Q3 2023 ACAs

[Nikolai]

Autumn has set, and thus it is on high time we spread some warmth and love for our fellow fans!

Yes, you guessed it. It is now time for the Q3 2023 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 July 1st, 2023 and September 30th,, 2023 (inclusive). In other words, this ACA will cover Q3 2023.

Voting will start now and end in five weeks, at 20.00 CET Sunday November 5th, 2023.

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

Crusader Kings II
Crusader Kings III
Europa Universalis IV
Victoria II
Victoria 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 CET Sunday November 5th, 2023.

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

- Nikolai, host of the ACAs

 

[Idhrendur]

I've fallen behind on my reading so there may be updates. But I'm putting my known selections up now so I don't forget.

Crusader Kings II
1. An Empire on the Brink - A 1337 Byzantium AAR, @Aidanator800, https://forum.paradoxplaza.com/forum/threads/an-empire-on-the-brink-a-1337-byzantium-aar.1581351/

Europa Universalis IV
1. Demon, Devil, Doll [Anbennar], @Crushric, https://forum.paradoxplaza.com/forum/threads/demon-devil-doll-anbennar.1588556/
2. The Thin Wedge of Europe, @Revan86, https://forum.paradoxplaza.com/forum/threads/the-thin-wedge-of-europe.1482961/
3. Dreams of Frisian Freedom, @Bullfilter, https://forum.paradoxplaza.com/forum/threads/dreams-of-frisian-freedom.1578003/
4. Blood, Gold and Hellfire: An EU4 Anbennar, Mykx AAR, @Sybot, https://forum.paradoxplaza.com/foru...nd-hellfire-an-eu4-anbennar-mykx-aar.1589448/

Victoria II
1. Victoria II - Japan - AAR, @Eurasia, https://forum.paradoxplaza.com/forum/threads/victoria-ii-japan-aar.1533825/

Hearts of Iron IV
1. Poles Apart – an HOI4 Ahistory, @Bullfilter, https://forum.paradoxplaza.com/forum/threads/poles-apart-an-hoi4-ahistory.1532542/
2. Tomorrow Belongs To Me – A ‘Democratic’ Germany AAR, @TheButterflyComposer, https://forum.paradoxplaza.com/foru...longs-to-me-a-democratic-germany-aar.1542366/

Stellaris
1. Year of Hell - A Stellaris War Story, @Macavity116, https://forum.paradoxplaza.com/forum/threads/year-of-hell-a-stellaris-war-story.1577559/
2. After Everything - Remastered Edition, @Macavity116, https://forum.paradoxplaza.com/forum/threads/after-everything-remastered-edition.1594639/

Other
1. Here Dwells God - A Jewish Poland AAR, Part Four, @Tommy4ever, https://forum.paradoxplaza.com/forum/threads/here-dwells-god-a-jewish-poland-aar-part-four.1455394/
2. Epirus Ascendant, Part 1, @HistoryDude, https://forum.paradoxplaza.com/forum/threads/epirus-ascendant-part-1.1423228/

 

[Chac1]

Thanks for organizing the vote @Nikolai . Here are my votes:

Crusader Kings II

1) Wings of Faith, Wings of Fury - A Slavic Pagan Revival AAR, @Superstorm , https://forum.paradoxplaza.com/foru...s-of-fury-a-slavic-pagan-revival-aar.1486890/

2) Road of Queens - CKII India AAR, @Eurasia , https://forum.paradoxplaza.com/forum/threads/road-of-queens-ckii-india-aar.1035262/

3) Blood and Empire: A Clash of Civilisations, @Bullfilter , https://forum.paradoxplaza.com/forum/threads/blood-and-empire-a-clash-of-civilisations.1561249/

4) The Dragons Realm, A House Targaryen AAR, @streaker77 , https://forum.paradoxplaza.com/forum/threads/the-dragons-realm-a-house-targaryen-aar.1517886/

Crusader Kings III

1) Confessing Their Apostasies (A Mildly Interactive AAR), @HistoryDude , https://forum.paradoxplaza.com/foru...-apostasies-a-mildly-interactive-aar.1415275/

(As I have not exhausted all the categories or category slots, I may amend this later. Thank you.)

 

[Macavity116]

Thank you for giving us your time once again @Nikolai! We always appreciate your dedication.


Stellaris

• Life2.0 - a Broken Shackles Narrative by @CBR JGWRR
• Stellaris Wars: A Clone Wars Ironman Saga by @Arithmetician
• Nordica: The Birth of A New Society by @HistoryDude
• Your new Home in the Stars by OrbitalTec by @Ottheinrich

Crusader Kings 3

• Born to Breed: House of the Prophets by @Peter Ebbesen
• Confessing Their Apostasies by @HistoryDude

Crusader Kings 2

• Avon Las Observes by @Midnite Duke

By the way: @Idhrendur, I am deeply flattered to receive your vote, but I must point out that After Everything - A Stellaris Story received its final update on November 15, 2018 and is therefore ineligible for the Q3 2023 ACA.

 

[Nikolai]

By the way: @Idhrendur, I am deeply flattered to receive your vote, but I must point out that After Everything - A Stellaris Story received its final update on November 15, 2018 and is therefore ineligible for the Q3 2023 ACA.

That is an interesting discussion I hadn't thought of. You are reposting a revised version of the AAR. Would that be elegible as long as posted within the time frame? What do people think? I am of two minds, leaning towards allowing it.

 

[Macavity116]

That is an interesting discussion I hadn't thought of.

I agree. Will follow any discussion with silent interest.

 

[CBR JGWRR]

I vote for allowing it.

Working on a list, but I haven't been reading much this month. Real life, but in a good way for a change.

 

[Rensslaer]

It seems to me that if an AAR is updating with new content, whether it's a retelling of a similar tale/game or not, it qualifies for the award.

Rensslaer

 

[coz1]

I'm already considering my nominations and thanks again for another round @Nikolai!

And I may be in the minority here (and sadly so as I think @Macavity116 's work is exceptional in every way) but I'm not sure I would agree that an edited version of a previous completed AAR (and one that has won its fair share of awAARds) should be newly eligible with the edits included. Of course, I would accept whatever the verdict is. I just think that there is plenty to reward out there without reverting to a work that has already seen plenty of accolades on the first run. My two ducats at least.

 

[Rensslaer]

I'm not sure I would agree that an edited version of a previous completed AAR (and one that has won its fair share of awAARds) should be newly eligible with the edits included.

Well, perhaps I'm opining without fully understanding.

Is it NEW content? Or is it previously published content, re-edited?

I do feel like that makes a difference. A new story with new happenings, etc. I feel like would qualify for the award. Not a re-hashing of previous scenes.

Rensslaer

 

[coz1]

I believe @Macavity116 explains it well enough in the first post of this version:

All changes will be limited to the formatting, spellcheck, and punctuation, with the specific objective of bringing this story into line with the rest of the series. One previously deleted chapter will be restored, due to it being retroactively made canon by The Stormbreakers.

The plot will not be changed in any way. Furthermore, The original 2018 thread will remain in place, unchanged. All images from the original thread will remain unchanged. One image from The Stormbreakers will be added to this thread, as I think it is needed to give the reader additional context about the starship Bushranger, which appears during the final act of this story.

 

[Macavity116]

Well, perhaps I'm opining without fully understanding.

Is it NEW content? Or is it previously published content, re-edited?

I can explain! I wrote the AAR in question anyway.

@Idhrendur wanted to nominate After Everything - Remastered Edition, which is a completely different thread from the original After Everything - A Stellaris Story.

The remaster has three significant differences from the original version:

1. All grammar and spelling errors are removed.
2. The actual formatting of the story was changed so that it visually resembles its prequels and sequels.
3. A previously deleted chapter was restored to its place in the story.

Aside from that, After Everything 2023 is identical to After Everything 2018. It's the same story, just told in two different threads, and the newer thread is objectively better, so sayeth the writer.

EDIT: Fixed the hyperlinks

 

[Rensslaer]

@Macavity116 thank you for explaining. I'm in agreement with @coz1 that I/we really enjoy your work. But I'd have to switch my position then to what seemed to be YOUR position, which is that it's not really eligible.

At the same time @Idhrendur or myself could be forgiven for not understanding that if we hadn't read the first one.

Gosh how many AARs do you have? 15?? . Still trying to catch up.

Rensslaer

 

[Macavity116]

@Macavity116 thank you for explaining. I'm in agreement with @coz1 that I/we really enjoy your work. But I'd have to switch my position then to what seemed to be YOUR position, which is that it's not really eligible.

At the same time @Idhrendur or myself could be forgiven for not understanding that if we hadn't read the first one.

Gosh how many AARs do you have? 15?? . Still trying to catch up.

Rensslaer

You're most welcome. It is still my opinion that After Everything Remastered should be disqualified. (which is a little ironic, After Everything is the only Macavity116 story to never receive an accolade of any kind)

Yeah, I have written a lot of stories over the past 5 years. The official count is 14 total: Thirteen Stellaris stories posted here on the PDX forums, plus one fanfiction based on Stardew Valley (a farming simulator game) located on another website. Mind you, I've seen some writers on this forum who can churn out multiple quality stories at a time. (Have you met @HistoryDude?)

Thanks for your consideration and your contribution to the discussion. I'm going to abide by @Nikolai's ruling once the public has had their say.

 

[Idhrendur]

I hadn't even thought of that while keeping my document of liked AARs, haha! Sparked a lively discussion though!

 

[Rensslaer]

I'm going to start my balloting and add to it....

Victoria 3

1. Sundered Nation, by @The Kingmaker
2. Dreams of an Honest World, by @Chilango2
3. Elections in the New Scandinavian Democracy, by @Volodio

Victoria 2

1. Echoes of a New Tomorrow: Life After Revolution in the Commonwealth of Britain, by @DensleyBlair


Europa Universalis IV

1. The Wars of the Roses, by @coz1
2. The Nation of the Tagalogs: A Tondo Megacampaign AAR, by @Black Watch
3. Machinations of the Medici, by @jak7139
4. Dreams of Frisian Freedom, by @Bullfilter


Stellaris

1. I Have a Dream, by @Nikolai
2. Year of Hell, by @Macavity116
3. Deeper Understanding, by @Von Acturus

Other

1. Forlorn Hope: A Germany Endsieg AAR, by @Rolexovsky


Rensslaer

 

[Nikolai]

So far, if I read correctly, it's 3 nay, 1 yea. I'll rule to disallow voting for After Everything.

 

[CBR JGWRR]

@Nikolai - I believe that you've made an error in count up.

@Idhrendur initially voted for the 2018 version, and has subsequently changed vote to the 2023 version. As this is unchanged they presumably count as the 1st yea.

I then said it should be allowed, making it 2 yeas.

Further, the rules of submission are:

This time around you can vote for any AAR that had an update between July 1st, 2023 and September 30th,, 2023 (inclusive). In other words, this ACA will cover Q3 2023.

No restrictions or qualifications on the definition of "update" are stated.

After Everything 2023 had updates within the specified time period, including updates of a kind that includes previously unreleased material. Ergo, it is therefore allowed to be included.

 

[Rensslaer]

Well.... I guess I can see it both ways. Ultimately it has to be up to @Nikolai, since he's running this. But it might also be partly up to @Macavity116 .

From a practical standpoint it's not like Macavity isn't going to get a lot of votes this round.

From a "gamey" standpoint, he/we may find After Everything competing with Year of Hell and reducing his likelihood to get first place...

That's unless After Everything is MORE likely to get first place....

<sighs> lol

Rensslaer

 

[Nikolai]

Yes, @CBR JGWRR , this is a new situation, not covered by the rules. Unique, indeed. I came to the conclusion based on votes and @Macavity116 's own wish. I am open to debate. But it needed to be resolved fast. It's already been half a week out of five. As such, with me initially being of two minds, the writAAR wishing it to be disallowed and a slight majority being in favor of disallowing, I feel it should be disallowed.