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Old 10-15-2017, 07:57 PM   #1
DSumner
 
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: The North American Combine
Default Your favorite Official Vehicle Design

Over the years, CW has seen a lot of "official" vehicle designs published, of the bunch what was your favorite and why?
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Old 10-16-2017, 03:48 PM   #2
43Supporter
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Default Re: Your favorite Official Vehicle Design

Quote:
Originally Posted by DSumner View Post
Over the years, CW has seen a lot of "official" vehicle designs published, of the bunch what was your favorite and why?
Depends on the job -- here's what I had at "43's Garage" [my solo _running a Truck Stop campaign]:

Duelling Car (for advertising at the arena): _Iron Horse_; later _Python_. (Good all-around designs.)

Daily Driver: _Defender_; later _Messenger_. (Much the same as above; the later choice allowed passengers and cargo.)

"Ash-and-Trash" Hauler: _Micro_; later _Longhorn_ (for those out-of-the-way loads :) ). (Decent armor and firepower for the loads carried.)

Heavy-Lift: _Wolverine_/_Collector_; later _Magnum_/_Brimstone_. (Rolling bricks with hefty throw-weights. >:) )

Airborne: _Gnat_; later _Fly_ w/pontoons. (Useful enough for air-recon and light fire-support.)
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Old 10-22-2017, 11:35 AM   #3
owenmp
 
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Bellevue, WA, USA
Default Re: Your favorite Official Vehicle Design

The Piranha is one of my favorite designs. I started playing Car Wars with the purchase of a set of 5d6 and the two Car Wars Adventure Gamebooks "Battle Road" and "Fuel's Gold." I had a lot of fun driving a Piranha in "Battle Road."

With power plant upgrades, accessory additions, and extra armor, the Piranha is still an effective courier vehicle with current rules.
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Old 10-22-2017, 04:04 PM   #4
juris
 
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Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: CA
Default Re: Your favorite Official Vehicle Design

The Defender and the Moose were the greatest IMO - both are easy to upgrade with advanced tech to be even better. Honorable mention to the Max (once it's legalized with a one-space turret).

Flavor wise Vlad the Impala wins for the coolest name ;)
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Old 10-24-2017, 09:42 AM   #5
J. Roberts
 
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Minneapolis, MN
Default Re: Your favorite Official Vehicle Design

I still love the Hammer from VG1 - twin RRs to the front, a turreted VMG to cover the back and sides, decent armor - just a solid design.

I would never drive this one, because I like to have lots and lots of armor between me and the incoming gunfire, but I love the idea of the King Dragon.
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Old 10-25-2017, 06:59 AM   #6
Suncrush
 
Join Date: Oct 2017
Default Re: Your favorite Official Vehicle Design

I've just gotten back into the game after a 16-year hiatus (moved, lost my playgroup, life moved on.)

So, now I'm introducing new people to the game with the "Killer Kart Amateur Night" duel, and developing quite a soft spot for that wimpy little Kart.
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Old 10-25-2017, 03:37 PM   #7
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Join Date: Dec 2007
Default Re: Your favorite Official Vehicle Design

Question for the group re the OP: Exactly what constitutes "stock"? Is "stock" "anything printed in an official publication", or "just the first vehicle description listed in a product", or something else?

I ask this because, as an example: If I take a _Hotshot_, and use the MD and MG-changeout options, I can have a _Hotshot_ with 5 MGs, 1 MD, and *no* FTs; and yet, depending on how one defines such things, it's still a "stock" design.

Or the _Scorcher_ and _Slammer_: Same body, chassis, suspension, powerpack, tires, and crew; but *completely* different weapons loadouts, so much so they go by different names. But, again, depending on definition, the _Slammer_ may, or may not, be "stock" (as it's listed second in _VG1_).

This is the Recovering Rules-Lawyer speaking -- I see other commenters mentioning upgrades and alterations, which would seem to defeat the definition of "stock"; I just want to know where folks see the "line" being drawn. :)
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Old 10-26-2017, 12:41 AM   #8
swordtart
 
Join Date: Jun 2008
Default Re: Your favorite Official Vehicle Design

Interesting point.

I have treated each vehicle listed in the VGs and other core books as a factory standard (i.e. stock). This includes the main variant and specifically named variants of the design (e.g. Sizzler and Sizzler HR are both stock).

The Hotshot is specifically offered with MG and MD options within the vehicle listing and so any variety of this counts as stock (it is just a factory option). Clearly as you might gain some armour and this can be put where you want there is an almost unlimited number of variations possible, but that is an accounting headache for the manufacturer, not the ruling bodies. Note that you can only add to the existing armour, you cannot move the base armour elsewhere and still count it as stock.

In my campaign you can get a stock vehicle delivered to your door within 24 hours or you can find one for immediate sale in a dealership (assumed in all major cities).

Once you start moving things around outside the provision of the specific entry for that vehicle these are no longer stock. This includes even simple changes like adding/removing targeting computers, moving weapons or armour to a different facing etc.

In these simple cases you can order one direct from a factory and it will also be delivered within 24 hours (it comes with a 10% surcharge in addition to any delivery charges), but there may not be one exactly to your specifications available for immediate purchase in a major city. You could of course buy a stock one from a dealership and they will modify it for you (use the mechanics rules for how long this takes and assume 10% extra cost).

Other modifications are customisations and will be performed by specialist garages (even if you order a new vehicle from a factory they will just send the stock design to a subcontractor for the customisation work).

Of course once that stock design goes into the wild who knows what will happen to it, armour damage may be left unrepaired, extra gizmos might be added. This becomes relevant if you allow players to have some hint of what they are facing in combat. The VGs after all are not catalogues, they are billed as recognition guides (a la Janes).

At what point does a vehicle that started out as a stock Hotshot cease to be a Hotshot? Could you tell the difference between one with a computer and one without? From a ruling body standpoint they would not be stock unless they are in factory fresh condition (of some factory offered option). From your targeting computers identification look-up table it might be a very different matter.
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Old 10-26-2017, 12:07 PM   #9
kjamma4
 
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Chicagoland Area, Illinois
Default Re: Your favorite Official Vehicle Design

Quote:
Originally Posted by 43Supporter View Post
Question for the group re the OP: Exactly what constitutes "stock"? Is "stock" "anything printed in an official publication", or "just the first vehicle description listed in a product", or something else?
Either way, my favorite (Mecha-Shan) doesn't qualify.
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Old 10-27-2017, 07:16 PM   #10
Racer
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: London, UK
Default Re: Your favorite Official Vehicle Design

The 'Jackhammer' from ADQ #7/1 : Blast Cannon Front w/Mag , VFRPs Left & Right , Fire Extinguisher , Solid Tires , Good Armour & at $24,300 enough budget left over for a SWC .

Can cause absolute havoc in tight Arenas & putting VFRPs on Auto to fire 2 Rockets per Turn & cause 'property damage' to the area !
Other players tend to stay well away from you for some reason ... X-D

Can be easily converted to a Side Shooter with linked side mounted VFRPs , SBPR Tires & a Targeting Computer .

Nightmare from ADQ 8/1 is pretty good to , & just looks 'mean' !
Load the SMDs Mag with non Napham loads , swap Incendiary Heavy Rocket for Fire Extinguisher & add light Hubs+Guards and you have an extremely nasty Road Mid .

The Python from VG2 is a solid vehicle for Div 20 despite it's PR Tires & no Hubs & Guards ( easily rectified ) & has nasty dropped Weapon load .
Often the very first Car to introduce Drop Spike Plates to opponents - especially nasty as it's bumper triggered ...

While great for their Eras , it's best to tweak all of these for modern games : Large PP w/SCs instead of Super PP , HTMs , beefed up Tire protection , SWCs etc etc .

Technology & design philosophy have moved on light years since then & all vehicles from before 2001 need to be modified to some degree to used in current games .

Since 1984 I must have produced 14 to 18 updates/later marks/variants based on the Hot Shot . No one will use the original one today even in a Classic game , but we still find it seriously cool ! ;-)
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