'Speed Racer' style Car Wars?

[panaikhan]

Having watched the new film again recently, and finding a new interest in Car Wars again, I sat and brainstormed a way of putting the two together. Constructive criticism is welcomed...

Vehicle modifications:
Each wheel is capable of 360-degrees of turning (this pretty much prohibits gas-powered vehicles unless you rule gas engines create electricity for the motors). This enables the car to change it's facing without changing it's direction of travel (much like hover vehicles). Each car is also fitted with jump jacks, which can be linked (using weapon links) to fire in patterns. NOTE: Jump Jacks MUST be fired in groups - firing one on it's own simply de-stabilizes the vehicle (a D2 hazard).
The additional equipment required for the wheels and jacks takes up 10% of the body's internal spaces (rounded up), doubles the cost of the body, and increases the weight of the body by 10%. These modifications are applied BEFORE chassis, suspension and other body-dependant costs (such as CA frames) are calculated, unless it states that such items are already included within the body.
The Jump Jack mechanism can only be damaged once the wheel is destroyed (or, as an internal component) and has 2DP per wheel location.

Manoevers possible with Jump Jacks:
Firing all the jacks on one facing of the car flips the car over in the following sequence:
Phase one - the car is flipped upside down, and is moved 1/2" away from the 'firing edge'. It is considered 1/2" above the track.
Phase two - the car is moved a further 1/2", and lands on it's wheels.
Firing all the jacks on the car simply launch the car 1" into the air.

NOTE: Cars that use spoilers and airdams suffer greatly when trying to use Jump Jacks. Any manoever using the jacks is increased by +D1 for a spoiler or airdam (+D2 for both).

These cars race around convoluted tracks (more like roller-coaster rides) contructed from 'road pieces' with the following rules:
Bends - manoevers on the outer half of the bend are reduced by D1 if the bend is banked in favor of the curve, and increased by D1 if the bend is banked in detriment to the curve. These modifiers are reversed for the inner half of the bend.
'Riding the Rim' (i.e. following the pavement around the curve) doubles this modifier, but deals 1D6 damage to the under armour of the vehicle per 'move' as the driver is actually using the physical track to force the vehicle around the bend. Drivers who consistantly use this technique often employ a 'skid plate' or metal armour on the underbody.
Straights - These are often concave or convex, even though they are straight. Concave straights impose a +D1 modifier to all movement (making even a straight move a D1 manoever). Convex straights also impose a +D1 modifier to all movement, with the added hazard of vehicles 'taking off' if travelling too fast.

[panaikhan]

Speed Racer Combat manoevers:
Because the facing of the car can be controlled independantly to it's direction of travel, certain 'combat manoevers' are possible. Attempting to spin your opponent can be as simple as spinning your own vehicle into their rear - or you can try to hit an opponent with a vehicular blade, sledge-hammer or morning star!
Other manoevers are also possible.

Vehicular Melee Weapons:
These unorthadox weapons all share common features.
1) They are represented by a 1/8" by 1/4" counter
2) They must be placed in accordance with vehicle weapon space rules
3) They are constructed from the same materials as metal armour, so are 'damaged' in the same way.

I'll have to come up with manoever difficulties etc. etc., but this should be enough to get the creative cogs whirring I think

[kjamma4]

Originally Posted by panaikhan

Having watched the new film again

You watched that twice??????

[panaikhan]

Originally Posted by kjamma4

You watched that twice??????

What can I say? It's in the pile with all my rubber-suit japanese monster flicks ;)
Can't beat a good cheesy movie cuddled up with a loved one and some alcohol...

[kjamma4]

Originally Posted by panaikhan

What can I say? It's in the pile with all my rubber-suit japanese monster flicks ;)
Can't beat a good cheesy movie cuddled up with a loved one and some alcohol...

If you are cuddling up with a loved one and having alcohol, then I guess the movie really doesn't matter. :) :) :)

[Parody]

I think it's funny that our cable system can't keep up with it. I caught a bit of Speed Racer while flipping through the movie channels one day and it was just a blocky mess.

[kjamma4]

Originally Posted by Parody

I caught a bit of Speed Racer while flipping through the movie channels one day

You must have stopped momentarily for your thumb to rest. :)

[MattV]

I digged the movie. Thought I wouldn't, but I ended up liking it, and I'm hard to please.

Recently we were thinking of having a duel between, Herbie, The Bat Mobile, Kit, and then couldn't think of any other cars that would fit the mold. Maybe we would have to throw in Speed Racer, but we were trying to think of car that drive themselves.

[43Supporter]

Originally Posted by MattV

Recently we were thinking of having a duel between, Herbie, The Bat Mobile, Kit, and then couldn't think of any other cars that would fit the mold. Maybe we would have to throw in Speed Racer, but we were trying to think of car that drive themselves.

Title character from _The Car_.
The '58 Plymouth Fury from _Christine_.

Some manned options, to fill the field:

Most of the title characters from _The Cars That Ate Paris_.
Members of The Humungus's gang from _The Road Warrior_.

Frankly, tho', _SR_-style "racing" strikes me as even more annoying spread out
across 4-6 hours than the two that flick covered.... :P

[panaikhan]

Originally Posted by 43Supporter

The '58 Plymouth Fury from _Christine_

I'm glad to see someone quote the book car, and not the film version...
Christine would have to have some sort of 'regeneration' (maybe 1D3 points per component or armour location per turn), just to make things interesting (and true to the story)