Why so few AARs?

[Tarkus]

I have to reiterate the position of many here in this forum: Writing a really good AAR that will draw people in -- like MAA's epic contribution -- takes ALOT of time. As an older member of the community, with a wife, two kids and a job with frequent travel (in fact, I'm sitting in an airport right now on my way from Minneapolis to London), I barely have the time to play a coherent long-term campaign -- much less write an AAR about it. I'd love to, but it just ain't gonna happen...

[part_time_player]

I tried writing one, but time constraints stopped me from finishing the campaign, let alone the story. I've started a new campaign now and there's been a few moments where I've wished I could have shared the story that was developing but because I hadn't covered it from the beginning it was already too late.

There was one bit in particular where during a fairly straight forward battle, my unit of Celtic naked spearmen were down to half their men and fled. We were winning the battle and the enemy were moments from fleeing themselves so I decided my general was going to punish the surviving men who fled and make them regain their honour. My next battle was a siege and I split my forces with half attacking one gate and half another, but with my 14 spearmen pushing a ram to take a 3rd gate almost entirely by themselves. To show he did not expect anything of his men he would not do himself my general joined them at the gate ready to face what may. Each half of the main force attacked their respective gate but the spearmen charged through their gate alone and faced off against 50 enemy spearmen. My general raced his chariots straight through the enemy unit to disrupt them and then harassed their rear with charges and javelins. My dis-honoured men were dying fast but they fought on in the hope that the two pronged attack would cause the enemy to flee, especially as at the other two gates the rest of the enemy were already falling back. When the enemy unit finally turned tail, there was only one of my spearmen left standing and exhausted, but redeemed.

If I didn't put an element of story into the game I woud never have attacked that 3rd gate with only 14 men, but it is these moments which really make the game for me and writing an AAR is a great way of rounding off that experience, whether anyone reads it or not. Like so many others though, I'm happy just to have enough time to play.

[Theodotos I]

I personally think the hardest part of writing an AAR is the first few weeks. That’s the moment when you’re most tempted to throw in the towel, and to complicate your problem, it’s also the time when people are still waiting in the wings, waiting to see if you will continue before they jump in with both feet and support you. Fortunately, I had the support of several from the beginning, including my good friend Chirurgeon, who made it his personal affair to comment after every one of the initial chapters, no matter what. Thanks, man.
I’ve actually been pleased with the level of response I’ve gotten on my AAR, but I would have to admit it’s frustrating at times to wonder who’s out there reading in silence. I mean, I post an update, within two days the view-count has gone up by two hundred, but I only have four comments. Did each of those people check my thread fifty times? I don’t think so. So you’re just left to wonder.
Still, everyone has been very supportive. I think the EB forum is a great one for AARs. I periodically read AARs on other forums, concerning other games and they strike me as being completely without soul, often mixing in jarringly-modern dialogue in what is supposed to be a millennia-old conversation. That problem, although it exists here on the Guild, is not as prevalent as elsewhere. And, I must confess, most games don’t possess the depth of EB to build upon.
When you start an AAR, you are making a commitment. I think that’s why lasting AARs are few and far between. In my AAR, I’ve only posted thirty-three updates and yet spent over ninety hours writing the story alone, not to mention the hours spent editing photos and—oh, yes, playing EB so I’ll have something to write about. It’s a daunting task, but I’m at the point where I can’t bring myself to let down my readers. You have to keep the faith.
Oh, well, I’ve rambled on for long enough, but that’s my two cents on AAR-writing. Stop by and check mine out.

[QuintusSertorius]

I have to reiterate the position of many here in this forum: Writing a really good AAR that will draw people in -- like MAA's epic contribution -- takes ALOT of time. As an older member of the community, with a wife, two kids and a job with frequent travel (in fact, I'm sitting in an airport right now on my way from Minneapolis to London), I barely have the time to play a coherent long-term campaign -- much less write an AAR about it. I'd love to, but it just ain't gonna happen...

I don't have any children yet, and my wife is extremely tolerant, so for now I'm alright. My job lets me work from home a lot, and right now I don't have a great deal of travel or overly onerous work schedule. So yes, that makes a big difference.