A few advice for After Action Report / Let's Play

Hello folks,

I see a lot of "After Action Report" or "Let's Play", basically thread where you day-to-day explain what you are doing.

A few advice about this :

1. Screenshoots, screenshoots, screenshoots !

That's the most important.

Wall of texts are really dry. No one will read it. I won't. Screenshoots (several by days when there is combat) will allow to understand way better than 200 words, and let your text breath.

For editing screenshoots, I recommand Faststone Capture. For hosting, Imgur is enough.

2. In-character correspondance & theme

Talk to the other players in-character, even if the "in-character" is comedy or whatever. Some of the other players will play their role, and something fun and organic will emerge.

Further to this, gives a consistant style to your writing (first person "I am personally invested and the commander", first person "I am an analyst and I see things coldly", third person "history book", third person "heavily biased history book" ...).

Having a common theme/quirk that binds together your different days [for instance in my signature the short cartoon before each day] also gives character and quality to your AAR.

3. Explain what you are doing // your doctrine

Instead of just saying "I am building light tanks", explain why you build Light Tanks and not infantry, or armored cars, or just nothing. If you think that Light Tanks are just overall better, than your personal doctrine is "light tank", explain why you like Light Tanks so much.

Similarly, if you choose one ally over another - why so ?

4. Do both day-by-day AND thematically

Doing stuff day-by-day allows you to neatly organize things and give a standard "speed of progress" for your readers, rather than having 1 week in one post, one day in another.

Days are not as packed as other, days of peace don't have much that happens. So what you should do is use those downtime to talk about your long term strategy, your doctrine, etc.

5. Put a summary in your first post

You can link to specific messages (eg to day 2) ; use this to put a summary of where to stand at the beginning.

It will :

- Help you quickly find old posts, trust me you will need it

- Immediately indicate to new readers that this is active

- Makes your whole Let's Play look professional.

Honestly, the Let's play in my signature is a good reference :)

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12 Replies

Chimere wrote:

Honestly, the Let's play in my signature is a good reference
Perhaps I was copying you when I did my poland thing that got this all started....

And for those of you that can't upload screenshots, you have to make sure the file is JPG not PNG

Another tip: Give your nation a goal. In your Dominican Republic game, you spread the right kind of Christianity. Mexitaco spreads tacos. Murica spreads McDonaldβ€˜s. It gives your let’s play a better feel. It will also give your character’s motivation. That’s what I have to say.

WHOS GONNA CARRY THE BOATS?
WHOS GONNA CARRY THE LOGS?
THEY DON'T KNOW YOU SON!
- David Goggins

I feel like this is directed at me :(

β€œI do not love the sword for its sharpness, nor the arrow for its swiftness, nor the warrior. I love only that which they defend.”
β€œIf you win, you need not explain!”
β€œWhat difference does it make if destruction is wrought under the name of dictators or in the name of democracy?”
War is Peace
Slavery is Freedom
Weakness is Strength

But my reports r good... right?

β€œI do not love the sword for its sharpness, nor the arrow for its swiftness, nor the warrior. I love only that which they defend.”
β€œIf you win, you need not explain!”
β€œWhat difference does it make if destruction is wrought under the name of dictators or in the name of democracy?”
War is Peace
Slavery is Freedom
Weakness is Strength

Yes, GrandEmpire, your reports are good. You are an excellent orator, and you give a balanced feel. This will just give reports more life. However, your reports, in the style that they are written, don't need to do this.

WHOS GONNA CARRY THE BOATS?
WHOS GONNA CARRY THE LOGS?
THEY DON'T KNOW YOU SON!
- David Goggins

GrandEmpire wrote:

I feel like this is directed at me :(
You can't defeat the self-proclaimed master of Bad-Reporting, 'Karl von Krass'!!

I broke every single advice on this thread. YOLO

"In my humble opinion, on the subject matter, topic and content discussed beforehand; I would like to humbly propose, convey my idea on the subject and remark; this, with the help of the afforementioned post" - Karl von Krass
"The Golden Spire is looking for members, Anyone with good sense of game mechanics and a discord account can apply"
Secretary of Nova0213

I used almost every single one, even the screenshots, but no one seems to read my threads

The President

You follow these tips, but you need to add oratorical skill to your threads. People do read your threads, though.

WHOS GONNA CARRY THE BOATS?
WHOS GONNA CARRY THE LOGS?
THEY DON'T KNOW YOU SON!
- David Goggins

BrutusTrump wrote:

You follow these tips, but you need to add oratorical skill to your threads. People do read your threads, though.
Very less, one or two or three maybe?
The President

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