Gaslands, all the way. I played Car Wars WAY back in the day. I think my first copy was the small clamshell version. It was a good game. But Gaslands has surpassed it in every single way. The rules are better, easier to understand, easier to each, more fun to play, faster, and, most importantly, it's more exciting.
I've always been enamored with the concept of Car Wars. When I had the opportunity to buy the little box version of Cars Wars, I did. I've read the rules, and deemed it convoluted. That's coming from someone who learned Star Fleet Battles by reading the rulebooks. I still loved the concept, but the game seemed slow and pondering. It's detailed, no doubt, but it just moved too slow and required too much headspace for new gamers. I recently purchased the PDF of Gaslands, and after reading through that I went out and purchased some Hot Wheels vehicles. I've printed out the templates for movement and am looking forward to giving this a play. It looks simple and elegant, and FAST! It basically strikes me of what Car Wars SHOULD HAVE BEEN. I'm still keeping my Car Wars, but going forward I'm going to be playing and (I'm guessing) enjoying Gaslands much more.
Gaslands is what Classic Car Wars was before the bloat. It's great to play but Car Wars has more depth and a more involved design system. I looked at the new CW edition but it seems to be a bastard child of Classic and Gaslands - no appeal for me. Note that Classic Car Wars can be played at 2x or 3x using Hotwheels just like with Gaslands. Turning keys etc are readily available on line.
In a way, the games appeal for different reasons, despite the huge similarities. Car Wars is more "crunchy" and half of the game is about building the cars (on paper.) Gaslands has a quicker combat system, which is probably preferred by most gamers and there is the extra element of PHYSICALLY building and modding the cars (from Hot Wheels or Matchbox)... the painters and modelers surely love that aspect. :-) Both games scratch some of the same itches, but also scratch different itches. For me... I own both... both fit just fine on my shelf. ;-) I also did the backerkit just the other day for my Car Wars 6th Edition pledge, so I am excited to eventually get that one and try it out. I am curious how the different system will play.
For me I will have both. I really enjoy Gaslands and that is a great game. Car Wars has a history with my and this version is one that I think that I can really get into. And on the plus side you can use the Car Wars cars from this new edition in Gaslands if you wanted to. But until I play the New Car Wars I cannot say if one is better then the other. I will say that Gaslands is better then the previous versions of Car Wars. This is a tough one.
@@seahawk8601 I really want to see a game play of both of these on our channel. In the end I am thinking that I will prefer Gaslands just because all of the dice in the new Car Wars. However I really love chucking dice.
For me it's Gaslands. In high school we loved Car Wars. I can get non-gamers to play Gaslands because it's fun and easy. Rob is right half the fun is building your cars.
I can't bust too hard on the game from the '80s (being a product of it's time) but there's two things that I find appealing about GasLands over CarWars; #1) GasLands mechanically encourages the reckless, high throttle maneuvering that CarWars pretends to be about and #2) You can finish a match of GasLands before the heat-death of the universe. 😘
I have played both and must admit that Badlands is an easier play, but I prefer Car Wars. This admittedly partly nostalgia, but also a sort of payback for investing the time and patience to learn it well.
I took a vacation from 30 years of Battletech aka BattleMath for a faster paced game of Gaslands. Battletech has no gray areas like math 2+2 =4. Gaslands has gray areas where you need to use the rule of carnage or visit forums for rules clarification. A "Gaslands More Fuel" to answer all the new Q & A in a future 3rd edition with more sponsors, votes, weapons and perks might be seen in the future. I never played Car Wars, but I am loving the Gaslands.
Car Wars was Kickstarter about two years ago and is about to be released. We get updates about it weekly. A fully new 6th version. It's hard to compare a previous version to a new game. www.kickstarter.com/projects/sjgames/car-wars-sixth-edition-by-steve-jackson-games
Gasland Between the access to cars and the terrian ideas.. we have done different scenarios to include: Zombie kill count The Grinch stealing Santa's sleigh (war rig) and the mission to stop him from ruining Christmas by leaving with it Smokey and the Bandit movie with the twist Rolling road (escaping a broken dam water rush) To the next it Gaslands goes to Hollywood, cars (A-Team van, Knight rider, Dukes of Hazzard, etc.) demolition derby with old explosives props scattered to collect Whole family loves it
I too backed the Car Wars KS. The dumbest thing though is I didnt realize until later that it wasnt Gaslands 😂😂. Figured screw it I can just cover both systems
Way back in the mid 1990s when my friends and I quit MTG and D&D, we tried out a bunch of games. Car Wars was one of them. (Also Toon haha.) We got a group of people together to play Car Wars and after about a half hour everyone quit in frustration. Too bad, because I felt like the game could have had some potential if we would have given it a little more time.
One thing that has disappointed me about Gaslands is how much the online communities are beholden to the meta story. I mean, it's fine and all but Gaslands, by its own admission, is a DIY game. I'm disappointed how few original "mods" we have for it. At least very few being shared.
Gaslands, all the way. I played Car Wars WAY back in the day. I think my first copy was the small clamshell version. It was a good game.
But Gaslands has surpassed it in every single way. The rules are better, easier to understand, easier to each, more fun to play, faster, and, most importantly, it's more exciting.
Great Post!!! but then again everything you do is Great!!
I like both, but for me Car Wars wins out. I have been playing it since I was a kid and I just recently introduced it to my kids and they love it.
thank you sir!!!
Gaslands - you had me at Matchbox cars! Some of the conversions out there are immense!
i agree!!
I've always been enamored with the concept of Car Wars. When I had the opportunity to buy the little box version of Cars Wars, I did. I've read the rules, and deemed it convoluted. That's coming from someone who learned Star Fleet Battles by reading the rulebooks. I still loved the concept, but the game seemed slow and pondering. It's detailed, no doubt, but it just moved too slow and required too much headspace for new gamers. I recently purchased the PDF of Gaslands, and after reading through that I went out and purchased some Hot Wheels vehicles. I've printed out the templates for movement and am looking forward to giving this a play. It looks simple and elegant, and FAST! It basically strikes me of what Car Wars SHOULD HAVE BEEN. I'm still keeping my Car Wars, but going forward I'm going to be playing and (I'm guessing) enjoying Gaslands much more.
great post
Gaslands is what Classic Car Wars was before the bloat. It's great to play but Car Wars has more depth and a more involved design system. I looked at the new CW edition but it seems to be a bastard child of Classic and Gaslands - no appeal for me.
Note that Classic Car Wars can be played at 2x or 3x using Hotwheels just like with Gaslands. Turning keys etc are readily available on line.
nice post!!
MINE SINCE I WAS A CHILD IS CAR WARS!!! ALWAYS WILL BE!!
nice!!! and in caps as well that is excitement!!
In a way, the games appeal for different reasons, despite the huge similarities. Car Wars is more "crunchy" and half of the game is about building the cars (on paper.) Gaslands has a quicker combat system, which is probably preferred by most gamers and there is the extra element of PHYSICALLY building and modding the cars (from Hot Wheels or Matchbox)... the painters and modelers surely love that aspect. :-) Both games scratch some of the same itches, but also scratch different itches. For me... I own both... both fit just fine on my shelf. ;-)
I also did the backerkit just the other day for my Car Wars 6th Edition pledge, so I am excited to eventually get that one and try it out. I am curious how the different system will play.
great post...as always!!
For me I will have both. I really enjoy Gaslands and that is a great game. Car Wars has a history with my and this version is one that I think that I can really get into. And on the plus side you can use the Car Wars cars from this new edition in Gaslands if you wanted to. But until I play the New Car Wars I cannot say if one is better then the other. I will say that Gaslands is better then the previous versions of Car Wars. This is a tough one.
great to see you Ray!!
@@seahawk8601 I really want to see a game play of both of these on our channel. In the end I am thinking that I will prefer Gaslands just because all of the dice in the new Car Wars. However I really love chucking dice.
For me it's Gaslands. In high school we loved Car Wars. I can get non-gamers to play Gaslands because it's fun and easy. Rob is right half the fun is building your cars.
Nice!! and thank you!!
Car Wars...played this thirty or so years ago. Finding photo copiers back then for the car sheets..
amen brother!!
I can't bust too hard on the game from the '80s (being a product of it's time) but there's two things that I find appealing about GasLands over CarWars; #1) GasLands mechanically encourages the reckless, high throttle maneuvering that CarWars pretends to be about and #2) You can finish a match of GasLands before the heat-death of the universe. 😘
good points
I have played both and must admit that Badlands is an easier play, but I prefer Car Wars. This admittedly partly nostalgia, but also a sort of payback for investing the time and patience to learn it well.
well said
Both look awesome!. I think I'll go with Gaslands.
Thanks for voting
I took a vacation from 30 years of Battletech aka BattleMath for a faster paced game of Gaslands. Battletech has no gray areas like math 2+2 =4. Gaslands has gray areas where you need to use the rule of carnage or visit forums for rules clarification. A "Gaslands More Fuel" to answer all the new Q & A in a future 3rd edition with more sponsors, votes, weapons and perks might be seen in the future. I never played Car Wars, but I am loving the Gaslands.
thank you so much for the feedback!!
@@seahawk8601 Supposed to be Car Wars VS Gaslands, not Battletech. I apologize.
Car Wars was Kickstarter about two years ago and is about to be released. We get updates about it weekly. A fully new 6th version. It's hard to compare a previous version to a new game. www.kickstarter.com/projects/sjgames/car-wars-sixth-edition-by-steve-jackson-games
we need to see this first
Gasland
Between the access to cars and the terrian ideas.. we have done different scenarios to include:
Zombie kill count
The Grinch stealing Santa's sleigh (war rig) and the mission to stop him from ruining Christmas by leaving with it
Smokey and the Bandit movie with the twist
Rolling road (escaping a broken dam water rush)
To the next it Gaslands goes to Hollywood, cars (A-Team van, Knight rider, Dukes of Hazzard, etc.) demolition derby with old explosives props scattered to collect
Whole family loves it
glorious!!!
I wasn't too impressed with Car Wars, but Gaslands sounds like tons of fun!
it is!
I too backed the Car Wars KS. The dumbest thing though is I didnt realize until later that it wasnt Gaslands 😂😂. Figured screw it I can just cover both systems
bro i wish i got the kickstarter
Car Wars all the way....
good one
Way back in the mid 1990s when my friends and I quit MTG and D&D, we tried out a bunch of games. Car Wars was one of them. (Also Toon haha.) We got a group of people together to play Car Wars and after about a half hour everyone quit in frustration. Too bad, because I felt like the game could have had some potential if we would have given it a little more time.
you should give it a go again
@@seahawk8601 Will definitely have to give it another look sometime.
Car wars was great in its day but it is now Gaslands day
good one!!!
One thing that has disappointed me about Gaslands is how much the online communities are beholden to the meta story. I mean, it's fine and all but Gaslands, by its own admission, is a DIY game. I'm disappointed how few original "mods" we have for it. At least very few being shared.
great point!
Gaslands fan over here.
i love them both!!
Played a lot of GasLands Great game.
it sure is!!
Classic Carwars all or nothing
good call
GASLANDS for the win!
amen
Car wars all the way
Ok
Gaslands for me.
there is no wrong answer
Gaslands all the way!
good call