Matrix Games Forums

As most of you know, and if you don't you should read it, Cuttlefish wrote a truly masterful tale (AAR). Over the course of time it stimulated me and as I started a PBEM I decided to write one too. Therein the similarities stopped. Yes, I try and tell of the war as seen through the character's eyes but my efforts pale and aren't even worthy of a comparison.

I knew that Cuttlefish was doing a huge investment of time as he told the story from the Japanese side of the war and that required much more work for him. He is from a totally different culture and he pulled it off on a very even basis. Yes some entries were better than others, but overall the level of detail and skill exhibited were amazing.

Reading "Small Ship..." motivated me and now I am in the midst of writing an AAR. My investment of time in it initially drew the ire of my wife, not the game itself. The deeper into the war we get the more admiration I have for Cuttlefish as the long periods of boredom have to be filled by the characters doing the mundane things of life. The combat becomes a sideline to the story.

I try to keep things interesting, but some days there is little lightning in the keyboard. As I see the number of hits grow it becomes something that I feed off of. It makes me want to do better. Reader comments are great to see as you know that there is interest in your efforts.

In closing I urge those of you who never read it to read "Small Ship..." as it is a standard to be reached for, a work of art that the forum was blessed with.

As embroiled as I am in AE now it took me a while to notice this post. Thanks, tocaff. You sure aren't wrong about the time it took to write "Small Ship." But it took on a life of its own and kept pulling me along for the more than two years I wrote it. I was also fortunate that my wife became a fan of the AAR and encouraged me to keep at it.

Thanks again and good luck with your own AAR, which I have found to be a worthy read.

"Small Ship" is the gold standard for AARs, no question.