From a Forum history and promotion standpoint, all/most of these "showcase" and "...of the week" threads were started to put the spotlight on individuals and AARs, to try to "spread the love" by highlighting interesting AARs, reward participation, etc.
In most of these (and I assume the intent was there in this thread, though it's not spelled out in the opening post), the author is supposed to say a little bit about themselves and/or their work. I think many people know me, so I'll skip that part (in brief, I'm a writer/editor by trade from Denver, Colorado, with a political background and a recent passion for web content strategy -- I was fortunate enough to get hired by Paradox to do the strategy guides for EU III, EU Rome, HOI 3 and Victoria 2) and just talk about my AAR in hopes that others who are showcased will do the same. I think it helps build the community, and gives someone a reason to go look, other than just that "x has been featured -- some AAR he's writing".
The concept origins of Serenity come from my study of World War II, and my study of Japanese history in the 19th and 20th Centuries which came as what I saw an obvious adjunct to the study of WW II. In studying the history of European trade with Japan, and the "Black Ships" who "opened" Japan, I saw a fascinating reaction among the Japanese.
They seemed to say, "Very impressive -- you've shown that you can probably destroy us. Now, if WE took this technology, and learned your ways, then WE would be able to destroy OUR enemies in the same way." And that concept seemed to me to have driven alot of Japanese history during that 100 year period. They went from "uncivilized" and largely isolated, if not largely ignorant, of the rest of the world, and they used the realization of western capabilities to emulate the western powers in order to become more like them.
That, of course, is what allowed Japan in 1904-5 to utterly SHOCK the world by defeating Russia in the Russo-Japanese War. And, from there, of course, they acquired colonies throughout the Pacific by being considered a contributory power in WW I, and then by WW II they had one of the most respected navies in the entire world, and felt confident enough to project power throughout the Pacific and into China.
That's an inspiring history for fans of games like these -- a sort of rags to riches story -- and so I felt it would make a compelling AAR. So it goes...
Thanks, for anybody who's been reading, and I'd certainly love to encourage anyone to come check it out!
I'll be in touch Sunday with a new showcase winner, and will be on the lookout in the meantime. Thanks again, to all!
Rensslaer