Revised Rules on Interactive AARs (updated December 2012)

[loki100]

The rules regarding interactive AARs have tended to be developed to deal with specific problems and on an ad-hoc basis. The version set out below is intended to produce more clarity both about what is an interactive AAR and what sort of interactive AARs are most likely to be approved. In effect, all you need to take account of is captured in three simple rules.

1. If you think an AAR maybe interactive then you should check with any of the moderators first. This is fundamental, any AAR we find when wandering around the forums that we believe to be interactive will be locked, and it is much less likely that you will be given permission to then carry on. So rule #1 is very simple - if in doubt ask before starting.
2. If your AAR is what can be termed 'mildly interactive' then, if you ask first, odds on permission will be granted. 'Milldly Interactive' includes votes on very specific options or 'tell me what to play for my AAR' votes. All such votes must be against a short list of clear options, with a very early end date. If this is your intent, and you ask first, most likely an AAR of this type will be given permission;
3. If your AAR is fully interactive, you will not be given permission unless you have an existing track record of successfully running and completing conventional AARs on this forum. 'Fully Interactive' is anything that is not covered in the rule above but includes commentators role playing characters, commentators advising the player (in character) or an AAR where the voting is carried out on a regular basis. If you start one of these, without permission, then it will be locked and you will not receive permission to carry on or start a new one. So if you have any doubts, ask.

So the rules are: ask first, if its complex then make sure you already have experience in running AARs, if it involves some interaction, then it is likely that permission will be granted.

So why do we make this distinction? Because fully interactive AARs are a lot of work for both the thread owner and the moderators. We need to be sure you will be able to sustain the effort and will help us in managing the thread. Unfortunately, past experience indicates that if such a thread goes wrong, it can go very wrong very quickly. Equally if this happens we will hold both the thread owner and any individual posters equally liable.

If you have permission to run an interactive AAR, you should add a note to this effect in the first post, indicating which member of the moderating team agreed.