The AADA Guide to Ballard, Washington
Population: 51,467
Description: Incorporated on November 4, 1889 as a city in its own right, Ballard Washington has officially been a neighborhood of Seattle since 1907 when the Washington State Supreme Court forced the annexation of Ballard into Seattle over a question of shared water usage. Citizens of Ballard have never forgotten nor forgiven the annexation.
Even though dueling is “illegal” within Seattle city limits, enforcement of this law by Seattle law enforcement is lax during the day and non-existent at night. The citizens of Ballard opted to take care of their own. They seceded from Seattle, walled off Ballard, and now patrol their own city-within-a-city. Officially the borders of Ballard are NW 85th Street to the north, and Aurora Avenue/State Route 99 to the east with the natural water borders of Shilshole Bay to the west and the Canal to the south (Salmon Bay Bridge, 15th Ave W, Fremont Ave N and Aurora Ave/99 are all gated, patrolled, toll bridges). NW 85th Street is a permeable barrier to the rest of city of Seattle and during the day; residents, visitors, and tourists are free to come and go. Residents barricade the roads at night. Neighborhood Patrols and the more organized Ballard Residential Area Patrol (BRAP) keep roaming gangs and undesirables out after dark. State Route 99 has been turned into a defensible wall and the main checkpoint into Ballard is at the corner of Aurora Ave/99 and NW 85th St. Unofficially BRAP has been known to patrol as far east as I-5.
Visitors are welcome to the area, provided you enter the area legally. The citizens of Ballard may not like the politics and law enforcement of Seattle but they do love their money. Visitors are encouraged to visit the many micro breweries located in the area. Fishermen have been known to sell the catch of the day right off their boats. Visitors are STRONGLY encouraged to follow the “No Dueling” laws, no matter how annoyed you might be with local driving habits. [Local driving habits include (but are not limited to) driving at least 10 MPH below posted limits, forgetting to turn off the blinker after a signaled lane change, forgetting to actually use the blinker, abrupt sudden stops to retrieve a fallen item from the floor of the car, and blocking both lanes of traffic to talk to your friend/neighbor/co-worker through open vehicle windows.] Locals will retaliate [most local vehicles are equipped with anti-tailgater weapons packages (rear-mounted dropped and projectile weapons)] at the slightest perceived slight. BRAP units will be dispatched to apprehend violators [Locals are NEVER violators, they will always be the ‘wronged’ party]. If you surrender, your vehicle will be impounded and you will be imprisoned until the next “games”. If you choose to run, Violators will be chased out of town, killed while “evading arrest”, or captured and imprisoned.
Ballard is home to the Scandinavian/Nordic descendants of those who settled the area, Management of many of Seattle’s Hi-Tech firms, Fishermen, Dock Workers, Hipsters, and Cultists.
Dueling Facilities: None within the borders of Ballard.
Other Facilities: Ballard is FAMOUS for its many fine restaurants, micro breweries, and outdoor entertainment. Visitors are always welcome (so long as you follow the rules). Most service stations can handle electric and ICE engine vehicles. Repair shops may eye you warily but will accept your money (expect a visitor surcharge). Stations along the waterfront (especially closer to the docks and I-5 can handle Big Rigs and buses. The nearest AADA office is in downtown Seattle. The nearest hospital is also in downtown Seattle.
Points of Interest: The Chittendon Locks, watch the boats enter and exit the harbor and keep an eye out for the migrating salmon. Green Lake and the Woodland Park Zoo, the Zoo is no longer animals in cages but rather free-roaming critters that are cared for and protected by a large wall and the locals. The Statue of Lenin at the Fremont/35th St/36th St intersection has been tourist site since the late 20th century. The Fremont Troll is popular spot for tourists but caution is recommended as many visitors to that area have gone missing. The Nordic National Museum is also highly recommended.
Gang Activity: Unless you count graduates of the Ballard Driving Academy, (https://youtu.be/KBgIvH0tu6Y) a gang, you will find negligible gang activity within Ballard, minor skirmishes will occasionally be had along NW 85th Street but BRAP is very good at keeping the gangs out of town.
Maps for Ballard, WA (scaled to 1″ = 15′) are now available and include:
The Fremont/35th St/36th St intersection
The Main checkpoint into Ballard at the corner of Aurora Ave/99 and NW 85th St.
The Bear Area at the Woodland Park Zoo Counters for the Justice scenario are now available
The Chittendon Locks
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*PLEASE NOTE* This supplemental information was written for Car Wars 1st – 4th Edition rules and game play. It is compatible with Car Wars 6th Edition by adding 35 years to the future history.
Ballard main map designed by Alien Graphics
Seattle, WA map is from the AADA Road Atlas V2 The West Coast published by Steve Jackson Games.
*End Note*
Vulcan Stev's Database 