Two Stretch Goals Unlocked and Uncle Al Is Back!
over 4 years ago – Wed, Dec 25, 2019 at 12:01:36 AM

Since our last update, you've unlocked both the $535,000 and $540,000 stretch goals: +16 cards added to Miniatures Set 3 and +16 cards added to Miniatures Set 2. Both add-on graphics for those titles have now been updated. Please remember that Miniatures Set 3 is a part of the Double Ace stretch rewards; Miniatures Set 4 is an add-on only item and requires that you bump your pledge by $40 to add this set of minis, cards, and bases to your rewards.

That leaves revealed and waiting to unlock:

• $545,000 - Improved - +1 turning key added to the Car Wars Road Tiles expansion. We've heard many of you ask for extra turning keys and here's your chance at another one!
• $550,000 - Improved - +8 cards added to Car Wars Miniatures Set 1 and +8 cards added to Car Wars Miniatures Set 2.

Are there more stretch goals after these? Absolutely! Unlock both of these stretch goals to reveal more.

Uncle Al Upgrades the Core Box

It is Christmas Eve, gang, and Uncle Al has a gift that improves the Car Wars Sixth Edition core game: quickstart vehicle sheets! These double-sided sheets will be included in every copy of the game and are perfect for when you want to skip the car design stage and start playing the game immediately. These pre-designed cars show the cards necessary to "build" the car; just add a dashboard and all of the necessary tokens to the sheet and you're ready to start playing the game.

- Phil Reed

Car Design & Naming
over 4 years ago – Sun, Dec 22, 2019 at 07:53:32 PM

Sam is back with more behind-the-scenes info on the creation of Car Wars Sixth Edition, this time diving into how some of the miniatures were designed.

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Car Design & Naming

Some have asked how the cars are designed and named, and I can provide a mostly-complete answer (there are a few exceptions that don't make for an interesting read).

Many of the designs are based on whiteboard drawings of mine, generated from scratch but heavily influenced by years as a car enthusiast and tons of recent research: old AADA vehicle guides, actual cars, concept cars, toy cars, military vehicles, lunar rovers, industrial design, origami, and video games (curse you, Rocket League, for having so many cool cars that forced me to scrap many of my designs).

Despite cautiously avoiding existing designs, you will no doubt spot some influences in the various minis. If you aren’t familiar with the incredible Russian SHERP ATV, I’ll wait while you go look it up and watch lots of videos of it doing amazing things. Then come back here and take another look at Butcher. Someone in the comments already spotted that Avalanche shares some DNA with the APC from the movie Aliens. It also has some Cylon in it. The wheel hubs are modeled after the dial on a kitchen timer. I look everywhere for inspiration.

Once I have a vehicle sketched, I add weapons using a different color. These are primarily just location and scale references for the sculptor. I give the sculptor the entire catalog of available weapons to choose from, and they can use whatever they feel best matches their art. I have prioritized intact and durable minis above absolute realism. Though the weapons on the cars point forward and backward, it doesn’t mean there aren’t side-firing weapons. There’s nothing saying there aren’t concealed armatures and pivot points, but I’m trying to minimize minis that might break in shipping and from heavy play.

So aside from some intentional callbacks to vehicles from older editions, the visual design comes first, then the name. As I described above, I’m a huge car nerd, and I believe car designs each depict a personality. I tried to choose evocative names based on my perceived personality/purpose of the car in each sketch. Zippy and obnoxious? Bull-headed and mean? A sleek assassin? I make a list of possible names, and pick my favorite (or bounce the list around the office for opinions). Then I send the design for sculpting.

It is supremely helpful that I'm working with some world-class creative talent on the CAD side of things. My goal is to tap into the sculptor's artistic instincts and preferences, rather than demanding specifics and steamrolling their enthusiasm. While I may be very proud of my sketches, I'm not so proud as to think they can't be improved in significant ways (and I'll openly admit that I've never drawn cars before). The sculptor has free reign to modify my design however they like, all in the name of making it better. In fact, one sketch prompted two very cool and very distinct vehicle designs, and as a result we have two new cars, Aristocrat and Sawtooth:

I imagined Aristocrat as a 1920s Bugatti, but rigged for arena combat — what Cruella de Vil would drive in a combat situation. The name for Sawtooth is a bit more obvious. The sketch started out as a drawing of a shark, actually. 

Working with a talented sculptor has another benefit: when my sketches are...um...*cough*...not as great as they could have been, we still get something amazing back:

I wish I could take credit for those awesome wheel hubs!

I have a LOT more designs ready to go (including two that I sent to Phil just minutes ago). One of these new ones might be my favorite design yet. I appreciate that you all are helping to make them real, and I sincerely hope you get to see them all!

~Sam

$530,000 Stretch Goal Unlocked, One More Car in Miniatures Set 4!
over 4 years ago – Sun, Dec 22, 2019 at 01:11:32 AM

Unlocking the $530,000 stretch goal has added another mini to the Miniatures Set 4 box; that expansion now includes four different car miniatures! Please remember that Miniatures Set 4 is not included in any reward level; this is an add-on item. To add this box of minis, bases, and game cards to your rewards package, please increase your pledge by $40. In the BackerKit pledge manager, after this Kickstarter campaign closes, you will let us know exactly which add-on items you're selecting.

These Stretch Goals Need Your Attention

There are now four locked stretch goals that are waiting to be unlocked. Please share this project with your friends; more backers is the best way for us to keep unlocking stretch goals and improve the Car Wars Sixth Editon line.

• $535,000 - Improved - +16 cards in Miniatures Set 3.
• $540,000 - Improved - +16 cards in Miniatures Set 4.
• $545,000 - Improved - +1 turning key added to the Car Wars Road Tiles expansion.
• $550,000 - Improved - +8 cards in Miniatures Set 1 and +8 cards in Miniatures Set 2.

We hope you're having a wonderful weekend and please know that we're keeping an eye on this campaign. Even though our office is now closed for the holidays, some of us will keep working on this project so that we keep the stretch goals updated as they are unlocked.

- Phil Reed

$525,000 Stretch Goal Unlocked, Playmat #3 Added to the Double Ace Rewards!
over 4 years ago – Fri, Dec 20, 2019 at 09:55:46 PM

Fantastic work! Now that the $525,000 stretch goal has been unlocked, we have added Playmat #3 to the Double Ace stretch rewards. This new 36" x 36" playmat can connect to Playmat #1 or Playmat #2. And if you have plans for really large playscapes, Ben has assembled a graphic showing different ways in which you can combine multiples of the various playmats.

This means the currently revealed (not yet unlocked) stretch goals are:

• $530,000 - Improved - +1 miniature added to Miniatures Set 4.
• $535,000 - Improved - +16 cards added to Miniatures Set 3.
• $540,000 - Improved - +16 cards added to Miniatures Set 4.

At the rate you're unlocking these stretch goals, we'll have to reveal more stretch goals very soon.

- Phil Reed

Uncle Al Is Feeling Festive. New and Improved Packs!!!
over 4 years ago – Thu, Dec 19, 2019 at 12:43:07 AM

Car Wars fans, Sam and I had a chat with Uncle Al this morning and he's selected three of the Car Wars Sixth Edition expansion sets to each receive more stuff. 

The Armory, Linked Weapons, and Wrecks sets have all been improved!

• Armory - +12 turreted weapon cards.
• Linked Weapons - +12 turreted weapon cards.
• Wrecks - +1 wreck miniature.

The Car Wars Wrecks expansion now includes three wreck miniature and four clear bases. What can you do with the wreck miniatures during the game? These can be scattered across the playscape where they'll provide cover and cause all sorts of trouble as the players are forced to maneuver around the wrecks. And yes, the wrecks can be rammed, so be careful out there!

The Car Wars Wrecks expansion is not included in any reward level. To add this set to your rewards, please increase your pledge by $20 for each set of wrecks you would like included in your rewards. Later, in the BackerKit stage, you'll let us know exactly which add-on items you want included in your package.

- Phil Reed