Subcontinental Subtleties: An experimental comic AAR

[Selzro]

This being my sixth AAR in one year, I couldn't bring myself to repeat my previous styles, especially since after my last one the majority vote was for a Panjab AAR and I'm not as easily inspired by big countries (and Panjab -> India gets big...) as by small, struggling ones. I've experimented with comic AARs before, though not in this forum and not in this style (if you google 'Oran' (the name of the AAR) and 'Seleucos of Olympia' (my username in TW-related fora) you can find one I once did for Empire: Total War). I still don't know how time-consuming this will get, but that's part of the experiment. If I have to cut it short, it will be a first among my Vic2 AARs, but well worth it for the experience, I hope.

The art style can only be described as derivative. 'MS Paint Adventures' and 'The Order of the Stick' (not to mention 'Cyanide and Happiness' and even more minimalistic webcomics such as 'xkcd' and 'Abstruse Goose') have influenced it immensely. Nevertheless, I hope it will have some entertainment value here.

Without further ado, I present:

Subcontinental Subtleties

Table of Contents:

01: It Begins
02: Diplomacy
03: Greatness
04: The Desert
05: The Mountain
06: The Terms
07: Idealism
08: Succession
09: Inheritance
10: The Sphere
11: Progress
12: Sphere Dysfunction
13: Homecoming
14: Victory
15: Progress II
16: The Sound of a Cranial Aneurysm
17: Succession II
18: Machinations
19: The Art of the Possible
20: The Reed that Bends Before the Wind
21: Parliament
22: Changes
23: The Quest
24: Simla and Firozpur
25: Delhi
26: Greatness II
27: Parliament II
28: Victory II
29: Liberalism
30: Liberalism II
31: Free Trade
32: Free Trade II
33: The Expedition
34: The Expedition II
35: The Quest II
36: War
37: Benares
38: Enemy at the Gates
39: Jumla
40: Jumla II
41: Diplomacy II
42: Company
43: Crowning Moment of Coronation
44: Victory III
45: Succession III
46: A Walk
47: A Walk II
48: Beroda
49: The Indian Minor Tour
50: Bang! (animated!)
51: Recovery
52: The Return of the King
53: War II
54: More War
55: Tibet
56: A Chat
57: A Chat II
58: Preparations
59: Tibet II
60: Tibet III
61: Homecoming II
62: Factions
63: The Art of the Possible II




Subcontinental Sublimations:
17x1: Maharaja's Dream
23x2: Maharaja's Quest
31x3: Easter Special
41x4: Mangala and the Maharaja
44x5: Maharaja's Monologue



Subcontinental Subplots:
19y1: The Most Dangerous Game

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WritAAR of the Week: 25/12/2011
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Favorite Victoria 1/2 AAR: AARland Choice AwAARds 2012 (round 3)
Favorite Victoria 1/2 AAR: AARland Choice AwAARds 2012 (round 4)

[Selzro]

01: It Begins

[Selzro]

02: Diplomacy

[Malurous]

Heh, looking nice! Let's see where you take this...

[tamius23]

I'll follow this. I like the king's throne, it looks like a tree-stump.

[Tanzhang (譚張)]

Only just a few hours ago I was looking for a good V2 Panjab AAR, freaky...

I really like your art style Selzro, although I do feel you should have invaded Afghanistan rather than Kalat.

[Zzzzz...]

I like this.

[Comm Cody]

Only just a few hours ago I was looking for a good V2 Panjab AAR, freaky...

I really like your art style Selzro, although I do feel you should have invaded Afghanistan rather than Kalat.

And have a 10 year insurgency that the country doesn't approve of while your rival pours in weapons to arm them?

Or make them a Puppet that has no control over the country without your military?

[Arilou]

Kalat hasa shorter name than afhganistan. Hence they should go first.

Common sense *nods*

[Tanzhang (譚張)]

And have a 10 year insurgency that the country doesn't approve of while your rival pours in weapons to arm them?

Or make them a Puppet that has no control over the country without your military?

It really shouldn't take you 10 years to beat Afghanistan, unless you have absolutely no idea what you're doing and/or are the USSR.

[Selzro]

Thanks for the early comments, everyone! It feels funny to me whenever I don't have at least one port, so I decided to go for Sindh rather than Afghanistan, while accepting the alliance offer from Kalat to cover my back. It may not be the optimal strategy long-term, but at least Sindh is weak so its army could be defeated easily, while Afghanistan would take longer and possibly invite some other country to invade while I'm busy there. China has been known to meddle in Panjab, and it should not be taken lightly.

[tamius23]

Talking of China, I had a game as Panjab and China attacked me late in the game. I was able to fend them off in the Himalayas and demanded Taiwan.

I went for Afghanistan first then attacked Khiva and colonised to the Caspian Sea. Then I went through Sindh and colonised eastern Africa.

[Selzro]

Hm, I hadn't considered colonizing the Caspian Sea. In fact, that's one thing I don't believe I've done in any of my games. But I've already played ahead a lot of years (at first I couldn't think of a good way to present a new AAR so I kept playing until this concept sprung to mind. Now I'm synthesizing the story from old screenshots and what I remember of my motives and actions). Colonizing eastern Africa is still an option, but I might prefer to focus on a unified India first and foremost. I think India, by itself, has what it takes to become the #1 GP by game's end, so I may opt to put that theory to the test.

[Selzro]

03: Greatness

[Malurous]

Pretty awesome job in the fourth panel, cramming the map on that paper.

[thrashing mad]

Great idea and good job - I like your style and humour.

[tamius23]

Have fun fighting China. You'll need to use the mountains.

[Dewirix]

You seem to be going for the title of most innovative V2 AARs what with this and Sing a Septinuslar Song.

I love the artwork. Your citing Order of the Stick as a reference makes a lot of sense as it's a similar style and executed brilliantly.

[Avindian]

This is absolutely fantastic! I love it already, and I'm sure it will get even better.

[Prince of Savoy]

"What ever happened to the Game of Diplomacy?"

"Declaring War is Diplomatic. Kind of."

Let's not forget this instant classic.

"We will bring a crew to redecorate the palace soon enough. Best of health."