Okay, here's my assessments an' shit. [b]Most Interesting Character[/b] Hou [@Dinh AaronMk] Hou probably cheats his way into this category by virtue of how long he's been around, but I always liked the psychological image of the character and how he breaks out of conventional dictator norms. He's not power hungry, megalomaniacal, or scheming. Nor is he august or god-like. Hou is a man who's career is driven by something human and sincere, even if it isn't quite in focus. Whereas most of us write our character's value to their society through events and mechanical reaction, Hou seems like the most believable 'Great person', who's greatness lies within himself first and without only second, like a Chinese Marcus Aurelius. He shows the importance on writing personalities over events, and how much can be done when you are subtle with details. [b]Best Collaborative Post[/b] The Berlin Conference [@Chapatrap], [@Shyri], [@Wilted Rose], [@Mihndar], [@Pepperm1nts] Though the technical details of PoW writing has significantly improved since 2012, I feel like the one thing we lost in the transition is the relationship between the nations themselves and how the personalities of each nation can come to life through interaction. The Berlin Conference was a taste of the old PoW, having all the better parts of good ol' international events like the American Wars while leaving out the problems that used to come with those. You can make an interesting post in a conference, but to do it you gotta draw out the personalities involved, and this is a great example of how it can be done. Plus, really, if you wanted to explain to an outsider why PoW Europe seems to be so impotent, this post shows it off. [b]Best Solo Story Arc[/b] Sara Reicker [@The Wyrm] It's difficult to make comments on arc completion this early on, so quick constructions are going to be the order of things. You introduced this character in, what, three posts? And by the apogee of that introduction you'd already made her out to be the next Gang Gouji. It was a very well done short turn-around. [b]Best Post[/b] The Most Dangerous Game [@The Wyrm] Spaniards doing evil things in North Africa. This is classic PoW style. I like how you are willing to go a little bit further, not for the sake of your own self gain, but for the sake of hitting that note that is a little too high and creating that dissonant sound that makes PoW what it is. PoW isn't about recreating HOI playthroughs or making realistic facsimiles of world politics, its about taking old genre tropes from so many different genres and sewing them all together. This post is a perfect work-up of that system. [b]Best Character Development[/b] Aurelia Dizon [@Letter Bee] I feel like Aurelia has been the closest thus far to filling the kind of villain role once held by Sotelo. She is openly aggressive in here style of politics and selfish in her goals, which detaches her from the national-avatar problem so many leaders have in NRPs. I like reading a good hand-ringing villain speech now and then. [b]Best Nation Development[/b] United States of America [@Byrd Man] The US has probably been the most fleshed out country in the RP since you took it over. The reason is obviously because you focus on civilian and mid-level political leaders over executives and soldiers, allowing for the system and society to shine rather than the decisions and battles. I think everybody should look to your examples when working out how to make their countries into actual countries. I've definitely been trying to. And I don't say this just because you are the United States. I think what has especially made your US vivid is the fact that you've broke from RP America in some ways and came up to it through a new history. Part of making a faction in PoW is knowing how to verge from the real course of history. Any monkey with a few youtube history videos and a keyboard can mimic the real world history of a country, but it takes true skill to confidently verge from the real-world version without landing in some hollow trope. You've nailed that. [b]Best Creative Idea[/b] Assyria [@EveryMemeAKing] Okay, so it's probably controversial to chose somebody who hasn't posted yet as the most creative idea... but imma do it. I am a sucker for unique shit, and going with an independent Assyria is right down my alley. I really want to see you thrive in this RP. Post, keep on posting. Don't be shy about making what might feel like silly references to the ancient kingdom of the same name BTW. I really really encourage light anachronism. [b]Best Use of Alt. History[/b] Armenia [@TheEvanCat] It is easy to fall into certain tropes in 20th century alt-history. I feel like PoW has, even if by accident, avoided a lot of the worst stuff due to the weird distribution of our interests. Armenia as a significant player on the world stage is a great example of this. What alt history digs up a country as random as Armenia and turns it into the military powerhouse? Let the Wehraboo's have their stahlhelms and Prussian drilling, but in PoW, let the taraz and the unibrowed Armenian sergeant be the symbol of potent militarism. [b]PoW MVP (aka The Prime Preciprick)[/b] Aaron [@Dinh AaronMk] There isn't a PoW without Aaron running the show, even today. None of the rest of us have the stamina to keep track of the newbies and lapsing oldbies. We lose Aaron, PoW dies. Don't think there is anybody else that could be said for.