Declining AAR interest?

[GeneralHannibal]

I'm too much of a newbie to remember things like that. This is the first major release since I joined the forums and started writing AARs.

Look at my join date , but I remember in the early days of the HOI2 forum, it was like this. We had a few big new members (spammers ) like KenneththeGreat (banned from AARland) and Lifeless. Don't worry, eventually those EUIII newbs will read other AARs, as happened with HOI2 newbs.

 

[unmerged(47946)]

I've noticed the number of replies to mine have seemed to decrease significantly...

...but then again, I don't have many readers to begin with

 

[Thirdfain]

I'm writing my first big AAR, and I've recieved lots and lots of community support!

 

[unmerged(11366)]

I've noticed the number of replies to mine have seemed to decrease significantly...

...but then again, I don't have many readers to begin with

I'll read yours from the start if you read mine!

I've noticed my reader base has become essentially a core group of five or six really interested people, but that doesn't trouble me because it has an atmosphere sort of like I'm this guy in the corner of a cafe rambling on about a murder that occured 105 years ago and Chesterton, J. Passepartout, stnylan, and a couple other guys have taken seats in the booth next to me, smoking cigars and quietly contemplating life in the mysterious purple haze.






... where the heck did that come from?


Which reminds me, the Victoria boards, too, seem generally unalive, though we sure have some good AARs going on at the moment. Only 18 have been updated in the past week, but they demonstrate a pretty good range, and many of our writers draw in non-Vicky players with their tales. Now that I go through looking/researching, it appears quite clear that only Diplomacy and EUI have deader forums than Victoria.

 

[Amric]

Let's not forget that the one that started it all, EU1, is still alive and kicking...Not like the others, but it is still there and quality work is still being produced there. Just like in HOI1. New games come along and take up massive amounts of readers for awhile...but in the end it settles down, and the others regain the readers they had before. Granted, over the long haul, EU2 will likely go the way of EU1 in AARs. But that will take a couple of years. Just like it did for EU1. Vicky, the HOI's, CK, Diplomacy are all games that are not iterations of EU, hence their cores are different.

All in all, we weather the storm of not being able to get onto the forums like we desire and it will calm down and things will go on. Differently, but they will go on. This place evolves. All living things do...and I for one, believe the AAR forums are a living, breathing creature. One that is continually evolving. Those who left after EU1 and if they returned now would be amazed at the changes. They might not like it, then again, they might love it. But from one game we have evolved to numerous games. Each one has its niche, it's dedicated core of readers. As long as there are quality stories to enjoy, the readers will come.

 

[kingmbutu]

The number of folks visiting and commenting on my two AAR's is probably about the same; perhaps a little slower... I just thought it was because my writing was getting worse. Maybe it is, but I'll blame it on EU3

 

[CatKnight]

I like Hajii's....curious....analogy.

You will always have your core. (New AARs and writers need time to build up your core. Fear not - be active in the community and they'll show up.) They may drift off now and then to see what's happening at another table, but they'll come back to listen to your latest ramblings.

EDIT: This is OT, but OT's closed. If one of you is strong at Latin, could you PM me? I have a phrase for my AAR that I want translated and the online translators are...unreliable. And giving me SEVERAL options.

 

[Director]

I have a fun little thing going over in the GalCiv area, but I have noticed some of my 'regulars' haven't posted in a week or two.

My reading has fallen off over the past few years but I do try to get around when I can. Currently I'm cussing EUIII; last year's graphics card isn't good enough; memory isn't big enough. I'll have spent close on $400 by the time I get this thing to run and from the screenshots I've seen of the map I am so far doubting the graphics are worth the price tag.

Anyway, I'm also working on a Railroad Tycoon scenario plus working on an independent story that may or may not turn out to be a Vicky AAR.

The AAR part of the forum seems very sparse right now, but it sure is hard to get any thread to come up, so there must be a lot of traffic somewhere.

 

[unmerged(62343)]

I have recently started an AAR and my core group is small, about a half dozen. I see some other HOI AAR's that get alot of replies, but hey, I am an aquired taste. Some nights the forums are dead, some nights they are alive like nobody's business. Like some other posters have said, it comes and goes, people have lives, other interests, I dont sweat it. I enjoy being able to write again. If I have 100 updates and only get 2-3 responses per, I will be content. Hey, it means at least somebody likes my stuff.

 

[Murmurandus]

phargle, stop whining and start updated your magnificent Knýtling Saga...

...

Yes, it's the fault of EUIII and yes, it will end...

 

[unmerged(51967)]

The Southern hempisphere just started another year of uni/school/work , and everyone else is returning to full routine after new years breaks. It fluctuates.
Mostly i'd be expecting CK to slowly decline over time, i mean it's not like people will post AARs of older games forever. EU3 AARs have increased but i've been noticing a lot are short ones that are quickly discontinued :|.

As far as comments... i never get much anyways so i never notice

 

[Olaus Petrus]

I'm not best commentator about activity, because I haven't written a single AAR myself. But I actively follow many EU2, CK, Vicky, HoI2 and EU3 AARs. Unfortunately lately, besides very active EU3 AARs, only phargle and Victor1234 have been updating their AARs regularly. So majority of the AARs I have followed are either dead or in coma.

I want that people continue their AARs, I want my OT fix and I want to get rid of the rage, which is taking me over after I have tried to post comment to AAR and it has said for 15 minutes: "Forum is too busy at the moment. Please try again later". Naturally my nature doesn't allow me to give up unless the forum is down and frustration grows.

 

[unmerged(63836)]

I joined this forum 2 months ago, so I have no comparison with past... but, I am writing my first AAR and lot of people are reading it, so it`s not so bad.
I think that EU3 isn`t so brilliant game, I played it several times, but i don`t like it. EU2 rules, or patched/modded EU3 could.

It`s true I write more than read (running (small)bussiness is very time consuming), but I`ll read and reply more often, to support other writAARs

 

[unmerged(3435)]

CK and Vicky are on a skeleton staff at the mo, it seems, but the HOI fora seem a bit more lively. Probably because they'd win the vote for 'Forum most likely to say 'Treaty of Torda-whata???' (I'm being vague again... I mean there are likely far fewer Vicky / CK players who are simply not interested in EUIII).

It seems as though the community as it currently stands is straining the boards a bit. The only solution is to go forth and annex chunks of cyberspace to the Paradoxian empire until we have attained our rightful bandwidth!

It's a manifest destiny thing.

 

[Murmurandus]

... The only solution is to go forth and annex chunks of cyberspace to the Paradoxian empire until we have attained our rightful bandwidth!

...

EUREKA!

 

[Vann the Red]

Wow. I take a couple weeks off to deal with a ridiculous workload and they send out the posse... ;-) I'll try to be a more diligent reader and commentator, Phargle.

Vann

 

[phargle]

phargle, stop whining and start updated your magnificent Knýtling Saga...

...

Yes, it's the fault of EUIII and yes, it will end...

I updated Lly's magnificent cardinals thing. What do you want from me, blood?

 

[GeneralHannibal]

The HOI2 forums are still active, although there has been a little downturn. Hopefully the sales from EUIII will allow Pdox to update its server so it will be less painful to post.

 

[CatKnight]

It seems as though the community as it currently stands is straining the boards a bit. The only solution is to go forth and annex chunks of cyberspace to the Paradoxian empire until we have attained our rightful bandwidth!

YES! Quick! Someone grab the political map!

Okay, now these guys don't look so bad!

Oh....Oh my...

Eep! Uh...you go on ahead, Jon. I'll be right over here!

 

[Thistletooth]

YES! Quick! Someone grab the political map!

Woohoo! I'm in the capital province for once. -2 revoltrisk, and extra incentive to build a luxury manufactory. Maybe I'll get that opera house I've been hoping for.

Hey, the Sweedes done been took our colors. That's a violation of our copyright! We own the rights to blue.