AAR utility DLC for EU4

[ywhtptgtfo]

It was suggested before, but it'd be nice if there can be an integrated tool for AAR documentation. For instance, I'd like to have a dated journal where I can write down notes, record events, and attach screenshots to. I'd also like to be able to bookmark certain dates in the game as some key milestones in the player's personal game, which would perhaps be displayed in a post-game chronological World Map movie.

I'd gladly pay $10 for a DLC like that.

 

[Eh up me duck]

How many other people would pay for it do you think? 1,000? 100? 10?

 

[ywhtptgtfo]

How many other people would pay for it do you think? 1,000? 100? 10?

How many people would pay for African unit packs?

 

[Teurlinx]

It would be re-inventing the wheel a bit. A lot of it can be done with 3rd party programs like MS OneNote. It lacks the integrated features of course and also isn't free, but I have to question this as a DLC as well.

It's been a while but I've seen those animated world maps in the past, so obviously there is a way to make them already. Adding some dates would require some editing, but can be done.


The question is really, how many AAR writers are serious enough that they would pay for such a DLC for the sake of convenience when they could accomplish much the same without?

I think the main distinction with unit packs is that those would not be made by programmers, but artists. Not that artists are cheap, but the programmers may not have time in their schedule to write features like this when sale prospects seem low. Then again, maybe Paradox will surprise us and include some of it for free even.

 

[ywhtptgtfo]

It would be re-inventing the wheel a bit. A lot of it can be done with 3rd party programs like MS OneNote. It lacks the integrated features of course and also isn't free, but I have to question this as a DLC as well.

It's been a while but I've seen those animated world maps in the past, so obviously there is a way to make them already. Adding some dates would require some editing, but can be done.


The question is really, how many AAR writers are serious enough that they would pay for such a DLC for the sake of convenience when they could accomplish much the same without?

I think the main distinction with unit packs is that those would not be made by programmers, but artists. Not that artists are cheap, but the programmers may not have time in their schedule to write features like this when sale prospects seem low. Then again, maybe Paradox will surprise us and include some of it for free even.

Aside from the screenshot and taking notes thing, the animated world map with logs thing is already done in Civilization 4 and 5.

But anyhow, it's just an idea to throw around.

 

[Jake Dust]

The question is really, how many AAR writers are serious enough that they would pay for such a DLC for the sake of convenience when they could accomplish much the same without?

If it costs three-five bucks, who cares? I bought about half of my DLC for CKII (and EU1) in GG with spare bluecoins. People turned into robot unicorns after seeing the new planning mode of HOI3:TFH, so I guess a lot of people would pay for more in-game help for AARs (internal screenshot manager, notepad, etc), including me (and I haven't publicly published an AAR since 2006!)

 

[Teurlinx]

Why would I buy a DLC that helps me write AARs when I already have all the tools I need? I just don't see the value add, or the market for it. If Paradox would include some of those features as standard to encourage the AAR community then great. Imho there are better things to focus programmers' time on than reinventing the wheel of a notepad and screen capture tool. Hell, even the Steam overlay can do that much for you.

 

[ywhtptgtfo]

Why would I buy a DLC that helps me write AARs when I already have all the tools I need? I just don't see the value add, or the market for it. If Paradox would include some of those features as standard to encourage the AAR community then great. Imho there are better things to focus programmers' time on than reinventing the wheel of a notepad and screen capture tool. Hell, even the Steam overlay can do that much for you.

Being embedded is much more convenient. Just as why should we have a ledger when you can just write the numbers down and put them in excel...

And of course, it's not just about making an AAR, but also about enhancing the experience of reliving a game after completing it.

 

[Teurlinx]

So, more like a replay viewer to watch how saved games played out. Not just a tool to make notes and recordings and stuff during the actual gameplay?

I think a lot of the data needed like the game log and province ownership per date etc. is already there. It might even make a good balance tool to see how certain changes affect AI.

I'm not against it, I just don't see it succeed as a DLC. Include it in the base game if you're doing it at all imho.

 

[ywhtptgtfo]

So, more like a replay viewer to watch how saved games played out. Not just a tool to make notes and recordings and stuff during the actual gameplay?

I think a lot of the data needed like the game log and province ownership per date etc. is already there. It might even make a good balance tool to see how certain changes affect AI.

I'm not against it, I just don't see it succeed as a DLC. Include it in the base game if you're doing it at all imho.

Or in an expansion with other things.

And I never said it has to be something with only the mentioned set of features. There is definitely room to make it more worthwhile to get. Maybe combine that with other desired features like flag/kingdom creator or something.

 

[Ashantai]

As an AAR writer I can't really see a use for it. I make my own notes and use FRAPS to take screenshots and that does me fine.

 

[Baneslave]

Aside from the screenshot and taking notes thing, the animated world map with logs thing is already done in Civilization 4 and 5.

Civilization series tends to stay at less than 1000 turns.

EU series has 146000 or so turns.

 

[Teurlinx]

As an AAR writer I can't really see a use for it. I make my own notes and use FRAPS to take screenshots and that does me fine.

Well, I could see it be useful for generating biographies for people in CK2 that you could then just make a screenshot of and include in your AAR. Facilitating AAR writers is something I didn't really think off before ywhtptgtfo's post and maybe Paradox had not either.

For things like these, if you want to see them included describe very clearly what you would like to see (like that auto-generating biographies for CK2 idea). I'm sure the devs will be happy to include it if it can be done fairly easily

So, what exactly would we like to see for EU:4 and what should it look like in-game?

 

[Niptium]

I'd pay for an AAR DLC. That would be interesting and useful unlike all those sprite packs.

 

[Teurlinx]

I'd pay for an AAR DLC. That would be interesting and useful unlike all those sprite packs.

And what specific features would you like to see in it?

 

[PerciXal]

How many people would pay for African unit packs?

I would.

 

[Hrothga]

I can understand how it wouldn't be useful for serious and established AAR writers. However having an easily accessible tool may inspire more people to write AARs. Hell I may even give it a shot if such tools were available.
The target audience to sum up wouldn't be current AAR writers but those who've been thinking of doing it before or potential upcoming AAR writers. Sure they too could use external tools but the convenience of having it integrated to the game may push them beyond that initial hurdle they wouldn't overcome otherwise and then would introduce them to the world of AAR-writing.
Sure there would be a whole heap of less than stellar stuff, but personally it would be worth it for the inevitable gems that otherwise wouldn't be written.