"Pod Racing mixing launchers with tabletop rules" Topic

I recently started picking up Micro Machines pod racers thinking I would follow others lead in bashing racing rules. Of course, plenty of those folk have done the bashing already.

However, all the pods are the wheeled variety, and I am up to three launchers with various auctions.

Any suggestions as to how to use the launchers with rules to make play a bit more than target practice?

Doug

I've stripped the wheels out of mine, and love the Future Race rules:
link

Was going to search for my copy another time, but would have put the wheeled carriage on a stable base to keep the launchers in play.

Still want suggestions on actual kinetic action.

Doug

If you use the launches you have a dexterity game, but you can add strategy.

One way I've seen this done is with cards. Make a deck of cards with power-ups, redos, take-thats, etc, and everyone draws three at the start of the game. You get another if you pass over a certain area, you get another with each lap. You play them on your turn to aid yourself or one someone else's turn to set them back. That is exactly "a bit more than target practice".

There are many, many race games that add strategy by betting, which is certainly thematic with pod racing. You may know some, none, or all of the bets I have placed. Bets placed earlier in the race when things are more up in the air are traditionally more valuable that bets placed later when you have more information. I don't love these games so I can name any, but I have played a bunch over the years. You can steal from any number of boardgames here.

Those are two I definitely haven't considered!

Thanks!

Doug

Another vote for Future Race.

I don't use the launchers.
Remove wheel chassis.
Replace with a ball/joint base for movement.

Just sold my last extra Pod Racer yesterday.

Miss Jamie coming to the cons and running these games.

Grimm

Thanks, Grimmnar. Wait, you didn't sell them to me, did you? ;->=

If I wanted a static figure, there are pod racers on stands. Still want to see them skittering across the table.

Speaking of skittering, these do go fast.

I'm thinking of putting them on a cloth surface, but will be careful to have the fabric very flat. Suckers might launch hitting a crease. Bystanders…

I now have five launchers, but two are missing cosmetic parts, so will try working with three.

As the start of the race in the movie had ranks of four, the players will launch three at a time. Next three quickly thereafter, and so on.

Then move racers back to start, but straggled to match where they ended. Quick change of traps, and it should feel like running down a course. I hope.

Andrew's idea of card benefits isn't clear for the setup, but has me thinking.

Betting? Hmmm…

Lot of playing with the toys to come. Thanks!

Doug

Had to look them up.

A few ideas.

I'm assuming you fire them, then put the launcher where they end up, reaim and fire again, taking turns, like golf?

Get a piece of clear sheet plastic and place on some tins at the corners of the table. Jumping issues solved!

Do crease the covering, as this means more realistic Arial activity.

Add a gubbins to the pods like a wire arm mounted at centre with a weight on the end, this could be manipulated pre launch, as part of rules, and modify the centre of balance, perhaps being able to "control" the pod during flight. Perhaps a blob of blutac would be easier.

Do mount a camera high above, then edit resulting game for a seamless pod race to watch.

[q]I'm assuming you fire them, then put the launcher where they end up, reaim and fire again, taking turns, like golf?[/q]

That's the idea, though sadly it required someone else to explain it. *sigh*

The imagery of pods flying, either on the bounce, or on clear plastic IS compelling, but probably best seen in slow motion.

I was thinking of gentle slopes along the sides of the table. Maybe to represent a turn at end of the shot.

Adjustable pods? That's an idea I hadn't considered. Definitely one I shall play with.

Thanks!

Doug

New idea: attempting a variation on wagers and pod adjustments, each player has a 'nut' with which to bid on particular pods, leftover funds to buy cheat cards suggested by Andrew .

Assume one pre-race test fire per pod?

Doug

Weighing down the pods could help with reducing their speed, thus making things more realistic as they are not going so far between directional adjustments.

How far does a pod typically go as is?

You could buy tiny blobs of blutac, or some other weight set up.

These can be placed on either engine or the pod, perhaps with different prices for pod or engine.

This means you can have a light set up that's fast, but not very manoeuvrable or controllable. Or a heavier set up that can be better controlled but goes slower. Or some mix.

You could also start the game with a random number of weights on each of the 3 parts, like d3, for example. This would make early games difficult and force players to try to balance their set ups.

By using blutac, or perhaps wire stalks with tiny washers that stack over them, parts of the pods and engines can actually come off during use, again forcing players to fix and maintain their set ups.

Or such like.

PS

Rummage through bits box to find cast metal bits. Guns, armour, tubing, what have you.

These could be either glued, or better yet temperarily stuch on the pods and engines.

Perhaps players pick upgrade bits from a pot, either visually or blind (maybe with a different cost), so different weighted bits may be of different use to different players.

Bits could be traded between players.

Perhaps plastic bits are of use too.

It just depends on what different weight changes do to the pods movement.

Another idea is to use clear plastic tubing. Or half plumbers pipe, depending on "air".

Sections could be temperarily removed to facilitate the launcher.

"Cool runnings!"

Okay, mind blown for a bit. Definitely take some cogitating…

Doug

Finally tried the racers on felt (life loves to get in the way) and am pleased to say a fairly consistent 4-5 foot run was had. When they launched…

The safety pins on the launchers don't always disengage, and regularly fail on particular pods. May just tape 'em off.

At this rate, may be end of next year before I work out a game, but all suggestions are in the mix.

Thanks all!

Doug