Attention AARland:
I hesitated to make this public because I thought it could be handled behind the scenes and seamlessly rectified without further word. Yet...slow action causes me to press. I need not explain the issue to you for you surely know it already. Just over a month ago, I sent this message to @DebbieElla (Forum Community Manager) , @TinyWiking (Team Lead - Customer Support) , @Castellon (Paradox Forum Manager) and @Qorten (our Moderator) [All self or forum described positions according to their profile and for Q who is "Crazy Cat Person. Meow!" and we love him for that - this is NOT his fault but he should be included in the discussion.]
The message -
I am directing this letter to whomever might have the power to make some change as regards the above topic. Since the release of Crusader Kings 3, the After Action Reports for this game maintains a space separate from where the other AARs are located on the forum. This may seem a minor point to some from Paradox but it is not in any way for those of us that reside mainly in that area of the forum. Without going into a lengthy history of what has been built there over these last twenty years, we like to call it AARland and the integration of each subsection of game AARs has been a painstaking process from inception and lasting through to this day. It is a community. Each and every member of that community buys the games produced by Paradox and each AAR is a selling point for these games. In short, it is a free advertisement opportunity for the company as has been proven many times over since it was first developed.
I have copied TinyWiking, Castellon and Qorten (the only active moderator that we see in that area at this time) on this message because they are aware of who I am. Relatively unimportant in the grand scheme of things but I do think that I have some bona fides to speak on this issue. I joined this forum in 2002 and starting buying Paradox games earlier than that. I was a moderator on the forum for this section from 2006 through 2011 and put in hours of work each day to keep it safe and secure, fun and indeed integrated. It was not an easy process to pull all of these AARs together but once they were there were many (myself included) that helped to try and foster that forum spirit and cohesiveness. It is not easy to “herd cats” but we were successful and have maintained that spirit for all these many years. I remain there to this day and do whatever I might to continue to foster that community spirit by writing (was awarded by Paradox itself specifically for this in 2017) and sponsoring activities and events to further that.
Since the release of this latest game, it now divides what has been built. There does not seem to be any imaginable reason that CK3 AARs do not have a link and are indeed not part of the wider section of AARs. To get to those works, one must go through the specific game subforum. This is unprecedented since at least the attempt to keep Diplomacy apart and that was rectified by Paradox and we were then and remain now very appreciative. Regardless of the success of that game, it maintained what had been built. We remained a cohesive subforum dedicated to writing about Paradox games. My fear is that once this instance remains as it is, we may lose what was a long and arduous task of building a strong community of writers.
This request is that the CK3 AARs be given a subheader and direct link through the AAR area portal as all other games currently have. It has always been thus with Paradox games and should remain in future if the company desires this area to continue to develop as it has. Having not been on the moderating staff since 2011, I am not privy to any information that might keep it separate but may imagine that it could be a platform issue. But surely that can be rectified quite easily with the proper request. It only takes the asking of it...and I am asking for that so we may continue what we have built and move forward as a strong and thriving community under the Paradox banner.
Please make no mistake – the members of this forum are entirely grateful and thankful for this free area in which to read about and write about these games. Many of our members are quite active in all areas of the full Paradox forum for each game and into what our AARland is listed under...the Fun Forums. As a game company, it is entirely unnecessary but what was then and remains now a brilliant way in which to interact with fans and buyers of these games. It is surely a cost in both finances and manpower to supervise, but it continues to help sell the games (thus making money) and our area specifically keeps people around to perhaps purchase more games. Not a poor thing in this day and age when attention spans are easily distracted and there are no lack of other games and things to purchase or invest time in and with.
It is to the benefit of Paradox to help keep this AAR section alive and thriving. As a representative of this company I ask you for the above and hope that these words may help make that movement towards what should have been readily apparent upon the release of that game. If that will not happen, I would ask why not? As stated, I have been around here for a long time and have messaged Johan personally as well as interacted with many of the former and current administrators of this forum (several of whom that have written within the AARland community.) I was content prior to this time to assume this would be remedied eventually but that it has not yet occurred, I felt need to reach out and at least find out why if not press to see it corrected.
I thank you for your time reading this and I hope that I have impressed the importance of this request. Your service on this forum is valued and we, as fans of the games and company, thank you! I would appreciate response and obviously more so a remedy to this problem.
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I will tell you that I did receive response that it would be looked at and then I received no further word. Two weeks later I followed up and was told that things were busy. Fair enough. We all hold busy lives. And I sent word in just this weekend in reply that inaction is no action. It may be that Paradox wishes no change and so lack of words (or few words) causes them to think that we may be placated. I will not be. My words above prove that I am not in any way pleased with this situation and how it is being resolved. So now I ask of you...
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