Editing Car Wars (section)

==Game play==
In ''Car Wars'', players assume control of one or more cars or other powered vehicles, from [[motorcycle]]s to [[Semi-trailer truck|semi trucks]].<ref name="HG">{{Cite book | contribution=Car Wars | title=[[Hobby Games: The 100 Best]] | last=Tidball | first=Jeff | author-link=Jeff Tidball | editor-last=Lowder | editor-first=James | editor-link=James Lowder | publisher=[[Green Ronin Publishing]] | year=2007 | pages=49–51 | isbn=978-1-932442-96-0}}</ref> Optional rules include piloting [[helicopter]]s, [[ultralight]]s, [[Hot air balloon|balloon]]s, [[boat]]s, [[submarine]]s, and [[tank]]s. The vehicles are typically outfitted with [[weapon]]s (such as [[missile]]s and [[machine gun]]s), [[Wiktionary:souped-up|souped-up]] components (like heavy-duty fire-proof wheels, and [[nitrous|nitro injectors]]), and defensive elements ([[armor]] plating and [[radar]] tracking systems). Within any number of settings, the players then direct their vehicles in combat.

The published games use cardstock [[Counter (board wargames)|counters]] to represent vehicles in a simulated battle upon printed battlemaps. While the game rules allow for any scale, most editions of the game were published to use a 1-inch = 15-feet scale ([[List of scale model sizes|1:180 scale]]), although the Fifth Edition switched to 1-inch = 5-feet ([[List of scale model sizes|1:60 scale]]). At this larger scale, players can use miniature toy vehicles such as [[Hot Wheels]] or [[Matchbox (toy company)|Matchbox]] cars, [[S gauge]] [[model railroading]] scenery, or 28mm-30mm scale wargaming miniatures.

''Car Wars'' had many scenarios available and the system allowed players to make their own. Common scenarios include a harrowing gauntlet and competition in an arena to win a virtual cash prize with which to upgrade their cars. Many game sessions consist of players taking their cars through many successive arena-style scenarios, upgrading their cars between each round. At the height of the game's popularity, many [[gaming convention]]s and gaming clubs sponsored ''Car Wars'' tournaments where finalist players could win real world prizes.

''Car Wars'' uses standard dice to determine the outcomes of weapon fire, damage and vehicle control during the game. It is played in turns, each turn representing one second of real time. Each turn was initially divided into ten phases (first edition) then five (revised edition) and in the last edition three. All action in ''Car Wars'' is simultaneous. Players do not roll for initiative as is common in other combat games, instead each phase a vehicle moves a distance determined by the vehicle's speed. Players may fire weapons on any phase as long as they have line-of-sight with a target of their choosing. As part of movement players may attempt turns and other maneuvers of increasing difficulty. The more maneuvers one attempts in a turn and the more difficult they are, the more likely it is that a player's car will skid or crash. After all phases of movement and combat are resolved, a new turn begins. Typically, a game is over after a few turns, which represents a combat of a few seconds, but because every action in the game must be resolved a typical game takes a few hours to play.

While the core of the original ''Car Wars'' was a boardgame, the supplements allowed it to be extended into a larger game with light role-playing elements.<ref name="Livingstone">{{cite book
 |first=Ian |last=Livingstone
 |title=[[Dicing with Dragons: An Introduction to Role-playing Games]]
 |publisher=Routledge |year=1982 |page=110}}</ref>
Other expansions such as rule-additions,<ref>{{cite journal
 |first=Dirck | last=de Lint
 |title=Tanks for the Memories |type=expansion |pages=56–61
 |journal=[[Dragon (magazine)|Dragon]] |issue= 117
 |publisher=[[TSR, Inc.]] |date=January 1987
 |issn=	0279-6848}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal
   |first=Allen |last=Varney
   |title=Lem Stucker's Dragon Farm and Wrestling Show |type=expansion |pages=84–87
   |journal=[[Dragon (magazine)|Dragon]] |issue= 204
   |publisher=[[TSR, Inc.]] |date=April 1994
   |issn=	0279-6848}}</ref>
mini-scenarios<ref>{{cite journal
 |first=Marcus |last=Rowland
 |title=Assignment:Freeway Deathride! |type=mini-scenario |pages=26–27
 |journal=[[White Dwarf (magazine)|White Dwarf]] |issue= 41
 |publisher=[[Games Workshop]] |date=May 1983}}</ref>
and dual-statted products like ''[[Autoduel Champions]]'' (for use with ''Car Wars'' or ''[[Champions (role-playing game)|Champions]]'')<ref>{{cite journal
 |first=Marcus |last=Rowland
 |title=Open Box: Autoduel Champions and Car Wars GM Screen |type=Review |pages=11
 |journal=[[White Dwarf (magazine)|White Dwarf]] |issue= 48
 |publisher=[[Games Workshop]] |date=December 1983}}</ref>
published in game magazines expanded the game even further.