The 2020 Yearly AARland Year-end AwAARds

coz1 · Dec 5, 2020

It's been a year, hasn't it? I've taken a large break from the forum this year given all else, but as it is that time of year...let 's do this! Time to get yer Ya-Ya's out! Let's see if we can reward those AARs that are so very deserving.

Now thinking back will be difficult, but surely you can all remember the works that really made a difference as you read them. These writAARs spent much time creating and it is time to give them their credit. So we embark upon the 2020 version of this awAARd.

The goal is to reward every single category as possible from narrative to LP’s...charactAARs all the way to writAAR. I’ve made periodic queries throughout these last 3 years to see if changes are needed and thus far, only some few have come in. Below are 12 categories in which to vote and in each, you may vote for up to 6 AARs. No matter the category, every game is eligible and for writAAR and newcomAAR, you will be voting for a person rather than an AAR (though please feel free to list their further work(s) if so wished.)

Voting for this will be in this thread rather than private because I wish this to remain near the top of the general discussion area. Below I will include a blank ballot and please fill it in as you can over the next couple of months. The period of voting will be from now until February 1, 2021 and the eligible AARs from which to choose are any of those started, finished or worked upon from DECEMBER 1, 2019 through NOVEMBER 30, 2020. Whether ended, started or still in progress, all works within that timeline are fair game (Please be mindful of this when you fill out your ballot.)

As I did last year, I will weight the votes between what is picked for #1 in a category verses what is picked as #6. It is a small weight but has proved successful in the accounting. That will cause you to think as you vote and a small hardship so that we avoid ties and reward fully due to merit. There are a lot of great works and tastes may vary. I am always open to recommendations but this seems the fairest way to account for your votes (And please feel free to offer any and all suggestions about the process within this thread.)

After voting for two months (which is required as has been learned) I will tabulate all of your nods and present the winners. I will open separate threads for each winner so that you may offer them congratulations and discuss the work if you so wish.

I start the voting now to give us that time to gain a clear picture and knowing well that schedules for all are tight. Two months should prove the most dedicated of us will offer their voice (so please start considering it now rather than late January.) I give every voter all of December and January to get us the most votes as possible. A project like this does not work unless the members of this forum get involved. While I would not like to see any sort of campaigning, I do hope that you will link to this in your works so we might gain as many eyes as possible. The more votes that we have, the more accurate winners we will see. A fair result for the great works presented within this past year.

It is a large accounting project, but is highly desirable. I have not been so much active this year, but I love this place. No other allows the freedom to write like we have. All games, all genres, all writAARs...they all deserve some love!

So, let us vote AARland...put on your thinking caps and choose the best of the best for these past 12 months (or at the very least, your favorites over that time.) Your writAARs will thank you and so do I! Now...vote!

The 2020 Winners:

Comedy AAR of the Year: Ged's Existential Nightmare by @TheButterflyComposer

Gameplay AAR of the Year: Unbreakable China - a NC Tutorial AAR by @Kovax

Historybook AAR of the Year: Jihad on the Savannah: A Vic2 serious Sokoto AAR by @mad orc

Narrative AAR of the Year: A Royal Prerogative - A UK AAR by @Le Jones

Megacampaign AAR of the Year: Here Dwells God - A Jewish Poland AAR by @Tommy4ever

MP/Interactive AAR of the Year: Utsunimiya's War - HoI3(TFH) Japan AAR by @Eurasia

Graphics/AARtist of the Year: @Wraith11B

Character of the Year: Ged from Ged's Existential Nightmare by @TheButterflyComposer

Newcomer of the Year: @Cora Giantkiller

WritAAR of the Year: @TheButterflyComposer

AAR of the Year: For All We Have and Are: Britain in the Great War - (1901 Series) by @BigBadBob

coz1 · Dec 5, 2020

The Ballot – Below are the 12 categories we will be voting on. You may vote for any of the games within each category. You need not choose 6 slots for every one, but with so much great work done here, it can surely be accomplished. And please remember that these votes will be weighted. What you choose for #1 will gain a greater value in the tabulation than what you choose for #6 (I do so to avoid ties, mainly.) I would love to ask you to lock your vote in once you have given it (for my sanity in the tabulation), but if changes must be made, feel free. The only thing that I would ask is that you not look to the vote and try to “game it” in any way. A tall order here at this forum I know given what we do here, but please keep it honest as I know that you will do.

Just pick your favorites and in the end, we will have our winners for 2020. It was a (very) long year full of great work so put your memory hats on and get to it, AARland!

The Categories:

- Comedy AAR of the Year:
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- Gameplay AAR of the Year:
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- Historybook AAR of the Year:
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- Narrative AAR of the Year:
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- Megacampaign AAR of the Year:
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- Multiplayer/Interactive AAR of the Year:
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- Let's Play/Video AAR of the Year:
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- Graphics/AARtist of the Year:
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- Character of the Year:
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- Newcomer of the Year:
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- Writer of the Year:
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- AAR of the Year
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Please feel free to copy and paste this into your own post for ease of voting. If you would, PLEASE offer a link to the work (if it has not already been given by another) with AAR name included, the author’s name, and the game it belongs to. I thank you and...

Happy Voting!

TheButterflyComposer · Dec 5, 2020

- Comedy AAR of the Year:
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- Gameplay AAR of the Year:
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- Historybook AAR of the Year:
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- Narrative AAR of the Year:
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- Megacampaign AAR of the Year:
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- Multiplayer/Interactive AAR of the Year:
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- Let's Play/Video AAR of the Year:
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- Graphics/AARtist of the Year:
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- Character of the Year:
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- Newcomer of the Year:
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- Writer of the Year:
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- AAR of the Year
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DensleyBlair · Dec 5, 2020

Great to see you back for the year-Enders, coz! Will put down a placeholder now and think on.

- Comedy AAR of the Year:

- Gameplay AAR of the Year:

- Historybook AAR of the Year:

- Narrative AAR of the Year:

- Megacampaign AAR of the Year:

- Multiplayer/Interactive AAR of the Year:

The Mad Princes of Denmark - Mildly Interactive AAR by @quicksabre
Revolution and Reaction - A (very) French Victoria II Interactive AAR by @99KingHigh (GM) et al.
Read Even More About It! An Ottoman Flavoured Community NewspapAAR by @El Pip (ed.) et al.
Read All About It! - A Community NewspapAAR by @El Pip (ed.) et al.
Gott mit Uns - A Mildly Interactive Prussian NWO AAR by @SibCDC

- Let's Play/Video AAR of the Year:
1.

- Graphics/AARtist of the Year:

- Character of the Year:

Albert, from Thorn of the Rose by @stnylan
Elfwine, from Lancaster: The King in the North by @TheButterflyComposer
Lady Macbeth, from Lady Macbeth II by @Fiftypence

- Newcomer of the Year:

- Writer of the Year:

- AAR of the Year

Wraith11B · Dec 5, 2020

- Comedy AAR of the Year:
1. Ged's Existential Nightmare by @TheButterflyComposer
2. Inevitable Defeat - Slovakia '44 by @El Pip
3. For King Haakon and the Fjords! by @El Pip
4. "A wehraboo and a hat in charge of Italy" A story AAR by @Farsky
5. Rainbow Butterfly Paradise by @Chipbeam
6. Give 'Em the Ol' Basel Razzle-Dazzle - A Hapsburg AAR by @Green Rice

- Gameplay AAR of the Year:
1. Ged's Existential Nightmare by @TheButterflyComposer
2. Quick and Dirty 2: A Soviet Resurgence (HOI3 - March 1944 start) by @Bullfilter
3. Unbreakable China - a NC Tutorial AAR by @Kovax
4. Mini France AAR - a struggle against the odds by @Alex Kernel
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6.

- Historybook AAR of the Year:
1. For All We Have and Are: Britain in the Great War - (1901 Series) by @BigBadBob
2. Echoes of A New Tomorrow: Life After Revolution in the Commonwealth of Britain by @DensleyBlair
3. The Most Sublime Porte - An Ottoman AAR by @Riotkiller
4. The Butterfly Effect: A British AAR by @El Pip
5. Jihad on the Savannah: A Vic2 serious Sokoto AAR by @mad orc
6. Empire for Liberty: America in the Long Nineteenth Century by @volksmarschall

- Narrative AAR of the Year:
1. Talking Turkey: Alternate History from 1936 by @Bullfilter
2. 'Odin' and Stalin's Secret Committee by @roverS3
3. Civis Romanus Sum (An EU-Rome Vae Victis AAR) by @Bullfilter
4. A Royal Prerogative - A UK AAR by @Le Jones
5. The Thorn of the Rose by @stnylan
6. Rise of Eagles - A Dream of White Russian Victory Mod by @Henry v. Keiper

- Megacampaign AAR of the Year:
1. The Hohenzollern Empire 5: Rising Phoenix - A Roman Reich Megacampaign by @zenphoenix
2. Through Light and Shadow Part 4: Khitan Image Heavy Megacampaign by @dragoon9105
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- Multiplayer/Interactive AAR of the Year:
1. Utsunimiya's War - HoI3(TFH) Japan AAR by @Eurasia
2. Read All About It! A Community NewspapAAR edited by @El Pip , et al.
3. Read Even More About It! An Ottoman Flavoured Community NewspapAAR edited by @El Pip , et al.
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- Graphics/AARtist of the Year:
1. @roverS3 - 'Odin' and Stalin's Secret Committee
2. @Bullfilter - Quick and Dirty 2
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- Character of the Year:
1. Ged - @TheButterflyComposer
2. Perse - @Bullfilter, for the biggest twist ever.
3. Tiso and Tuka - @El Pip for their lovely exit from the stage after so long.
4. King Haakon VII - @El Pip, for his even longer exit from the stage!
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- Newcomer of the Year:
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- Writer of the Year:
1. @Bullfilter
2. @DensleyBlair
3. @roverS3
4. @TheButterflyComposer
5. @El Pip
6. @roverS3

- AAR of the Year
1. For All We Have and Are: Britain in the Great War - (1901 Series) by @BigBadBob
2. Echoes of A New Tomorrow: Life After Revolution in the Commonwealth of Britain by @DensleyBlair
3. Talking Turkey: Alternate History from 1936 by @Bullfilter
4. 'Odin' and Stalin's Secret Committee by @roverS3
5. Ged's Existential Nightmare by @TheButterflyComposer
6. Rise of Eagles - A Dream of White Russian Victory Mod by @Henry v. Keiper

coz1 · Dec 6, 2020

Awesome to see the interest already! Just don't forget your place holders.

And once more, please share this within your threads. The more views, the better the vote.

I'd also say that while I did not change the categories, if there are some you cannot find works for, then worry not (though please look.) I've especially left LP/Video in there again due to CKIII even though these type of AARs have not received much of a vote in the last couple of rounds. Wasn't going to, but they are there and if one wants to vote for them, why not? We aim to be inclusive as much as we might.

I look at these as a celebration of this place. All are invited!

Nikolai · Dec 6, 2020

Great, it's back! I'm doing my Q4 2020 thread soon too, let's hope we both get some traction @coz1 .

Will post my votes soonish!

TheButterflyComposer · Dec 6, 2020

Nikolai said:
Great, it's back! I'm doing my Q4 2020 thread soon too, let's hope we both get some traction @coz1 . Will post my votes soonish!

I always thought Q4 was the year ender?

DensleyBlair · Dec 6, 2020

TheButterflyComposer said:
I always thought Q4 was the year ender?

After a quick check of my inkwell I can confirm that I have at one point placed in a Q4 ACA, so presumably they do exist, or at least have done. Although my instinct would be to put them in the New Year.

Nikolai · Dec 6, 2020

TheButterflyComposer said:
I always thought Q4 was the year ender?

I seem to remember they've been held in tandem before. But if people want less to vote on, i can wait until March to do q1 2021.

TheButterflyComposer · Dec 6, 2020

Nikolai said:
I seem to remember they've been held in tandem before. But if people want less to vote on, i can wait until March to do q1 2021.

Idk. Maybe have a separate thread to discuss this one? AARland is pretty healthy this year so it could work, but might prove reductive? Or it might be a chance for works that don't stand a chance in the end of year awards to get some recognition? Arguments for both here i think.

Bullfilter · Dec 6, 2020

Great to see your handle back on the boards, @coz1 we‘ve missed you! I’m listening to a history of England podcast at the moment and just got up to 1066 and discussion of the Atheling, Morcar, Edwin, the Godwins and the rest. Had me thinking about the Song of Wessex again.

Thanks for running this again and I will indeed vote IDC.

coz1 · Dec 8, 2020

Nikolai said:
I seem to remember they've been held in tandem before. But if people want less to vote on, i can wait until March to do q1 2021.

They have been held in tandem. It's just a trick of the calendar. No reason to wait. I say go for it when the time comes.

TheButterflyComposer · Dec 8, 2020

coz1 said:
They have been held in tandem. It's just a trick of the calendar. No reason to wait. I say go for it when the time comes.

Actually yes, go for it. The voting period for the end of year awards are much, much longer and so is the aars allowed to be nominated (anything since the last ACA). So yes, Q4 focusing on the past quarter makes sense too.

Sorry about that just making sure.

Wraith11B · Dec 9, 2020

Not to mention that the Quarterlies are much more focused on the various games, rather than genres.

JSB217118 · Dec 11, 2020

- Comedy AAR of the Year:
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- Gameplay AAR of the Year:
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- Historybook AAR of the Year:
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- Narrative AAR of the Year:
1. Before Plantagenent by @JabberJock14
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- Megacampaign AAR of the Year:
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- Multiplayer/Interactive AAR of the Year:
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- Let's Play/Video AAR of the Year:
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- Graphics/AARtist of the Year:
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- Character of the Year:
1. Marguerite de Anjou nee Poitou Before Plantagenent by @JabberJock14
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- Newcomer of the Year:
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- Writer of the Year:
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- AAR of the Year
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Macavity116 · Dec 16, 2020

I see all of your placeholders and I respond with a gauntlet! (okay, it's really just a ballot, but pretend I've thrown down a gauntlet by casting the first votes)

======

These are the AAR's, writers, and characters I've enjoyed during the past year. Read these stories and see for yourself the best parts of AARland I discovered over the course of 2020.

- Comedy AAR of the Year:
1. Rainbow Butterfly Paradise by @Chipbeam

- Gameplay AAR of the Year:
1. Stardancers - A Federations AAR by @RossN
2. Blast from the Past - a 1.9.1 AAR by @LWE
3. «As We Meet The Void of Space» by @Nikolai
4. Korgonate Cartel - Void Dwellers / Criminal Syndicate (GIFs) by @PossessedLemon
5. The Past of the Solar Commonwealth by @Qorten

- Historybook AAR of the Year:
1. Pax Astra - A Stellaris AAR by @Rawghi
2. Brigid's Flame: A Gaia's Stepdaughters AAR by @Cora Giantkiller
3. We Stand United: A Stellaris AAR by @journalisticRoman
4. United Nations Federation, a stellaris AAR (translated into english) by @KODRAM
5. We Are Sildor - A Federations AAR by @Nikolai
6. The Human Stellar Union by @Smokez83

- Narrative AAR of the Year:
1. Songs of the Saiiban- A Poetic AAR by @Chilango2
2. War of the Stars: The Shroud Phantom Awakens by @Sinister2202
3. No Love, No Comfort - A Stellaris Fanfiction by @Methone
4. A Never Ending Struggle by @crisrko
5. The dark reign of the Gulk-Furki by @starkwolf
6. Superior Arguments: A Stellaris AAR by @eoncommander

- Megacampaign AAR of the Year:
1. A Narrative History of Byzantium by @HistoryDude

- Multiplayer/Interactive AAR of the Year:
1. The Descendants of Earth by @magnum2016

- Let's Play/Video AAR of the Year:
1. Stellaris Roman Empire - by RepublicofLetsPlay (Youtube)
2. Stellaris Necroids by Atraitus (Youtube)

- Graphics/AARtist of the Year:
1. @Rawghi - Pax Astra - A Stellaris AAR
2. @PossessedLemon - Korgonate Cartel - Void Dwellers / Criminal Syndicate (GIFs)

- Character of the Year:
1. The Machine Intelligence - No Love, No Comfort by @Methone
2. Stanfield - A Never Ending Struggle by @crisrko
3. Auriel - War of the Stars: The Shroud Phantom Awakens by @Sinister2202
4. Demetrius - A Narrative History of Byzantium by @HistoryDude
5. Chen Zhen - The Azure Dragon Soars Again by @vyshan

- Newcomer of the Year:
1. @Cora Giantkiller
2. @Sinister2202
3. @EliasTobias
4. @KODRAM
5. @generalis Julius Caesar
6. @starkwolf

- Writer of the Year:
1. @Methone
2. @Sinister2202
3. @Chilango2
4. @HistoryDude
5. @Cora Giantkiller
6. @starkwolf

AAR of the Year
1. No Love, No Comfort - A Stellaris Fanfiction by @Methone
2. Songs of the Saiiban- A Poetic AAR by @Chilango2
3. War of the Stars: The Shroud Phantom Awakens by @Sinister2202
4. Discoveries of the Hydari Imperium by @Nikolai
5. The Will Be Done | A Scion AAR by @EliasTobias
6. Pax Astra - A Stellaris AAR by @Rawghi

mad orc · Dec 16, 2020

I will post something soon

Nikolai · Dec 16, 2020

- Comedy AAR of the Year:
1. Ge's Existential Nightmare by @TheButterflyComposer
2.
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5.
6.

- Gameplay AAR of the Year:
1. Stardancers - A Federations AAR by @RossN
2. The Human Stellar Union by @Smokez83
3. Again with the Norman Invasion. Story of de Hautevilles by @hjarg
4. The Past of the Solar Commonwealth by @Qorten
5.
6.

- Historybook AAR of the Year:
1. A Most Forgiving Land: A Nigerian Coast AAR by @Cora Giantkiller
2. The Ashen Eagle on the Edge of the World
3. The Caliphate of al Rus - A Kievan AAR
4. Brigid's Flame: A Gaia's Stepdaughters AAR by @Cora Giantkiller
5. Pax Astra - A Stellaris AAR by @Rawghi
6. Jihad on the Savannah - A Vic2 Serious Sokoto AAR

- Narrative AAR of the Year:
1. The Song of Wessex by @coz1
2. The Carolingian Renaissance by @The Kingmaker
3. Gesta Filii Cunerici - The Deeds of the Sons of Cyneric by @guillec87
4. No Love, No Comfort - A Stellaris Fanfiction by @Methone
5. Road of Queens - CKII India AAR by @Eurasia
6.

- Megacampaign AAR of the Year:
1. The Eastern Vikings Part 3 Baltic Mega Campaign by @RedTemplar
2. Here Dwells God - A Jewish Poland AAR Part Three by @Tommy4ever
3. A Narrative History of Byzantium by @HistoryDude
4.
5.
6.

- Multiplayer/Interactive AAR of the Year:
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- Let's Play/Video AAR of the Year:
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- Graphics/AARtist of the Year:
1. @The Kingmaker
2. @Rawghi
3. @JerseyGiants88
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6.

- Character of the Year:
1. King Arthur of England from @coz1 's Song of Wessex.
2. Stanfield - A Never Ending Struggle by @crisrko
3. Arnulf of Heristal from @The Kingmaker 's The Carolingian Renaissance
4. The Machine Intelligence - No Love, No Comfort by @Methone
5.
6.

- Newcomer of the Year:
1. @Cora Giantkiller
2. @Sinister2202
3. @EliasTobias
4. @generalis Julius Caesar
5. @starkwolf
6.

- Writer of the Year:
1. @coz1
2. @Cora Giantkiller
3. @The Kingmaker
4. @RossN
5. @Smokez83
6. @HistoryDude

- AAR of the Year
1. The Song of Wessex by @coz1
2. Stardancers - A Federations AAR by @RossN
3. The Human Stellar Union by @Smokez83
4. Again with the Norman Invasion. Story of de Hautevilles by @hjarg
5. No Love, No Comfort - A Stellaris Fanfiction by @Methone
6. The Carolingian Renaissance by @The Kingmaker

RossN · Dec 16, 2020

Um... I very much appreciate the love for Stardancers guys but I don't think it could really be called a Gameplay AAR.

The 2020 Yearly AARland Year-end AwAARds

GunslingAAR

GunslingAAR

The Dark Lord Kelebek

UP THE EUROVILLA!! (they/them)

Call Kenny Loggins, you're in the DANGER ZONE...

GunslingAAR

Basileus Romaion

The Dark Lord Kelebek

UP THE EUROVILLA!! (they/them)

Basileus Romaion

The Dark Lord Kelebek

Old Boardgame Grognard

GunslingAAR

The Dark Lord Kelebek

Call Kenny Loggins, you're in the DANGER ZONE...

Major

Metacavity, Destroyer of the Fourth Wall

Major

Basileus Romaion

Commandant