Q1 2022 ACAs

[Nikolai]

Somehow, we got to April already! It is time: Vote for the best AARs of Q1 2022, now folks!

The ACAs are as before hosted under the supervision of me, your friendly AAR fan Nikolai.

This time around you can vote for any AAR that had an update between January 1st, 2022 and March 31th, 2022 (inclusive). In other words, this ACA will cover Q1 2022.

Voting will start now and end in about four weeks, at 20.00 CET Sunday May 8th, 2022.

You may nominate up to four AARs for each of the following games:

Crusader Kings II
Crusader Kings III
Europa Universalis IV
Victoria II
Hearts of Iron IV
Stellaris

and up to four additional games in the "Other" category, which includes all other Paradox Development Studio games not mentioned above.

Kindly use the following format:

[Name of game/"other"]
1. AAR name, author, URL
2. AAR name, author, URL
3. AAR name, author, URL
4. AAR name, author, URL

If an URL has already been posted once, there is no need to put it up again.

The deadline for voting is 20.00 CET Sunday May 8th, 2022.

With that said, it is now time for the voting to begin!

- Nikolai, host of the ACAs

 

[coz1]

Well done @Nikolai ! Thank you for continuing the tradition. I am compiling my vote now as we speak.

 

[Nikolai]

Well done @Nikolai ! Thank you for continuing the tradition. I am compiling my vote now as we speak.

Why of course. I might be late now and then, but I have plans of stopping.

 

[Aquasparky]

While I have not read many AARs, I choose to nominate a newer work that has come to the forefront of the Stellaris community. I come to present you with The Sea Beyond the Sky, which started writing on March 29th, 2022.

[Stellaris]
1. The Sea Beyond the Sky, RossN, https://forum.paradoxplaza.com/forum/threads/the-sea-beyond-the-sky-an-aquatic-aar.1518000/

The Sea Beyond the Sky tells the story of the Sacred Minnerian Union, a religious oligarchy derived from the minnerians, an aquatic species with a storied history. This history is not only told through the game itself, but also by the preludes of lore that RossN has sprinkled before the story. Before the AAR has even begun, we know about how the Sacred Minnerian Union formed and the biology of the species. It also describes the events that have occurred through the third-person perspective of the Sacred Minnerian Union and gives tidbits about not only their history but also their thoughts and feelings. What makes The Sea Beyond the Sky special, however, would be how the personality of the minnerians flows through every paragraph. You get a reason as to why the minnerian species makes the decisions that they do and how they are adapting to the situation at hand. This makes The Sea Beyond the Sky a unique story and an experience that everyone should read through at least once. Do note, however, that it is unfinished and only up to 2224. Nevertheless, it is very well-written and I have obtained some inspiration from it about how to write my own AAR, Consuming Knowledge.

 

[Aquasparky]

(Oh my god, people have been on this forum longer than I've been alive 0_0. I'm not sure how I feel about that.)

Either way, I hope that everyone's AARs have good luck during the ACA and that yours ends up getting nominated. I'm new, so mine probably won't be up here. But I have hope in the rest of you that your AARs are up to snuff. With that out of the way, let the games begin!

 

[coz1]

I was looking forward to this so thank you again @Nikolai for sponsoring another round. There is so much great work done here and each one deserves a spotlight! It was not easy to cull my lists but I think to have a ballot below. All very worthy and each presented in alpha order by writAAR -

Crusader Kings II:

To The Strongest - A Hellenistic Resurgence AAR by @Eludio
Suenik Reloaded by @iain_a_wilson
Avon Las Observes by @Midnite Duke
At the Edge of the World - The Anglo-Saxon Conquest of Britain by @Senior Chamoy

Europa Universalis IV:

A Settled Steppe - The War Saint's Legacy (Gothic megacampaign, part II) by @alscon
A Tale as Old as Time: Book II: The Dual Monarchy - A Paradox Mega-Campaign AAR by @ibicko
Italian Ambitions: A Florence AAR by @JerseyGiants88
The Thin Wedge of Europe by @Revan86

Victoria II:

The Russian Path, Part 3 – Megacampaign by @Gamov_Andrew
Annuntio Vobis: A Papal History of Italy by @slothinator
The Hohenzollern Empire 5: Holy Phoenix - An Empire of Jerusalem Megacampaign in New World Order by @zenphoenix
En la sombra de Morazán: A Central American AAR by @Zeogludon

Hearts of Iron IV:

"The Dawn is Near" - A White Russian Novel AAR by @Khanconette
A Royal Prerogative - A UK AAR by @Le Jones
Savages of Utah - A White Legs HOI4 Old World Blues Mod AAR by @RustyHunter
The Balkan Crucible: An Axis Yugoslavia AAR by @The Living Hive

Stellaris:

Songs of the Saiiban- A Poetic AAR by @Chilango2
Superior Arguments: A Stellaris AAR by @eoncommander
The Last Heroes by @Macavity116
Chronicles of the Polish Empire Reaching the Stars - A CK3/EU4/Victoria2 to Stellaris Megacampaign AAR by @Nikolai

Other:

Talking Turkey: Alternate History from 1936 (HoI3) by @Bullfilter
The Butterfly Effect: A British AAR (HoI2) by @El Pip
A Gentleman's War : The Middle-East Command (HoI3 TFH - UK AAR) (HoI3) by @Eurasia
'Odin' and Stalin's Secret Committee (HoI3) by @roverS3

Crusader Kings III:

??

I will not vote for this category. If Paradox does not consider it part of AARland, then I will not either. Apologies to all writAARs there, but speak to your moderators and admin. As we should do in this endeavor, every voice counts. Let the company know your mind.

All told, a huge amount of talent! Keep it going, AARland!!

 

[Nikolai]

(Oh my god, people have been on this forum longer than I've been alive 0_0. I'm not sure how I feel about that.)

Either way, I hope that everyone's AARs have good luck during the ACA and that yours ends up getting nominated. I'm new, so mine probably won't be up here. But I have hope in the rest of you that your AARs are up to snuff. With that out of the way, let the games begin!

I turned 36 two days ago and registered when I was 15...

 

[WeeLittleSpoon]

Crusader Kings II
The Crusader Queen- A Kingdom of Jerusalem AAR, JSB217118, { URL }
The People of the Forest, Dunaden, { URL }

Crusader Kings III
The Lions of Olomouc: a CKIII Ironman AAR (Duchy of Moravia, 867), Revan86, { URL }
Then Are Ye Lords Over Creation: Cornwall in the Middle Ages, Cora Giantkiller, { URL }
Crowns of the Levant, Werther, { URL }

Europa Universalis IV
The Wars of the Roses, coz1, { URL }

Stellaris
Songs of the Saiiban, Chilango2

 

[filcat]

Crusader Kings III:
??
I will not vote for this category. If Paradox does not consider it part of AARland, then I will not either. Apologies to all writAARs there, but speak to your moderators and admin. As we should do in this endeavor, every voice counts. Let the company know your mind.

Supporting the cause, wholeheartedly.

Unfortunately cannot agree with the method, therefore, naturally, will use another method.

A different method.

A much more filcater method.


Sincere apologies in advance for butchering the thread.

 

[Macavity116]

Stellaris:

• Songs of the Saiiban- A Poetic AAR by @Chilango2
• Chronicles of the Polish Empire Reaching the Stars - A CK3/EU4/Victoria2 to Stellaris Megacampaign AAR by @Nikolai
• The Sea Beyond The Sky - An Aquatic AAR by @RossN
• Consuming Knowledge - A Newbie's Stellaris AAR by @Aquasparky

Supporting the cause, wholeheartedly.

Unfortunately cannot agree with the method, therefore, naturally, will use another method.

A different method.

A much more filcater method.


Sincere apologies in advance for butchering the thread.

Oh, I am looking forward to this.

 

[filcat]

"filcat is riding to Q1 2022 ACAs. There will be... laughter."


[-or actually Wang Zhaojun 王昭君 leaving the pass behind, scroll painting, by Qian Xuan, 钱选; despite the Mongolian outfit, the painting depicts the story of Wang Zhaojun in Han dynasty period; from Southeast Asian and European Collections (Vol.2), Ed. Kei Suzuki, Uni Tokyo Press, 1982]

---

Crusader Kings III
[*]​

1. The Lions of Olomouc: a CKIII Ironman AAR (Duchy of Moravia, 867) by Revan86
2. Crowns of the Levant by Werther
3. The Fever Dream of Volgirre - Prince of Darkness by @lvcivs
4. Then Are Ye Lords Over Creation: Cornwall in the Middle Ages by Cora Giantkiller

---

Other, otherwise known as Imperator:Rome and HoI3

1. Urbi et Orbi - A Rome AAR (I:R) by @Stuckenschmidt
2. Byzantion: a political struggle (I:R) by @IsaacCAT
3. A Gentleman's War: The Middle-East Command (HoI3 TFH - UK AAR) (HoI3) by Eurasia
4. Talking Turkey: Alternate History from 1936 (HoI3) by Bullfilter

---

Other II, previous iteration

1. To The Strongest - A Hellenistic Resurgence AAR by Eludio
2. The People of the Forest by Dunaden
3. Wings of Faith, Wings of Fury - A Slavic Pagan Revival AAR by @Superstorm
4. Song of the Karlings: Karloman's Legacy by @LPDK 356

---

Old Other IV, starts about 15th century, runs up to 19th century ce

1. The Thin Wedge of Europe by Revan86
2. The Nation of the Tagalogs: A Tondo Megacampaign AAR by @Black Watch
3. A Settled Steppe - The War Saint's Legacy (Gothic megacampaign, part II) by alscon
4. A Tale as Old as Time: Book II: The Dual Monarchy - A Paradox Mega-Campaign AAR by ibicko

---

Very Old Other II, some ships

1. The Rise of Russia by @HistoryDude
2. Annuntio Vobis: A Papal History of Italy by slothinator
3. The Russian Path, Part 3 - Megacampaign by Gamov_Andrew
4. En la sombra de Morazán: A Central American AAR by Zeogludon

---

Another Other IV, but with tanks

1. A Royal Prerogative - A UK AAR by Le Jones
2. The Eastern Vikings, Part 4 - Baltic Megacampaign by @RedTemplar
3. Boris & Brian - A Bulgaria Road to 56 AAR by @jak7139
4. Savages of Utah - A White Legs HOI4 Old World Blues Mod AAR by RustyHunter

---

Stellaris, of course

1. Songs of the Saiiban - A Poetic AAR by Chilango2
2. HaMaadimi Imperium by @CBR JGWRR
3. The Sea Beyond the Sky by RossN
4. Superior Arguments: A Stellaris AAR by eoncommander

---

[*] About the Kingdom of ck3AAR not part of the realm of AARland, a post will follow-up.
Sincere apologies in advance for disrupting the thread.

Edit: Corrected mistake on the format.
Necro-edit: Corrected grammatical mistake.

 

[filcat]

[The author sincerely apologises for disrupting the thread. If the post bothers too much, please inform the author and the post will be deleted immediately.]

---

[*]​

---

[*] Appropriated butchered from Chop Suey! of the album Toxicity by System of a Down, 2001
The images of the ck3AARs used in the order of appearance;

The Lions of Olomouc The Legacy of Uhtred Born to Breed Then Are Ye Lords Over Creation Austria Ascendant Russian Path, Part I Crowns of the Levant​

Clash of Paths Ex Sicilia ad Mundem The Fever Dream of Volgirre I Bless The Reigns Down In Africa Regnvm Romanvm Postcards From Eternity The Chronicle of Black and Gold

House Canossa - How far can it rise? Again with the Norman Invasion The Right Hand of the Karlings The Carolingian Renaissance Chronicles of House Odrepandi We Hold the Pass

The list is not exhaustive for ck3AARs.

---

EDIT-NOTE 01.05.2022:
On 17 April 2022, moderatAARs made a beautiful surprise for the AARlanders, and the Kingdom of ck3 was included in AARland.

Therefore the post have become redundant. Knowing and strictly indicating that it only served as a light-hearted plea, all credits go to the mods for the arrival of the Kingdom of ck3 to the realm of AARland.

The post will be deleted, if/when it is requested. Keeping it only for the list of ck3AARs provided at the end of it.

Once again sincere gratitude to the mods, especially Castellon, DebbieElla, and of course, the one and only, Qorten.

Edit: Restructured the image-matrix for reducing the space the post occupies.

 

[coz1]

I turned 36 two days ago and registered when I was 15...

I started reading AARs at this forum when I was 28 and I just turned 49 less than a month ago. What a long, strange and wonderful journey it has been.

Yet I post mainly because @filcat has convinced me that it is unfair to punish the great writAARs in CKIII despite the current decisions of the company (though my admonition remains...contact your mods and admin to correct this great wrong!) Thus, here is my CKIII vote presented in alpha order by authAAR -

Then Are Ye Lords Over Creation: Cornwall in the Middle Ages by @Cora Giantkiller
The Legacy of Uhtred (A Bamburgh AAR) by @Dunaden
The Lions of Olomouc: a CKIII Ironman AAR (Duchy of Moravia, 867) by @Revan86
Crowns of the Levant by @Werther

 

[Aquasparky]

Stellaris:

• Songs of the Saiiban- A Poetic AAR by @Chilango2
• Chronicles of the Polish Empire Reaching the Stars - A CK3/EU4/Victoria2 to Stellaris Megacampaign AAR by @Nikolai
• The Sea Beyond The Sky - An Aquatic AAR by @RossN
• Consuming Knowledge - A Newbie's Stellaris AAR by @Aquasparky

Oh, I am looking forward to this.

Oh my, I can't believe I got nominated! This is literally my first AAR and I'm ALREADY GETTING NOMINATED for best AAR!
Thank you so much! I wish you all luck!

 

[Revan86]

I started reading AARs at this forum when I was 28 and I just turned 49 less than a month ago. What a long, strange and wonderful journey it has been.

Yet I post mainly because @filcat has convinced me that it is unfair to punish the great writAARs in CKIII despite the current decisions of the company (though my admonition remains...contact your mods and admin to correct this great wrong!) Thus, here is my CKIII vote presented in alpha order by authAAR -

Then Are Ye Lords Over Creation: Cornwall in the Middle Ages by @Cora Giantkiller
The Legacy of Uhtred (A Bamburgh AAR) by @Dunaden
The Lions of Olomouc: a CKIII Ironman AAR (Duchy of Moravia, 867) by @Revan86
Crowns of the Levant by @Werther

Yeah, @filcat's plea was pretty epic, as was yours - you both managed to convince me, anyway. Check out my sig!

Also, thanks to @coz1, @WeeLittleSpoon and, of course, @filcat for your kind nominations and appreciations of my work.

I'm going to have to put in a bit of work into my ballot. I always feel like such an impostor voting in these things, both because I'm a much more conscientious writAAR than I am a readAAR, and also because it's rare for me to break out of the CK 'silo'.

 

[eoncommander]

I always feel like such an impostor voting in these things, both because I'm a much more conscientious writAAR than I am a readAAR, and also because it's rare for me to break out of the CK 'silo'.

I also often feel like an imposter; there's so much that I haven't read, even among AARs that are consistent award winners! And half of the ones that I am "reading" I'm actually months behind on!

...

Now that I've outed myself, my ballot:

Crusader Kings II
1. Die Klingen des Himmels (The Swords of Heaven) - Part One of a German Mega-Campaign by @RedTemplar

Crusader Kings III
1. The Secret History of the Bargas by @filcat
2. Then Are Ye Lords Over Creation: Cornwall in the Middle Ages by @Cora Giantkiller
3. Ged's Existential Nightmare by @TheButterflyComposer

Europa Universalis IV
1. The Nation of the Tagalogs: A Tondo Megacampaign AAR by @Black Watch
2. The Wars of the Roses by @coz1

Victoria II
1. Annuntio Vobis: A Papal History of Italy by @slothinator
2. En la sombra de Morazán: A Central American AAR by @Zeogludon

Hearts of Iron IV
1. Imperial Cheese: The Improbably Incredible Rise of the Italian Empire by @TheButterflyComposer
2. Postcards From Eternity: a Narrative Megacampaign AAR (Part 4) by @Cycle
3. The Eastern Vikings, Part 4 - Baltic Megacampaign by @RedTemplar

Stellaris
1. The Sea Beyond The Sky - An Aquatic AAR by @RossN
2. Shattered Glass: A Narrative Stellaris AAR by @Von Acturus

 

[coz1]

I always feel like such an impostor voting in these things, both because I'm a much more conscientious writAAR than I am a readAAR, and also because it's rare for me to break out of the CK 'silo'.

I also often feel like an imposter; there's so much that I haven't read, even among AARs that are consistent award winners! And half of the ones that I am "reading" I'm actually months behind on!

There is no such thing as an imposter in AARland. One either gets involved or they do not. Plenty can lurk even if they are writing, but getting involved is so much more fun. Also...it tends to get you more views and even...perhaps...a few more comments. No bad thing.

Jump in. We don't bite.

 

[iain_a_wilson]

CK II
1. Relight The Flames, @Tommy4ever
2. Blut und Schlacht, @Bullfilter
3. Sagaria Invicta, @Sriseru
4. Avon Las Observes, @Midnite Duke

EU IV
1. The Wars of the Roses, @coz1

I may come back and edit this as I realise I need to read more than just CK II AARs...

 

[Revan86]

Okey dokey, here's my ballot (so far):

Crusader Kings III:
Then Are Ye Lords over Creation by @Cora Giantkiller
The Legacy of Uhtred by @Dunaden
The Secret History of the Bargas by @filcat
Crowns of the Levant by @Werther

Europa Universalis IV:
A Settled Steppe Part II - the War Saint's Legacy by @alscon
This Is where It Ends by @filcat (initial post was 31 Mar, so technically still good for Q1)
Russian Path - Suomenko Megacampaign Part II by @Gamov_Andrew
When the Night Gets Dark by @HistoryDude (verse AARs giving me ideas)

Victoria II:
Chronicles of the Wendish Empire in a Changing World by @Nikolai
Russian Path - Suomenko Megacampaign Part III by @Gamov_Andrew (those graphics, hot damn!)
Echoes of a New Tomorrow by @DensleyBlair (only scratched the surface lurking so far, but that thing is monumental)

 

[filcat]

Europa Universalis IV:
Russian Path - Suomenko Megacampaign Part II by Gamov_Andrew
Victoria II:
Russian Path - Suomenko Megacampaign Part III by Gamov_Andrew (those graphics, hot damn!)

Concurring as exactly hot damn; if it was possible, would have voted twice, triple, quadruple for @Gamov_Andrew;
even just one example may suffice; that writAAR found a neat way to incorporate the Psalter Map in an AAR (scroll down to the end of the post); a mappa mundi from 13. century ce (held by British Library)

---

This Is where It Ends by filcat (initial post was 31 Mar, so technically still good for Q1)

Yeah, not sure it would count though. According to Coordinated Universal Time, it was way past into the first day of the fourth month. Maybe considering Central Daylight Time; but that is a stretch.

Still sincerely thankful for the vote, even if it will not be counted. Cheers!