The 2021 AAR of the Year is...

[Le Jones]

You're kidding, right?

Am genuinely, totally, irretrievably, completely, utterly gobsmacked. While I was proud and pleased (see "A Bridge too Far" for the undertones of this) to have been considered worthy in the narrative category, this is truly a shock. I am an imperfect commentatAAR but even I can see the quality work out there deserving of a mention. What about Jihad, or Ged, or Wars of the Roses, or Echoes. All of them, dear votAARs, better than my little escapade.

Thank you for those that put in a vote for ARP, and congratulations to all in a bumper list. I have dipped in and out of AARland for a long time, 2007 to be precise, and moments such as this, with all genres of AAR and all games represented, should reassure us all that there is a strong community of vibrant writing and reading going on out there. If I have one plea, it is this. Take a look at one, just one (ideally more!) AAR on this list that you haven't considered reading and give it a look. It's a wonderful medley of ideas, what-ifs, medieval comic book tapestry things (was that about right, @El Pip?), Wallis Simpson (sorry!), sci-fi and migraine inducing wonder (essentially every post that @filcat makes).

Thank you @coz1 for a masterful delivery of this years awards, and for your continued understated leadership (with others) of AARland.

 

[coz1]

Bravo @Le Jones ! Great speech!

And the win was and is so very much deserved. We've never had a repeat win here in this category and I honestly hope we never do. That yours lifted over the top in the face of strong competition gave me immense pride about the strength of our little world of AARland.

 

[TheButterflyComposer]

or Ged

If it makes you feel any better, I was a little horrified that Ged climbed so high before RP took over. That AAR properly finished its first run last year and hadn't really started it's second run of post Royal Court yet (because it only just came out). Next year there actually will be something to vote for over it!

Nonetheless, Royal Prerogative is still I think the best AAR of this year (which is why I voted for it) in terms of writing quality, reader interaction and AAR overall.

 

[RustyHunter]

Your two Comedy AARs before that one took 9 years and nearly 15 years to finish, respectively...

Those are blisteringly fast by Butterfly standards...