AAR's

[JerkyJerry]

Hi everyone,
I just read my first couple of AAR's yesterday and I have to say WOW!
I had no idea what an AAR was or meant (so I had to google it) and I am impressed and overwhelmed at the same time.
Are AAR's a part of real world militaries or were they kinda invented for games like this?

How much time does it take to make an AAR? How does one go about making an AAR? Is there a template for AAR's? Is there a template AAR inside HOI4 that we can use and upload information straight from the game?
Can AAR's be videos or are they more designed for paper & pen?

Any information anyone can share would be greatly appreciated.


I just wanted to thank those who take the time to make and share them.

 

[potski]

After Action Reports were/are done in real life. There are plenty available on the web of real battles.

But for games they have developed a special meaning. Sadly, probably now eclipsed by Youtube.

 

[Sharp163]

Go to this page and look at the huge table at the top. That's all just one big AAR.

 

[Procyanide]

You can pretty much do what you like. You can copy a more military, formal template and use more of a reporting style to keep it short and simple, or you can go for a novel type of aar that you spend weeks on writing, giving the people in the game characters etc.. thats the beauty of being a creator: you can do it how you prefer.

In short: there is no definitive right or wrong way to write an aar.

 

[JerkyJerry]

Thanks for the information guys!
I'm sure for a lot of you that have seen AAR's for a while now and, eh no big deal. But rolling across one for the first time was for me anyway a bit of a WOW factor when it is written around my favorite game. AAR's provide so much information and flavor to a game. I know it sounds weird but it kinda brings the game to life so to speak.

Are there any contests or some type of recognition for AAR's? Should there be?

I salute all those who take the time and effort. <insert saluting emoticon here>

 

[safe-keeper]

Some AAR writers put a phenomenal amount of effort and research into their writings, yes. It's a genre of its own, you can say.

I guess the biggest challenge when writing them is not to make them good, but to be determined enough to actually keep going all the way through a game. It's a lot of work.

Recognition for AARs would be cool. Maybe PDX could compile some really good ones and put them in a free DLC or something. I think they did things like this for CK2.

 

[JerkyJerry]

Some AAR writers put a phenomenal amount of effort and research into their writings, yes. It's a genre of its own, you can say.

100% agree

I guess the biggest challenge when writing them is not to make them good, but to be determined enough to actually keep going all the way through a game. It's a lot of work.

I'm so glad you posted that! That aspect had never even crossed my mind.

Recognition for AARs would be cool. Maybe PDX could compile some really good ones and put them in a free DLC or something. I think they did things like this for CK2.

I think that would be real nice

 

[Had a dad]

Just remember AAR land has a few of their own rules and be sure to look those over before beginning.

 

[JerkyJerry]

It's a smart man who knows his strengths and weaknesses.
An AAR would be my kryptonite!
However I will continue to read them!

 

[thexmassteam]

A thing that could be very cool is to add tools in game to help AAR's writers : battle report, economic charts and so on ...

 

[Jamey]

Recognition for AARs would be cool. Maybe PDX could compile some really good ones and put them in a free DLC or something. I think they did things like this for CK2.

I used to see AAR awards (given by community voting) announced in the forums, but I can't find any newer than last year. I don't know if they are still around.

I learned how to play Victoria 2 from reading AARs that someone wrote to explain how the game works. They were exactly what I needed to actually understand the underlying mechanics.

 

[Axe99]

Recognition for AARs would be cool. Maybe PDX could compile some really good ones and put them in a free DLC or something. I think they did things like this for CK2.

I have a vague memory that PI did an AAR compilation for EU at one stage, but maybe my memory's just making things up? There have definitely been awards in the past. I've read a few and they're generally very entertaining .