The Development of the Sequence of Play in Car Wars

Deluxe Car Wars (10 phase movement chart)–

Movement: “When vehicles move during the same phase, the faster one moves first. For vehicles traveling the same speed, the one whose driver has the faster reflexes may choose when he wants to move.” (p. 8 )

Fire: “Combat may occur during any phase, before or after movement. To attack, a player simply announces that he is firing , and names the weapon being fired and its target. If a vehicle is being moved at the moment he announces the attack, the vehicle completes its movement for that phase; then the attack is resolved. Results of an attack are applied immediately, before any other vehicle can return fire or move.” (p. 14)

Car Wars Compendium 2nd edition (5 phase movement chart)–

Movement (addendum): “When vehicles are moving at high speeds in close quarters, it may be desirable to move the cars in alternating one inch increments during each phase, until that phase’s movement is done. Keep in mind that each vehicle is still limited to one maneuver per phase.” (p. 5)

Fire (change): “Combat may occur during any phase, after movement. To attack, a player simply announces that he is firing, and names the weapon being fired and its target. Results of all attacks during a phase are applied simultaneously. The referee may wish to have players declare fire secretly, by writing their fire/no fire order down on a slip of paper and handing it to him, or by some other method.” (p. 28)

Car Wars, 5th Edition (3 phase movement)–

Movement (change): “In each phase, the fastest vehicle goes first. In case of ties, the player with the higher Driver skill goes first. If there’s still a tie, roll dice. The low roller goes first. Keep the same order until the next turn, even if the speeds change in mid-turn due to a crash.” (p. 3)

Fire (change): “A vehicle may declare fire at any point during its move, except during a maneuver or during a phase in which the driver failed a control roll. To attack, a player simply announces that he is firing, and names the weapon being fired and its target. If the target is still elligible to fire, and has a weapon that can hit the attacker, he may declare return fire. Only the attacker can be targeted. Return fire is considered simultaneous….”