The 2022 Yearly AARland Year-end AwAARds

[coz1]

Please allow me to introduce myself...no no no...while this awAARd is influenced somewhat by The Rolling Stones, that is the wrong reference. Really it should be Time Is On My Side. Or rather, yours! Because we have all spent these past 12 months writing and so now is the time to reflect upon such and perhaps hand out a few virtual trophies. Time to reward our craft and get our Ya-Yas out! Remembering back will be difficult, surely, but entirely worth it. As we have seen over these last years, our writAARs most definitely appreciate your memory of their efforts! To give credit to all of the hard work and effort offered by all of our very talented and industrious members. Thus, we embark upon the 2022 version of the Yearly AARland Year-end AwAARds.

The goal here is to reward every single category as possible from narrative to MPs...charactAARs all the way to writAAR. I’ve made periodic queries throughout these last 5 years to see if changes are needed and thus far, only some few have come in. Below are 11 categories in which to vote and in each, you may vote for up to 6 AARs. No matter the category, every game is eligible and for writAAR and newcomAAR, you will be voting for a person rather than an AAR (though please feel free to list their further work(s) if so wished.) This year I will keep MP/Interactive as an independent category so make sure to give this one a shot if you want to keep it around as is.

Voting for this will be in this thread rather than private because I wish this to remain near the top of the general discussion area. Below I will include a blank ballot and please fill it in as you can over the next couple of months. The period of voting will be from now until FEBRUARY 5, 2023 and the eligible AARs from which to choose are any of those started, finished or worked upon from DECEMBER 1, 2021 through NOVEMBER 30, 2022. Whether ended, started or still in progress, all works within that timeline are fair game (Please be mindful of this when you fill out your ballot.)

As I do every year, I will weight the votes between what is picked for #1 in a category verses what is picked as #6. It is a small weight but has proved successful in the accounting. That will cause you to think as you vote and a small hardship so that we avoid ties and reward fully due to merit. There are a lot of great works and tastes may vary. I am always open to recommendations but this seems the fairest way to account for your votes (And please feel free to offer any and all suggestions about the process within this thread.)

After the period for voting is over, I will tabulate all of your nods and present the winners. I will open separate threads for each winner so that you may offer them congratulations and discuss the work if you so wish. (And will list them here as well for posterity.)

I start the voting now to give us as much time as possible to gain a clear picture and knowing well that schedules for all are tight. Two months plus should prove the most dedicated of us will offer their voice (so please start considering it now rather than late January. A placeholder as intention to vote is perfectly fine...just remember to come back to it a month and change later. ) I give every voter all of December and January to get us the most votes as possible. A project like this does not work unless the members of this forum get involved. While I would not like to see any sort of campaigning, I do hope that you will link to this in your works so we might gain as many eyes as possible. The more votes that we have, the more accurate winners we will see. A fair result for the great works presented within this past year.

It is a large accounting project, but is highly desirable. For twenty years, I have loved this place so if I do nothing else year in and year out, I am committed to this one. No other internet forum allows the freedom to write like we have. All games, all genres, all writAARs...they all deserve some love!

So, let us vote AARland...put on your thinking caps and choose the best of the best for these past 12 months (or at the very least, your favorites over that time.) Your writAARs will thank you and so do I! Now...vote!

* * *​

The Results (category links will take you to reveal thread):

2022 Comedy AAR of the Year: Born to Breed: House of the Prophets by @Peter Ebbesen (CK3)

2022 Gameplay AAR of the Year: Poles Apart – an HOI4 Ahistory by @Bullfilter (HoI4)

2022 Historybook AAR of the Year: Echoes of A New Tomorrow: Life after Revolution in the Commonwealth of Britain by @DensleyBlair (Vic 2)

2022 Narrative AAR of the Year: Shattered Glass: A Narrative Stellaris AAR by @Von Acturus (Stellaris)

2022 Megacampaign AAR of the Year: In the Shadow of the Ancients - An Assyrian AAR, Part Two by @Tommy4ever (EU4)

2022 MP/Interactive AAR of the Year: Two idiots discover America - A multiplayer Castile AAR by @SibCDC and @Tom D. (EU4)

2022 Graphics/AARtist of the Year: @Werther

2022 Character of the Year: Richard Plantagenet, Duke of York in The Wars of the Roses by @coz1 (EU4)

2022 Newcomer of the Year: @Von Acturus

2022 WritAAR of the Year: @Bullfilter

2022 AAR of the Year: The Last Heroes by @Macavity116 (Stellaris)

 

[coz1]

The Ballot – Below are the 11 categories we will be voting on. You may vote for any of the games within each category. You need not choose 6 slots for every one, but with so much great work done here, it can surely be accomplished. And please remember that these votes will be weighted. What you choose for #1 will gain a greater value in the tabulation than what you choose for #6 (I do so to avoid ties, mainly.) I would love to ask you to lock your vote in once you have given it (for my sanity in the tabulation), but if changes must be made, feel free (and let me know you have done so.) The only thing that I would ask is that you not look to the vote and try to “game it” in any way. A tall order here at this forum I know given what we do here, but please keep it honest as I know that you will do.

Just pick your favorites and in the end, we will have our winners for 2022. It was a long year full of great work so put your memory hats on and get to it, AARland!


The Categories:
(As requested last year, I will give some guidance to what the categories are for. I really hesitate to offer too much because I do not want to direct the vote, but clarity is no bad thing. Still, vote as you wish.)


- Comedy AAR of the Year:

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

This one is fairly straight forward. It's an award for comedy. This can be done in many ways. I will leave it to you to decide what is funny and what is not and if it is well done.

- Gameplay AAR of the Year:

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

Another fairly straight forward category. This is to award the straight gameplay AAR. There can be some crossover here, so feel free to consider it however you wish.

- Historybook AAR of the Year:

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

This one could get complicated, but really this is the next step from gameplay. Instead of "I did this" it is now, "They did this". Classic history book reads as if a good history book. A survey or more in depth book, it is not one that reads as historical fiction. Though again...tastes and all.

- Narrative AAR of the Year:

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

This is for the fully narrative work that reads as if a novel or short story of historical fiction. Some works have different sections and if it uses such, it is available for here.

- Megacampaign AAR of the Year:

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

This category is for the megacampaign as the title suggests. There are some that have lasted years and some that are done within a year. What is eligible here is the portion that was written within the time constraints listed in the above post. If there are multiple works for the same megacampaign written within the eligible period, please note this in your vote.

- Multiplayer/Interactive AAR of the Year:

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

This is a combined category because there are not as many of these written like the others, but they are still very much a part of our culture here. Multiplayer is just that, an AAR written by two or more people from a game played by two or more people. Interactive is one that calls the reader in to assist making decisions either in the game or the work itself.

- Graphics/AARtist of the Year:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

This is for the writAAR that puts in special effort in presentation for their graphics. Could be pictures, videos, screenshot usage and manipulation or anything other that adds visually to the written word offered. Ideally this would be for one writAAR and one work, but some of us do have more than one. I've been liberal in the tabulation here so I'll leave it to you how you vote.

- Character of the Year:

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

This is for a specific and singular character within an AAR. Please do not vote for "the characters in" but rather a specific character in an AAR. Many times there are multiples, but please do try and single it down.

- Newcomer of the Year:

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

This is what it says it is, but some clarification. It does not necessarily mean someone that just joined the forum, but rather is a newcomer around these parts of AARland. If you joined 20 years ago but just wrote your first AAR within the last year, that is eligible. It is about joining into what we do here.

- Writer of the Year:

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

Here is the place to vote for a person and not an AAR. Those that have one and those that have five...all are eligible. You are voting for the writAAR you think did the most impressive or favorite writing throughout this past year.

- AAR of the Year

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

And finally, here we vote for all works together. It's the Best Picture category. We've awarded our actors and cinematographers, art designers and costume...now the big one. The one where history competes with gameplay, interactive with narrative...all down the line. This is for what you consider the very best or most favorite work regardless of game or style that you've read this past year. Pretty simple, right?

Please feel free to copy and paste this into your own post for ease of voting. If you would, PLEASE offer a link to the work (if it has not already been given by another) with AAR name included, the author’s name, and the game it belongs to. I thank you and...

Happy Voting!

 

[DensleyBlair]

Good job kicking things off again, @coz1 ! I'll be back with votes in due course.

 

[filcat]

Time to reward our craft and get our Ya-Yas out! Remembering back will be difficult, surely, but entirely worth it. As we have seen over these last years, our writAARs most definitely appreciate your memory of their efforts! To give credit to all of the hard work and effort offered by all of our very talented and industrious members. Thus, we embark upon the 2022 version of the Yearly AARland Year-end AwAARds.

<The voice of the call is echoed kilometres away>

<checking the clock, the calendar, the map, the orbital position, the air conditions, the solar conditions, and get ready all systems>

---

<system ready for the announcement concert>​

I wanna write it day and night
Words are the power of my life
I wanna write it better

I wanna create it day and night
My stories, my delight
You are the power of my life
I wanna create it better

I wanna vote for those in my turbo bod
The diabolic filcat I′ll never gonna stop, yeah
You better read it up before you vote it in
Activating mindborkin’ beast mode, AARlanders vote!​

Do you really wanna write it out?
′Cause I will read them slow
This borkin' life is too short and raw
I wanna read it day and night

Spoiler: AARlanders: TIME TO VOTE!

I wanna read them day and night
These AARs, my delight
You are the power of my life
I wanna vote for them better

I wanna comment them day and night
AARland, my delight
You are the power of my life
I wanna vote for them better [*]

---

[*] Adapted butchered from Pump It of the album TEKKNO by Electric Callboy (2022).
Link to official clip.

 

[filcat]

"depiction of filcatic meeting for status report on action-items; realising that the voting ballot has not been submitted for YAYA 2022 yet, it is decided to proceed immediately to the post."

[-or actually Chinggis Khan Temüjin of the Börjigin ascending the throne, excerpt of miniature from Jami al-Tawarikh - Compendium of Chronicles by Rashid al-Din Hamadani (1247-1318)]

---

- Comedy AAR of the Year:
1. Born to Breed: House of the Prophets by @Peter Ebbesen
2. A Gentleman's War : The Middle-East Command (HoI3 TFH - UK AAR) by @Eurasia
3. Avon Las Observes by @Midnite Duke
4. Suenik Reloaded by @iain_a_wilson
5. Two idiots discover America - A multiplayer Castile AAR by @SibCDC
6. Rise of the Ursine Empire: a BEAAR megacampaign by @birdboy2000

- Gameplay AAR of the Year:
N/A [*]

- Historybook AAR of the Year:
1.The Rise of Russia by @HistoryDude
2. Echoes of A New Tomorrow: Life after Revolution in the Commonwealth of Britain by @DensleyBlair
3. Superior Arguments: A Stellaris AAR by @eoncommander
4. CK2AGOT - Breaker of Chains and Mother of Dragons by @Thaiga
5. Wings of Faith, Wings of Fury - A Slavic Pagan Revival AAR by @Superstorm
6. Annuntio Vobis: A Papal History of Italy by @slothinator


- Narrative AAR of the Year:
1. The Lions of Olomouc: a CKIII Ironman AAR (Duchy of Moravia, 867) by @Revan86
2. Crowns of the Levant by @Werther
3. To The Strongest - A Hellenistic Resurgence AAR by @Eludio
4. The Wars of the Roses by @coz1
5. Boris & Brian - A Bulgaria Road to 56 AAR by @jak7139
6. The People of the Forest by @Dunaden


- Megacampaign AAR of the Year:
1. Postcards From Eternity: a Narrative Megacampaign AAR (Part 4) by @Cycle
2. The Russian Path, Part 3 - Megacampaign by @Gamov_Andrew
3. The Nation of the Tagalogs: A Tondo Megacampaign AAR by @Black Watch
4. In the Shadow of the Ancients - An Assyrian AAR by @Tommy4ever
5. Die Klingen des Himmels - Part One of a German Mega-Campaign by @RedTemplar
6. Sagaria Invicta - A Sergal Mega-Campaign AAR by @Sriseru

- Multiplayer/Interactive AAR of the Year:
N/A [*]

- Graphics/AARtist of the Year:
1. Werther
2. Gamov_Andrew
3. @ibicko
4. @Crushric
5. @Von Acturus
6. @Cidonia


- Character of the Year:
1. Czenzi and Bohodar letopisár the Third in The Lions of Olomouc by Revan86
2. High Curator Mara Opus in Onward, Toward Perfection by @Quinzal
3. Sverker in Born to Breed by Peter Ebbesen
4. Leonidas in To The Strongest by Eludio
5. Wang Li in The Last Days of the Han by @Zamarak500
6. Orys Baratheon in The Dragons Realm by @streaker77


- Newcomer of the Year:
1. @KanadeSomeone
2. @AtticusKrass
3. @alpherbethegamer
4. @Koweth
5. @DukeOfValois1
6. @uhhhscizo


- Writer of the Year:
1. Revan86
2. Werther
3. @Macavity116
4. Eludio
5. Dunaden
6. DensleyBlair


- AAR of the Year
1. The Lions of Olomouc: a CKIII Ironman AAR (Duchy of Moravia, 867) by Revan86
2. Songs of the Saiiban- A Poetic AAR by @Chilango2
3. The Wars of the Roses by coz1
4. The Last Heroes by Macavity116
5. Epirus Ascendant, Part 1 by HistoryDude
6. 'Odin' and Stalin's Secret Committee by @roverS3




[*] Not Applicable. Invalid Command. Unrecognised Process.
ERROR: Never insterested in gameplays, multiplays.
ERROR: Apologies for the inconvenience.
ERROR: System will shutdown now.

 

[coz1]

Great to see some votes already coming in. And thank you @Macavity116 for pushing this in your AAR (yes, I noticed.) I hope others will do so to get the word out.

Don't wait too late. Get your votes in now!

 

[coz1]

So I'm going to fill this in slowly as I come across works I feel worth a vote (and as I look, there are A LOT of them!) I reserve the right to change my vote (as you should as well) as I come across more info, but I'm fairly certain this is where I'd like to place these AARs. So here we go...


- Comedy AAR of the Year:

1. Ged's Existential Nightmare by @TheButterflyComposer (CK3)
2. Born to Breed: House of the Prophets by @Peter Ebbesen (CK3)
3. Suenik Reloaded by @iain_a_wilson (CK2)
4. Imperial Cheese: The Improbably Incredible Rise of the Italian Empire by @TheButterflyComposer (HoI4)
5. Two idiots discover America - A multiplayer Castile AAR by @SibCDC and @Tom D. (EU4)
6. A Gentleman's War : The Middle-East Command (HoI3 TFH - UK AAR) by @Eurasia (HoI3)


- Gameplay AAR of the Year:

1. Talking Turkey: Alternate History from 1936 by @Bullfilter (HoI3)
2. Poles Apart – an HOI4 Ahistory by @Bullfilter (HoI4)
3. Song of the Karlings: Karloman's Legacy by @LPDK 356 (CK2)
4. Avon Las Observes by @Midnite Duke (CK2)
5. Boring but Practical: A German Logistics and Encirclement Mini-AAR by @Secret Master (HoI4)
6. Blut und Schlacht (Blood and Battle): A Learner’s Saga by @Bullfilter (CK2)


- Historybook AAR of the Year:

1. Annuntio Vobis: A Papal History of Italy by @slothinator (Vic2)
2. The Kingdom of Jerusalem by @Werther (CK3)
3. Echoes of A New Tomorrow: Life after Revolution in the Commonwealth of Britain by @DensleyBlair (Vic2)
4. Relight the Flames - a Zoroastrian Persian AAR by @Tommy4ever (CK2)
5. The Butterfly Effect: A British AAR by @El Pip (HoI2)
6. IberiAARn Tales by @Nikolai (CK3)


- Narrative AAR of the Year:

1. Crowns of the Levant by @Werther (CK3)
2. The Last Heroes by @Macavity116 (Stellaris)
3. The Legacy of Uhtred (A Bamburgh AAR) by @Dunaden (CK3)
4. Shattered Glass: A Narrative Stellaris AAR by @Von Acturus (Stellaris)
5. A Royal Prerogative - A UK AAR by @Le Jones (HoI4)
6. Savages of Utah - A White Legs HOI4 Old World Blues Mod AAR by @RustyHunter (HoI4)


- Megacampaign AAR of the Year:

1. Chronicles of the Polish Empire Reaching the Stars - A CK3/EU4/Victoria2 to Stellaris Megacampaign AAR by @Nikolai (Stellaris)
2. In the Shadow of the Ancients - An Assyrian AAR, Part Two by @Tommy4ever (EU4)
3. A Tale as Old as Time: Book II: The Dual Monarchy - A Paradox Mega-Campaign AAR by @ibicko (EU4)
4. Moving past Miracle - Settling the Void (Gothic Megacampaign, part 3) by @alscon (Stellaris)
5. The Eastern Vikings, Part 4 - Baltic Megacampaign by @RedTemplar (HoI4)
6. The Hohenzollern Empire 5: Holy Phoenix - An Empire of Jerusalem Megacampaign in New World Order by @zenphoenix (Vic2)


- Multiplayer/Interactive AAR of the Year:

1. Two idiots discover America - A multiplayer Castile AAR by @SibCDC and @Tom D. (EU4)
2. Avon Las Observes by @Midnite Duke (CK2)
3.
4.
5.
6.


- Graphics/AARtist of the Year:

1. @Werther
2. @ibicko
3. @Wraith11B
4. @JerseyGiants88
5.
6.


- Character of the Year:

1. Inez Espinosa in The Last Heroes by @Macavity116
2. Pepin Karling in Song of the Karlings: Karloman's Legacy by @LPDK 356
3. Rhomaios [a.k.a. One Forgiven of His Sins] from The Secret History of the Bargas by @filcat
4. Zoe in Shattered Glass: A Narrative Stellaris AAR by @Von Acturus
5. Viola in Born to Breed by @Peter Ebbesen
6. August von Ouster, in Tomorrow Belongs To Me by @TheButterflyComposer


- Newcomer of the Year:

1. @Werther
2. @Von Acturus
3. @Senior Chamoy
4. @Side
5. @AtticusKrass
6. @Koweth


- Writer of the Year:

1. @Nikolai
2. @Werther
3. @Tommy4ever
4. @Bullfilter
5. @Macavity116
6. @Dunaden


- AAR of the Year

1. Annuntio Vobis: A Papal History of Italy by @slothinator (Vic2)
2. Chronicles of the Polish Empire Reaching the Stars - A CK3/EU4/Victoria2 to Stellaris Megacampaign AAR by @Nikolai (Stellaris)
3. Crowns of the Levant by @Werther (CK3)
4. The Last Heroes by @Macavity116 (Stellaris)
5. Echoes of A New Tomorrow: Life after Revolution in the Commonwealth of Britain by @DensleyBlair (Vic2)
6. The Legacy of Uhtred (A Bamburgh AAR) by @Dunaden (CK3)


As seen, this is incomplete and was not easy in the first place! At all!!!

[I will return to fill in my ballot, I promise.]

I place a lot of value on completion of a project as well as working (well) on mulitple ones. There were so many tough cuts when I wanted to vote. Too many got left out that I wished to include. There is absolutely no lack of talent at this place and we see it every day! If you are not included in these listings, that does not mean that I dislike your work. I just had a lot to choose from. Every one listed is entirely worthy and I hope to see more votes for them and so many others! Vote, vote, vote!

[Edit to add - filling in my complete votes. This could take a while.]

 

[filcat]

Great to see some votes already coming in.

Fortunately your ballot has arrived to support the some, otherwise all checking out the thread might have been disappointed by seeing "oh only that weirdo filcat has voted yet". Pheww.

- Gameplay AAR of the Year:
(six very good AARs listed)

Hmmm. Have to seriously reconsider own stance in regard to reading AARs for the sake of gameplays and multiplays; it is becoming more of a missed opportunity for what otherwise including twelve more wondrous works to the list of votes.

Oh well. Next year baby.

Edit: Corrected factual error.

 

[slothinator]

- Comedy AAR of the Year:

1. Born to Breed: House of the Prophets by @Peter Ebbesen
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.


- Gameplay AAR of the Year:

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.


- Historybook AAR of the Year:

1. For All We Have and Are: Britain in the Great War - (1901 Series) by @BigBadBob
2. En la sombra de Morazán: A Central American AAR by @Zeogludon
3. Die Wacht Im Raum - A Kaiserreich Stellaris AAR by @Side
4. Superior Arguments: A Stellaris AAR by @eoncommander
5. Once a Satrapy: A Parthian Dynasty by @alpherbethegamer
6.


- Narrative AAR of the Year:

1. Song of the Karlings: Karloman's Legacy by @LPDK 356
2. Die Wacht Im Raum - A Kaiserreich Stellaris AAR by @Side
3. Songs of the Saiiban- A Poetic AAR by @Chilango2
4. Born to Breed: House of the Prophets by @Peter Ebbesen
5. The Legacy of Uhtred (A Bamburgh AAR) by @Dunaden
6. Onward, Toward Perfection (Anthology of the Enclave of Eternity) WIP by @Quinzal


- Megacampaign AAR of the Year:

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.


- Multiplayer/Interactive AAR of the Year:

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.


- Graphics/AARtist of the Year:
1. @Peter Ebbesen
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.


- Character of the Year:

1. Pepin Karling in Song of the Karlings: Karloman's Legacy by @LPDK 356
2. Sverker in Born to Breed: House of the Prophets by @Peter Ebbesen
3. Dr. Adrian Glöckner in Die Wacht Im Raum - A Kaiserreich Stellaris AAR by @Side
4. Juan Antonio Zelaya in En la sombra de Morazán: A Central American AAR by @Zeogludon
5. High Curator Mara Opus in Onward, Toward Perfection (Anthology of the Enclave of Eternity) WIP by @Quinzal
6.


- Newcomer of the Year:

1. @Side
2. @Quinzal
3. @alpherbethegamer
4. @Senior Chamoy
5.
6.


- Writer of the Year:

1. @LPDK 356
2. @Chilango2
3. @Side
4. @BigBadBob
5. @Peter Ebbesen
6. @Zeogludon


- AAR of the Year

1. Song of the Karlings: Karloman's Legacy by @LPDK 356
2. Die Wacht Im Raum - A Kaiserreich Stellaris AAR by @Side
3. Songs of the Saiiban- A Poetic AAR by @Chilango2
4. For All We Have and Are: Britain in the Great War - (1901 Series) by @BigBadBob
5. Born to Breed: House of the Prophets by @Peter Ebbesen
6. En la sombra de Morazán: A Central American AAR by @Zeogludon

 

[Macavity116]

Acutely aware of the fact this will be the final AwAARds thread in which I participate as an active writer, determined to fill as much of my ballot as possible... Wow, I cannot stick to my own plans to save my life.

---

- Comedy AAR of the Year:
1. Born to Breed: House of the Prophets by @Peter Ebbesen
2. Ged's Existential Nightmare by @TheButterflyComposer
3. Imperial Cheese: The Improbably Incredible Rise of the Italian Empire by @TheButterflyComposer
4. Two idiots discover America - A multiplayer Castile AAR by @SibCDC and @Tom D.
5. A Gentleman's War : The Middle-East Command (HoI3 TFH - UK AAR) by @Eurasia


- Gameplay AAR of the Year:
1. Avon Las Observes by @Midnite Duke
2. Stellaris Wars: A Nemesis Ironman Saga II - Rebellion: The Imperium at War by @Arithmetician
3. Stellaris 42,000: The Imperium Reformatus - As Ever in the Grim Dark Future, There is Only War by @Arithmetician
4. Talking Turkey: Alternate History from 1936 by @Bullfilter


- Historybook AAR of the Year:
1. Epirus Ascendant, Part 1 by @HistoryDude
2. The Butterfly Effect: A British AAR by @El Pip
3. Superior Arguments: A Stellaris AAR by @eoncommander
4. HaMaadimi Imperium by @CBR JGWRR
5. Annuntio Vobis: A Papal History of Italy by @slothinator


- Narrative AAR of the Year:
1. Shattered Glass: A Narrative Stellaris AAR by @Von Acturus
2. Songs of the Saiiban- A Poetic AAR by @Chilango2
3. A Galaxy of Wonder by @Nax24
4. Onward, Toward Perfection (Anthology of the Enclave of Eternity) WIP by @Quinzal


- Megacampaign AAR of the Year:
1. Chronicles of the Polish Empire Reaching the Stars - A CK3/EU4/Victoria2 to Stellaris Megacampaign AAR by @Nikolai
2. Moving past Miracle - Settling the Void (Gothic Megacampaign, part 3) by @alscon


- Multiplayer/Interactive AAR of the Year:
1. Two idiots discover America - A multiplayer Castile AAR by @SibCDC and @Tom D.


- Graphics/AARtist of the Year:
1. @Arithmetician
2. @Peter Ebbesen
3. @Werther


- Character of the Year:
1. Viola in Born to Breed by Peter Ebbesen
2. Zoe in Shattered Glass: A Narrative Stellaris AAR by @Von Acturus
3. High Curator Mara Opus in Onward, Toward Perfection by @Quinzal
4. Nalas in A Galaxy of Wonder by @Nax24
5. Linden in Die Wacht Im Raum - A kaiserreich Stellaris AAR by @Side


- Newcomer of the Year:
1. @Von Acturus
2. @Quinzal
3. @Werther
4. @Side


- Writer of the Year:
1. @Chilango2
2. @Peter Ebbesen
3. @Von Acturus
4. @Nax24
5. @Midnite Duke
6. @Arithmetician


- AAR of the Year
1. Songs of the Saiiban- A Poetic AAR by @Chilango2
2. Born to Breed: House of the Prophets by @Peter Ebbesen
3. Ged's Existential Nightmare by @TheButterflyComposer
4. Avon Las Observes by @Midnite Duke
5. Shattered Glass: A Narrative Stellaris AAR by @Von Acturus
6. Die Wacht Im Raum - A Kaiserreich Stellaris AAR by @Side

 

[Revan86]

Just putting in my partial ballot here for now; I'm sure I will add to it later. I think part of the pressure of actually voting in these things for me is putting together a complete ballot, but really I just need to get the eff over my own impostor syndrome and give recognition to the authAARs who really deserve it.

Comedy AAR of the Year:
1.) Avon les Observes by @Midnite Duke
2.) Born to Breed by @Peter Ebbesen

Gameplay AAR of the Year:
(I confess, I don't read a lot of these ones. Also don't watch a lot of LPs...)

Historybook AAR of the Year:
1.) The Sons of Israel by @Cora Giantkiller
2.) Echoes of a New Tomorrow by @DensleyBlair
3.) The Rise of Russia by @HistoryDude
4.) Blut und Schlacht: a Learner's Saga by @Bullfilter
5.) In the Shadow of the Ancients (Part One) by @Tommy4ever
6.) Wings of Faith, Wings of Fury by @Superstorm

Narrative AAR of the Year:
1.) The Legacy of Uhtred by @Dunaden
2.) The Secret History of the Bargas by @filcat
3.) The Dawn Is Near by @Khanconette
4.) Shattered Glass by @Von Acturus
5.) Crowns of the Levant by @Werther
6.) The Wars of the Roses by @coz1

Megacampaign AAR of the Year:
1.) The Russian Path megacampaign in 3 parts by @Gamov_Andrew (CK3, EU4, Vic2)
2.) Chronicles of Poland megacampaign in 4 parts by @Nikolai (CK3, EU4, Vic2, Stellaris)
3.) Settling the Steppe megacampaign in 3 parts by @alscon (CK3, EU4, Stellaris)
4.) In the Shadow of the Ancients megacampaign in 2 parts by @Tommy4ever (CK3, EU4)

Multiplayer/Interactive AAR of the Year:
(Don't actually read a lot of these either, don't expect to be able to put any here with any credibility)

Graphics/AARtist of the Year:
1.) @Gamov_Andrew
2.) @Werther
3.) @Peter Ebbesen

Character of the Year:
1.) Zoe from Shattered Glass by @Von Acturus
2.) Anton Ivanovich Denikin from The Dawn Is Near by @Khanconette
3.) Rhomaios [a.k.a. One Forgiven of His Sins] from The Secret History of the Bargas by @filcat
4.) Agathe and Hugues III the Glorious from Crowns of the Levant by @Werther

Newcomer of the Year:
1.) @Werther

Writer of the Year:
1.) @Dunaden
2.) @filcat
3.) @Von Acturus
4.) @alscon
5.) @DensleyBlair
6.) @Midnite Duke

AAR of the Year:
1.) The Secret History of the Bargas by @filcat
2.) Echoes of a New Tomorrow by @DensleyBlair
3.) Shattered Glass by @Von Acturus
4.) The Legacy of Uhtred by @Dunaden
5.) The Dawn Is Near by @Khanconette
6.) Crowns of the Levant by @Werther

 

[coz1]

Most excellent to see more votes come in! We're already doing better than last year with 5 voters compared to 3 within the first week plus of the season. All terrific names and AARs suggested and I hope again that you will shill for this in your own work. As well, with so many great writAARs suggested, those listed and given votes...I hope you too will consider giving your own nominations. The more we have, the more accurate the results will be. Vote, vote, vote!

 

[Thaiga]

- Comedy AAR of the Year:

1. Born to Breed: House of the Prophets by @Peter Ebbesen
2. Ged's Existential Nightmare by @TheButterflyComposer
3. Avon Las Observes by @Midnite Duke

- Gameplay AAR of the Year:

1. Avon Las Observes by @Midnite Duke

- Historybook AAR of the Year:

1. In the Shadow of the Ancients - An Assyrian AAR by @Tommy4ever
2. Wings of Faith, Wings of Fury - A Slavic Pagan Revival AAR by @Superstorm

- Narrative AAR of the Year:

1. The Dragons Realm - A House Targaryen AAR by @streaker77
2. The People of the Forest by @Dunaden
3. To The Strongest - A Hellenistic Resurgence AAR by @Eludio
4. Last Chance at Valhalla by @Dunaden

- Megacampaign AAR of the Year:
- Multiplayer/Interactive AAR of the Year:

I've discovered that I don't read any of those. Probably should remedy that.

- Graphics/AARtist of the Year:
1. @Khanconette for The Dawn is Near - A White Russian Novel AAR
2. @Tommy4ever for In the Shadow of the Ancients - An Assyrian AAR
3. @streaker77 for The Dragons Realm - A House Targaryen AAR

- Character of the Year:

1. Queen Nyel in The Dragons Realm - A House Targaryen AAR by @streaker77
2. Empress Tatka in The People of the Forest by @Dunaden
3. High Queen Urraka in Ged's Existential Nightmare by @TheButterflyComposer
4. Alexandra in To The Strongest - A Hellenistic Resurgence AAR by @Eludio

- Newcomer of the Year:

- Writer of the Year:

1. @Midnite Duke
2. @streaker77
3. @Dunaden

- AAR of the Year

1. The Dragons Realm - A House Targaryen AAR by @streaker77
2. The People of the Forest by @Dunaden
3. Avon Las Observes by @Midnite Duke

Will try to update with more nominees!

 

[Von Acturus]

- Comedy AAR of the Year:

1. Suenik Reloaded by @iain_a_wilson
2. AAR: The Empire of Capital, United States of America- A Tale of Capitalist Tyranny by @liberty90
3. Avon Las Observes by @Midnite Duke
4. Born to Breed: House of the Prophets by @Peter Ebbesen

- Gameplay AAR of the Year:

1. AAR: The Empire of Capital, United States of America- A Tale of Capitalist Tyranny by @liberty90
2. Stellaris 42,000: The Imperium Reformatus - As Ever in the Grim Dark Future, There is Only War by @Arithmetician
3. Stellaris Wars: A Nemesis Ironman Saga II - Rebellion: The Imperium at War by @Arithmetician
4. To Iberia and Back Again: A Northern Lords + Fate of Iberia AAR by @JerseyGiants88

- Historybook AAR of the Year:

1. Italian Ambitions: A Florence AAR by @JerseyGiants88
2. In the Shadow of the Ancients - An Assyrian AAR, Part Two by @Tommy4ever
3. A Tale as Old as Time: Book II: The Dual Monarchy - A Paradox Mega-Campaign AAR by @ibicko
4. Die Wacht Im Raum - A Kaiserreich Stellaris AAR by Side
5. The Butterfly Effect: A British AAR by @El Pip
6. Superior Arguments: A Stellaris AAR by @eoncommander

- Narrative AAR of the Year:

1. The Last Heroes by @Macavity116
2. Songs of the Saiiban- A Poetic AAR by @Chilango2
3. A Galaxy of Wonder by @Nax24
4. The Thin Wedge of Europe by @Revan86
5. Onward, Toward Perfection (Anthology of the Enclave of Eternity) WIP by @Quinzal
6. Dreams of an Honest World - a Mexico V3 AAR

- Megacampaign AAR of the Year:

-

- Multiplayer/Interactive AAR of the Year:

-

- Graphics/AARtist of the Year:
1. @Side
2. @JerseyGiants88
3. @Arithmetician

- Character of the Year:

1. Inez Espinosa in The Last Heroes by @Macavity116
2. Kiras in A Galaxy of Wonder by @Nax24
3. Linden in Die Wacht Im Raum by @Side
4. Grand Captain Kalojan Žerotínov in The Thin Wedge of Europe by @Revan86
5. Vitruvia in Onward, Toward Perfection by @Quinzal

- Newcomer of the Year:

- (As a newcomer myself I don't think I can really answer this one)-

- Writer of the Year:

1. @Macavity116
2. @JerseyGiants88
3. @Chilango2
4. @Arithmetician
5. @Revan86
6. @Nax24

- AAR of the Year

1. The Last Heroes by @Macavity116
2. Songs of the Saiiban- A Poetic AAR by @Chilango2
3. Stellaris Wars: A Nemesis Ironman Saga II - Rebellion: The Imperium at War by @Arithmetician
4. Italian Ambitions: A Florence AAR by @JerseyGiants88
5. A Galaxy of Wonder by @Nax24
6. A Tale as Old as Time: Book II: The Dual Monarchy by @ibicko

 

[coz1]

Awesome to see some more votes! We're up to 7 so far. I've started a preliminary running tally (so again, please notify me if you change or add to your vote) and there are some interesting and tight races so far. And tons of great AARs and writAARs listed. Keep it coming and vote, vote, vote!

 

[IsaacCAT]

- Historybook AAR of the Year:

1. Once a Satrapy: A Parthian Dynasty by @alpherbethegamer
2. Epirus Ascendant by @HistoryDude
3.
4.
5.
6.

- Narrative AAR of the Year:

1. Rise of Rome by @jasondroth24
2. The chosen People by @Uriah
3. Once a Satrapy: A Parthian Dynasty by @alpherbethegamer
4. Epirus Ascendant by @HistoryDude
5.
6.

- Graphics/AARtist of the Year:
1. SPQR - The Senate and People of Rome by @nAssailant
2. Once a Satrapy: A Parthian Dynasty by @alpherbethegamer
3. The Krateros Conspiracy, a Youtube storytelling project by @Cagallo
4. The chosen People by @Uriah
5. Rise of Rome by @jasondroth24
6.

- Newcomer of the Year:

1. @alpherbethegamer
2. @Cagallo
3.
4.
5.
6.

- Writer of the Year:

1. @jasondroth24
2. @alpherbethegamer
3. @Uriah
4. @HistoryDude
5. @nAssailant
6. @Cagallo

- AAR of the Year

1. Rise of Rome by @jasondroth24
2. The chosen People by @Uriah
3. Once a Satrapy: A Parthian Dynasty by @alpherbethegamer
4. Epirus Ascendant by @HistoryDude
5.
6.

 

[jasondroth24]

- Historybook AAR of the Year:

1. Once a Satrapy: A Parthian Dynasty by @alpherbethegamer
2. Epirus Ascendant by @HistoryDude
3.
4.
5.
6.

- Narrative AAR of the Year:

1. Rise of Rome by @jasondroth24
2. The chosen People by @Uriah
3. Once a Satrapy: A Parthian Dynasty by @alpherbethegamer
4. Epirus Ascendant by @HistoryDude
5.
6.

- Graphics/AARtist of the Year:
1. SPQR - The Senate and People of Rome by @nAssailant
2. Once a Satrapy: A Parthian Dynasty by @alpherbethegamer
3. The Krateros Conspiracy, a Youtube storytelling project by @Cagallo
4. The chosen People by @Uriah
5. Rise of Rome by @jasondroth24
6.

- Newcomer of the Year:

1. @alpherbethegamer
2. @Cagallo
3.
4.
5.
6.

- Writer of the Year:

1. @jasondroth24
2. @alpherbethegamer
3. @Uriah
4. @HistoryDude
5. @nAssailant
6. @Cagallo

- AAR of the Year

1. Rise of Rome by @jasondroth24
2. The chosen People by @Uriah
3. Once a Satrapy: A Parthian Dynasty by @alpherbethegamer
4. Epirus Ascendant by @HistoryDude
5.
6.

Thank you very kindly my friend for referencing myself

 

[coz1]

More votes. Huzzah! We're a month into voting and are getting close to 10. Every one counts! Just over a month left, so don't let time get away from you. A big project for you and I both, but please give these writAARs their due. They worked hard over 2022 and let's not forget their contributions to this place we all love so much.

A very Happy Christmas to all of those that celebrate such. Consider taking a bit of time to give them a gift.

 

[coz1]

Alright...put down your pie and cup of nog. Gather all the wrapping and firework detritus to the bin. Get prepared for the new year with all of those resolutions...that will last for a few weeks.

Now it is time to get serious. It is 2023 and while it is a new year, we remain looking back to the great works done these previous 12 months. At last check, we are still looking for that tenth voter. We tend to get at least twice that amount and there remains a month for you to offer such. Vote for those writAARs and AARs that made you laugh, cry, think and love. Your creators will appreciate it and they most certainly deserve it. Vote, vote, vote!

And Happy New Year!

 

[coz1]

Just another reminder, folks. We've been stuck at 9 votes for two weeks and usually we get over 20. The more votes we have (for each category I might add) the better and more accurate the results will be. Please remember to get your vote in before the end of the month. Voting ends February 5th. Don't wait too late.