Some advice? :)

[High_King]

Hey, I think this is the right subforum to post this in, if not, feel free to move it to wherever is appropriate.

I'm thinking of doing a Danish AAR ("The North Remembers," I don't know, something like that), but it would be my first attempt at doing one and...I guess I'm looking for advice, both in general and in terms of practicalities.

When you guys are writing one, are you constantly alt+tabbing to a word document to write down every detail of what's going on? Or are you jotting down notes on a bit of paper next to you...or just remembering stuff from entire sessions for later? I'm trying to figure on what would be the most efficient way to do it, and would like some advice as to that.

Also, are there any generic dos and don'ts for writing an AAR? Anything I should be aware of or striving to make sure of when playing the game? I'm not sure what I'm asking for really with any of this, I'm just looking to get a bit of advice and some wind in my sails before embarking on this campaign

Thanks for reading, appreciate any help that can be provided!

 

[GreatUberGeek]

Avindian wrote an article called 'Aarlander Academy' that helps a bit. Really I'm no help, as all my AARs except one have failed.

 

[Yenzen]

I just keep hitting the steam screnshot key (F12) every time:

- An event happens (show both options' fallout!)
- A battle occurs.
- I make a choice of any kind.
- An interesting update appears on the news section.
- I notice anything even remotely interesting when looking around the map.
- Just a lot in general during wars.
- I check my current status.

Now, about 10% of these screenshots makes it to an update, 25% are relevant enough that I mention what they display in the text itself and roughly 65% are completely useless. But it means that I always have a pool of screenshots to flip through to remember all the small stuff, and that I can always produce a screenshot of something when I want to write about it. On average for a 10 year period I will have about 300 screenshots.

As for Do's and Dont's, the best thing I can think of is to crop your images so they're visible. Looking back I think I did way too many full screenshots at first, when a cropped one would have sufficed. Irfanview can be used to make nice crops really quick.

Other than that? Always have a plan. What do you want to achieve? Are you limiting yourself from certain actions? If you're writing a story AAR have your characters explain their ambitions, and if you have a gameplay AAR, list your goals!

 

[Belgiumruler]

first, decide what type of AAR you are going to write, I sugest gamplay since it is you're first AAR
Second, like yenzen noticed, take enough screenshots (I suggest you use f11 instead, you find them then back in my documents, adnt he game is less liekly to carsh or freeze, since with f12 that happens somethimes sadly enough...);