EUII OscAAR Redux - Nominations for Best Completed AAR, Sept. - Dec. 2003

[stnylan]

Ferdinand and the fly (a Bohemian myth) by Coen

The first and only AAR by this writer, who lurked before and maybe lurks even now. It is a historybook offering on the nation of Bohemia covering the years upto 1700, when it was brought a close. In that nothing particularly unusual. However, part of the way along, when he the first conquistador comes along the AAR splits. In one fork the game is played focusing on the New World, and in the other it is played focusing on the Old World, using different coloured texts to keep things clear. The writing itself is clear and concise, giving a good overall picture of what is going on. Unfortunately the maps have been redexed, and I think perhaps some of the detail is lost as a result.

I was sorry that this AAR did not play out the GC, but for his own reasons the writer closed things early, leaving us with two short epilogues for each timeline. It did not feel finished however. Overall an enjoyable read to see what one can do with this nation. I probably also ought to mention that this is not a Hussite AAR, as the writer converted back to Catholicism the day after the event. He had different things to do

 

[coz1]

I'm really glad you are doing these mini-reviews, stnylan. It's helping me recall some of the work I've read before and become interested in others I have yet to read. I really need to spend more time myself looking at the eligable AARs more closely.

And just a plug - voting is still going on above for the more recent EUII OscAARs. Head to the poll stickied at the top of the page and vote now. I assumed the ACA poll would gather more votes simply because all of the games are voting, but it is almost pacing the current EUII voting at a 2 to 1 clip. Show your numbers, EUII.

 

[RossN]

Carthage Reborn - The First Tunisian AAR by Farquharson

This is Farquharson's second offering in the AAR milieu, playing as Tunisia, and breaking new ground for EU2 AARs as it was the first EU2 Tunisia AAR. The AAR itself is a mixture of historybook and dialogue styles - the latter becoming more pronounced as the AAR progressing and approaching what I guess could be called "classic Farq". What I think is best about this AAR however is that it is, in many respects, an AAR full of failure. It is not a 'failed' AAR - Tunisia does end on something of high note - but by golly it was hard work along the way with plenty of downs to accompany the ups. Again, this AAR is relatively short, it lasts four pages with comments spilling over onto a fifth. Easy to read, and a source of constant humour, it was a delight.

Edit: By way of addendum there are also plenty of nice photos in this AAR that are still extant. The accompanying descriptions to some of them are, well, excellent

I would like to especially note this AAR, which I accidently stumbled across searching the internet for something else, was the thing that got me into Paradox games and thus AARs in the first place.

As such it holds a special place in my heart.

 

[Rensslaer]

I would like to especially note this AAR, which I accidently stumbled across searching the internet for something else, was the thing that got me into Paradox games and thus AARs in the first place.

As such it holds a special place in my heart.

...so is that an official nomination, or just a recommendation???

Stnylan, thank you also from me for the reviews! Your pace gives me hope that I can actually read through the list before the nomination period ends!

Rensslaer

 

[unmerged(49083)]

Oh, sorry o

 

[stnylan]

Stnylan, thank you also from me for the reviews! Your pace gives me hope that I can actually read through the list before the nomination period ends!

A pleasure Rensslaer. In truth it is fairly easy because, as you will notice, many of these AARs are tiny compared to the offerings in the current OscAARs - or even the four ACA contenders. Indeed, it is really interesting reading some of the comments of yesteryear. Nice to know and remember people were still worrying about lack of comments back then and so forth!

 

[Storey]

Too many good ones but if forced to I'd have to case my vote for The Heirs of Caesars: Habsburg AAR by nalivayko

 

[RossN]

...so is that an official nomination, or just a recommendation???

Stnylan, thank you also from me for the reviews! Your pace gives me hope that I can actually read through the list before the nomination period ends!

Rensslaer

Um both I guess. o

 

[stnylan]

History of the Eastern Roman Empire: A Byzantine AAR by LordLeto

There had to be a Byzantium AAR amongst these somewhere right? LordLeto here offers up rather short - just 2 pages - AAR in classic historybook style. The first sixty years or so are covered in somewhat more detail, unsurprisingly, and the time span covered in each update lengthens noticeably towards the end once Byzantium has achieved a position of power. But it does not feel that short, thankfully. There is a good progression of events and of the overall story. One happens earlier does link it what happens later. I have one quibble. Unfortunately there are no maps, and it is a little difficult at times to think about the exact size of the empire (it is not a terribly detailed AAR, and so this info is somewhat lacking). Overall, a quick read. Very readable.

 

[coz1]

RossN - I'll mark it down as a nomination. In fact, I was close to calling seconds until I realized I almost overlooked one of my favorite works of the period:

DanielMcCollum's The Heirs of Lothair: 400 Years of Burgundian History. During my lengthy hiatus during parts of 2002 and 2003, I still lurked and this one was an AAR I recall with great fondness. Well written, concise and creative; it is short on screenies (long sice disappeared) but long on quality description. It made me want to get involved again and play EUII. What more can you ask? So that's my nomination.

 

[stnylan]

Khaz and Effect by jwolf

Another AAR from the moderately distant past by a forum stalwart. In this AAR jwolf (who today woos readers with Navarre) takes the Khazak Horde through many a tricky moment. I feel almost like a broken record, but this AAR is again short compared to today's completed standards, being only four pages. But what pages!

This AAR is split into five parts, organised thematically. The first part takes the Khazaks up to about 1500, the following four parts explore differing issues that the Horde faced, from the frustrating quest to take the Timurid capital to the legal niceties of merchants at Astrakhan. In terms of style this is mostly historybook, with episodes of dialogue, and one bedtime story. It will keep you entertained the whole way through, and is easily readable at one sitting.

For all those who have read Navarre: Revenge of the Templars and loved it, or any other of jwolfs AARs, I would strongly urge you to take a look. And if you have not, well take a look anyway.

 

[stnylan]

Novgorod the Great: An AAR by Judas Maccabeus

Every so often one comes across an AAR that does something rather different from the ordinary AAR. This AAR is one of these, because the style is that of the stage play, with stage directions included free of charge! It is also a comedy with some truly hilarious moments. Wait till you read about the eels! It does not last all that long - just 2 pages! - but marvellous entertainment throughout. Actually it is a little longer than it seems because there was a lengthy series of updates without a comment. The story itself lasts until 1480, but that feels entirely complete. For those who wish to read something a little different, take a look.

 

[unmerged(15337)]

None of the links are working for me. What's wrong?

Edit: Links are OK for me now as far as I can tell. I don't know what was the matter before. Sorry for the false alarm.

Back to the AARs: These date from my first year both playing the game and in the forum here. I remember several of them well (not just my own! ) and they are by this time like old friends. I will second the nomination of Daniel McCollum's Burgundy AAR. What particularly impressed me about it at the time was his speculative future history he wrote as an epilogue, describing world history through the Victoria era and its effects on Burgundy.

Many of these AARs are worthy of consideration. For our newer readers, I highly recommend taking a look at these -- as pointed out, they are generally fairly short and easy to digest.

 

[Amric]

Excellent little mini reviews Stnylan. You are entirely correct. Way back then we wrote shorter stories....Oddly enough, it was a period of flux....Works from prior to that were actually somewhat longer, while those of today are much much longer than during that time....In fact, it is a great history lesson on how things were done then compared to now. The writers such as jwolf whose work was quite good then has gotten even better now.

Excellent recommendations and wonderful nominations....

 

[stnylan]

None of the links are working for me. What's wrong?

My links or coz1's links? They both work for me

Excellent little mini reviews Stnylan. You are entirely correct. Way back then we wrote shorter stories....Oddly enough, it was a period of flux....Works from prior to that were actually somewhat longer, while those of today are much much longer than during that time....In fact, it is a great history lesson on how things were done then compared to now. The writers such as jwolf whose work was quite good then has gotten even better now.

Thank you Amric. Certainly one of the interesting things about reading all these AARs is to remember how things were back then. You are right about the almost strange state of the forum then - indeed it is remarked on in one of the AARs I have already read - could be that it was in Auvergne thinking about it - about how 'quiet' things were back then.

 

[stnylan]

Pax Britannica: Ascent of the Lion by TreizeV

I remember seeing this AAR back in the day, but never getting around to visiting. Indeed, for one reason or another I have never read anything by TreizeV, though I had heard very good things about this work. Well I have now, and I was not disappointed.

This is a narrative AAR of the Age of Revolutions. It is a purposeful homage in many ways to Bernard Cornwell's Sharpe books, and very enjoyable. First our hero fights the Americans, and then he goes off to India for some memorable battles. The battles themselves are expertly described and very well paced. TreizeV has a fine sense of dramatics, and especially in the battle of Delaware.

The narrative is not restricted to Schaeffe however, and we see a number of points of view. There is also a proper villain who lurks in the background for a bit before taking centre stage. Other characters too are richly portrayed. Some nice little subplots surface here and there, adding to the main while not proving burdensome.

For all this the AAR is just 7 pages - albeit it feels slighty longer as there are quite a lot of updates per page. I do understand from the end that Schaeffe's adventures might continue in a later AAR, but this one feels complete. All in all I am very glad now to have introduced myself to this author's work.

 

[stnylan]

Peter on the White Sea: A Russian AAR using the 1683 scenario by C.V. Mannerheim

An enjoyable, though very short tale (just 2 pages, though comments run onto the third). It is also very self-contained, being the story of Peter the Great and Russia's quest for the Sea. It is part historybook and part narrative, and was inspired apparently by a song. You can read the AAR to find out which one! Alas, most of the pictures have succumbed to the Red X, but some are still there, and good ones too.

 

[stnylan]

The Blunders of America, abridged by Snow King.

This very short AAR - it barely stretches onto the second page - is a historybook telling of some American misadventures from 1795 to the end of the GC. I say misadventures - there are some notable successes as well, but the blunders are worth looking out for. A light tale, and a very pleasant and easy read.

 

[stnylan]

The Coat on the Floor III - Tsared for Life by Paranoid Tsar

This is the third installment of a drinking AAR (I would advise checking out Part I and Part II as well). What do I mean by a drinking AAR? Well, the writer set himself up to, every half an hour, drink a shot, play five years as Russia, and post on the gameplay. To be repeated until comatase, more or less. There are other 'rules' to this AAR, but the golden one seems to be to have a good time. Actually, I'll have to correct that, the golden rule is that IT ALL BELONGS TO MOTHER RUSSIA!!!.

If this sounds silly and childish (well, teenagerish), that is because it is. It is great fun to read however, and given that the whole thing started sort of as a homage to MrT it can't be that unrespectable! Take a time out and read these AARs!

Edit: I've mentioned length in every other mini-review here, and to make things complete this AAR weighs in at four pages, with comments slipping onto a fifth. The other two I've linked to are both four pagers.

 

[stnylan]

The Dutch Incumbence - Take What's Yours by Right! A Dutch WC Attempt by Anibal

The title is very informative. This is indeed a World Conquest attempt playing as the Dutch. It is a gameplay AAR that covers six pages. But to say only that would be to miss so much out. For a start, how many other AARs heed the songs of John Lennon when it comes to planning the next war? All in all this is a very unserious AAR, and fun to read. Unfortunately the screenshots have all gone the way of the red x, and this does make following the action a little difficult here and there. The ending is excellent.