Let's talk: Post-apocalyptic automobile combat

charlest wrote: Rush 'n Crush is solid, and usually cheap as hell at Miniature Market.

SHILL! SHIIIILLLLLLL!!! (LOL)

Yes. Rush and Crush has two flaws and two flaws only: It really needsTWO sets to make more interesting tracks, and the cars need to have push-pins run through them so you have somewhere to grab. First thing I did was paint them with a sanded paint so that grab the wee buggers.

From reading the comments on ToS, which reveals more about the reviewers, perhaps, than the game, it would seem that Rush n' Crush is close to greatness but needs three things:

1. A complete Mad Max retheming with better miniatures

2. Some help with the rulebook and perhaps a small amount of streamlining

3. A way to fix the runaway leader problem. Longer range weapons?

Rush n Crush feels more like Speed Racer to me than Mad Max. They should re theme it to that. . The circular track just kills the Mad Max vibe. Barnes is right about Thunder Road because it exudes that Mad Max kill everyone on the open highway feel.

Erik Twice wrote: and even RPG support, because a game of this lethality is apparently a great choice for a roleplaying campaign.

While I agree that Carwars is rule bloated, it is a fantastic RPG if you have a good GM. The campaigns I played in were typically convoy based (since that was the easiest to get people to play), where you had one Semi as the command post, and everyone built vehicles to support and defend it. The best campaign I played in had an overall map as a parallel of I65 (Indianapolis to Mobile with some liberties and bypasses), and over the course of a few months we raced down from Indy. When players died, we hired new muscle at small towns. We implemented light "Oregon Trail" elements, where we would have to get out of the vehicles and scavenge, hunt, or loot (played using pretty much Necromunda) made the game complete for RPG play. It was easily one of the best RPG experiences I have ever had, even if my second character on his motorcycle was driven over by the GM controlled convoy.

I ran an exceptional Car Wars campaign as well using the Indie RPG Primetime Adventures for in between stuff and Car Wars for on the road. I wish I could remember what our show's theme music was.

Like yours, my group ran a Convoy but we did end up in one autoduel event in the arena. Drive-By Dave Larson was a menace on the road in his mine-laying off-roadin' station wagon. In the arena...well he was lit up like a Christmas tree.

Gotta love the mine laying station wagon. I was always partial to the paint gun/mine layer combo. Blind and boom.