I perfectly understand your question about what "attacking" means in Formula 1991, since in real-life F1, drivers don't intentionally try to crash into others, right? [My understanding].
Understanding "Attacking" in Formula 1991
In the game Formula 1991, "attacking" is a mechanic designed to add more excitement and strategy. It's not about a clean overtake, but rather a way to aggressively interact with another car, attempting to cause damage to it. The manual states that "like any race you have full control over your car, being able to throw it against the opponent's car," and that's exactly what this rule allows.
Let's simplify how it works:
How to "Attack" an Opponent in the Game:
- Conditions for Attacking:
- You must be next to the car you want to hit.
- For the attack attempt to be valid, your 3 movement points must land exactly in the same quadrant as the defender. In other words, you have to plan your movement to "land" in the same space as the enemy car.
- Resolving the Attack:
- Once you meet these conditions, you roll 1 D6 die to see what happens.
Possible Results of Your Attack (as the Attacker):
- If you roll 1, 3, or 5: "The Defender is faster and escapes the attacker." Your attempt didn't work, and the other car managed to dodge. No one takes damage in this scenario.
- If you roll 2 or 4: "You succeeded. (-1 Damage)." You managed to hit the opponent's car, and they lose 1 Damagepoint. Remember that each car has 10 Damage points, and if it reaches zero, it's out of the race.
- If you roll 6: This is the most drastic! "You went towards the opponent and in this collision, only total loss remains and the race is over for both." Yes, in this case, it's such a strong collision that both cars are eliminated from the race!
- EXCEPTION for 6: If the defender also rolls a 6 on the D6 die, OR if they have and use an Agility Cardin hand, the situation changes. In these cases, "the attacker goes straight on the curve, taking (-3 Damage)." The Agility Card is very powerful, as it can be used at any time, even if you've already used another card on the same lap, to stabilize the car and avoid negative events.
What if the AI (or Another Player) Attacks You (as the Defender)?
The rule also covers the other side; if the AI (or another car) attacks you, their D6 die roll means the following for you:
- 1, 3, or 5: "A car approaches at high speed and you manage to get out of the way. (+1 Movement)." You dodge and even get a bonus!
- 2 or 4: "Concentrated, you just feel the shock in your car. (-1 Damage)." You take 1 damage point.
- 6: "You not only dodge but also make them go straight. (+1 Movement)." You dodge the attack and even get a movement bonus, making the attacker go straight!
In summary, the "attack" system in Formula 1991 is a way to simulate strategic and risky collisions. It doesn't represent the actual conduct of F1 drivers but adds a layer of direct competition and risk management to the game, where causing damage to the opponent or being damaged is a constant possibility, even leading to elimination from the race. This is what makes the game exciting and strategic!