I don't know the term AAR, but...

More different different plug: Skyrim fic! by Neshomeh on 2018-02-24 17:05:00 UTC Reply

As if there wasn't enough reading material on the Board at the moment, I decided to post the first couple chapters of my Dragonborn's story, since it's been sitting around long enough. There's plenty more where this came from, but I'm not sure it doesn't suck yet, so we'll see how long it takes me to add more.

"So the Mountains May Echo"
Ethne Duval swore off the adventuring life years ago, but Tamriel isn't finished with her yet. Suddenly, it's her job to save the whole world, and even the so-called Dragonborn can't do it alone.

On AO3 and on Fanfiction.net.

Will probably go on deviantART too, but I only just remembered about that and it's a less important and more annoying platform for fanfic, so later.

~Neshomeh

P.S. You guys, my friend and I wrote a song. I'm kind of super-excited about it, because I've never done it before, so I decided that yes, I am desperate enough to beg. Please give it a look and a listen and a comment if you would. *puppy-dog eyes*

Song written and sung by me now on YouTube. by Neshomeh on 2018-03-04 05:16:00 UTC Reply

https://youtu.be/KKlKX0do4Rc

Fair warning: it's a shaky cell phone video, and I'm off-tempo and pitchy as hell. But I added captions, so at least something about this is high quality. {= )

~Neshomeh has a YouTube channel now.
Hm... by Thoth on 2018-02-24 19:26:00 UTC Reply

I'm not sure what to think of either of these, really. They both seem pretty alright, at least. I haven't listened to the song properly yet, so I can't say for sure.

The fic is... hm. I could be wrong, but this is an AAR, right? If so, I kind of have categorical issue with it, in that I'm not sure what I'd get out of reading this over playing my own game of Skyrim, as the mainline quest (probably the main aspect of what will be covered) doesn't, as I understand, vary that much from player to player. Am I wrong about this? I mean, sure I'm getting a strong main character, who does seem interesting, and I'm looking at their choices, but that doesn't really make up for the fact that were're going through the motions of a story I've already seen. Part of the problem may be that I've just been playing through Skyrim for the first time, so all this stuff is perfectly fresh in my mind. If that wasn't the case, I might have enjoyed the fic more.

Indeed, for what it is, it's a very well-written piece. The extra flourishes, things that aren't expressed in the game, work very well to give us a sense of who this character is. I'm just not sure what it is satisfies me.

I don't know the term AAR, but... by Neshomeh on 2018-02-24 21:31:00 UTC Reply

As you've explained it, yes and no. I'm more or less in lockstep with the game in these first couple chapters, apart from the odd interjection of (what I hope reads as) sense and critical thought, but I expect it to diverge more the further I go. At the very least, the goal is to blend two major questlines that don't acknowledge each other at all in-game, but that logically should enhance each other.

I know it's been done before, but I haven't done it before, so I'm doing it anyway. My way. {= )

~Neshomeh

So maybe not quite an AAR, then... by Thoth on 2018-02-24 23:33:00 UTC Reply

AAR stands for "After-Action Report". They're stories (or dry summaries, but usually stories) detailing the occurences inside of a gaming session. They often provide extra detail not given by the game, and they're frequently written from the perspective of the character, although not always.

They originated in the world of Wargaming (I think) and made the jump to RPGs quite easily. Only a few videogames really tend to produce them (Dwarf Fortress, and basically any game by Paradox (heck, they've got a dedicated subforum for them), and that's mostly it). Anyways, here's a list of some famous/relevant ones and/or ones I happen to care about:

-Record of Lodoss War: One of the few commercial examples, this is a novel/anime/manga franchise from Japan. But the originals, as written in a magazine, were "replays" of a D&D campaign between the author and his friends.

-Boatmurdered language: There are many Dwarf Fortress Let's Play/AARs. There are many pass-the-save-file Dwarf Fortress games. Many of them are legendary. But Boatmurdered stands head and shoulders above the rest as easily the most famous. Probably because of just how much went wrong as anything else. Seriously. It was an unmitigated disaster of the sort that must be seen to be believed.

-By definition, every Nuzlocke Comic.

-Knud Knytling Prince Of Denmark (https://forum.paradoxplaza.com/forum/index.php?threads/knud-knýtling-prince-of-denmark-and-other-assorted-tales.235468/): This list wouldn't be complete without a Paradox game AAR. So here's an old one. It should give you a feel for at least one style from that AAR community. It's also really funny.

-The All Guardsman Party NSFW: A personal favorite. Boatmurdered came from SomethingAwful, this one comes from its estranged child, 4chan. Don't worry, it's not as bad as that makes it sound. But it is hilarious, insane, bizarre, and full of Discworld references. As in, one of the PCs is a Nobby expy. Also, it's getting a new chapter tonight. So I'm watching for that. :-)

Happy reading, everyone!