Welcome to the AARland Choice AwAARds! This is the first AARland Choice AwAARds that was not restricted to the Vicky Forums, and the second one overall.
What AARe the AARland Choice AwAARds, you AARsk? Well, it is an awAARd system that is voted upon by the public, i.e. you, that occupies a spot below the OscAAR/ReadAAR's Choice AwAARd/VictAARian Cross and...well...nothing, because the OscAARs/ReadAAR's Choice AwAARds/VictAARian Crosses are the only voted-upon awAARd system. This AARland Choice AwAARd will differ from those due to its lack of nomination process, and its blinding regularity. If all goes as planned, an AARland Choice AwAARds will be held at the beginning of every quarter of the year. Oct 1 is the beginning of the 4th Quarter of 2005.
The voting will last until March 07, when the votes will be tallied and a winner declared in each category. If several people indicate by that time that they wish to vote but need a little more time reviewing AARs before they do sio, I'll extend it by a week making it a round four weeks. (I know I should have started this in Jan 01, but I was gone for a while) Voting can be either public, by posting your vote in this very thread, or private, by sending a PM to me with your vote. One poster, one vote. (I actually prefer the latter, however, as it has less of a chance to influence the other voters.)
The categories to vote upon are:
Best AAR, Overall
Best AAR, HOI2/1
Best Non-Fanfic AAR, HOI2/1
Best Comedy AAR, HOI2/1
Best History-Book AAR, HOI2/1
Best Narrative AAR, HOI2/1
Best AAR, EU2/1
Best Non-Fanfic AAR, EU2/1
Best Comedy AAR, EU2/1
Best History-Book AAR, EU2/1
Best Narrative AAR, EU2/1
Best AAR, Vicky/CK
Best Non-Fanfic AAR, Vicky/CK
Best Comedy AAR, Vicky/CK
Best History-Book AAR, Vicky/CK
Best Narrative AAR, Vicky/CK
Best Graphics, Overall
Seems like a bit of an overload, but you don't have to vote in every category to vote, or even in more than one category. Just go with what you know, though since you have three weeks you might as well expand your reading a little. Also, I combined Vicky and CK as you need both of them together to match the level of activity in EU2 and HOI2. If you think this is bad, I could change it so that they are voted on every six months instead of three, alternating...
Category Explanations:
Best AAR: What defines 'Best' is completely up to you, on your standards. Best written? Most funny? Most hard worked on? Perhaps the best in a combination of categories, or the AAR that has that special 'something'?
Non-Fanfic AAR: Pretty straightforward. The gameplay is lightly buried, if at all.
Examples of Non-Fanfic AARs:
IEX Totalview's Greek Empire: The Anti-Industrial Revolution (Very straightforward non-fanfic style)
Steele's Nukes for Nepal - An AAR(Again pretty straightforward)
Comedy AAR: Self-explanatory. Any AAR that is intentionally or unintentionally humourous.
Examples of Comedy AARs:
Haba's Take London - A Swiss AAR
Satcho's The Rest Stop to the West: A Luxemburg AAR
Farquharson's The Incorrupt Hand: a Comedy of Árpáds
(The thing about Comedy AARs is that they usually do fall into various other categories, due to the styles used by each author being unique. So it might be that a Comedy AAR is also chosen for one of the other categories on the strength of its writing.)
History Book AAR: Has more meat on its bones than a Non-Fanfic AAR, though the distinction is sometimes hard to draw. Does not get deeply into the characters as a character-driven AAR would, but instead reads like a history book in style, giving story justification for the events in the game and some even going as far as reading exactly like a history book written in that timeline would.
Examples of History Book AARs:
Syt's All quiet on the Western Front - Germany 1914 (Fairly straightforward expository style. While it does include little paragraphs of quotes, they are not large enough to make it count as a 'Narrative' AAR.)
Stonewall's From Stone to Steel: A History of Imperial Russia
(An obvious example of a History Book style)
Narrative AAR: 'Tell', not 'Show'. Into this would fall the novel-like AARs with characterisation, plot, and all that good stuff. But the AAR need not be 'novel-like' itself.
Examples of Narrative AARs:
Estonianzulu's War Without End (Most excellent. Very clearly is a narrative-style AAR, no question.)
Secret Master's The Lives of Famous and Noble Castilians: A Chronicle of the Kingdom of Castile (A classic, so I'm told)
Some AARs fall into multiple categories, perhaps by the virtue of including elements of each, such as blending game event explanations with a deep character-driven plot (making it non-fanfic and narrative).
Examples of AARs that are both 'Narrative' and 'History Book':
coz1's For the Glory of Persia (Literally contains elements of both, as there are history-book segments and narrative segments alike.)
Special Category: Best Graphics The AAR with the best graphics. Awesomely edited screenshots? Hand-drawn glory? Expert placement of stock photos? Which AAR best utilises the visual realm?
If voting for an AAR that can fit into more than one category, please vote according to the AAR's strength in the category you're placing it in. For example, if I vote for The Glory of Persia in the Narrative section, that means that I think that its narrative sections are excellent enough to beat out all of its competitors (which I do ) but its history-book sections need not be the best.
Also, remember, the category is in the eye of the beholder. You may disagree with me in my classification. But I hope my words have gotten across the gist of what these categories are supposed to represent, and that you readers will make wise choices when classifying the AARs you consider.
Also, I ask voters not to vote on a category if they feel that they have not read enough, or indeed any at all, AARs in that category to make a good judgment. Any AAR that has been updated within the 4th Quarter, that is between Oct 1 and Dec 31 2005, will be eligible. However, if the AAR in question is updated only once or twice in that period, it is up to your judgment if you really think that the work during that period is worthy of your vote. But remember, you do not have to vote in all or even a majority or even more than one category to vote! You can always read more AARs and come back later with an edit or another PM.
Also, you cannot vote for your own AARs.
Example of voting post:
Best AAR, Overall: Where the Iron Crosses Grow - German AAR by The Yogi
Best AAR, HOI2/1:Where the Iron Crosses Grow - German AAR by The Yogi
Best Comedy AAR, HOI2/1: The Rest Stop to the West: A Luxemburg AAR by Satcho
Best Non-Fanfic AAR, HOI2/1:Nukes for Nepal - An AAR by Steele
Best History-Book AAR, HOI2/1: Rise of the People's Republic of France by Vendere Sacerdo
Best Narrative AAR, HOI2/1: Chiarire le Intenzioni by TekcoR
Best AAR, EU2/1:l’Eminence Grise by MrT
Best Comedy AAR, EU2/1: The Timurid Scientists AAR by Peter Ebbesen
Best Non-Fanfic AAR, EU2/1: Encyclopedia wAARspite : Cambodia by Warspite
Best History-Book AAR, EU2/1: The One True Faith: A Byzantine AAR by MAlexander06
Best Narrative AAR, EU2/1: l’Eminence Grise by MrT
Best AAR, Victoria/CK: Ladislaus I the Saint, and his dynasty by siekel
Best Comedy AAR, Victoria/CK: The Incorrupt Hand: a Comedy of Árpáds by Farquharson
Best Non-Fanfic AAR, Victoria/CK: Greek Empire: The Anti-Industrial Revolution by IEX Totalview
Best History-Book AAR, Victoria/CK: Ladislaus I the Saint, and his dynasty by siekel
Best Narrative AAR, Victoria/CK: War Without End by Estonianzulu
Best Graphics: PostcAARds from Australia by Wolfhound
(Note: All AARs in this example were completed before 2005 Q4, so they are not eligible anyways, I'm pretty sure)
So get out and vote. I also encourage authors to advertise this in their AARs and whatnot. Please advertise this in your AARs.
And this thread is not a discussion on the merits of the award itself. It's the first time this has been expanded past a trial, so let's see if it can stand on its own legs.
What AARe the AARland Choice AwAARds, you AARsk? Well, it is an awAARd system that is voted upon by the public, i.e. you, that occupies a spot below the OscAAR/ReadAAR's Choice AwAARd/VictAARian Cross and...well...nothing, because the OscAARs/ReadAAR's Choice AwAARds/VictAARian Crosses are the only voted-upon awAARd system. This AARland Choice AwAARd will differ from those due to its lack of nomination process, and its blinding regularity. If all goes as planned, an AARland Choice AwAARds will be held at the beginning of every quarter of the year. Oct 1 is the beginning of the 4th Quarter of 2005.
The voting will last until March 07, when the votes will be tallied and a winner declared in each category. If several people indicate by that time that they wish to vote but need a little more time reviewing AARs before they do sio, I'll extend it by a week making it a round four weeks. (I know I should have started this in Jan 01, but I was gone for a while) Voting can be either public, by posting your vote in this very thread, or private, by sending a PM to me with your vote. One poster, one vote. (I actually prefer the latter, however, as it has less of a chance to influence the other voters.)
The categories to vote upon are:
Best AAR, Overall
Best AAR, HOI2/1
Best Non-Fanfic AAR, HOI2/1
Best Comedy AAR, HOI2/1
Best History-Book AAR, HOI2/1
Best Narrative AAR, HOI2/1
Best AAR, EU2/1
Best Non-Fanfic AAR, EU2/1
Best Comedy AAR, EU2/1
Best History-Book AAR, EU2/1
Best Narrative AAR, EU2/1
Best AAR, Vicky/CK
Best Non-Fanfic AAR, Vicky/CK
Best Comedy AAR, Vicky/CK
Best History-Book AAR, Vicky/CK
Best Narrative AAR, Vicky/CK
Best Graphics, Overall
Seems like a bit of an overload, but you don't have to vote in every category to vote, or even in more than one category. Just go with what you know, though since you have three weeks you might as well expand your reading a little. Also, I combined Vicky and CK as you need both of them together to match the level of activity in EU2 and HOI2. If you think this is bad, I could change it so that they are voted on every six months instead of three, alternating...
Category Explanations:
Best AAR: What defines 'Best' is completely up to you, on your standards. Best written? Most funny? Most hard worked on? Perhaps the best in a combination of categories, or the AAR that has that special 'something'?
Non-Fanfic AAR: Pretty straightforward. The gameplay is lightly buried, if at all.
Examples of Non-Fanfic AARs:
IEX Totalview's Greek Empire: The Anti-Industrial Revolution (Very straightforward non-fanfic style)
Steele's Nukes for Nepal - An AAR(Again pretty straightforward)
Comedy AAR: Self-explanatory. Any AAR that is intentionally or unintentionally humourous.
Examples of Comedy AARs:
Haba's Take London - A Swiss AAR
Satcho's The Rest Stop to the West: A Luxemburg AAR
Farquharson's The Incorrupt Hand: a Comedy of Árpáds
(The thing about Comedy AARs is that they usually do fall into various other categories, due to the styles used by each author being unique. So it might be that a Comedy AAR is also chosen for one of the other categories on the strength of its writing.)
History Book AAR: Has more meat on its bones than a Non-Fanfic AAR, though the distinction is sometimes hard to draw. Does not get deeply into the characters as a character-driven AAR would, but instead reads like a history book in style, giving story justification for the events in the game and some even going as far as reading exactly like a history book written in that timeline would.
Examples of History Book AARs:
Syt's All quiet on the Western Front - Germany 1914 (Fairly straightforward expository style. While it does include little paragraphs of quotes, they are not large enough to make it count as a 'Narrative' AAR.)
Stonewall's From Stone to Steel: A History of Imperial Russia
(An obvious example of a History Book style)
Narrative AAR: 'Tell', not 'Show'. Into this would fall the novel-like AARs with characterisation, plot, and all that good stuff. But the AAR need not be 'novel-like' itself.
Examples of Narrative AARs:
Estonianzulu's War Without End (Most excellent. Very clearly is a narrative-style AAR, no question.)
Secret Master's The Lives of Famous and Noble Castilians: A Chronicle of the Kingdom of Castile (A classic, so I'm told)
Some AARs fall into multiple categories, perhaps by the virtue of including elements of each, such as blending game event explanations with a deep character-driven plot (making it non-fanfic and narrative).
Examples of AARs that are both 'Narrative' and 'History Book':
coz1's For the Glory of Persia (Literally contains elements of both, as there are history-book segments and narrative segments alike.)
Special Category: Best Graphics The AAR with the best graphics. Awesomely edited screenshots? Hand-drawn glory? Expert placement of stock photos? Which AAR best utilises the visual realm?
If voting for an AAR that can fit into more than one category, please vote according to the AAR's strength in the category you're placing it in. For example, if I vote for The Glory of Persia in the Narrative section, that means that I think that its narrative sections are excellent enough to beat out all of its competitors (which I do ) but its history-book sections need not be the best.
Also, remember, the category is in the eye of the beholder. You may disagree with me in my classification. But I hope my words have gotten across the gist of what these categories are supposed to represent, and that you readers will make wise choices when classifying the AARs you consider.
Also, I ask voters not to vote on a category if they feel that they have not read enough, or indeed any at all, AARs in that category to make a good judgment. Any AAR that has been updated within the 4th Quarter, that is between Oct 1 and Dec 31 2005, will be eligible. However, if the AAR in question is updated only once or twice in that period, it is up to your judgment if you really think that the work during that period is worthy of your vote. But remember, you do not have to vote in all or even a majority or even more than one category to vote! You can always read more AARs and come back later with an edit or another PM.
Also, you cannot vote for your own AARs.
Example of voting post:
Best AAR, Overall: Where the Iron Crosses Grow - German AAR by The Yogi
Best AAR, HOI2/1:Where the Iron Crosses Grow - German AAR by The Yogi
Best Comedy AAR, HOI2/1: The Rest Stop to the West: A Luxemburg AAR by Satcho
Best Non-Fanfic AAR, HOI2/1:Nukes for Nepal - An AAR by Steele
Best History-Book AAR, HOI2/1: Rise of the People's Republic of France by Vendere Sacerdo
Best Narrative AAR, HOI2/1: Chiarire le Intenzioni by TekcoR
Best AAR, EU2/1:l’Eminence Grise by MrT
Best Comedy AAR, EU2/1: The Timurid Scientists AAR by Peter Ebbesen
Best Non-Fanfic AAR, EU2/1: Encyclopedia wAARspite : Cambodia by Warspite
Best History-Book AAR, EU2/1: The One True Faith: A Byzantine AAR by MAlexander06
Best Narrative AAR, EU2/1: l’Eminence Grise by MrT
Best AAR, Victoria/CK: Ladislaus I the Saint, and his dynasty by siekel
Best Comedy AAR, Victoria/CK: The Incorrupt Hand: a Comedy of Árpáds by Farquharson
Best Non-Fanfic AAR, Victoria/CK: Greek Empire: The Anti-Industrial Revolution by IEX Totalview
Best History-Book AAR, Victoria/CK: Ladislaus I the Saint, and his dynasty by siekel
Best Narrative AAR, Victoria/CK: War Without End by Estonianzulu
Best Graphics: PostcAARds from Australia by Wolfhound
(Note: All AARs in this example were completed before 2005 Q4, so they are not eligible anyways, I'm pretty sure)
So get out and vote. I also encourage authors to advertise this in their AARs and whatnot. Please advertise this in your AARs.
And this thread is not a discussion on the merits of the award itself. It's the first time this has been expanded past a trial, so let's see if it can stand on its own legs.