How do you like your write-ups?

[thebrose]

I'm wondering about what type of write-up style you like to read in the gotm spoilers. Do you prefer a thorough turn by turn log or more of a story-telling style? I know the spoilers are meant to provide information and strategy to help others learn but it's also fun when they are entertaining.

I'm just wondering what people's preferences are. I like to write in a story-telling style but it would be kind of pointless to spend the extra time to do so if no one else cared.

Thanks for your thoughts!

 

[Xevious]

I think it's safe to say many people like the story telling approach. The response to Denyd's stories has been quite positive for instance (I love them).

 

[Sabre]

I like a descriptive style. Story telling is nice and can be a fun read, but mostly I like a description of how the game went with key details explained. I appreciate the effort some people go into giving turn-by-turn recaps but unfortunately I tend to just start glancing through them and I may be missing the good stuff that's in there. A couple of good screen caps are also a good way of giving someone an idea of how your game is progressing. For me, I like to check out the minimaps and compare how the other civs differed in their progress than the civs in my game.

 

[ainwood]

I can't play, so I like the write-ups. For me, the ones that are the best are the ones that explain 'why' certain actions were taken, and discuss strategies.

With or without this, the story approach is fantastic.

 

[SniperDevil]

i think if you can find a combination of the 2 that would be the best. But i still love Denyd's stories

 

[dojoboy]

I used to write up the year by year events, but it was taking too much time. I much prefer a simple abstract approach these days. I still take a good many notes, but just summarize them and highlight anything of note. Denyd's recent write-ups have been entertaining, but I feel he's been far too kind to ainwood. But, I hear this ainwood character gets killed off. Something about the actor wanting to make a go of it in porn.

 

[SniperDevil]

ya i think i saw that film...... hehe

 

[Lord Jimbob]

I really enjoy the story-telling style, w/ explanations of strategies built in, as Ainwood said. I keep a pretty detailed turn log (for my own edification and to compare to others' games), but I try to avoid too much detail in my write-ups. I attach a link to my turn log w/my post if any body cares to read the gory detail...

 

[alamo]

The stories and tales thread has lots of the story stuff, and the by-turn details are impossible to follow.

I just like a brief summary of the major strategic decisions and/or turning points, with some screenies of course.

 

[denyd]

Thanks to those who appreciate the tales of Mursilis, they are quite a lot of fun to write.

I enjoy the saga stories and find them the most fun read, but without the step by step details of the Guru's, I would still be struggling on Regent. What might be best for those of us who like writing up the sagas to also add a post or two on some technical tricks (like gifting a scientific AI to a new age to get their tech or like SirPleibs AW diplomatic win write up).

 

[civ_steve]

I've found the condensed version of events with critical decisions or thought processes spelled out to be the most useful. Any new knowledge or lessons learned is great to read about. I try to post in this manner.

I appreciate the efforts of the saga tellers, but the mood and writing style have to strike me just right. Too long is bad, btw. (I've enjoyed Mursilis' saga to date. )

Turn log is OK; I do request that critical years/turns be put in bold, and please add some description of thought process. Too many are just a recital of the turn, which is very easy to get lost in.

I'm usually one of the later ones to reach the Spoiler, so I tend to scan through it more than read each entry unless it catches my attention. Just my approach, or I'd never reach the next Spoiler.

 

[mad-bax]

I hope I don't upset anyone...

I like people describing "why" and "how" and not "what" they did. I enjoy seeing the way peoples minds work and how that affects their game styles.

Everybody Eulagises (sp) about Sir Pleb. But his reports are exactly the sort of thing I am talking about - though they do have a tendency to be a little overlength (dare I say). My posts are more than a little overlength. 50 lines of rubbish punctuated by the odd phrase of utter rubbish.

Turnlogs are a complete turn off to me. In SG's they are necessary and interesting as you are involved in the SAME game yourself, but in terms of a GOTM spoiler.. well I don't even look at them in truth.

I like the logs that include minimaps at various stages, or for culture wins - charts showing the rate of culture increase. Anything that shows the RATE of progression.

I like the logs where people moan about their bad luck. They just crack me up.

I like Drazeks reports. "Yeah yeah once I upgraded my units I was able to reach domination in 270BC, about 20 turns more than optimal. Total playing time 4.5 seconds"

I think he just cuts and pastes this every month. Completely uninformative of course, but very amusing.

...And finally, the Sagas. I'm sorry but I don't like them, and I hope that most of the authors don't give up their day jobs... I played an SG once where it was obligatory to write your reports in this manner. Mine were excruciatingly bad. But I don't have time to read Saga's properly, I can't follow what happened in the game, and before I am half way down them my teeth are on edge. It's a bit like watching a video of yourself singing karaoke - just too painful.

Most of all, I can't read long posts. Half the size of this one is about right for me.

 

[scoutsout]

I like the logs where people moan about their bad luck. They just crack me up.

So did ya like the "Scout's Ouch" posts in the GOTM 30 and 31 spoilers?

I'll see if I wreck something for you in GOTM32 (I haven't finished that one yet...)

 

[samildanach]

My favourite posts were of the story-telling type. By a GOTMer called Zacharial ( I think) but he hasn't been around in a long time. I liked peanuts and denyd stories as well. Overall I prefer posts that make some comments about the players strategy - they don't need to tell us everything as it is a competition - something interesting hopefully.

 

[Sir Bugsy]

I agree with mad-bax. Turn logs make my eyes glaze over (except if it is a SG I'm involved in). I really like the why and hows and the results of those whys and hows. I also like to hear about how someone thought they could have done better. (i.e. - If I hadn't gone for a pure farmer's gambit, I might have had some military to defend my civ with => conquest loss in 3000 BC) Ok that's extreme, but you get the idea.