An Innocent Survey

[PershsNhpios]

Readers, or lurkers, as you style yourselves,

Please trundle forward here, and write a fair and decent answer to my questions;
Are there any factions in Europa Barbarorum who have not been represented by an After Action Report?
When you read AARs, do you enjoy those that have a large amount of pictures and little commentary, (Rather, captions), or do you prefer those that conduct themselves as a short story accompanied by screenshots more artistic and clever?
Or do you simply enjoy reading the works of others, pictures or not?

When a chapter is begun, do you want to hear the very smallest intricacies of a campaign, or only those that apply to the story?
Do you like stories that travel off in their own format, in following the lives of certain characters, abstract from the game itself - or do you like to see more of the game itself shown in the narration, so that you can see what the author is doing as a player?

Do you prefer that the story only includes major battles, or all the small skirmishes and cavalry actions that take place between?

Do you enjoy hearing of economy and domestic affairs, creative or not, or do they bore you?

Are you annoyed by AARs that write a great amount per each year, and prefer them to relate major events over decades instead?

What exactly do you want each chapter to include?

Do you stay in apprehension of the AAR narrating until the conclusion of the kingdom through destruction of end of campaign, or lose interest, or prefer only to hear of the kingdom's glorious days?

Do you prefer comedy, tragedy, drama or psuedo-history?

Which factions do you enjoy hearing about?

Do you like the idea of other factions being narrated as thoroughly as that which the AAR is based upon?

Finally, do you at all think of writing an AAR yourself, and for what reasons do you decide not to?

[konny]

Pictures are most important in an forum AAR. That is because it is a pain to read long texts on screen. So, when you have a picture that with a short description is able to describe a situation as good as a full paragraph of text, the graphical sollution will certainly keep the reader better sticked to your AAR than the long text.

Most AARs are in an encyclopedic or chronical style. That's ok for an AAR on the pure formal level, but a novellist's style is much better. In this sense roleplaying the characters in a campaign that is designed for an AAR is vital. That is, a dialouge between two characters or a tumultus meeting of several says more on their character than a simple naming of their traits, or the plain describtion of the stituation. Why did your faction start a war? Who of the characters pushed it foreward and why? And who objected it and why?

In general, details are often missing. An important battle in which a protagonist was involved should not be described by just posting the battle result screen, but should be described in detail from the main characters' POV - using a decent number of good picutres for sure!

So, even something on the first look completly boring, like the finishing of a new building or a minor skirmish against brigands, can make a good story within an AAR, for example to introduce a new character. While something that seems to be important for the faction, like a major battle, can be completly unimportant for the story because none of the protagonists was involved.


On the bottom line I would advise: do not try to write a history of a faction but a (hi)story of your characters because people love to read novells not fact books (I have to know, because I live from selling books).

[Pezlu]

Still new to he forums and to EB, so some questions will go almost unanswered... anyway:


Are there any factions in Europa Barbarorum who have not been represented by an After Action Report?

Still new, as I said, so I actually don't know :clown:


When you read AARs, do you enjoy those that have a large amount of pictures and little commentary, (Rather, captions), or do you prefer those that conduct themselves as a short story accompanied by screenshots more artistic and clever?
Or do you simply enjoy reading the works of others, pictures or not?

Mmmh... I like bot short and long commentaries, but I prefer almost unmodified screenshots that let me see what's actually happening in-game to "artistic" ones


When a chapter is begun, do you want to hear the very smallest intricacies of a campaign, or only those that apply to the story?

Maybe not the very smallest, but I like to read the important events unrealted to the story (such as another faction rapidly expanding in a particular direction, even if this doesn't affect the plot)


Do you like stories that travel off in their own format, in following the lives of certain characters, abstract from the game itself - or do you like to see more of the game itself shown in the narration, so that you can see what the author is doing as a player?

More of the game itself. Following a certain character is ok, as long as something of what is happening around is still present.


Do you prefer that the story only includes major battles, or all the small skirmishes and cavalry actions that take place between?

I actually prefer the campaign-related details; about battles, there are far too many sieges in most AARs, but the game is like that after all. Don't know about small skirmishes... I really like to play them myslef, not sure about "reading" them.


Do you enjoy hearing of economy and domestic affairs, creative or not, or do they bore you?

They are quite interesting, if not presented too thoroughly


Are you annoyed by AARs that write a great amount per each year, and prefer them to relate major events over decades instead?

Depends on the "scope" of the AAR. If it's narrating the history of a single war then it can contain lots of details every year; if it's narrating the whole history of a faction I prefer if it narrates mayor events only.


What exactly do you want each chapter to include?

Mmmh... depends. Something about the "big plan", what's going to happen next, what the preparations are... a battle, if it happens at the moment... some details about new units, maybe. Not totally sure though.


Do you stay in apprehension of the AAR narrating until the conclusion of the kingdom through destruction of end of campaign, or lose interest, or prefer only to hear of the kingdom's glorious days?

New on the forum, still didn't read any AAR for long. I guess it all depends on how it's written.


Do you prefer comedy, tragedy, drama or psuedo-history?

Comedy or pseudo-history.


Which factions do you enjoy hearing about?

Any, as long as the AAR is interesting.


Do you like the idea of other factions being narrated as thoroughly as that which the AAR is based upon?

Maybe not "as thoroughly", but a few details about them are welcome. What they are doing, what their armies are like (before you fight them), what's happening in their territory (if it is known)


Finally, do you at all think of writing an AAR yourself, and for what reasons do you decide not to?

Thought of it, but I'm still new to EB and I want to try it out a bit before... maybe I'll write one in the future.

You're going to write one I guess? :P

[V.T. Marvin]

Are there any factions in Europa Barbarorum who have not been represented by an After Action Report?
I do not think so :beam:

When you read AARs, do you enjoy those that have a large amount of pictures and little commentary, (Rather, captions), or do you prefer those that conduct themselves as a short story accompanied by screenshots more artistic and clever? (...) When a chapter is begun, do you want to hear the very smallest intricacies of a campaign, or only those that apply to the story? Do you like stories that travel off in their own format, in following the lives of certain characters, abstract from the game itself - or do you like to see more of the game itself shown in the narration, so that you can see what the author is doing as a player? Do you prefer that the story only includes major battles, or all the small skirmishes and cavalry actions that take place between? Do you enjoy hearing of economy and domestic affairs, creative or not, or do they bore you? Are you annoyed by AARs that write a great amount per each year, and prefer them to relate major events over decades instead?
For me the archetype of ideal AAR was, is and alway will be Arsacese´s Waste Land - it was extremely funny and it achieved the right ballance between storyline following individual personalities and the overall info on how is the Kingdom doing. Another my favourite is Zaknafien´s Primus Inter Pares - almost a historical novel.


Do you stay in apprehension of the AAR narrating until the conclusion of the kingdom through destruction of end of campaign, or lose interest, or prefer only to hear of the kingdom's glorious days?
The hardships are actually the most interesting to read - it leads into thinking how would I have handled the situation and so on. Endless sucesses become boring. BTW- in real life one has much more to say when describing his accidents (i.e.- "how I got lost in the mountains and almost froze to death...") compared to uneventful stories (i.e.- "how I spent the day by the lake and the weather was very nice...")


Do you prefer comedy, tragedy, drama or psuedo-history?
Good AAR should be funny - at least a little bit.


Which factions do you enjoy hearing about?
Anyone, if it is well written:clown:

Finally, do you at all think of writing an AAR yourself, and for what reasons do you decide not to?
I have actually written one https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/showthread.php?t=93891:beam:
WARNING to all prospective authors - writing an AAR might easily take longer time than playing that campaign does!!!:sweatdrop:

[Hooahguy]

WARNING to all prospective authors - writing an AAR might easily take longer time than playing that campaign does!!!:sweatdrop:
oh yes, i know this all to much. in my last update, fighting the battle took at most 45 minutes, but writing the AAR took well over 2 hours..... :wall:

as for me, a good AAR has captivating battles and a good story line. along with at least decent pictures.

[PershsNhpios]

Hmm, the answers are all sufficient, but the participants are in want.
As for the length of writing AARs, the story I began to write, which I put an end to myself as I considered it unpopular and unwanted,
was neither planned or structured - I simply sat down and wrote whatever came to mind about my campaign with the Casse, and did so in a narrative manner.

I simply find posting screenshots a bore, and if I were to begin another AAR, I would have pictures of major battles, pictures of the campaign map, and that would be it - for I have always found my literal talent not in the timed press of, 'Prt Scrn', but in words.

But I agree with most things said, excepting the comedy part, if I were to write, I would do so in a pseudo-historical tragedy that would be rather nasty and cruel to the characters I involved.

[Hooahguy]

its always good to combine comedy and tragedy- thats what i strive for in mine. and there have been some which havent been represented in the last year or so- off the top of my head, the saka, sauromatae and the gallic factions havent been in one yet, but i may be wrong.

[Gebeleisis]

When you read AARs, do you enjoy those that have a large amount of pictures and little commentary, (Rather, captions), or do you prefer those that conduct themselves as a short story accompanied by screenshots more artistic and clever?

I one like AAR with less writing and more pictures.Kinda like Hooah does:)


When a chapter is begun, do you want to hear the very smallest intricacies of a campaign, or only those that apply to the story?
Only those that apply to the story


Do you like stories that travel off in their own format, in following the lives of certain characters, abstract from the game itself - or do you like to see more of the game itself shown in the narration, so that you can see what the author is doing as a player?

follow the lives of certain characters :)


Do you prefer that the story only includes major battles, or all the small skirmishes and cavalry actions that take place between?

Major battles


Do you enjoy hearing of economy and domestic affairs, creative or not, or do they bore you?

Not really,they kinda bore me :)


Are you annoyed by AARs that write a great amount per each year, and prefer them to relate major events over decades instead?

It depends on the type of AAR,but i prefer only major events


What exactly do you want each chapter to include?

Depends on the type of AAR


Do you stay in apprehension of the AAR narrating until the conclusion of the kingdom through destruction of end of campaign, or lose interest, or prefer only to hear of the kingdom's glorious days?

I would like a drama AAR about the rise and fall of a kingdom about heroes of the faction etc :)


Do you prefer comedy, tragedy, drama or psuedo-history?
In order:
comedy
drama
pseudo history
tragedy


Which factions do you enjoy hearing about?
Doesn't really matter as long as its a good aar but i would prefer:
Getai, all the hellenic factions,Saba,Kart-Hadastan


Do you like the idea of other factions being narrated as thoroughly as that which the AAR is based upon?

not really


And for your last question,i would love to write one but i dont have the patience :beam:

[Tellos Athenaios]

Readers, or lurkers, as you style yourselves,

Please trundle forward here, and write a fair and decent answer to my questions;
Are there any factions in Europa Barbarorum who have not been represented by an After Action Report?
When you read AARs, do you enjoy those that have a large amount of pictures and little commentary, (Rather, captions), or do you prefer those that conduct themselves as a short story accompanied by screenshots more artistic and clever?
Or do you simply enjoy reading the works of others, pictures or not?

When a chapter is begun, do you want to hear the very smallest intricacies of a campaign, or only those that apply to the story?
Do you like stories that travel off in their own format, in following the lives of certain characters, abstract from the game itself - or do you like to see more of the game itself shown in the narration, so that you can see what the author is doing as a player?

Do you prefer that the story only includes major battles, or all the small skirmishes and cavalry actions that take place between?

Do you enjoy hearing of economy and domestic affairs, creative or not, or do they bore you?

Are you annoyed by AARs that write a great amount per each year, and prefer them to relate major events over decades instead?

What exactly do you want each chapter to include?

Do you stay in apprehension of the AAR narrating until the conclusion of the kingdom through destruction of end of campaign, or lose interest, or prefer only to hear of the kingdom's glorious days?

Do you prefer comedy, tragedy, drama or psuedo-history?

Which factions do you enjoy hearing about?

Do you like the idea of other factions being narrated as thoroughly as that which the AAR is based upon?

Finally, do you at all think of writing an AAR yourself, and for what reasons do you decide not to?

1) Factions which are under represented rather than not represented at all (IIRC only the Yuezhi ever had to do without at least one AAR on them, but they're gone now so it doesn't matter): -Sweboz; -Aedui; -Arverni; -Sauromatae.
2) I tend to enjoy the more story less trivial picture style better.
3) I tend to enjoy the History/Comdey ones better. (The world according to the Koinon; The History Channel)
4) Any faction will do for me.
5) The smallest intricacies can be fun provided they are serverd properly; same for economy and domestic affairs.
6) The downfall of an empire can be good too...
7) The highlighting of other factions comings and goings would certainly fit well with certain styles, less so with others.
8) I would like to see a campaign that does NOT focus on the faction that is being played - perhaps focussing on another faction altogether... But it be difficult to get a proper AAR out of that...
9) Time, and other matters.

[PershsNhpios]

I am currently involved in a large Getic campaign, presently embracing the 2nd century BC.
I plan, after reading this to map - and then play out a large military campaign at the expense of my kingdom.

This will most likely be against the Roman Republic, as their growth and mine have been rather unison, and now our boundaries have met.

Or else there will be a campaign in pursuit of a Mesopotamia free of Greek influence.

In any case, I will relate the history and behaviour of both nations involved in the campaign from a neutral view, and then proceed to narrate the campaign in the same manner - showing affection to both peoples.

[The Wandering Scholar]

I prefer snipets of campaigns, either a short campaign or the life of one general/ governer although governers tend to be a little boring. With these AARs being so short I like detail and pictures, I like to think that the author has put workinto it rather than just thrown it together.