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Thread: The Critic's Quill: Issue 40

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    Default The Critic's Quill: Issue 40



    From the TeamHello and welcome to all.

    First and foremost, I would like to take this opportunity to wish our readers a Very Happy New Year on behalf of the entire Critic's Quill team.

    So this edition, what about it? Well, new edition, new articles, new year, and we also have new artwork. Wow, it even rhymes. We bring some cool new artwork in this edition, which is very much the eye candy for the Quill. All credit to Inarus from the Content Art team for his stellar work. Loads of rep to the good fellow.

    We have, in this edition, quite some excellent articles. Missed the scriptorium? Not a problem, as our Quill pressmen hunted down the winning entries to write some reviews about them. But there is more, news from the Tale of the Week as our pressmen put some thoughts on the winning entries. Then there is a tea, quite a Scottish tea party I say. This is the interview with McScottish, a true veteran of our writer's study. Then follows some insightful reviews with good stuff about the latest AARs. Bringing up the rear is TWC's own masterpieces, the articles.

    Lastly, I come to the point where I thank you all for your dedicated patronage as a year went by, and another year approaches. I say this in complete honesty, and I can vouch for the team too, that it is the readers that keeps the entire team motivated to work on churning articles and reviews. Please enjoy the articles and we will be back in the new year with a fresh articles.

    Regards,
    m_1512
    Editor


    Table of Contents

    Last edited by Omnipotent-Q; January 02, 2014 at 09:58 AM.


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    Default Re: The Critic's Quill: Issue 40



    The Scriptorium: Live from the Arena
    Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 
    Victrix I. Imperia
    -ROME-
    A poem by Dubh the Dark
    Review by Adamat

    Introduction
    The winner of this year's Scriptorium Summer Writing Competiton is Dubh the Dark with his poem '-ROME-'. -ROME- isn't an ordinary poem. It exists of four verses, which all portray a typical scene of Old Rome. The first of the four verses describes a sacrifice in the temple, the second tells us of a long fight against a barbarian King and his army. In the third verse the author visits a Roman marketplace. The last of the verses is a bit different than the others. It isn't seen from an individual's point of view like in the other verses, but it describes the fall of the Roman Republic and the founding of the Roman Empire.

    Writing and Style
    ROME is written very well, with no spelling mistakes whatsoever and a very broad vocabulary. Dubh's control of the language is a big pro for the poem, because it really enables you to get drawn into the story. The detailed description of the events in such few words is stunning.

    In the first verse, the author views a ceremony through the eyes of a priest. The first few lines rhyme, and even though rhyming usually is a con for me, I didn't mind it here. The author makes it feel very natural, opposed to the usual forced character that usually seems to go with a rhyming poem.

    The second verse is seen with the perspective of a Roman rank-and-file soldier. This one is my personal favorite, because in my opinion it is a really convincing report of the battle in just a few lines. Again, some of the sentences rhyme. It makes the verse feel like a melody, each sentence being a logical follow-up of the last. An exception to this is one sentence which, in my opinion, seems to disrupt the flow of the poem.
    until they made a bold mistake,
    their king he charged and then was dead.
    After this, however, the poem is ended with the same feeling with which it started.

    The third of the verses is set on an everyday market. A slave describes everything he sees in the harbor and on the forum, ranging from the usual merchants trading with each other to the shadier parts of the city: assassins, hired by men in high places. The verse ends with a sentence that seems to imply something more: all the coin that is earned here, all the grain that is bought, all the transactions that are done: in the end they do not matter, because everyone dies. A grave message indeed that the author wishes to extend to us.
    on fortunes path, they make their way,
    survivors of the cruellest game,
    survivors laden down with shame,
    in homes of incense and of slaves,
    they wind their creaking tortured way,
    towards their wealth, towards the grave.
    Finally, we arrive at the fourth of the verses. The reader is given a bird's eye view over the city of Rome when the citizens rise up against the Senators. The 'Cloaks of Marian Red' symbolize the Roman soldiers, who seem to be supporting the riot and drive the Senators away. It tells of the civil unrest in the Roman Empire, and its result.

    From the greed of foolish men,
    came the rule of their demise,
    as an Empire hove into view,
    and a Republic fell before their eyes.
    Conclusion
    This fantastic poem about the Romans definitely deserves the Scriptorium Summer Competition gold medal. Dubh the Dark's descriptive writing really compels you to read the story. Even though you might not be too interested in Ancient Rome and such, this poem is so well-written that it is a must to read it. When simply glancing over it, one might not notice some subtle details and think this is no more than an average poem, but when you allow yourself to be taken in by the writing, taking the time to read it closely, then I think that you will understand the feeling that the author wanted to convey. Even if you normally do not like poetry, I think that this one is an exception. "ROME" reads like a song or a story rather than a traditional poem.

    A very well-written entry for the Scriptorium Summer Writing Competition indeed, and a worthy first place. I recommend everyone to read this.



    Victrix II. Pugnator
    The Siege of Pyke
    A story by Dance
    Review by Adamat

    Introduction
    This year's Summer Writing Competition second place is claimed by Dance's story "The Siege of Pyke". Dance has written a story set in the "A Song of Ice and Fire" universe, the well-known book series by G.R.R.M.
    In "The Siege of Pyke", the reader is taken to Pyke, the capital of the Greyjoys. The Greyjoys are rebelling against King Baratheon, the 'High King' of Westeros. The Siege of Pyke is the last battle in the war for independence, and it tells of the final Greyjoy defeat. Dance lets us look over the shoulders of several important Ironborn fighters as they fight their last battle.

    Plot
    The story is divided into several small chapters before the actual battle ensues, and one large battle chapter. The story is well-written, immediately drawing the reader into the story by giving the various characters a little depth, explaining their position, history and characteristics. It may however be hard to get into this story if you've never read any books in the ASOIAF series, because you may not have much of an idea who the various canon characters are.

    A short introduction to Harren the Red
    He stretched his arms back and rolled his shoulders. He went over to the wine table, and poured himself a tankard of potato wine—all that seemed to be left in their stores. He took a deep breath, and as he put the tankard to his mouth and began downing it, a hard knock was heard at his chamber door.

    He finished the tankard, and burped aloud. "Who the fk has a death wish tonight?"
    In the first chapters, Dance sets the stage for the battle. He focuses on the characters that will be seen in the battle, and much less so on the others. As such, it might seem that all Ironborn may be as bloodthirsty as Harren or as composed as the Prince, while you never get to see the view of the 'common' soldiers.
    Even though there are a few chapters where the events are seen through the loyalists' point of view, it is clear that Dance's focus is on describing the Greyjoy men's vision of the battle. This lack of certain points of view doesn't feel important, though, because of the fast pace in which the story advances.

    The main body of the story is the storming of Pyke itself, a long battle described from the views of several of the Greyjoy soldiers. The writing about the battle is extensive, and hops from one character to the other as the battle progresses. It is clear that the Ironborn will not stop fighting before it's over, even if the odds are against them.

    Writing and style
    "The Siege of Pyke" has plenty of action in it, and that may just be its biggest flaw. Because the battle that makes up the core of the story is so packed with action, the reader barely has time to take a breather and look over what has just transpired. It also, in my opinion, lacked a bit of the in-depth development of characters that is so prevalent in G.R.R.M.'s book, but it was to be expected. This is after all only a single story, not a novel.
    The description of the fighting men, whether they are crushing skulls with a maul or opening enemies' windpipes with arrows, keeps the reader entertained. It may seem a little over-the-top at times though, when the protagonists of the story seem to be killing a dozen nameless enemies without much trouble. This passage is a good example.
    Maron surprised them, burying his sword into one of their bellies, he threw the man down the steps, and connected sword to sword with another one, quickly parrying several strikes, he took his sword in two hands, one on the end of the blade, and he swung the hand guard to connect with the soldier's neck, and slid the blade across his throat, with both hands, forcing out a spray of fresh blood, slitting the soldier's throat deeply as the soldier dropped back to the floor. The third soldier charged at him, and Maron sidestepped him, using the soldier's momentum to throw him into a tower top crenellation.
    The writing itself is very solid, having almost no mistakes in spelling or grammar. Dance also makes sure to start a new paragraph every so often, making sure that the amount of text doesn't dazzle you. The good use of paragraphs also structures the story.

    Conclusion
    "The Siege of Pyke" is a story worthy of the second place, being well-written and with an interesting setting. The setting only appeals to fans of battle fiction though, it being without much other content than fighting. There's no moral question asked in it, and no intrigue going on.
    People who enjoy the feudal battle setting are sure to like this, though, it being expertly written for its genre. A point of critique is that the 'red thread' of the story sometimes seems to be missing, when the writer is so focused on producing a good read about fighting that he seems to forget the other aspects of the story.

    All in all, I enjoyed reading "The Siege of Pyke", and I would say that the Silver is well-deserved. I definitely encourage everyone to read this story. As Dance himself says in his introduction: It is quite a lengthy read, but it's worth reading it to the end.



    Victrix III. Astutia
    Shogun 2 Single Player: Using Trickery To Your Advantage On The Campaign Map and Battlefield
    A guide to Shogun 2 by Wealthmonger
    Review by Adamat

    Introduction
    Third-placed in this year's Scriptorium Summer Writing Competition is a gameplay guide to Shogun 2: Total War. I won't use its full name every time, because it's quite a lengthy one, and it doesn't really matter. I shall instead refer to it as 'the guide' or something similar.

    Wealthmonger has written this guide with the aim of making the campaign easier using various tricks to take advantage of the vanilla Shogun 2 AI and its shortcomings. He has compiled them in a single guide, and has also made a video in which he shows exactly how to pull off some of the tricks he describes.

    Contents
    This guide isn't a nicely written story, nor can it be called Creative Writing, which is what we usually review in the Critic's Quill. Wealthmonger's intention was to write an informative guide, and nothing more than that. The English that Wealthmonger uses is mostly fine, but unpolished. It isn't hard to understand anything that's in this guide, but the lack of 'dots on the i', for example writing you're as your in a few instances, is a minus to reading it. Sometimes the sentences don't exactly flow well either, because sometimes the sentences have full stops in weird places, or none at all.

    When one solely looks at the contents of the guide, however, then it becomes clear why it has reached the third place in the competition. Every one of the tricks has been placed its own spoiler, with a line of text above it describing when to use it. When the spoiler is opened, the reader is greeted by one or two paragraphs of text, describing in detail how to use the trick. The description is accompanied by an informative screenshot of the game, or even better, it'll show you a link to the video Wealthmonger made for this guide. The video contains in-game footage which shows you exactly what to do, and it is narrated so that you can also hear what you should be doing.

    Conclusion
    Wealthmonger has written a top-notch guide for those who have trouble with winning the Shogun II campaign. He has put much effort into it, and the images and video footage that have been made for it make it even more clear that this guide is an almost ideal compilation of Shogun II tricks to use against the AI. The writing could have been better and more in-depth, but if we look at the purpose of the guide, which is giving players clear directions to utilizing these tricks, then we all have to agree that it serves its purpose very well. I recommend this guide to any and all people who want to be able to trick the AI at times, even if it is taking advantage of the limited AI. I wouldn't, however, recommend this guide to anyone who just wants to sit back and have a good read, because this guide wasn't meant to serve that purpose.



    Victrix Specialis. Lanterna
    The Magic Lamp
    A Short Story by Chilly5
    Review by Merchant of Venice

    Winner of the Librarian’s Choice award, The Magic Lamp is a well written and crafted tale about a young boy and a magic lamp he finds and the events, which follow. Chilly5, the author, has managed to craft a lovely tale, which explores many themes surrounding poverty, hunger and damnation.

    Plot Synopsis
    The Magic Lamp opens describing an oriental style bazaar or marketplace. After initial descriptions, the story begins to focus on a little boy, who, after stealing a lamp he believes he can sell for a “value beyond the rarest of sapphires”, is attacked by a pack of dogs while, scavenging on the remains of a dead rat. He is saved however by a mysterious man, Raab, who helps him survive the dogs and feeds him. This man however, begins to question how Abar, the protagonist, came to be in possession of the lamp. After much reluctance, Abar reveals he stole it from a market stall. Raab, using the debt that Abar owes to Raab for saving Abar’s life, forces Abar to return the lamp to its rightful owner.

    Writing
    The writing in The Magic Lamp is excellent and very descriptive allowing the reader to visualise the events and setting nicely. From the very beginning the author hooks the reader, providing a very detailed description of the bazaar and surrounding area.
    A light breeze sweeps gently over cool sands, blurring the faded glimmer of the Moon’s light. A small djinn, made of gravel and dead shrubbery, stirs up in a tiny whirlwind, but dissipates as quickly as it was formed, scattering back into the sands. The city is quiet. The stumble of an alley cat is heard in the distance, and the soft tinkling of shop bells sets a muted rhythm to the night. Moonlight seeps through the curtains of the bazaar, casting grey shadows behind draperies of red, yellow, and azure.”
    The character creation and development is also great, helped immensely by the vocabulary used by the author. From as soon as he is introduced into the story, we learn of Abar’s dire situation, his malnourishment and tendency to steal. Raab’s role in the story is almost the role of the ‘conscience’. The dialogue between the two character is well done and allows the author to explain the various situations nicely. Here is a snippet of their dialogue.
    Raab tilted his head and pursed his lips in a smile. “But how was it that you came to possess such a treasure?”

    “That’s none of your busi –”

    “In your other hand, what do you carry?” interrupted Raab. He pointed at the remaining bread in Abar’s hand. “You were food for the dogs last night, effendi. Yet here you stand before me.” He turned his finger to Abar. “A life for a life. And I saved yours doubly. You are indebted to me.” he said with a glint in his eye.

    The shade had lifted to allow the sun to beat a heavy drop of sweat down Abar’s temple. The brigand knew about the lamp, he knew about the dogs, and he even knew to give Abar bread. It is blasphemy to break the debt of a life-saving bond. A life for a life – that was the way of the desert. Abar felt an uneasy heat quell up inside of him. “It belonged to an effendi – a real effendi. I stole it from his caravan.” Abar admitted begrudgingly.
    Raab nodded as if he already knew. “And you planned to sell it.” Abar nodded in silence. “I’m curious as to how you intended to find a buyer.”

    It occurred to Abar that he had not actually thought that far, it had been enough for him to have managed to swipe the lamp. He tried to maintain his confidence, but he felt his face betray him, reddening as blood rushed to his head. “The shop owners in the bazaar-”

    “Would take your hand for a thief, and pay you nothing – or maybe worse… ‘A thousand deaths for all thieves’ I hear it’s said” Raab gave a wry smile. Abar felt a terrible sinking feeling in his empty stomach. Nearby, the bronze coats of the roaches glinted under the sun as they continued to fight over the rat carcass. When Abar continued to stay silent, Raab spoke up, “We must return this lamp, effendi.”
    The author also explores a variety of themes throughout the piece, including poverty, hunger, damnation and the taking of another person’s life. These are all powerful themes and none of them seem out of place within the story. For instance, Abar’s monologue as he is deliberating over his involvement in the death of a soldier, is masterfully done and shows that while a thief and beggar, this young boy still has some sense of morales. His desperation for food, as shown when he eats the rat, is great at invoking sympathy from the reader and only adds to the quality of this piece.

    Conclusion
    All in all, The Magic Lamp is an excellent tale, which will hook you from the start. The characters, the dialogue and above all, the descriptive vocabulary on show, are all only some of the reasons that you should read this story. This piece is well deserving of the Librarian’s choice award.


    Tale of the Week: Catching up with the Study - 200th Week Anniversary
    Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 
    Narratio I. Igneus
    A Line Too Thin
    A Story by The Thin Red Line
    Review by Merchant of Venice

    Written by The Thin Red Line, “A Line too Thin”, is a great example of a well done short story. With its emphasis on expertly used descriptive language and nice flowing sentences, “A Line too Thin” is a lovely short read.

    Plot Synopsis
    A Line too Thin is centred around Hannibal and more specifically Hannibal in Italy. It is 216 BC and Hannibal, after marching his army across the frozen Alps, now has a choice to make. The might of Rome is heading straight for him and he must either flee or fight. Set just before his monumental victory at the Battle of Cannae, A Line too Thin describes the moments leading up to the battle. Doubt lingers in his mind around whether he can win the battle and that doubt stays with him all the way until the piece ends midway through the battle of Cannae.

    Writing
    As mentioned earlier, the author has put much emphasis on the descriptive language in the piece. This emphasis immerses the reader heavily in the events leading up to battle and allow us an insight into Hannibal’s mind, albeit not as much as an insight as we would of got had the story been in first-person instead of third-person. For instance, the first sentence immediately drew me into the story.

    He strained to see through the eddying clouds of dust, to hear above the tramping of nailed feet, to feel anything beyond the ominous shuddering of the ground.

    Using the three primary senses of sight, sound and touch, the author immediately creates a small sense of fear in the reader, allowing the reader to feel the same emotions that Hannibal may just of felt. This immediate drawing in of the reader is necessary for any good short story, for with such a small amount of space, the author needs to create a memorable experience and read.

    The author also uses the heading, or a variation of it, “A line too thin”, constantly in the piece. While this repetition may seem annoying and tacky at first, it is a nice touch from the author and gives a bit of consistency to this piece. It is never used too much and is used in just the right places. Here are some example;
    Suddenly his line seemed too thin, his men too few and the Romans too many.
    It had to be today, it had to be. Yet his line was too thin.
    Individual faces were lost behind their heavy headgear, their bodies hidden by their huge, body-length shields. His line was too thin.
    He would stand, he knew that, but he was also no fool, the prospect of steel sliding between his ribs sent a shudder through his body, he readied himself, rejecting thoughts of fleeing the field, the time was now. But his line was too thin.His line was too thin. He prayed the Romans had noticed.
    There is also an epilogue at the end of the piece, explaining the result of the battle of Cannae as well as the tactics used by Hannibal to overcome a much larger force.

    Conclusion
    All in all, A Line too Thin is an exemplary piece of short story literature and is a well deserved first place. His use of vocabulary as well as an internal monologue surrounding Hannibal is exemplary.



    Narratio II. Dominatus
    A story by Maximinus Thrax
    Review by Adamat

    Introduction
    The Tale of the Week's 200 Week anniversary has passed. To celebrate it, TotW 200 has been a special contest which had not one winner, but four of them. The theme of the contest was Ancient Rome, certainly an interesting theme. The story that has taken the silver is written by Maximinus Thrax, a well-known writer to the readers of the Quill. Maximinus has written a story set in the Old City of Rome, during the reign of the madman Caligula.

    Plot
    We find ourselves in Rome, as night falls over the city of seven hills. Another hot summer day has just passed, and the people of Rome venture out of their houses. The poorer ones find a place in one of the many taverns of the city, but evening is working time for the more influential citizens of Rome. Eleven Senators arrive to a newly-built villa, each of them having received an invitation. They do not know who has invited them, or why. Finally, the host of the evening reveals himself: it is the Emperor himself!

    Writing and style
    The first thing about the writing that I noticed as I read the story was the feeling that Maximinus knows quite a thing or two about Ancient Rome and its customs. He uses a few Latin terms to describe the city and its inhabitants, mainly the Senators that the story revolves around.
    While most stories about Old Rome focus on the Legions and the battles that they fought, but not this one. Maximinus shows us that writing about the city rather than its legions can be just as interesting as a pitched battle against barbarians. The story is also really seen from the view of a true Roman, because their faith and beliefs also are incorporated into the story, as is shown here for example.
    The old senator feared for his life, since the murderous dispositions of Caligula were already notorius throughout the empire, and many patricians had already been put to the sword on flimsy treason charges. On top of that, he was also suspected of being an epileptic, a clear sign that the gods did not favour him.
    The tons of writing experience that Maximinus possesses really shows. His skill in writing makes the story seem like a page of a history book, but without ever being boring. The vivid descriptions of what the Senators see, think and do keeps the reader entertained. How crazy the Emperor Caligula really is is displayed very well, sometimes subtly, sometimes much less so. The enthousiasm with which Caligula speaks about his horse is a more subtle way of showing that the man is clearly out of his mind, while this passage shows a more complete derailment:
    ”I know what you might think right now. That he’s a horse! Believe me, he is not a mere horse. One day I noticed a divine sparkle while watching him mating with mares. Incitatus is a divine gift sent to me by the gods themselves! Helios Panoptes has awarded me this mighty steed as a token of recognition! The gods love me! The gods adore me!”
    Maximinus gives Caligula's persona some more depth by making it clear to see that he is not only crazy, but also arrogant and even a bit intelligent. The skill to develop a character so much in just a few words is quite the feat, even if Emperor Caligula really did exist, and the writer didn't have to start off on a blank slate.

    Conclusion
    The 200th edition of the Tale of the Week has had the best writers in all of TWC write top-notch pieces about Rome. All the competitors' stories were very good, and the choice must have been hard, but I would say that this story truly deserves its medal. I encourage everyone to read this, and all the other stories of the TotW 200 contest. The writers have put in a massive effort, and it really shows in all the top-notch stories that we could read and vote on this special edition. Lastly, if you liked this story, don't forget to come back to the TotW every week to read the newest stories.



    Narratio III. Bellum
    A story by William the Marshal
    Review by Adamat

    Introduction
    One of the competitors in the special 200th edition of the TotW is William the Marshal. William has written a Roman-themed story in which he takes us to the bloody battlefield, where Romans fight... Romans. The third place in the TotW 200 is a story of legions fighting eachother for their emperor.

    Plot
    William the Marshal's tale starts as a great battle is coming to an end. Many thousands of men have been slaughtered, yet a few keep on fighting... In these few men, we find the protagonist of this short story. He is a Roman named Marius, fighting against the traitorous Romans who support a usurper Emperor. As the battle is coming to an end, Marius takes a moment to reflect on what he is doing, to think about what it means to be a soldier, and comes to a dark conclusion: It means nothing to an Emperor if a soldier dies. Or does it?

    Writing and Style
    The author has put in much effort to describe the battle as realistically as possible, and largely succeeds, but for a few minor points. Some of the moves that Marius pulls off seem to come straight out of a Jackie Chan movie, but otherwise it is written quite well. It is hard to write an interesting fight, but William the Marshal pulls that off here. I believe that the secret is that the author really has a feeling for when to switch to another subject, and then to switch back again. This way, you never get out of the story too much, but you won't get bored reading countless fighting moves either.
    When all seems to be about to end, with the darkness falling over the men, riders are seen in the distance. The men are uncertain whether those men are friendly or hostile, and whether they have even seen the last survivors of the battle. This way, William builds a bit of suspension into the story. What if all their hard fighting would, in the end, still be for nothing?
    From the south, a din of drumming hooves and shouted orders. Cavalry, cantering ahead of the main force, scouting for the enemy. They rise over the crest of a line of hills and see the battlefield, strewn with the dead, before them. More orders; messengers are sent to inform the commander while the rest spur their horses down onto the plain. One man, eyes sharper than the rest, sights movement amid the growing gloom. He rides to the force’s commander and points it out. Just then, the sun slips below the horizon, and its last light illuminates an eagle, shining over the heads of the last few men. The commander nods, waves his sword, and issues an order; the cavalry turns and gallops toward the standard.
    It is then that the Roman soldier starts to wonder. Does the emperor care what happens here, what happens to him and his brothers in arms? Or does he only care about his own good, does he see his soldiers as his peons rather than living men willing to give their all?
    As the story draws to a close, it is accompanied by relief. Indeed, the men on horses had come, and indeed they had been leal servants of the true emperor. As Marius and his men celebrate, he comes to a touching conclusion of his overthinking.
    From this field come the cavalry, and they bring with them the survivors. And in the camp to the south, an emperor blesses these men, and calls them brave. And perhaps he does care.
    Conclusion
    The story that William the Marshal has presented to us is one with a theme that has been done countless times, yet he still manages to make it interesting to read. Above all it gives the feeling that you should truly care about these men's fates, like their emperor perhaps does. Against most expectations, the fairly new William the Marshal has amazed most of the readers of his story, and claimed so many votes that his story has taken the third place in this special edition of the Tale of the Week. If you liked this story, and I truly recommend it, then make sure to visit the TotW forum some time and read all the wonderful stories that the members of TWC have written.



    Narratio IV. Insidior
    A story by ImperialAquila
    Review by Maximinus Thrax

    Introduction
    The anniversary edition of the Tale of the Week assembled some of the finest works in the history of this competition. No less that seventeen writers (that's right!) entered the literary fray, each and one of them spurred by the upcoming release of Rome II Total War. Because of the unprecedented number of competitors, no less than four winners were eventually declared in this mighty battle of quills. The fourth place was won by ImperialAquila, a hardened veteran of the TotW. The intense story about the Ninth Legion and its heroic last stand in the hostile lands of Britannia garnered enough votes to secure him a well-deserved place among the victors.

    Plot
    The story narrates the very last moments of the Ninth Legion, as they get ambushed by a much larger force of rebelling barbarians in the territories north of Hadrian's Wall. The narrator is named Quintus, Centurion of the 1st Cohort, a valiant young man originally from Larissa, who had enrolled in the Roman army to escape from the tedious existence as a common shepherd.

    Writing
    The grim, ominous mood is set right from the very start, as the main character rushes valiantly to strike the nearest foe with all his force. While the fight rages on, he realizes that it is only a matter of time before everything is lost. The fierce barbarians are overwhelming the beleagured legion from all directions, cutting any chance of retreat towards more advantageous positions. Quintus knows that he will soon die, but he is not willing to go down in a dishonorable manner. He is determined to protect at all costs the military standard of his legion, when something extraordinary happens amidst the deadly struggle. His life flashes before Quintus' eyes, an unmistakable sign that the demise is near. After regaining the senses, the hero charges into the enemy lines for one last time, faithful to his soldierly creed. The outcome of this furious attack is not described, instead it is hinted in the last line of this spectacular story.

    ImperialAquila manages to create a gritty battle description, keeping the reader entertained right from the beginning. The impending sense of doom which encompasses the main character is present throughout the story, as the dominant overtone.
    There's not many of us left and I knew in my heart that we were doomed. Our Legion is finished.
    The immersion level of this story is excellent, allowing the reader to perceive the battlefield and every minute of this brutal encounter through the eyes of Quintus, the main character - the inauspicious silence moments before the legion falls into the deadly trap, the barbarian shouts and howls, or the enemy arrows whistling everywhere. ImperialAquila has augmented his story with a lot of sensory elements, which can only validate the authenticity of the setting.
    Disheartening still, was the loss of our General, who was hacked to pieces by the barbarians. His head taken as a trophy and placed atop a pole wielded by their chief. Their chants, howls, and shouts of victory were sickening and it made the hairs on the back of my neck stand.
    The reader is also able to experience the state of mind of a soldier who realizes that he is about to die without seeing his loved ones ever again. ImperialAquila chooses to include some of the most important details from Quintus's past, as his life flashes before his eyes, providing clues about the soldier's ill-fated destiny and building up the suspense for the final scene. This technique where eventually everything comes together, preparing the gound for the climactic end, is extremely well implemented.

    Conclusion
    The fact that ImperialAquila's story didn't win TotW 200 is a major surprise, since it had all the advantages to be declared the winner. I wholeheartedly recommend this spectacular piece of writing to anyone who is a fan of historical fiction, or enjoys quality writing.




    Road to Kyoto
    A Shogun 2 AAR by f0ma
    Review by Merchant of Venice

    Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 
    Last issue, I wrote an article on the problems Shogun 2 writers have in terms of the gameplay and attracting publicity. I also covered some promising Shogun 2 AARs, which I felt had a lot of potential to not just be great AARs but also to attract more attention to he sub-forum. This issue, I am proud to present one of those AARs, f0ma’s Road to Kyoto, a story, which is actually based on one of the official expansions for Shogun 2, Rise of the Samurai, which follows the Gempei War. Full of love interests, political intrigue and of course, war, Road to Kyoto, is a fabulous AAR by any standards.

    Plot Synopsis
    The story follows one Fujiwara Kunihira, who is heir the Hiraizumi Fujiwara clan, as he attempts to unite his clan after a civil broke out decades before. The story opens straight into the heat of battle, a battle, which results in victory for our protagonist. Over the course of the next of couple of chapters we meet various new characters, Gin, a courtesan and scholar, who is trained in Chinese language and calligraphy and Fusahira, a retainer to the Fujiwara clan, and apparent leader of the clan’s navy. We see the unification of the Fujiwara clan and it is here where the story truly starts. Clan after clan will fall before Kunihira but will he attain the title of Shogun, military ruler of all Japan?

    Writing
    The writing in this AAR is polished and well done, with few grammar mistakes. F0ma’s strengths really shine in the dialogue, which is excellent, especially between Kunihira and Gin. Below is some of the master dialogue between the two.
    “Fine,” I responded curtly. I eyed her warily. In my experience, it was always wise to be suspicious of Gin’s amiable pretences.
    Gin rolled her eyes. “Whatever,” she responded briskly, admitting that she hadn’t cared about my wellbeing in the first place. “We received news from a messenger whilst you were busy playing the soldier -”
    The battle reports are also very well done and provide a great insight into the events of the numerous battles. They are exhilarating and exciting and the author makes great use of the many descriptive words at his disposal. The battle reports are also complemented nicely by the excellent pictures the author uses (more on those later). Below is just an example of a snippet of one the excellent battle reports.
    As I sliced the neck of a Satake samurai and sent him flying from steed, I saw Masakiyo re-emerge in the fight. We locked eyes as we began to fight our way toward each other. After sending another grey-clad horseman to the snowy ground below, I clashed blades with Masakiyo once more.

    The author’s development of the characters is also improving over time and we seem to learn more and more each chapter about the characters. While the character development of the main protagonist, Gin and even the protagonist’s wife is well crafted, some of the other characters seem to be forgotten along the way. Of course, this can be easily fixed in the next couple of chapters but I felt that this is one of the only areas the author needed to improve on.

    The author also incorporates a lot of Japanese culture into the story, through the use of titles, real Japanese tales and books as well as the behaviour of many of the characters. This was a very nice touch from the author and it helped me immerse a lot more in the story. The only problem with this was that sometimes, even to someone like myself who’s interested in Japanese history a lot, the names, titles and other stuff can be quite confusing at times, though this is mere nitpicking.

    As with all creative writing pieces, Road to Kyoto also has some grammatical and spelling errors though these are few and far between and barely effect the reader.

    Pictures
    As mentioned earlier, the screenshots and pictures in this AAR are 99% of the time exemplary and really do help the reader immerse themselves in the story. The battle screenshots are both shots of the whole battles(like aerial shots) and ones where you can see all the hacking and katana slashing up close. The author has also added a simplistic, though nice border to the pictures and I felt this only added to the quality of the pictures, giving each screenshot a more professional feel. My only critique surrounding the pictures is that during some battles, the pictures seem to heavily outnumber the text and while this is rare, I felt sometimes some of the screenshots were unnecessary and this seemed to draw my attention from the beautifully crafted text.

    Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 



    Conclusion
    In conclusion, Road to Kyoto is an AAR with a lot of potential to become great, just like Robin’s Takeda. Road to Kyoto is an AAR with great characters and dialogue complemented by great screenshots. The only problem with this AAR is that it needs MORE UPDATES!


    Way of the Bow
    A Shogun 2 AAR by Merchant of Venice
    Review by f0ma

    Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 
    It is always a delight to not only read but to also review the writings of others, however I was particularly eager to analyse this story in particular. Authored by the Merchant of Venice, Way of the Bow is one of the few AAR’s still going strong in the Shogun 2 scene. As a fellow author of Shogun 2 fiction, I’ve long considered Way of the Bow to be a source of inspiration, motivation and dare I say competition. When I heard that my own humble piece was to be reviewed by Merchant, I leapt on the chance to return the favour.

    Way of the Bow is an incredibly interesting example of AARtistry, which is apparent from the very first chapter. The story concerns a young samurai named Yuki, who begins a peasant and rises through the ranks slowly, but steadily. Although not an entirely uncommon protagonist archetype, it’s still relatively rare to see an AAR centred around the perspective of a foot-soldier, a fact that will draw the reader’s attention from the word go. Whilst this is a narrative medium we do not see every day, it works in this context, not only by virtue of the author’s exemplary writing skills, but also by historical comparison. Although I’m not sure of the author’s intentions or inspirations, we see a similar tale spun by the legendary Toyotomi Hideyoshi; a peasant who rose to become the unifier of Japan in the very same time period in question. As if we needed any more excuse to approach a story written from the viewpoint of an ordinary soldier, the fact that history has provided such an example lends this tale much credence.

    The AAR’s original take on narration is further exemplified by the style of writing employed. Naturally the perspective of a single soldier will be relatively narrow, so the fullness of the campaign being played cannot be expressed. The author counters this by delving deeper into the story of the protagonist, steering the story more into the waters of pure creative writing than stereotypical AARtistry. The majority of volume one concerns the travels of Yuki in war-torn Japan; detached from, presumably, much of the actual gameplay. Although most certainly not unwelcome, this fresh approach to an AAR is more than enough reason to give the story a read if you haven’t already.

    Whilst the author does delve into these waters, he risks their hazards too. Although the writing and story crafting are, on the whole, very strong, there are a few gripes I have with it. Chapters often aren’t blended together as strongly as they could be, with the protagonist appearing in one place and then reappearing in another with little warning, leaving the reader to piece together what had happened in the interim. This holds true for some of the supporting cast too, who pop up without much explanation at times. Although it is not impossible to follow the story and piece together these pieces, a few mores aids for the reader might be advisable; especially considering we are dealing with Japanese places and Japanese names that will probably be unfamiliar to the general reader.

    Another minor gripe I have is with the pacing, especially concerning the romance that develops between the protagonist and a young woman. Whilst love at first sight is certainly a narrative device an author can employ, I personally felt their courtship was a tad rushed. Perhaps it’s just the romantic in me, but I would have preferred to have seen some more time devoted to the relationship’s build-up. Some more depth in this regard, and in others, would lend the story much authenticity.

    I was originally going to critique the quality of the images presented in the AAR, but I have recently seen that the author has taken steps to replace and refine all of the images in the story; a commendable overhaul that I was previously unaware of. As such, to my delight the story now has a great many well-presented images. Some might be a tad too over-edited, but for the most part they work well to enhance the story and they are a marked improvement over their predecessors. The author himself has pointed out that some of the chapters (in particularly those concerning the protagonist’s aforementioned foray into the wilds of Japan) lack images. I’d be the first to say that a lack of images doesn’t detract from the story, but there are always options open if the author wants to remedy the situation; scenic shots, out-of-game images etc.

    In regards to the prose itself, as I mentioned earlier, the story is a delight to read. The author has a solid command of language and succeeds in portraying sixteenth century Japan to his audience. I have always been particularly impressed by the author’s ability to craft scenic descriptions; a fine skill that allows the audience to clearly picture the story’s setting. Another facet of the author’s ability I’m enamoured with is his skill in portraying the thoughts of the protagonist. A subtle art that has been refined over the chapters of the AAR, the author has allowed us to delve into the protagonist’s mind and gain a clear understanding of his thoughts and emotions. Whilst there are the occasional grammatical and spelling mistakes common in AARs (nothing that couldn’t be remedied by a quick proof-read), the story is a compelling read, with a very rich prose.

    Overall, I have nothing but admiration for this AAR. It is a well written piece that constantly evolves every chapter. Whilst there are some issues with the story crafting, they do little to detract from a very well spun tale. Testament to its author, it has survived many months in a dying AAR scene and still continues to persevere; carrying the torch not only for Shogun 2 AARs, but for AARs in general.


    Alea Iacta Est
    A Rome 2 AAR by bourboncream
    Review by Legio_Italica

    Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 
    Alea Iacta Est is a nice Rome II AAR featuring the Cornelia faction, one written by a new face here at TWC, bourboncream. Arguably the most valuable asset of this piece is its classic combination of great screenies and storytelling. This provides a gripping narrative, and also is a great way to show off the features of Rome II. The author shows promise, and I for one hope to see more of his work in the future.

    One thing immediately striking about the work is it's not a mere chronology. Like any good storyteller, bourboncream uses detail and a quality tactical description of battle that lets the pictures act more as a compliment to rather than an integral part of the story. His creativity with the development of social and political interactions between characters gives greater depth to the story that a mere “list” of events might inevitably ignore. This is what I consider a mark of quality work in creative writing, and the author deserves a fair amount of praise here.



    The author first treats readers to an account of his campaigns against Etruria. While the logistical and political background is strangely scarce, tactical and battle descriptions are very solid. Thus it appears bourboncream's work constitutes an exemplary “battle AAR.” Also notable is the effectiveness of gameplay in the story. Even the preliminary engagements appear hotly contested, and the outcome of the campaign is by no means certain. For those of you who like pitched battles with large armies against numerical odds, I heartily recommend this AAR. I commend the author for his use of game difficulty to create a more engaging narrative.

    In a bold move, the author leaves anxious Gauls at Rome's doorstep after conquering the Etruscans, and moves instead against Carthage. This means new landscapes, new enemies, and for those interested, elephants. Bourboncream maintains a nice active pulse in his writing, taking readers through the conquest of Sicily with some intense battle descriptions. The invasion of North Africa raises the stakes as the full brunt of Carthaginian power is brought to bear. Once again, epic clashes between empires are in order, with grand contests in the fields and at the walls of Carthage itself.

    In an interesting twist, the Carthaginian faction appears to split amidst internal strife, presenting a dual threat to Roman ambition. What follows is still more fighting in Sicily, and an attempt to retake Carthage itself. Amidst the chaos, Rome loses a city to Carthaginian rebels, and is forced to act to consolidate her position. Once again, this latest setback is a nice variation on a theme of unending conquest and victory seen in most AARs.



    Soon Rome finds itself surrounded by enemies, pressed by Carthage, and now Greek invaders in Sicily and Libyan forces in Africa. It seems for every victory, Roman forces suffer an equally difficult setback. I, for one, particularly enjoyed this portion of the story; battles everywhere, intrigue, and betrayal. Especially engrossing was a joint attack on Roman Africa by both Carthaginian and Lybian forces. Without giving too much away if I haven't already, I will say that this AAR is well worth your time.

    Over all, bourboncream earns his spurs here as a promising AAR writer. His classic approach and vivid battle descriptions won him a sizable following with his work here. I may have wished the author to take advantage of the more turbulent developments of his campaign in order to explore his creativity with a political back-story or perhaps some character development. Still, the story leaves nothing to disappoint as a hard-hitting and fast paced battle AAR. I think the author has every reason to be proud of his work, and hopefully, every incentive to continue writing. Be sure to keep an eye out for more from this latest addition to TWC talent.


    Christmas Reading with Santa Claus
    Reviews by Merchant of Venice

    Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 
    Christmas time is a time for celebration with loved ones, a time for chomping on mince pies and sipping eggnog(actually eggnog is disgusting). It is a time for giving, for generosity but most importantly, it is a time for relaxing. For sitting in front of a lovely warm fire (or fan if you live in the land down under) and sipping some hot tea(or iced tea). But wherever you are sitting, you are going to need a good read. Of course you could read an actual book on actual paper or you could go grab you’re laptop or iPad(or Samsung rip off of an iPad) and read some of the fantastic tales on offer here in the Writer’s Study. But there are so many choices you may say. Tales from Ancient Rome to tales of humans in outer space. That is where I come in, as one of the loveable elves, trying to help readers around the world spend their small amounts of reading times wisely. Below, you’ll find some of the greatest stories to grace our forums, finished tales, which will hook you from start to finish. You will also find some of the tales I recommend you watch out for and start reading now unless you wish to miss out on the creation of another legendary tale. So sit down (although you are probably already sitting because you are reading this), grab a hot or cold beverage and relax.


    Finished Masterpieces

    Primus Inter Pares
    by Radzeer

    Set in the cold, barren, frozen wastelands of Russia, Primus Inter Pares, is the second tale from the established writer and member of the Critic’s Quill, Radzeer. The story follows the Kievan Rus as they slowly rise to power by, of course, destruction of their foes. It follows three brothers in particular, who after being rescued from steppe warriors in the story’s prologue, become members of the royal court, well at least two of them do. The story follows not just the brothers, but the family members of the royal family and Radzeer excellently portrays their different ambitions and characters. The story is immersed in political backstories and great character development. Primus Inter Pares can be found here and the proper review by Thokran in Critic’s Quill Issue #24 here.

    Takeda
    by Robin de Bodemloze

    Found in the cold, barren, frozen wastelands of the Shogun 2 AAR forum, Takeda by Robin de Bodemloze, is centred around the Takeda clan’s rise to power, Takeda is an excellent example on how to combine campaign events as well as character development to create an interesting and never tiresome story. Takeda starts off focused around Takeda Nobushige, the brother of the daimyo of the Takeda can, Takeda Haronuba or as we know him, Takeda Shingen. As the story progresses, more and more interesting characters are introduced and, as a credit to the author’s writing, you are always interested about each of their lives. The author never fails to disappoint plot wise and that the end you are left feeling nothing but amazed, saddened and a whole bunch of more emotions. Takeda can be found here and the review in Critic’s Quill Issue #31, by Radzeer, here.

    Quinta Macedonica Legio aka The Nowhere Legion
    by SeniorBatavianHorse

    You could say I have saved one of the most esteemed AARs for last. Quinta Macedonica Legio is the story of a legion, far from home and in hostile territory and its fight for survivaL amongst ghosts and merciless enemies. Filled with writing so exquisite at time I myself was lost for words, Quinta Macedonica Legio deservedly took 1st place in last year AAR of the Year. The author clearly has an expert knowledge on the history of the time and this is shown in the immaculate detail found within the story. In fact, such was the praise that the story received that it is now on Amazon to buy. Quinta Macedonica Legio can be found here and its review in Critic’s Quill Issue #27 here.


    The Future Masterpieces

    Road to Kyoto
    by f0ma

    As mentioned in my review of it above, Road to Kyoto is one of the only AARs keeping the Shogun 2 AAR forum still alive. Road to Kyoto is a fabulous tale of war, bloodshed and intrigue and is set in 12th century Japan. The battle scenes and screenshots are a real standout for this AAR but the characters also brilliantly crafted and the dialogue is exceptional. Make sure not to miss this upcoming AAR. Road to Kyoto can be found here and its review can be found above in the reviews section.

    Pax Anglia-The Great Expedition
    by General Retreat

    Pax Anglia- The Great Expedition is a new serial story from General Retreat, one of the new and upcoming writers. It follows are an array of characters all set on Pax Anglia, a planet colonised by the human race in the distant future. With some great characters and truly memorable dialogue, Pax Anglia- The Great Expedition looks like it will definitely garner many readers in the future. Pax Anglia- The Great Expedition can be found here.

    The Son of Tree and Serpent
    by McScottish

    Set in everybody's favourite fantasy world, Middle Earth, The Son of Tree and Serpent is about a young man growing up in one of the border towns between the kingdom of Gondor and that of the Haradrim (yes, they’re the people who ride the big elephants). Our protagonist soon finds that his ancestry is a lot more important than he once thought and is soon forced to flee his home in order to fulfil his destiny. Written beautifully by McScottish, this Third Age: Total War based AAR, while only in its infancy, has a lot of potential. The Son of Tree and Serpent can be found here.

    Well that concludes my Christmas reading list. But do not stop at these pieces for there are many more that can be found in the Writer’s Study.Of course, there are the legendary pieces such as those from Skantarios as well as Radzeer’s other tales, Tale of a Hungarian Freeman and his newest tale, The Wolf Among the Dogs. Of course, be sure to check out Rex Angloruvm’s, including Tale of a Whale Rider’s Journey and Tale of Rome or maybe check out another Rex's stories with The Sultan and the Servant, written by Rex Basilicus . Make sure to check out the wide array of pieces belonging to McScottish and especially his new Shogun 2 tale. General Retreat’s other piece, The Swords of the Sea, is an exceptional piece centred around the events after the Norman invasion of Britain. Make sure to take a look at Hunterkya’s Tales From a Past Life as well as Scottish King’s Tales of Acamar series. Finally, I would like to wish everyone a merry Christmas and to all a good night. Ho ho ho.




    Interview with McScottish
    Interview by Maximinus Thrax

    Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 
    A true veteran of the Writer's Study, McScottish is also one of those TWC writers who have shown an exceptional dedication over the years. He has successfully put his name on some of the best AARs and creative writings available, a rare instance where quantity does equal quality, for the level of excellence of all his works is unquestionable. McScottish was kind enough to answer my questions for your reading pleasure.

    What made you decide to join TWC? Judging by your solid skills I assume you had already accumulated some experience in the literary field by the time you arrived here. Also, why McScottish?
    I had been lurking on TWC ever since beginning my university degree, mostly to download mods because I found vanilla R:TW to be slightly too vanilla for my tastes. Subsequently I downloaded many modifications and would sit in my room and play them for absurd amounts of time. Eventually I took to browsing the After-Action Report section, combining it with the historical reading I was required to do in reality, to more-or-less immerse myself in history, seeing so many exceptional writers and writings and one day thinking “you know what? I think I'll try my hand at this.” It's really that simple.

    Whatever skills I may have already possessed were thanks to a childhood filled with history (films, TV series', and mostly books) and a lot of reading. I had never written anything before, except the usual teenage 'poems' and various short-stories, and stepping into the field of the AAR section was a whole different tank of fish! When you're a minnow among writing sharks like HeirofAlexander, Knonfoda, SeniorBatavianHorse, Ganbarenippon and many others you quickly learn to swim or sink.

    McScottish...well its part national pride, but mostly just a play-on name representing my nationality and also the well-loved prefix of 'Mc' among the Scottish (and Irish) populace.

    What was the very first AAR you wrote and what can you tell about it? Was it stylistically different from what you do nowadays?
    The very first AAR I ever wrote and placed on TWC was one called Vita Barbari, an AAR about a young Germanic boy intent on a new destiny. As with many of my more recent AAR's it never got beyond the first few posts really. As for style, and this is the only thing I could say that has changed, is that this AAR contained more pictures mid-story than my later ones. Apart from that it was same Scottish time, and same Scottish place.

    Coincidentally, one of your current AARs is also about a Germanic youth who is struggling to carve out a destiny for himself in the isle of Britannia, following the end of the Roman at the beginning of the 5th century. Do you have a special affinity for Germanic cultures? If I'm not mistaken, you did mention something about that in the introduction of your Saxon AAR.
    I do suppose you could call it an affinity, my love for the Germanic cultures stemming much like my username from my own personal heritage and love for the island on which I live. Being an Anglo-Scot – having an English mother - as well as a historian of sorts has caused me to research and engulf myself in the fabric of my own homeland, my Saxon AAR being what you could call a literary manifestation of that.

    It was a time in British history about which so little is known, about which experts and much more qualified persons than I still debate, that writing about it is like giving a writer almost free reign, and who doesn't like or at least know the legend of Arthur? What more could you ask for?

    The title 'Dark Ages' really speaks for itself; a gritty, bloody and brutal time of slavery and hot passions when the immigrant 'Germans' from continental Europe and Scandinavia abandoned their homelands to seek pastures new and, eventually, to found kingdoms which would last for centuries after their arrival. So much praise must be given to the team and modders of Arthurian: Total War for bringing this little-known era of British history to life, without who I would never have even considered writing what could well be seen as my rawest AAR to date.

    Speaking of historical aspects, how important is the historical research for you when planning an AAR?
    I am no Bernard Cornwall or Christian Cameron (personal favourites and men who do their research), but I will say that I believe historical research is vastly important for any prose-based AAR.

    Something I shall admit is that almost all of my own AAR's are based on subjects/nations/places I already have an interest in, and this usually means I have at least some valid knowledge already within my head. Those that I do not know of but wish to write about, well, I could say that I become like a man possessed; I take to the internet and scour every site I can for information, read as many primary sources as I can, order books from Amazon and much more in search of anything to bring some form of authenticity to my tales - this can be something as broad as the general history of a people, or as small as the naming conventions of a particular weapon used by an obscure tribe.

    Research is necessary to bring out the feel of a tale, the flavour of a narrative, it is the foundation which all good stories need and especially those of a historical nature which are based in reality. Primary sources, as mentioned above, are particularly important to me in that they act as portals both into the past and are the voices of a time which we of the modern era cannot truly comprehend. The genocide of millions of people (or a particular people/tribe), the terror of an attack by an otherwise unknown enemy, and the surprise that an apparently 'savage' foe can defeat one considered much more superior. Research gives voice to this and more.

    In short it is exceptionally important to me.

    Without research I would likely not even be able to write half of what I do and, as far as I'm concerned, this would be terrible for me if not for others. On the other hand we would also not have such olympian works as those by SeniorBatavianHorse or Knonfoda, there's and others works being a testament to what good research can do and what it, mixed with a teaspoon of imagination, can produce.

    Your readers have already noticed that you favour a more unconventional approach, one that doesn't provide the visual enhancements (aka screenshots) that usually can be found in traditional AARs. What determined you to come up with such a straightforward design?
    So many good questions! My 'straightforward' design was partially because of plain laziness, my inaptness for both paint and photoshop, but also because I haven't read books with pictures since a very young age (unless you count illustrations of graphic novels etc). To explain what I mean, quite simply I read books for the prose and for the prose only. Although I realise AAR's are traditionally inclusive of pictures I just wanted to write as any other novel or story is written, in paragraphs with grammar and with writing descriptive enough that the readers shouldn't need the aid of pictures to enjoy it, going in from the very beginning as a writer rather than what could be called a 'full AARtist'. The definition of that being, in my opinion, one who combines the mediums of both prose and pictures into an 'actual' After-Action Report, report being the operative word.

    Judging by the vast number of AARs, one thing is certain though: you don't seem to suffer from what is generally known as "the writer's block". Where do you get your ideas from when deciding to start a new work? Also, to what degree do you usually plan out your works before beginning the writing process?
    Please believe me when I tell you that I suffer from writer's block aplenty! It is, in fact, the only thing that keeps me from updating my AARs and so forth every single day. You could say that it is sadly one of the reasons I actually have so many ( and so many uncompleted) AARs in the first place.

    Where I get my ideas from is a tricky one, because there is honestly no one way or place from which I drudge them up. If I had to come up with something then I would say that I am very much like a magpie; I will become interested in something, a certain era in time or a tribe of a nation, then I will find out everything I can on them. From there I sit and imagine scenarios that would make sense in the aforementioned cases, then I decide on one of them and go with it. It could be an idea from anywhere - seeing a pattern of war-paint on a Native American, watching a film of the medieval era, things from my own life such as martial arts or hobby modelling or going back to a book I love.

    There are just always these little 'sparks' that will set me off, what will take my fancy next I never can tell. As for planning it really depends on whether it is an AAR or some Creative Writing. In AARs I tend to play a few turns, take notes and craft plausible characters as I go, before looking at what is happening and sculpting my writing to fit in with it. For example in my Angle AAR most of the key events, the narrative flares, are moulded around movements of in-game characters, armies and so on while I just add some meat to the bones. There are usually overall story-lines I will follow, I won't deny that, but what happens between the beginning, middle and end of one of my AARs is up to the game.

    Creative Writing wise I tend to do just as much research and plan around what is plausible in the setting and time period; would a Roman tiro be able to get away with murder? If so, how and when? Could a common barbarian rise to a towering height in a corrupt empire? Once again how would he do it, using who and what, and reasonably how long would it take him? In short, to paraphrase a certain 'dude disguised as a dude playing another dude' - I don't plan the writing, the writing plans me.

    A very interesting statement, indeed. One thing about your works that is really impressive is that you're not afraid to make use of certain literary themes which are extremely rare in the AAR genre. One of them is love in its many aspects. Are there any other unusual themes waiting to be discovered in your works?
    Themes...themes...well I'm not entirely sure about unusual themes, but there are many themes that I use in quite a number of my AARs which may well be extremely obvious or not so much. For one I use 'coming of age' quite a bit, a theme that runs through many of my tales, I just like growing with a character as they grow and experience their world. Another would be death, and by death I mean death with some weight behind it. Many AARs will, of course, have people dying, but what I try to do is add some aftermath to it so that it influences the protagonist/others in the way that the death of a loved one may in reality. Some others could include betrayal, a constant changing of the character as they overcome/face obstacles in their way, the theme of faith – whether religious or between two human-beings – and many more.

    Within these themes I have tried to add smaller aspects of them, with I believe rape being the biggest unusual element to any of my stories. Along with human sacrifices and torture. A lecturer once told me that if we impose our modern views onto the ancient world then we shall never understand it. I try to take this to heart whenever I write a story. It is true, some people may be offended - in spite of the tale not representing my views on such things as race and gender, though I do like strong female characters which can also be found in my works, and so forth - but I find sugar-coating a reality-based story to be both an annoyance and something that should plainly not be done. Oh, I am not opposed to self-censorship at all, some things are truly not to be read by those of a young age, and in such cases I do try to put a warning/disclaimer at the beginning of my stories, but to shy away from things that we know happened (and in some cases still continue today) is in my opinion to leave out an element of grim reality that could both enhance the story and make the readers think.

    How important for you is the interaction with your readers? Admittedly, most of those who frequent the Writer's Study are already familiarized with your works, since you've written for almost every Total War game, not to mention that you're also an established writer in the Creative Writing section.
    My readers are my lifeline really, and I don't think it would be too imprudent to say that many AARtists and Creative Writers would share a similar view. I love interaction with my readers, whether in the threads of my tales themselves or over Private Messaging, any and all feedback (as long as it is stated constructively, no-one likes being attacked after all) is very much welcomed. As I state all the time, without the readers and the audience to write for I really have no will to write. I might scribble a few things for my own amusement but I know the feeling of every writer who sees '857 views' on their thread and not one comment or piece of feedback from anyone. It is genuinely a horrible feeling, so I would urge all readers, guests or members of the forum, to just take the time to post a comment on your favourite authors threads, maybe spread some reputation points about at the same time, because such little things though they may be do wonderful things for the motivation (though terrible things for the ego) and will be much appreciated by any writer. For those who read my works, never be afraid to comment. I try to get back to everyone that posts one and actually enjoy doing so, and will also reply to any Private Messages as well.

    In short – the readers are the motivation, so get reading your favourite forum writers and get commenting!

    McScottish, since you're one of the WS veterans authors, what do you think about the evolution of the writing community over the years?
    I think it is exceptional, and for the better. I remember when an AAR consisted of a load of pictures and some short explanations for each one and that was that. Over the years there have been those, like myself, that have headed more toward prose-based AARs and on the other hand there are others that have turned the former way of reporting into an art form. I have seen comedic AARs, I have seen tragic AARs, and I have seen AARs that have fused elements of the word and the picture together so well that I have sat and read the entire thing! All I can really say, not being an expert, is that if the evolution keeps going in the direction it is going then I believe the future of AARs on TWC are in pretty safe hands.

    Before we close, I would like to thank you on behalf of everyone who appreciates your extraordinary creative efforts. It's been a pleasure interviewing you, McScottish. A word of advice for any future writers reading this interview right now?
    Keep writing and let no-one stop you from doing so – if you have something in your mind, something sparked by a moment in your game or by a flicker of imagination, get a notebook out or get onto your PC and write.


    The Future of Rome 2 AAR
    Article by Merchant of Venice

    Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 
    Total War: Rome II was meant to be the best in the series. A sequel to rise above Rome Total War, probably the most critically acclaimed of the Total War series. And yet, for many people it disappointed and it disappointed big time. Just like with my previous Shogun 2 article, I will be looking in to various factors, which could either help future writers or hinder them. While the lure of antiquity may be great, is it enough to overcome the game’s core problems?

    Total War: Rome II- The Game
    Total War: Rome II (hereby known simply as Rome 2), was marketed as the sequel to top all sequels. It was billed as the game that represented the pinnacle of the Total War series. A mix of historical accuracy with enjoyable gameplay and mesmerising graphics. Yet, alas, it was not. In this section, I will go through the main features of this game that may hinder or help writers wishing to do an AAR on it.

    Rome 2 gameplay is, simply, put it, a step backwards from Shogun 2’s. Shogun 2 was a polished game with (mostly) working gameplay mechanics. The battle’s felt fun to play and the campaign map had both complexity and was well streamlined. Not much felt like it had been ‘dumbed’ down. The tech trees were easy to use and while, the character progression was more suited to gameplay than writing, family trees were still and you could even choose your heir.

    Battles in Shogun 2 were a fun affair. While the “rock, paper, scissors” mechanic was a bit too noticeable, it worked well with the sort of units present in Sengoku-era Japan. Battles were of a good length and when you fought a truly epic battle, it felt epic, lasting for at least ten or more minutes. While the AI, will never be as good as real players, and Shogun 2’s AI had a tendency to hill camp (quite like real players I say), it was good enough to present you with a challenge.

    With Rome 2, though, battles do not feel fun. They are a rushed, messy affair. Units, even the fabled Roman legionaries or Macedonian phalanxes, struggle to keep formation and the AI is simply shocking. It will feint charge (not on purpose either) and will run around in circles, like it was dog chasing its tail. Unit abilities are rather ridiculous and units will waver as if every single men were a coward peasant rather than an established Roman legionnaire. Battles last at most five or so minutes, even if there are thousands of men fighting for their lives.

    The campaign map is not much better. While there are an incredible amount factions, a wish that many a players have wanted, this leads to turn endings lasting minutes even if you have turned off ‘follow AI movements’ and haven’t discovered half of the factions. Now, this cannot be down to simply the amount of factions because turn ending in something like M2TW would last at most ten seconds at the start of the game. Now, while M2TW may have only had 20 or so factions, if you do the appropriate maths, the turn endings should last at most 1 or so minutes. The AI will create minuscule armies, that have no chance against even your garrisons instead of massing armies of death. Family trees have vanished and character progression just isn’t fun anymore. The character skill trees from Shogun 2 are still present, though are clunky and the effects of many of the skills are not properly shown.

    It is not all bad, though. The amount of armies you have is not just limited by your economy but also by your power and city building for the most part of it is fun. The campaign map looks excellent and the ability for the full-screen campaign map map is cool. Building your empire is as fun as ever, though still hindered by the duration of turn endings. Perhaps the biggest hindrance to writers is the one turn per year mechanic used in Rome 2. This means that characters last a short time in-game and that marching speeds are extremely inaccurate due to it taking 2 years just to march up some of Northern Italy.

    The biggest problem, though, is the lack of optimisation. This, I feel is the biggest threat to Rome 2 AARs. Many RTW players and M2TW players play that game because it is not just excellent, but will run on the majority of computers. But with Rome 2, unless you have an identical build to the ones at CA’s HQ, then you might as well play another game. People with good PC builds have reported frame rates of something like 15 FPS. That is, to simply put it, ridiculous! I could play Shogun 2 on my Mac! Even if I had a gaming computer, my chances of playing Rome 2 at high settings with a good FPS would be slim. This is why M2TW and RTW AARs are still being written because they don’t require a fancy, new computer. That is also why many people shy away from Shogun 2 AARs. But while that game is well optimised, Rome 2 is anything but.

    Rome 2- The Setting
    The one thing that Rome 2 will always have going for it is the setting. The age of Antiquity is one, which many authors absolutely love and presents a writer with a world full of political intrigue as well as bloodshed and epic battles. The schemes of Roman senators, the exploits of generals from the east, the sheer stubborn bravery of a Germanic tribe are all bases for some truly great stories. Life in Antiquity is also well recorded as historians were well respected and so, writers can use incredible historical accuracy in their story if they so wish. The amount of books on Roman tactics, on the Senate, on the wars of the Diadochi, are so numerous that it is easy to research such things. In contrast, books on Sengoku-era Japan are less numerous and finding books about samurai that of are the same high-quality is a hard.

    The Future of Rome 2 AARs
    The one certainty I can say about the future of Rome 2 AARs is that it is uncertain. Currently, I cannot say for certain whether the negatives of the gameplay will outweigh the positives of the setting or vice versa. But, I fear that it may become like the Shogun 2 sub-forum. I know for certain that there will be at least one great AAR to come out of Rome 2 but how many more than that I cannot truly say.

    Currently, though the future may look not as bleak as I paint it out to be. Our very own m_1512 as taken up the gauntlet and started his own AAR based on the Macedonian faction. His AAR, titled Saga of the One-Eyed (A Diadochi AAR), is still in its early stages yet shows much promise. Whether other writers will follow is a mystery but if he can create a masterpiece, which, due to his writing skills, I don’t doubt, than the Rome 2 AAR sub-forum may have a future. Sadly though, as of latest update, m_1512 has been unable to continue do to gameplay restrictions, which have caused his character to die on a 10 turn march.

    Alea Iacta Est, however, is an AAR, which is one of the most read of the Rome 2 AAR sub-forum. It follows the fortunes of the Cornelia family of Rome and follows their conquests as well as their defeats. The author, bourboncream, has been able to masterly combine excellent screenshots with exciting battle descriptions to create a high octane story. Of course, you can find the full review above in the reviews section of this issue.

    Finally, another noticeable AAR with a lot of potential is Cavalier’s The Return of Macedon. Following the leaders of the kingdom of Macedon, Cavalier’s tale is centred around the plot side of things a lot more than Alea Iacta Est. Hopefully, Cavalier will continue this AAR for I myself think that it does have a lot of potential.

    Ending Thoughts
    In conclusion, it is hard to say whether the sub-forum will be as successful as the original Rome Total War one is. If CA can fix the numerous amount of bugs and get it to a standard similar to Shogun 2, than indeed there is a future for it, as the lure of Antiquity may be too great. I just hope that that indeed happens and that in a couple of years time, there will be countless upon countless AARs based on Rome 2 for us to feast our eyes on.


  3. #3
    m_1512's Avatar Quomodo vales?
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    Default Re: The Critic's Quill: Issue 40



    Thanks for joining us in this edition of the Quill. I hope you found it enjoyable and a good new year's read. Please let us show much deserved appreciation and rep to the staff for bringing about the issue with their tireless efforts, that too in the holiday season.

    Three cheers for the team:
    - Adamat
    - f0ma
    - Legio_Italica
    - Maximinus Thrax
    - Merchant of Venice
    Hip hip, Huzzah!

    Hat's off to Adamat and Merchant of Venice for penning an awesome five pieces each for this edition. Yet again, I say that perhaps one day one of them might even break the standing record of maximum articles in a single edition of the Quill (current record is 12).

    If you enjoyed the staff's efforts please leave your comments in this thread - and rep the authors generously.

    Until next time,
    m_1512
    Editor






    If you find yourself at a loose end, then why not consider sampling some of the TWC publications or creative forums. It's easy, just click through the picture!

    Last edited by m_1512; January 02, 2014 at 10:08 AM.


  4. #4

    Default Re: The Critic's Quill: Issue 40

    Great work, guys!

  5. #5
    Choki's Avatar Domesticus
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    Default Re: The Critic's Quill: Issue 40

    nice job! Thanks!

  6. #6

    Default Re: The Critic's Quill: Issue 40

    Great work guys as always
    Of these facts there cannot be any shadow of doubt: for instance, that civil society was renovated in every part by Christian institutions; that in the strength of that renewal the human race was lifted up to better things-nay, that it was brought back from death to life, and to so excellent a life that nothing more perfect had been known before, or will come to be known in the ages that have yet to be. - Pope Leo XIII

  7. #7
    McScottish's Avatar The Scribbling Scotsman
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    Default Re: The Critic's Quill: Issue 40

    Exceptional work, actually makes me feel like some form of internet celebrity. I imagine it's how SBH must have felt, and probably still does. Thanks guys, and the honour is all mine, you're an exceptional group and...yea...thank you so much.

  8. #8
    iWarsaw's Avatar Semisalis
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    Default Re: The Critic's Quill: Issue 40

    Great read and great job putting it all together.
    You say you wont buy Atilla but your only lying to your self.

  9. #9

    Default Re: The Critic's Quill: Issue 40

    Great job people, some great articles and m I don't think anyone will break your record

  10. #10
    m_1512's Avatar Quomodo vales?
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    Default Re: The Critic's Quill: Issue 40

    Come on, you can do it.


  11. #11
    Shankbot de Bodemloze's Avatar From the Writers Study!
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    Default Re: The Critic's Quill: Issue 40

    Good job guys, I really like the new artwork.
    THE WRITERS' STUDY | THE TRIBUNAL | THE CURIA | GUIDE FOR NEW MEMBERS



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  12. #12
    Cavalier's Avatar Vicarius
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    Default Re: The Critic's Quill: Issue 40

    Oh wow, my AAR was mentioned. Now I feel the need to get a chapter out ASAP.

    I recently found these articles and I'm sincerely enjoying them! Keep up the good work!
    August Strindberg: "There's a view, current at the moment even among quite sensible people, that women, that secondary form of humanity (second to men, the lords and shapers of human civilisation) should in some way become equal with men, or could so be; this is leading to a struggle which is both bizarre and doomed. It's bizarre because a secondary form, by the laws of science, is always going to be a secondary form. Imagine two people, A (a man) and B (a woman). They start to run a race from the same point, C. A (the man) has a speed of, let's say, 100; B (the woman) has a speed of 60. Now, the question is 'Can B ever overtake A?" and the answer is 'Never!'. Whatever training, encouragement or self-denial is applied, the proposition is as impossible as that two parallel lines should ever meet."


  13. #13

    Default Re: The Critic's Quill: Issue 40

    Just visiting the boards after a long absence--great new issue. Is Juvenal still around anywhere?
    Son of PW

  14. #14
    Shankbot de Bodemloze's Avatar From the Writers Study!
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    Default Re: The Critic's Quill: Issue 40

    He hasn't been on-line for a while.
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  15. #15

    Default Re: The Critic's Quill: Issue 40

    Not for over a year, looking at his profile. Shame, I remember him as a great guy. Then again, I haven't been on here in forever either. Maybe he'll be back.
    Son of PW

  16. #16
    Shankbot de Bodemloze's Avatar From the Writers Study!
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    Default Re: The Critic's Quill: Issue 40

    Hopefully.
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