Q1 2025 ACAs

[Nikolai]

Incredible! Another quarter has gone by - just like that!

As 2025 continues to....amaze us, there is always time for that sweet, sweet AAR reading and voting!

What a joy, YOU can vote for YOUR favorite AARs in the Q1 2025 ACAs! For the new here, that is AARland Choice Awards!

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, 2025 and March 31st,, 2025 (inclusive). In other words, this ACA will cover Q1 2025.

Voting will start now and end in five weeks, at 20.00 CEST Sunday May 4th, 2025.

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

Crusader Kings II
Crusader Kings III
Europa Universalis IV
Victoria II and 3
Hearts of Iron IV
Stellaris

and up to four additional games in the "Other" category, which includes all other Paradox 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 CEST Sunday May 4th, 2025.

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

- Nikolai, host of the ACAs

 

[Macavity116]

Stellaris

• Dreams of a Better Future - Tales of the Roccan Resistance by @Nikolai
• Stars Of Wonder - An "Of Unity" Narrative by @CBR JGWRR
• Secrets of Kni’thokon by @crisrko
• Deeper Understanding: Anthology of Short Stories by @Von Acturus

Crusader Kings III

• The Sword of Virtanen: A Finnish AAR by @Cora Giantkiller
• The Legacy of Eadmund: An East Anglian AAR by @Koweth

 

[Tom D.]

Europa Universalis IV:
- Atwix Legacy with Denmark: A Multicultural European Union by @mackwolfe

 

[Chac1]

Thank you again @Nikolai for overseeing these quarterly awards. I am far behind in my usual reading so as I often do, I promise to vote closer to the deadline: likely sometime in late April.

However, my primary reason for writing is a question concerning the rules and eligibility.

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

So my question is about the "Other" category, and I know I have asked about this category before, but this is a new question.
There are a variety of newer AARs running now in the OT Forum because they are not based upon Paradox games. Are they eligible for these awards? If so, I would imagine they would be part of the "Other" category. Any clarification would be useful as some of us contemplate our ballots and our votes. Thanks.

 

[Nikolai]

Thank you again @Nikolai for overseeing these quarterly awards. I am far behind in my usual reading so as I often do, I promise to vote closer to the deadline: likely sometime in late April.

However, my primary reason for writing is a question concerning the rules and eligibility.


So my question is about the "Other" category, and I know I have asked about this category before, but this is a new question.
There are a variety of newer AARs running now in the OT Forum because they are not based upon Paradox games. Are they eligible for these awards? If so, I would imagine they would be part of the "Other" category. Any clarification would be useful as some of us contemplate our ballots and our votes. Thanks.

Good question! Indeed, the OT AARs would go under Other.

 

[Chac1]

Good question! Indeed, the OT AARs would go under Other.

Thank you for the quick response. There are several to consider there and now I must ponder them and the various choices that fall into this category.

 

[Eurasia]

Trying to keep up with stuff. But AARs I was reading have ended! OR were not undated in Q1 2025. I checked and all those on the list had posts during the time period to make them valid choices.


Crusader Kings II

1. Blackadder by @dmurgell
2. Blood and Empire: A Clash of Civilisations by @Bullfilter
3. The Sunset from the West - Ireland AAR by @best75 - Which is now finished. A finished....CK2 AAR? I don't understand....CK2 AARs can...be...finished?

Europa Universalis IV

1. The Wars of the Roses by @coz1

Victoria II and 3

1. Life after Revolution in the Commonwealth of Britain @DensleyBlair
2. Shining Stars - A United States Coming of Age Saga by @Rensslaer (Vic 2)

Hearts of Iron IV

1. Poles Apart – an HOI4 Ahistory by @Bullfilter
2. American Carnage - A United States Kaiserreich AAR by @Tommy4ever
3. American Caesar by @Bloodfelt

Stellaris
1. Stars of Wonder by @CBR JGWRR
2. Die Wacht Im Raum - A Kaiserreich Stellaris AAR by @Side

 

[dmurgell]

I have just joined AAR Forum, and by now can only vote for the AAR I started reading, this is :

Crusader Kings II

1. Road of Queens - CKII India AAR by @Eurasia

2. Lost Seasons of the Danes - A Viking AAR by @Chac1

3. The World Where Absolute Monarchies Survived to the Present Day - Modded CK2 AAR by @StrategyGameEnthusiast


While I am still reading the older chapters, last updates are recent in 2025 as requested.

 

[Nikolai]

I have just joined AAR Forum, and by now can only vote for the AAR I started reading, this is :

Crusader Kings II

1. Road of Queens - CKII India AAR by @Eurasia

2. Lost Seasons of the Danes - A Viking AAR by @Chac1

3. The World Where Absolute Monarchies Survived to the Present Day - Modded CK2 AAR by @StrategyGameEnthusiast


While I am still reading the older chapters, last updates are recent in 2025 as requested.

Welcome to AARland! Greqt to see you vote! This is the kind of engagement we love.

 

[dmurgell]

Welcome to AARland! Greqt to see you vote! This is the kind of engagement we love.

Sorry I am having problems adding link url... Hope you can find the AARs

 

[Nikolai]

Sorry I am having problems adding link url... Hope you can find the AARs

The three you've added so far works fine.

 

[dmurgell]

The three you've added so far works fine.

I had to edit three times the post, finally went through well

 

[StrategyGameEnthusiast]

Crusader Kings II:
Road of Queens, @Eurasia
Blood and Empire, @Bullfilter
Blackadder, @dmurgell
Lost Seasons of the Danes, @Chac1

Crusader Kings III:
The Sword of Virtanen, @Cora Giantkiller
The Red Heart of Europe - A modded Burgundian (Megacampaign?) AAR, @High Speed Flying Gladius
God's Hand made Wonders, God's Hand made Me - A Norman Sicily AAR, @Jojonium
Alae Imperatoris - A Roman story (The Fallen Eagles mod AAR), @Silverio90

Europa Universalis IV:
Atwix Legacy, @mackwolfe
Jak's Game Guide: An EU4 Tutorial, @jak7139
The Wars of the Roses, @coz1
Taurica Part III : Age of Thought and Discovery (1300 - 1820), @kakom

Victoria II+III:
The Pyrenean Century - (Jewish Alps - A Paradox Megacampaign AAR - Part3 - Victoria 3), @Bfc kfc
The Leading Spirits: the State of Moravia in the Age of Revolutions, @Revan86
Echoes of a New Tomorrow, @DensleyBlair
Victoria II - Japan - AAR, @Eurasia

Hearts of Iron IV:
American Caesar, @Bloodfelt
American Carnage, @Tommy4ever
The Empire Strikes Back - Part 4, @Idhrendur
Hearts Of Iron 4 - AI War, @Eurasia

Stellaris:
Dreams of a Better Future, @Nikolai
Mandate Of Heaven - An "Of Unity" Narrative, @CBR JGWRR
Unsung Paragons of the Forgotten War, @Macavity116

Other:
Ex Roma ad Stellas -- I:R to Stellaris Megacampaign, Part One, @RedTemplar (I:R)
Rise Of Albion- Caledonia To Albion, @Quintus Aquilla (I:R)
Dreams of Ptolemaios, @Nikolai (I:R)
Shadows of the Long War (Terra Invicta AAR), @Chilango2 (Terra Invicta, OT)

 

[jak7139]

There was some stiff competition for some of these spots, especially EU4 and CK. There are so many great works to choose from! Thank you to all the writers from this past quarter, even those who didn't make it on a ballot this time. You all do great work! And thank you to @Nikolai for hosting!

Crusader Kings II

Lost Seasons of the Danes - @Chac1
Blood and Empire - @Bullfilter
Lost Myths - @Chac1
The World Where Absolute Monarchies Survived to the Present Day - @StrategyGameEnthusiast

Crusader Kings III

The Sword of Virtanen - @Cora Giantkiller
Sons of the Phoenix - @Killcrazy13
God's Hand Made Wonders, God's Hand Made Me - @Jojonium
Crittark Saga - @Ran Miller

Europa Universalis IV

A Relic of the Past (Achaemenid Megacampaign Part 3) - @Killcrazy13
Imperium Sine Fine - @Crimson Lionheart
Atwix Legacy - @mackwolfe
From Past Heights Against Past Depths - @Sybot

Victoria II and 3

Shining Stars - @Rensslaer
Echoes of a New Tomorrow - @DensleyBlair
Pax Brasiliensis - @Grand_Heresy
Japan - @Eurasia

Hearts of Iron IV

American Caesar - @Bloodfelt
American Carnage - @Tommy4ever
Destiny! Destiny! No Escaping That for Me! - @TheButterflyComposer
Poles Apart - @Bullfilter

Stellaris

Unsung Paragons of the Forgotten War - @Macavity116
The Dressel Incident - @General_Dictator
The Fall of Giants - @zeruosi
QuakAAR: the History of the Quazardorlian Commonality - @MoonShine-Star

Other

Grand Tactician: The Civil War - @Eurasia
Ex Roma ad Stellaris (Roman Megacampain Part 1) - @RedTemplar
The Last Mission - @TheExecuter
Insanely Stronk! - @TheExecuter

 

[slothinator]

My list is less populated than I would like but alas I don't have too much time to read. Which makes my recommendation for these three all the stronger

Crusader Kings III
- The Sword of Virtanen: A Finnish AAR by @Cora Giantkiller

Hearts of Iron IV
- American Caesar: A USA Kaiserreich AAR by @Bloodfelt

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

 

[noobermenschen]

Shadows of the Long War (Terra Invicta AAR), @Chilango2 (Terra Invicta, OT)

 

[Nikolai]

Merely eight days left! Thank you to all who have voted, and please spread the word!

 

[Myoon]

I vote for
Crusader Kings III - The Red Heart of Europe - A modded Burgundian (Megacampaign?) AAR by @High Speed Flying Gladius

 

[stnylan]

Hopefully by the time these roll around again I might have been able to expand my reading a little

Crusader Kings II
Blackadder - The most cunning and scheming dynasty Scotland had yet seen by @dmurgell

Crusader Kings III
The Last of Dumnonia - A Cornish AAR by @Werson
English Medieval History - Prof. Matilda de Longchamp - University of London (an England megacampaign AAR) by @ardsss

Europa Universalis IV
Atwix Legacy with Denmark: A Multicultural European Union by @mackwolfe
The Mightiest Pen - A diplomatic focus run by @alonsom13
Taurica Part III : Age of Thought and Discovery (1300 - 1820) by @kakom

Stellaris
Dreams of a Better Future - Tales of the Roccan Resistance by @Nikolai

Hearts of Iron IV
Poles Apart – an HOI4 Ahistory by @Bullfilter
Hearts Of Iron 4 - AI War by @Eurasia

Other
Shadows of the Long War (Terra Invicta AAR) by @Chilango2
Grand Tactician - The Civil War - Whiskey And Lemons DLC (Union) by @Eurasia

 

[Chac1]

Good to see the new ballots today, but the voting this quarter seems a bit behind. I hope that changes in the next week. That said, I have worked to provide, I think, a complete ballot, perhaps, for me, for the first time ever. Some of these categories are insanely competitive and many deserving AARs did not make my list this time. Apologies to those authors, but there is only so much space on the ballot.

Crusader Kings II

The Sons of Ragnar Lodbrok by @Lord Durham https://forum.paradoxplaza.com/foru...k-in-the-shadow-of-the-great-old-ones.693925/

Blood and Empire: A Clash of Civilisations by @Bullfilter

The Sunset from the West - Ireland AAR by @best75

Blackadder by @dmurgell

Crusader Kings III

The Sword of Virtanen by @Cora Giantkiller

Crittark Saga by @Ran Miller

‘Du Bekâr!’ – A Reclamation of Moria AAR by @Koweth https://forum.paradoxplaza.com/forum/threads/du-bekar-a-reclamation-of-moria-aar.1704835/

The Red Heart of Europe by @High Speed Flying Gladius

Europa Universalis IV

Jak's Game Guide: An EU4 Tutorial by @jak7139

A Relic of the Past by @Killcrazy13

Imperium Sine Fine: Within a World of Madness by @Crimson Lionheart

New Era, Old Gods- an EU4 Norse Sweden AAR by @Bergil https://forum.paradoxplaza.com/forum/threads/new-era-old-gods-an-eu4-norse-sweden-aar.1564048/

Victoria

The Leading Spirits: The State of Moravia in the Age of Revolutions by @Revan86

Shining Stars - A United States Coming of Age Saga by @Rensslaer

Danish Space Marines by @TheFlemishDuck https://forum.paradoxplaza.com/forum/threads/danish-space-marines-a-tariff-based-game.1732767/

The Pyrenean Century (Jewish Alps) by @Bfc kfc

Hearts of Iron 4

Poles Apart by @Bullfilter

American Caesar by @Bloodfelt

Destiny! Destiny! No Escaping That for Me! by @TheButterflyComposer

Guns, Lawyers, and Money by @BenKerryAltis https://forum.paradoxplaza.com/foru...d-to-56-ufc-honduras-run-ahistorical.1723519/

Stellaris

Unsung Paragons of the Forgotten War by @Macavity116

Secrets of Kni’thokon by @crisrko

Mandate Of Heaven by @CBR JGWRR

Dreams of a Better Future - Tales of the Roccan Resistance by @Nikolai

Other

Insanely Stronk by @TheExecuter (HoI3DH)

Dreams of Ptolemaios by @Nikolai (I:R)

Shadows of the Long War by @Chilango2 (OT Forum)

Franchise Manager: A Football Manager 2024 AAR by @StrategyGameEnthusiast (OT Forum) https://forum.paradoxplaza.com/forum/threads/franchise-manager-a-football-manager-2024-aar.1729805/