The 2022 Historybook AAR of the Year is...

[coz1]

The next step in the evolution of the AAR still holds a very strong place within AARland and rightly so. After all, we come here to talk about a game we play about...history. Right? So it should come as no surprise that only two of our 23 voters declined to vote for this category. And as I have counseled since these awAARds began, every single vote counts! And how many you vote for as well! By the end there were some very close contests but this race was the closest! A 0.3 difference in the accounting is all that separates our winner from the runner up and third, fourth and fifth were extremely close as well. So to say it was a hot contest is no lie.

With all of that said, let us get to the reveal and announce that the 2022 Historybook AAR of the Year is...

Echoes of A New Tomorrow: Life after Revolution in the Commonwealth of Britain by @DensleyBlair in Victoria 2​

A bit of a bride's maid AAR in these past contests for the last few years always coming up a bit short in this category, this year it finally took the top prize. Many congratulations @DensleyBlair for all of the excellent work you've done (and will continue to do with it!) And yet, our Silver Place finisher is much the same (and has been doing it for even longer)...

The Butterfly Effect: A British AAR by @El Pip in Hearts of Iron 2​

There is no shame in this finish, sir! It's nice to hold the top prize, surely, but for an AAR that has been going on for...lesse...125 years or so? And still relevant? That is impressive! And was very nearly the winner as stated above. As for our Bronze prize, I am proud to announce...

Superior Arguments: A Stellaris AAR by @eoncommander in Stellaris​

Just an excellent top three for this category and congrats to each of you! 30 other AARs were given nomination and they are (listed in order of the vote):

Annuntio Vobis: A Papal History of Italy by @slothinator (Vic 2)

Wings of Faith, Wings of Fury - A Slavic Pagan Revival AAR by @Superstorm (CK2)

En la sombra de Morazán: A Central American AAR by @Zeogludon (Vic 2)

King of Kings - An Iran HPP AAR by @RustyHunter (HoI3)

The Rise of Russia by @HistoryDude (Vic 2)

For All We Have and Are: Britain in the Great War - (1901 Series) by @BigBadBob (Vic 2)

In the Shadow of the Ancients - An Assyrian AAR by @Tommy4ever (CK2)

Italian Ambitions: A Florence AAR by @JerseyGiants88 (EU4)

Die Wacht Im Raum - A Kaiserreich Stellaris AAR by @Side (Stellaris)

Relight the Flames - a Zoroastrian Persian AAR by @Tommy4ever (CK2)

Epirus Ascendant, Part 1 by @HistoryDude (Imperator:Rome)

The Kingdom of Jerusalem by @Werther (CK3)

CK2AGOT - Breaker of Chains and Mother of Dragons by @Thaiga (CK2)

Once a Satrapy: A Parthian Dynasty by @alpherbethegamer (Imperator:Rome)

The Presidents: Vietnam War Edition by @Nathan Madien (HoI2)

The Sons of Israel by @Cora Giantkiller (CK3)

A Royal Prerogative - A UK AAR by @Le Jones (HoI4)

Empire for Liberty: America in the Long Nineteenth Century by @volksmarschall (Vic 2)

HaMaadimi Imperium by @CBR JGWRR (Stellaris)

Song of the Karlings: Karloman's Legacy by @LPDK 356 (CK2)

Talking Turkey: Alternate History from 1936 by @Bullfilter (HoI3)

The Last Best Hope: An Axis/Allies HOI4 Cold War AAR by @cookfl (HoI4)

'Odin' and Stalin's Secret Committee by @roverS3 (HoI3)

A Tale as Old as Time: Book II: The Dual Monarchy - A Paradox Mega-Campaign AAR by @ibicko (EU4)

At the Edge of the World - The Anglo-Saxon Conquest of Britain by @Senior Chamoy (CK2)

Der Adler, der Wolf, und die Sonne: Die Geschichte des Stahlpakts by @Wraith11B (HoI3)

Blut und Schlacht (Blood and Battle): A Learner’s Saga by @Bullfilter (CK2)

Rend the Thorns: An English AAR by @Great Mantis (EU4)

IberiAARn Tales by @Nikolai (CK3)

Road of Queens - CKII India AAR by @Eurasia (CK2)​

Clearly there is no lack of great history writing done here in AARland! Some really excellent works listed here and each one should be proud to see theirs given nomination! I must applaud the voters in their taste and I really wish to congratulate each and every one above. Most especially, of course, our top three. Well done @DensleyBlair , @El Pip and @eoncommander!

I also want to say that it is quite impressive that the list above includes just about every game we have running currently (missing a Vic 3 rep.) That speaks to the health of AARland - both by readAARs and writAARs! So thank you all for that.

This time I really mean it (Max is giving me the stink eye waiting for his dinner...it took longer than expected to put together the post) that I'll be back tomorrow with the Narrative AwAARd. It's another corker. The thread is now open for your thanks, congrats and discussion of the work(s) if so wished.

 

[Nikolai]

Well done, all! Especially a big hurrah for @DensleyBlair , @El Pip (who surely likes the spreading out of games, no nepotism here no sirree) and @eoncommander !

 

[Nikolai]

And a hearty thank you to our dear host, @coz1 !

 

[Macavity116]

A 0.3 difference in the accounting is all that separates our winner from the runner up and third, fourth and fifth were extremely close as well. So to say it was a hot contest is no lie.

What a close contest! I love it!

Mad props to @DensleyBlair for such a hard-fought victory. And a salute to @El Pip and @eoncommander for their incredible work! So many great works in this category, as expected. You've all made AARland better!

 

[Nikolai]

What a close contest! I love it!

Mad props to @DensleyBlair for such a hard-fought victory. And a salute to @El Pip and @eoncommander for their incredible work! So many great works in this category, as expected. You've all made AARland better!

I hear @DensleyBlair almost lost an eye.

 

[TheButterflyComposer]

Good stuff!

 

[Midnite Duke]

Congratulations to @DensleyBlair, @El Pip and @eoncommander. This was a senior citizen award as the three medalists were eligible for at least a fourth time. How many years has the Butterfly Effect received a medal? When Butterfly Effect turns eighteen, will it be allowed to cast a vote? The first 2022 AAR was King of Kings in 7th.

 

[Eurasia]

Congratulations to all those to took part in the voting and to those who won.

 

[coz1]

The first 2022 AAR was King of Kings in 7th.

Not true. @Nikolai started his in April and @cookfl in January. King of Kings doesn't start until June. But it is not about started or finished (as much as I personally appreciate that accomplishment.) It's about the work done within the year. All of it good.

 

[Midnite Duke]

Not true. @Nikolai started his in April and @cookfl in January. King of Kings doesn't start until June. But it is not about started or finished (as much as I personally appreciate that accomplishment.) It's about the work done within the year. All of it good.

Sorry, I should have clarified. Kings was the highest ranked that started this year. Just trying to point out the long-term excellence in this category as so often we get a recency bias,

 

[coz1]

Sorry, I should have clarified. Kings was the highest ranked that started this year. Just trying to point out the long-term excellence in this category as so often we get a recency bias,

There is recency bias and long term bias. I've seen both play into these and any other awAARds. There is also game bias...but that did not seem to happen in this particular race. It all falls together to give us our results. That's why I press so hard to get as many votes and voters as possible. The more we have, the better and more accurate we get.

 

[Werther]

Congratulations! Time to read some AARs I missed in this list.

 

[HistoryDude]

Congrats @DensleyBlair, @El Pip, and @eoncommander!

I had 2 AARs nominated, and I'm happy with that. Thanks to everyone who voted for one of those two.

 

[Von Acturus]

Congrats to comrade @DensleyBlair for the well deserved win! And of course to @El Pip and @eoncomander too for their magnificent long running works full of living detail!

And congratulations too to all the nominees, alternate histories, alien histories, future histories, we love them all!

 

[slothinator]

Congratulations to all the winners! And a special thanks to those who voted for my AAR and @coz1 for the organization!

 

[DensleyBlair]

What a delightful and unexpected surprise! I think this is my first top finish in a YAYA category since Newcomer of the Year all the way back in 2013. In some ways, I’m just as proud of the win as I am of the fact that it’s come at the fourth time of asking. Echoes may have settled into a grandee’s rhythm of roughly one update per quarter, but it’s still chugging along – and chief thanks for this fact go to all the friends of the thread who’ve give me more than enough reason to keep coming back four years in. My thanks to you all!

Congratulations to my good friend and occasional sparring partner @El Pip for an incredibly close-fought campaign. Butterfly is a true landmark of the AAR form, so it pleases me no end to see it still getting the rewards it so amply deserves.

Congratulations to @eoncommander for a very well-deserved bronze medal. Long may Superior Arguments continue!

 

[Wraith11B]

Congratulations to @DensleyBlair, @El Pip and @eoncommander!! Glad to see your work properly rewarded!

 

[jak7139]

Congratulations everyone! Great job!

 

[El Pip]

I just want it noted that @DensleyBlair managed two updates in 2022. That is two (2). Butterfly Effect did 7. So if I hear one more solitary insinuation about the majestic pace of Butterfly or the carefully considered gaps between updates I will point you at this thread as proof of the dangers and pitfalls of rapid updates.

This should absolutely take nothing away from our deserved winner, so congratulations to DB and eoncommander, as well as all the nominees and of course my sincere thanks to all who voted. Except the people who didn't vote for me, they instead should take a long hard look at their questionable life choices to work out were it all went wrong.

 

[filcat]

***​

Book 3​

<the lighting of the arena goes off, the crowds are confused, but the spotlight emerges>
<filcat returns to the stage, heavy murmur of the audience begins; holding the microphone, clearing throat>​

- Greetings. Normally, concert-requests are not considered for the show. For this time, though, I will quote, from 15 August 2021:

The real challenge, of course, is to write the obligatory Echoesverse version… I'll leave that in the air in case anyone is sad dedicated enough.

- ...end quote.

<filcat looks at the audience, crowds are concerned, then all realise, and the worrisome awe becomes concrete, falling down from the sky, forming a bleak hum of OH NO>

<filcat leaves the stage to the band>​

EP Thompson, Baldwin, Winston Churchill, Citrine
Sam-Report, AJ Cook, that faqing M*sley,
Unions strike, Lloyd George, fascists attack, Baldwin,
NMM, TUC, arrests in Dundee

Ramsay speaks, Churchill squeaks,
Black Thursday, Fifteen Weeks, Mr Justice Astbury,
Four students pulling, Red Wadham is flapping,
Ernest Bevin, OMS, massacre in Wapping Basin

We didn't start the fire
It was always burning
Since the world's been turning
We didn't start the fire
No, we didn't light it
But we’ve been reading it​

Elections 28, reformist MacDonald hate,
Jimmy Thomas’ commission, faqing M*sley’s in motion,
Philip Snowden, James Maxton, unemployed of Hannington,
William Benn, JR Clynes, Sidney Webb, Thomas Shaw,
Trevelyan, George Lansbury, even also John Wheatley,
Strike 29, workers movement in London,
King George takes off, Parliament runs to Cliveden,
Guilty Men Special, Jenkins, Healey, Tony Benn​

Revolution in Britain
It was always burning
Since the world's been turning
What a delirium this is
Names are similar, roles are different
Details are burning
And we’ve been reading it​

Exco, Election, hope buttom up freedom
Exodus, Night Flight, Redgrave narrates tonight
False Dawn, OEP, now top down kingdom
John, Whytes, Dorothy, Tideswell not doing all right
Hitchcock, Murder!, Alfred Donat, My Lady,
Charlie Chaplin, Modern Times, Sally In Our Alley,
Will, John, Cordelia, hanging about the Partisan,
Britain is dancing, Hylton and Snakehips Johnson!

We didn't start the fire
It was always burning
Since the world's been turning
Revolution in Britain, innit?
No, we didn't light it
But we’ll congratulate it​

SovCom, Diplomacy, An Insidious Blakeney
PLUA, Cold Summer, Return of the Red Adder
New Versailles, Spanish War, Hanover Plot and the Reich
Autonomy in Ghana, who the hell is Cynthia

April Showers, May Flowers, Socialist Youth on the rise,
Anschluss, Football, Popular Front,

Syndies are in Europe
Architecture, Boothby Letter, Autonomy in Kenya
​

We didn't start the fire
It was always burning
Since the world's been turning
This is more than an AAR
No, you cannot control it
And you’ll praise it​

APTO, Ho Chi Minh, (faqing moron) Richard Nixon back again
Partisan, Exit M*sley, Monitor, Enter Bevan
Euro-Syn, Nuclear Britain, Soviets in Romania
Test Ban, Kennedy, Missile Crisis in Cuba
Bay of Pigs, William Faqing Buckley, To Hell, Chicago and Back Again
Johnny Tennyson, Louis Balfour, Christmas of Red Adder
Guyana Trouble, At 6 Tony Benn, Odeum shows Moonraker
Bevan Dies, Lewis on Rise, 67 Election comes!

Spoiler: Oh Yes

We didn't start the fire
It was always burning
Since Vicky2's rolling
We didn't start the fire
But when we are gone
It will still burn on and on and on and on
And on and on and on and on...

We didn't know this desire
It was always burning
Since the world's been turning
We didn't start the fire
And we'll congratulate
DensleyBlair with 99HighKing

We didn't start the fire
It was always burning
Since the world's been turning
We didn't start the fire
No, we didn't light it
But we tried to fight it [*]
​

[*] Appropriated from... We Didn't Start the Fire of the album Storm Front by Billy Joel (1989)