names are being withheld, pending an investigation into the matter.
        Lissa Saunders claims that Chalco residents were not involved in the incident. She claims Chalco is being set-up by her rivals.

Sept. 5, 2043: May Bill the Cat broke ground for the future Waterloo Speedway. Construction of the Waterloo facility is expected to be completed next spring.

Sept. 17, 2043: The Omaha International Racing Complex opened its gates today. Mayor Bill the Cat presided over the opening ceremonies. The complex holds a speedway/roadcourse and an additional roadcourse. It will be open to all classes of racing and will be added to the Flashfire Circuit.

Sept. 18, 2043: Chris French won the NOVA Dueling Club Championship.

Sept. 25, 2043: A milestone was reached as Chris French won the NOVA Racing Club Championship. He became the first chapter double champion ever.

Sept. 26, 2043: The NOPD found the beheaded bodies of local mob kingpins and several Jonathan Dark clones. An intense investigation was launched.
        Rumors of the Federal government investigating Hierarch Industries business practices were aplenty in New Omaha. Their cloning activities are a prime facet in the rumors.

Sept. 27, 2043: Today the NOPD found a pile of dead cyberninjas between I-680 and Lake Cunningham in northwest New Omaha. No numbers have been released.

Sept. 30, 2043: The NOPD announced that the synagogue incident was done by clones of Chalco residents. The FBI has been called in on the case. Corporate espionage is suspected in the case.

Oct. 5, 2043: Jonathan Dark was turned over to Federal Marshals in Lincoln. The Marshals reported that Mr. Dark was being held for terrorist-related crimes in eastern Nebraska. They didn't say who brought Mr. Dark into their possession, though.

Oct. 6, 2043: Federal Marshals moved Jonathan Dark to Fort Bradley, Virginia for trial. Bail was refused by federal judges.

Oct. 7, 2043: The Hierarch Industries cloning banks were shut down by government investigators, following the discovery that they were being used illegally. All cloning equipment will be dismantled and shipped to New Omaha. Meanwhile the investigation in Hierarch's cybernetic labs continues.

Oct. 13, 2043: The Gamemasters HQ blew up; Dragon Maser -- the club president -- was the only survivor. He was quoted as saying, "the destruction of the headquarters was due to recent terrorist activities."

Oct. 16, 2043: Des Moines held its first race on the city streets. NOVA participated in the Can-Am race. Overall results were mixed.

Oct. 18, 2043: Today the federal government executed the Black Asp for his crimes against the nation. Several AADA chapters were in attendance to witness the event.

Oct. 21, 2043: The federal government sentenced and executed Jonathan Dark for his crime spree in the Midwest.
 

Now playing: Fortress

October: Demolition Man, Ghost in the Machine

November: Robocop 3

Christmas: Batman: Mask of the Phantasm (animated)

Future Video Releases: Striking Distance, Undercover Blues, and Hard Target

Another look into the ridiculous. This section is a little bit strange (but aren't we all?).

Polar Duels: Just what you want to think about during winter. Dueling in the world's coldest conditions. Well, you can't say its never been done. Set up temporary arenas at the North and South Poles and ship in cars and duelists. Prize money will be higher due to the extreme conditions. Duelists will face large snowbanks, ice fields, sub-zero temperatures, and even the occasional polar bear or penguins. Abandoning a vehicle may not be an option here.

Arctic and Antarctic duels would be scheduled six months apart so they would occur during the near 24 hour days of "summer". What a way to be remembered: the first Polar Champion.

How about a Boat Racing World Championship? Aircraft? Hovercraft? This would considerably expand the Racing world. Car racing gets the most attention, but it isn't the be-all, end-all of the racing spectrum. Consider the Reno Air Races and hydroplane racing. Expanding the Racing World Championship will raise the interest in Car Wars.

Lego Wars: On a recent trip through a toy store, a friend pointed out the possibility of using Lego road sections in Car Wars. They come in packs of two: turns, straights, or crossroads. They may be held together with regular Lego blocks to form road courses or cities for upscaled Car Wars. They're cheap and readily available. The possibilities are endless.
 

Like any other fraternal organization, some AADA chapters use a testing process to weed out bad recruits. Processes vary from a simple challenge duel to more elaborate tests. If the recruit survives, he is awarded full membership. Sometimes, recruits end up in a "bone garden". The AADA frowns on the initiation system, especially on those groups that have the highest initiate mortality rates.
    NOVA has its own initiation process. After completing a screening process, the potential recruits are told to prepare for combat. They are then taken out into the countryside and dropped off.
    Their target: a local cycle gang that has made its base in a small, abandoned town or truck stop. The gang would be using older versions of trikes, cycles, and some OR vehicles. Put out as many vehicles and peds as you think appropriate. The initiates attack at midnight, so remember those nighttime modifiers.

Characters: One character per player. Initiates get 50 skill points and $1,500 for body armor, handweapons, and equipment. (As an option give each character body armor, a light pistol, and a bowie knife.) Gang members get 40 skill points and whatever handweapons the GM gives them.

Goal: Each initiate must steal one vehicle and escape from the gang. Destroying the gang and their compound is "icing on the cake". As an added incentive, the initiates must return to the chapter's headquarters by sunrise.

Those characters who survive the initiation and succeed in the mission will be the best suited to deal with the unexpected and have the potential of becoming great duelists. This adventure will help introduce new continuing characters into a worn-out campaign. It also teaches the players and characters alike that they can't have everything all the time.
 

The Dueling Worlds were held in Fort Worth, Texas. Somehow I figure it would be a Texan winning the event. I was right; Mike Montgomery won his fourth World Championship. For more details, Brian Morrison of GHOST will inform us with the details that were left out from the Pyramid magazine.

Morrison's letter:

Norm,

It was good to hear from you again. Unfortunately, I was unable to contact Mike Garrity before he left on his trip. We would certainly have enjoyed dueling with him (Todd, of course, wanted a one-on-one tank battle). Here's the rundown on the Worlds:

Mike M. won, an unknown dark horse competitor named Greg was second, Dave Hoffman of GHOST was third, I (Brian) was fourth, Miles Messervy of TRAACS was fifth, and Robert Deis (also of TRAACS) was sixth. There was a total of 14 competitors.
    Heath Culp managed to kill himself in a spectacular fashion again. He was taking an upper-level jump, and reasoned "if 55 is the best speed, then 135 should put me less than 3 times as far, which is safe". Wrong! His vehicle was last spotted by Cape Canaveral heading towards Pluto.
    I was nearly killed by 3 TDX mines laid by Rob Deis, leaving me with only 8 DP of tires left! Needless to say, I had to lay low for the rest of the event.
    Mike made a kill in mid-air. Traveling at 55 mph, he left a lower level jump (the arena was Hammer Downs) from the far left-hand side in phase 1. A competitor left from the jump on Mike's left, also at 55 on the far left side. Play it out for yourselves. Mike can't make it! The old RCADA favoritism at work, I guess.
    Hoffman got lucky. He popped his nitrous, phase 1, turn 1, and rolled a 12, modified to a 9 (radiator). He never lost the engine, though, as the event only ran about 12 seconds before time was called at 4 hours of play.
    Mike had a fast ram compact with a small gun for targets. I drove a luxury with twin napalm MDs with extra magazines. There were a few other ram cars, and no exceptionally creative designs.
    Attendance was decent; last year and 2041 was better. We haven't talked or dueled with Mike since the Worlds. Tim Ray was there, but didn't duel. A bunch of competitors were killed early, and quickly together. Todd was unable to attend, as was Paul Alfonse.

We're looking forward to the next Nightmessenger.

Drive Offensively!

Brian Morrison
 

Held at GenCon in Milwaukee. Attendance was down from last year due to not having a GenCon/Origins combo. The referee, Jacob Abrams, was a lot better than last year but still had a few minor difficulties.
    The preliminary rounds saw everyone using stock sprint cars. Daniel Sloan managed to win the first round and got into the second round. In the same race Norman McMullen pushed his sprint car up to 190, up from 150 (its rated top speed) and lost. In the second preliminary round Chris French, Norman McMullen, Jason Winters, and Andy (last name unknown) won spots in the second round.
    The second round saw NOVA unveil it's secret weapon. Some referred to it as "an IndyCar from Hell". With the field set by top speeds Chris French and Norman McMullen led the field throughout the race. There was the memorable rocket start, with French and McMullen going from zero to 60 in one second. The others were left scrambling to catch up. Andy hit his nitrous in an effort to catch up. Sloan pounded Andy out of the race with recoilless fire; Andy's rear armor was breached and his driver was killed. French led the way from the first turn, with McMullen not far behind. Sloan and Winters were quite a ways back.
    The final round was very eventful. Rakow quickly designed what best can be called a gunboat and turned it in before the race. Everyone else had turned their designs in the day before the event as the rules stated. Rakow got the pole by default, French was next, McMullen took the inside second row, Sloan the outside second row and Winters in the third row.
    The green flag dropped; French, McMullen, and Sloan went from 0 to 60 at the start. Rakow putted along at 10 mph. He moved in front of McMullen; only to have McMullen move around. Rakow was left in the dust. McMullen and Sloan raced side by side for over half the course.
    Rakow made himself a pillbox on the first turn and tried to target the racers (now going near 200 mph on the back straightway). The road course angled along the starting line. French hit his nitrous oxide and rocketed ahead. Rakow blew out French's left armor and injured his driver. French successfully did a hard left turn and T-boned Rakow. Confetti went everywhere. Needless to say, both drivers were killed by this collision.
    Sloan took the lead with McMullen close behind. Winters had damaged McMullen's rear armor earlier with HMG fire. The three remaining contestants made it through the debris field. The loop turn and hairpin turns did little to slow them down. Nearing the finishing line both McMullen and Sloan hit their nitrous oxide. Winter's last shot hit McMullen's rear armor, breaching it and destroying his empty rocket boosters. McMullen trailed Sloan by four inches (60 feet) at 300 mph. Sloan won, with McMullen pulling and French second, Winters was third, and Rakow were fourth and fifth respectively.

Other GenCon Car Wars Events

As usual our GenCon trips have always been something to remember. This time we had no car trouble and got lost only once (nearly ended up in Chicago on the way back).
    Car Wars was played in quite a few events there. The Main Event III, Amateurs in Oz IV, Oz Winter Bash I, Paint the Town Red . . . , The Bogs of War, Geneva Lakes Circuit Inaugural and Godzilla Takes Milwaukee. We got to see or play in only a few of these events.
    In Godzilla the titled monster won three times. He came close to be subdued only once. Plans for next year's event are already being thought up. This is for better or for worse, depending on your point of view.

Hope to see you there next year!
 

Daniel Sloan has had a busy year. He won the Racing Worlds and started a new dueling chapter in Florida. Gamemasters, now NOVA South, is headed by Daniel. Nightmessenger caught up with him at Gamemasters headquarters.

Nightmessenger (NM): What made you to decide to become a NOVA satellite chapter?

Daniel Sloan (DS): Mainly due to the style of dueling and racing. They should be two different entities, instead of "how fast dueling cars can go".

NM: So, the NOVA race and dueling car designs helped you decide on NOVA?

DS: Yes, they did. They should be two different classes. Hopefully next year at GenCon SJG will have a speed rating to stop the pillbox/gunboat "racing" designs.

NM: All right. So your chapter will be a new branch of NOVA?

DS: From what we hear it will be called NOVA South. Called Gamemasters or NOVA International depending on the AADA.

NM: How does it feel to be the new World Racing Champion?

DS: It feels great, but shocking. Surprising to beat the head of NOVA. Especially after the explosion on turn 12.

NM: Where is Gamemasters based?

DS: At the Gamemasters store in Orlando, Florida.

NM: Thank you for the interview.

DS: You're welcome.
 

"Often times the most beautiful and prosperous cities are built upon the ashes and ruins of cities that have fallen through war, natural disaster and in the ancient times through the iniquity of mankind. Though I don't know which of these three the Dark Years falleth under, I can say that I believe New West Omaha shall be one of those beautiful cities built upon past losses. It will no doubt provide the city with more rewards than even Joseph Christensen could have possibly imagined during his days in the Mayor's office. Today, August 6, two thousand forty-three years A.D., marks the end of an expansion project nearly a decade in the making." -- Lissa Lee Saunders at the dedication ceremony of New West Omaha on August 6, 2043.
    The face of New Omaha has changed slowly over the course of nine years, during which the New West Omaha defensive berm has been constructed. A traveler on Interstate 80 entering New Omaha would pass through a slot cut in the berm, where an overpass allows 204th Street to run along the earthen berm's thirty foot wide level top. The overpass is also used as a defensive checkpoint -- several armed and armored bunkers keep watch over vehicles entering the city limits. Computerized systems identify each vehicle as to make and license number. Information is then passed through the Department of Motor Vehicles in search of warrants or stolen vehicle reports.
    The New West Omaha Defensive Berm is a far cry from the old New Omaha Walls -- twenty foot tall black concrete walls patched and repaired with all sorts of odd material from metal to chunks of rock. Those walls still stand, at least for a short while longer until the city decide it is time to rid New Omaha of such bleakness and ugliness and tears down the walls.
    Unlike the walls, as much as possible was done to insure the berm's appearance was futuristic yet natural. Their seventy degree slopes on both sides makes obvious the purpose for which they were designed, and several different varieties of Nebraskan grasses that grow on the berm keeps it natural looking.
    Of the hundreds of millions of dollars of taxpayer's money used for the expansion project, nearly all of it went towards the construction of the eighteen foot tall, six foot wide earthen berm that stretches nearly forty-two miles in length, surrounding all of New West Omaha and all but the north side of the city proper. This defensive "wall" nearly doubles the current size of the city, adding almost twenty square miles of safely useable land. It is estimated that this new land should satisfy New Omaha's growth well into the next century if developed correctly.
    It begins at I-680 and State Street at the outskirts of New Omaha's northern limits. It proceeds west to 204th Street. There, it turns south, running approximately fifteen miles to Capehart Road, the dividing marker between Douglas and Sarpy Counties. From that point on it follows Capehart Road back east to the Missouri River, another sixteen miles.
    To add to the defensibility of the city, several access roads have been torn up. Now only Highway-31, Highway-133, Highway-75, I-680 and Highway-36 enter New Omaha from the North. Highways 6, 50, and 75 enter from the south, and Highways 275, 92 and Interstate-80 enter from the west.
    Within the walls is the rubble and ruins of the Boneyards, which has never been cleared. This wasteland has been said to be the future of New Omaha -- an attractive invitation to new business and prospective home buyers wishing to settle into a relatively peaceful community. In doing so, it is hoped that new jobs will be created for the currently unemployed and that a new revenue base will add vitality to the city. There are a few who doubt these obvious benefits, but those who do try to cause as much damage as possible to the construction crews working day and night to clear the rubble and open the area to buyers.
    To deal with miscreants Citywide Services has been contracted by the City of New Omaha to police the area. In doing so the growing corporation has formed three private police districts, staffed with some of their best officers. Unlike the standard New Omaha police vehicles, New West Omaha police districts are outfitted with off-road trucks equipped with emergency medical equipment, fire suppression equipment and standard police utilities. With officers trained in police tactics, life support, and fire suppression the need for a separate emergency medical system and fire department has been eliminated, thus slashing the costs of public safety departments by two-thirds. The project is still in its trial period but the system seems to be working exceptionally well.
    Soon business and housing developers will begin moving into New West Omaha, following a Development Code designed by former Mayor Brain Faulkner. Under the Code, small, independent communities will be formed within the city itself -- housing developments will have their own shopping mall, business district and parks, eliminating the need for extensive travel and congested roadways -- so that everything that a resident of New West Omaha needs would be within his or her own little community.
    If all goes according to plan, New West Omaha will become one of those "beautiful and prosperous cities that has risen from the ashes and ruins of those that have fallen".

Reprinted with the permission of Charissa Publishing.
 

This issue we will cover the World Racing Championship cars and other vehicles gathered from around the country. In the Racing Worlds the Warp Ten-E and its variants were used in the second and final rounds where it showed its long legs. They took first and second in both rounds.

Warp Ten-E -- IndyCar, x-hvy. chassis, blueprinted 500 ci ICE (with tubular headers. VP turbocharger, nitrous oxide tank, overdrive and 5-gallon dueling fuel tank), 4 radial PR tires, active suspension, driver, 20 rocket boosters, FP plastic airdam, FP plastic spoiler, tinted/no-paint windshields, HD brakes. FP plastic armor: F25, L20, R20, B25, T5, Ul0 (105 points). Accel. 20 (30 with nitrous oxide plus 50 with rocket boosters), Top speed 182.5 (272.5 with nitrous plus 20 with overdrive and 50 with rocket boosters),  HC 8 (9 at 60 mph +); 4,000 lbs., $59,526. Personal equipment: Impact armor, fireproof suit, PFE.

Asphalt -- Luxury, x-hvy. chassis, sport PP (with PlatCats, SuperCons and overdrive), hvy. suspension, 4 FP radial PR tires, driver, 3 ACs (1F, 1R, 1L), HRTC, radar, radar detector, radar jammer, HD brakes. Sloped FP plastic armor: F40, L35, R35, B30, T5, U15 (160 points). Accel. 10 (5 with overdrive), Top speed 122.5 (142.5 with overdrive),  HC 4; 6,600 lbs., $49,640.

Blastscout (military Blastfighter) -- Luxury with CT frame, x-hvy. chassis, blueprinted 150 ci ICE (with tubular headers, 2 VP turbochargers, intercooler, overdrive and 5-gallon dueling fuel tank), active hvy. suspension, 4 FP SB racing slick solid tires, driver in safety/ejection seat, BC (with HESH rounds, extra HESH magazine, weapon stabilization, auto stabilization) front, OJ back, ID back, link (OJ and ID), HRSWC, IR laser rangefinder, telescopic optics, light amplification, IR shielding, HDABS, HD shocks, 4-wheel steering, tinted/no-paint windshields. Sloped metal/FP plastic armor: F18/55, L0/55, R0/55, B0/55, T0/10, U0/l0 (18 points/240 points), 10 points of FP plastic CA for driver. Accel. 25 (20 with overdrive), Top speed 90 (110 with overdrive),  HC 3; 6,600 lbs., $130,118.

Version A -- Change metal armor to FP plastic. F85, L73, R73, B65, T15, U14 (325 points). $130,800.

Version B -- Replace OJ with amphibious modifications. Sloped metal/FP plastic armor: F18/51, L0/52, R0/52, B0/52, T0/l0, U0/10 (18 points/227 points). 6,595 lbs., $135,046.

Version C -- Change suspension and tires to off-road. Add 4 points sloped FP plastic armor to top and underbody (18 points sloped metal/248 points sloped FP plastic). 6,592 lbs., $151,766.

Version D -- As version A, but replace OJ with amphibious modifications. Sloped plastic armor: F81, L70, R70, B62, T15, U14 (312 points). 6,595 lbs., $135,728.

Version E -- As version A, but change suspension and tires to off-road. Sloped FP plastic armor: F85, L70, R70, B63, T15, U14 (317 points). 6,592 lbs., $152,448.

Version F -- As version B, but change suspension and tire to off-road. Sloped FP plastic armor: F18/50, L0/50, R0/50, B0/50, T0/l0, U0/l0 (18 points/220 points). 6,597 lbs., $156,738.

Version G -- As version D, but change suspension and tires to off-road. Sloped FP plastic armor: F80, L68, R68, B60, T15, U14 (305 points). 6,597 lbs., $157,410.

King of the Hill -- Sedan, x-hvy. chassis, OR suspension, 250 ci ICE with overdrive and 2-gallon racing fuel tank, 4 FP OR PR tires, driver, RR (with HEAT ammo and magazine switch) in universal turret, extra HESH RR magazine below turret, RR (with HEAT ammo) front, PS back, 2 FCDs (1B, 1U), 2 FODs (1R, 1L), smart link (turret RR and front RR), 2 links (PS and 2 FODs; turret RR and PS), HDABS, no-paint windshields, FE, roll cage, HD shocks, HRSWC. Plastic armor: F35, L35, R35, B35, T32, U20 (192 points), four 5-pt. plastic AWHs, 10 pts. plastic CA around driver. Accel. 10 (5 with overdrive), Top speed 80 (100 with overdrive),  HC 2 (3 off-road); 6,117 lbs., $34,515.

Option 2 -- Remove front RR and smart link. Add RL (with smoke rockets) front, link (RR and RL) and 8 points plastic armor (200 points). $33,534.

Option 3 -- Remove both RRs, extra RR magazine, all dischargers, magazine switch, no-paint windshields, overdrive, HRSWC and all AWHs. Add TwL to turret, ID back, link (ID and PS), laser battery, SWC and 4 fake AWHs. 6,056 lbs., $34,998.

Option 4 -- Remove PS, both links and FE. Add MD and 2 links (MD and 2 FODs; turret RR and MD). 6,092 lbs., $34,565.
 

Born on July 4, 2005 in Los Angeles, California, Kurtz graduated from Stanford University in 2025. He earned degrees in electronic engineering and computer science. In 2027 he earned a business degree from the Harvard Business School and received his MBA in 2030. He also received master degrees in electronic and computer science from MIT in 2029.
    In 2027, while at MIT, he joined the school's autodueling club and earned a reputation for deadly accuracy and fantastic reflexive driving. His leadership of the team led to a collegiate division championship in 2029 and the nicknames "Killer" (for obvious reasons) and "Zap" (for his fondness for lasers and his tinkering with his car's electronics) . . . and the alias which would remain with him from then on . . . "Cobra," for his quick and deadly combat instincts.
    He worked in various Boston-area electronics and weapons manufacturing firms from 2025 to 2033, eventually becoming vice president for projects and developments at DefenSys, Inc. He left DefenSys and moved to Bellevue, Nebraska, in September 2033, to form OmaTechnologies, Inc. OmaTechnologies is currently a major defense contractor to the governments of the U.S., the Republic of Texas, and the Free State of Oklahoma. His firm is also an innovator in computers and high-tech weapons in autodueling vehicles.
    Cobra Kurtz is a confirmed arena double ace autoduelist, which is a remarkable for a non-professional duelist. He specializes in high-speed duel/race events. He drives a black 2034 Porsche 988. His skills are Driver +4, Gunner +4, Handgunner +l, Electronics +6, Computers +6, and Martial Arts +l. He wears black body armor with a white cobra symbol over the left breast.
 

Who is Dragon Mazer? Not much known about this new crime fighter. What is known is that attacks seem to come from nowhere and melts his opponents unmercifully. A reporter was able to catch up to him recently as he pulled up on a group of smash-and-grab robbers. He trashed the robbers' car with laser fire and entered the store on foot. Though hit several times he managed to subdue the criminals and left, leaving a NOVA South sticker on the trashed car.
    The Dragon Mazer wears blended IBA that has dragon scales woven in and wears a dragon's head helmet.

Dragon Mazer -- Streamlined luxury, x-hvy. chassis, sport PP with surge protector, hvy. suspension, 4 solid tires, driver, laser in universal turret, HL front, smart link (laser and HL), anti-theft system with 6 FCDs, HRSWC, no-paint windshield, vehicular computer. Cargo capacity: 3 spaces, 5 lbs. Sloped FP plastic armor: F26, L26, R26, B26, T26, U13 (143 points), four 10-pt. FP plastic AWHs. Accel. 10, Top speed 122.5, DM 1, HC 3; 6,595 lbs., $48,492.

Dragon Mazer II -- As above, but add convert frame to CA and add overdrive. Sloped FP plastic armor: F44, L44, R44, B44, T44, U13 (233 points). Top speed 142.5 with overdrive. $61,252.

The Racing Worlds have been the victim of the duelist mentality. For the previous four years the event has been won or marred by a duelist who thinks he's a racer.
    Last year the no-fire rules were broken before the first second of the race was finished, ending in two racers knocked out of the event. This year saw the standing world champion bringing in a gunboat while everyone else had speed demons.
    Any duelist entering the Racing Worlds must be told that gunboats will not be allowed on the tracks. The rules must limit the racers to racing cars, no gunboat loopholes.

Racing Limits

Weapon Spaces. This is a favorite of NOVA. Limiting the number of spaces of weapons available allows more space for engines or power plants. This will lead to increased top speeds. In our normal events we allow zero to four of weapons per car. Dropped weapons of all kinds are forbidden. This includes oil/paint guns, spike guns, grenade launchers and mine flingers (for those loophole lovers). Turrets, EWPs, rocket EWPs, and rocket platforms are also banned.

Speed Limit. Any car entering a race event must have a minimum top speed, otherwise they're disqualified. To determine the minimum top speed, multiply the top speed of the fastest vehicle by 0.9, This top speed is before nitrous oxide, rocket boosters, or other short-term boosters. This again will force players to use bigger engines and plants.

Anti-Gunboat ruling. The Worlds judge shouldn't be afraid to rule against anybody bringing in a gunboat. One such ruling would be a warning to everyone else not to bring in such a vehicle.

No dropped weapons. As stated earlier, in NOVA racing events dropped weapons are banned entirely. Why risk the possibility of facing flame clouds in racing? Just ban them all.
 

In Craig Sheeley's "State of the Art Part 1" (ADQ 7-2, p. 28), he states, "Even the most simple vehicle is an electronic entity . . . Computers control the climate, the speeds of the wheel/rotor/prop engines, the power plant, the suspension, traverse and load weapons . . . even internal combustion engines are monitored and controlled by microprocessor. The most impressive electronic systems . . . are the target-tracking (gear)." (emphasis added).
    However, if a vehicle loses its engine/power plant, the worst that happens to it is: a loss of all acceleration, 5 mph deceleration/turn mandatory, and no lasers can be fired (CWC2, p. 51). If, however, a typical dueling vehicle is as Mr. Sheeley describes it (see 1st paragraph), then losing the power plant or engine would be much more dangerous, since the flywheels used to power the generators that run the electricals would be destroyed, thus leading to complete system shutdown (State of the Art Part 1, ADQ 7-2, p.28).
    Therefore, the ruling power plant/engine loss should ready "When the power plant/engine is lost, the vehicle may not accelerate, must decelerate 5 mph/turn minimum, may not fire any vehicular weapons or use electrical gear of any kind, and may not do any maneuver greater than difficulty 2. Also, the vehicle's HC-improving gear (except tires, spoilers/airdams, and HD shocks) and braking enhancements cease operating, with the appropriate negative effects. The vehicle may be able to avoid all but the acceleration loss and the mandatory deceleration if it has a laser battery (even one with a single point of electricity). Keep track of how one uses the power in that laser battery, though; when it's gone, all effects apply. Chassis & Crossbow weapons are immune to this."
    I bring this to your attention after being asked by a rookie duelist, "How can a car without a power plant run its guns and electronics? These things need power, don't they?" And, to answer this question now: no, there aren't any "little auxiliary car batteries separate or hooked to the power plant or engine. All such 'batteries' are included in the power plant cost, weight, and spaces." One final point: a "Chassis & Crossbow weapon" is one on an articulated, ring, or pintle mount.

I thank you for your time and consideration.

Chris French
 

"Trouble rather the tiger in his lair, than the sage among his books. For to you, kingdoms are things mighty and enduring, but to him they are but toys of the moment, to be overturned with the flick of a finger."    Kipling

"Do not be afraid of any man, no matter what his size. Call on me in time of need and I will equalize."    Samuel Colt

"God created man, and Sam Colt made them equal."    Unknown

"So quick and ingenious are the minds of men at learning the most pernicious arts."    Petrarch

"Revenge is a dish best served cold."    Old Klingon Proverb
 

There is none this issue. Not without controversy, though. A mild discussion has gone on for a while, whether Combat Rock is just music to duel by or a wider spectrum of music.
    I tend to be very open on the subject and say both. Car Wars is not just duels, but long stretches of highways -- which get awfully boring at times.
    Hence, music like "Desperado" are included in Combat Rock. Everyone has different tastes in music, it doesn't have to be rock and roll to be Combat Rock. Just as Car Wars isn't all car duels.
    Limiting oneself is asking for disappointment. Enough said. I hope to have more Combat Rock picks next issue. Hold on, there's something in the "IN" box after all.

"The Black Bear" (Scottish Traditional)
"The Crags of Tumbledown" (Scottish Traditional)
"Scotland The Brave (Scottish Traditional)

When it comes to good battle tunes, nothing beats a well-played bagpipe at 190 decibels. If one is into mental torture, though, one must use a poorly-played bagpipe! -- The members of SPECTRE Team 149.
 

Tim "The Weasel" Jacques has now extended his GenCon winning streak to three consecutive years by winning the Amateurs in Oz Tournament. The event was held on Friday, August 20 and hosted a contingent of eight enthusiastic duelists.
    Each contestant was equipped with a standardized vehicle (each with its own specialized dropped weapon) and a SMG. The object of the event was to score as many points as possible within a set time limit. Points, could be scored by causing damage, making kills, hitting an opponent for the first time, ramming or damaging someone with your dropped weapon, just to name a few. Tire shots resulted in penalty points.
    At the start of the event, Tim moseyed along the arena walls, making pin-point pot shots, while looking for an easy kill to scavenge. He acquired one seconds later, as an unlucky ram-recipient tried to limp away from the fray. Tim zeroed in and fired a pair of rocket launchers, hitting and causing a minor breach. He then sideswiped the opposing vehicle, scoring the event's first kill.
    Tim's second kill came more by chance than by skill. After an approaching enemy vehicle made an unsuccessful firing pass, Tim retaliated with his rocket launchers and turreted recoilless rifle (which was on automatic and locked to the front). The impacting shells, plus some nearby debris, forced the opposing vehicle to make a control roll; he failed miserably. The result was a major skid -- in the direction of Tim's approaching vehicle!! They collided at high speed; Tim's front armor was severely damaged, but his opponent was killed.
    As the event drew to a close, Tim veered away from the fighting and headed towards the outer wall. His vulnerable front armor and commanding point lead persuaded him to play it safe while the rest of the pack slugged it out in the center. Tim once again played the outer areas, taking well-aimed pot shots at everyone else and managed to hit everyone at least once. A third kill would have been scored if time had not run out.
    After the smoke cleared, Tim emerged in his battered (but not breached) vehicle, victorious.
    In the final point count, Tim won by a commanding margin, the largest in the tournament's history. Sadly, the point list was unavailable at press time.
 

As in previous years', NOVA again hands out awards to the best and craziest duelists in the world. This year's winners are:

Chapter of the Year: The Gamemasters of Florida for their great showing in the Racing Worlds. Good luck next year.

Duelist of the Year: Dave Hoffman of GHOST for being the leading duel-minded duelist in the Dueling Worlds. Better luck next year.

Psycho Award: Mike Martini for the metal ramplate on his IndyCar and for his racing style in the Midwest Racing Regional.

"Syngman Rhee" Checkpoint Charlie Award (given to a man who has scored more checkpoints than anyone else should): Mike Montgomery.

The Flying Dutchman Award: Heath Culp, who has proven two years running that he knows how to exit from an arena. Last year he flew into the stands and started the Protectorate War. This year he just flew into the stands. Call it grace or style (or never let him in an arena with jumps).

The Nemesis Award: To Chris French for twice killing Jeff Rakow during the Racing Worlds two years running. Chris traded in his chance to win this year's racing to remove Rakow's gunship with a 260 mph T-bone.
 

This wraps up another issue of the Nightmessenger. Although it has been a busy year NOVA hopes to work on other projects soon (if we can find the time to do so). We'll be getting to work on another NOVA Works and the Vehicle Guide 4 (Midwest Encounter Guide 3) in the near future. Tim Jacques is hard at work on Protectorate War articles, the Old Market and the Desert Southwest Road Atlas supplements.
    Next issue will have more news of the expanding of New Omaha and it's troubles. There's never a dull moment in this city.
    "War, what war?"
    It's time to put this issue to bed. Until next issue, which is being sent with this one! It's been surreal!

DRIVE OFFENSIVELY!

Norman McMullen                Tim Jacques
NOVA President                   NOVA Vice-President
 

NOVA Works

• Fake Vehicle Body: Norman McMullen.
• Touch-Reactive Body Blades: Leadfoot
• Heavy-Duty Gas Streamer: Michael Garrity

Focus: Q

The Showroom

• Warp Ten-E: Norman McMullen
• Asphalt: Leadfoot
• Blastscout: Michael Garrity and Norman McMullen.
• King of the Hill: Ron Soller

Quotes: Michael Garrity

Local Hero: John Schuncke

10 O'Clock News: Daniel Sloan, Norman McMullen, Chris French and John Scheibeler

All other sections: Norman McMullen

Typesetting on the ongoing Great American Novel series: Don Jacques.

Editors: Chris French, Don Jacques, Tim Jacques, and Norman McMullen

The Nightmesseger is published quarterly by the New Omaha Vehicular Association, 701 South 22 Street #73, Omaha, NE 68102. All material is copyright January 1994 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 situations and characters of the Car Wars background are the exclusive property of Steve Jackson Games, Incorporated, and are used in The Nightmessenger by permission.
    Reproduction of any material published in The Nightmessenger without the express written permission of the publisher is prohibited. Any reproduction of Car Wars stories published in The Nightmessenger, or any other unauthorized publication of fiction using the Car Wars background, without the express written permission of Steve Jackson Games, Incorporated, is strictly prohibited.

Annual subscription rate is four dollars per year. Individual issues are one dollar each.
 

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