Reviewer's Choice!

[Tempest]

Hello everyone I am so excited to bring you something new! This is going to be the Reviewer's Choice! Here we will be showing off threads that have stood out not only to our amazing reviewers, but also from our mod team! Each month mods and reviewers will send links to threads that have left an impression on them. Once everyone has submitted their entries they will be posted here for everyone to look at and read! We're not going to pick a single thread to win. Each person involved in each thread that has been nominated is a winner and will get a medal, and we will enjoy celebrating the great writing here on Standing Trials. Thanks to the Peer Reviewers who work so hard to give us rewards for our threads, and we hope you enjoy this month's selections!

[Tempest]

Reviewer's Choice - March 2022

Reviewer: Pegasus
Link: The Preparation II
Name of Thread: The Preparation II
Reason: It was fantastic fun, really showed me the way that the PC, Lorogh, thought and considered things. This is a new PC and I was really pulled in to the story from the get-go. He's a small Cadouri with big ideas and dreams and behind that regimented, military, EE mind, there's a real spark of genius. I loved reading it and I was pulled along with the thread from beginning to end. It could, so easily, have been boring to read, but it was, in fact, compelling!

Reviewer: Balthazar Black
Link: The Woods are Lovely, Deep, and Dark
Thread: The woods are Lovely, Deep, and Dark
Reason: I really enjoyed the way that Dandelion paints the scene throughout the thread. I think that it does an excellent job of building a foreboding atmosphere throughout the story which elevated what could have easily just been a dream about setting up a camp.

Reviewer: Pig Boy
Link: Black and the Beast
Thread: Black and the Beast
Reason: I've enjoyed a lot of threads that were part of a series this past month. Everything from gardening focused escapades, crafting focused things, and mysteries, but this stands out as one of my favorite threads out of that bunch.

The reason I chose this thread as my choice, it's a perfect example of how an advanced character might be pushed to the backfoot under the right circumstances. The stakes were high, as Balthazar was looking out not only for himself, but for a group of hunters/survivalists/adventurers. He was just as responsible for their lives as he was his own.

Add to that, the excellent use of magic, which wasn't overpowered or pushed but used just enough, to convincing effect upon the creature he encountered. I'm also partial to battles with huge and indomitable beasts.

The conclusion is equally satisfying, not skimping on details about the aftermath of the whole battle and the escape from the Scaltoth with the rewards he'd acquired from it. He went as far as to detail how the npcs that were wounded were holding up, and how they were taken care of. Very good attention to detail.

Reviewer: Doran
Link: Drownproofing
Thread: Drownproofing
Reason: It’s a solo where Oram and his fellow rangers receive training in the eponymous activity. At first glance, it’s a pretty straight-forward training thread, but the dialogue in it is highly entertaining. I couldn’t help but smirk when Leland, the Mer teaching the class, pointed at the water and held a little speech about it, for example. And then there was the practical demonstration during which Oram got into his dead-man’s-float/treading combination and kind of quietly said, “Help!”, only for Leland to tell him to be louder again and again. The thread wasn’t just funny though; Oram and his fellow Rangers also learned a couple of very important things.

[Balthazar Black]

Reviewer's Choice - April 2022

Reviewer: Avalon
Link: Candles in the Dark
Name of Thread: Candles in the Dark
Reason: This thread had a specific setting and purpose, but the writer made the scene come alive with just hands-down fantastic writing, filling in the environment with detail. It very easily could have come off as two-dimensional but was anything but. A very enjoyable read and introduction to the EE.

Reviewer: Doran
Link: Bend and Sway
Thread: Bend and Sway
Reason: Russel made Ashan's curse seem truly horrifying, in a way that was beautifully written. There was more than just suffering though. There was also a sense of hope. Russel realized that he had to re-learn how to move and reinterpret the way his body occupied space after being cursed. This was more than just a thread about Russel’s recovery though. Russel also wove aspects of his PC's history into the narrative and told his readers who he is, apart from a curse of Ashan.

Reviewer: Pig Boy
Link: Where One is Fed, A Hundred can Dine
Thread: Where One is Fed, A Hundred can Dine
Reason: This is a dream thread by Dandelion. What I liked most about it was the subtle characterization that came out in the narrative of the dream. Dandelion being a generous soul, was always willing to share a bit of meat with the less fortunate creatures of the forest, as he downed a deer and found that many animals began begging for the scraps. For every cut he shaved off the deer, more grew as he gave it away.

I think there might've been some subtle commentary on the PC's nature or outlook there, if one wanted to look for it. It almost seemed as if there was a deeper meaning to this dream. Or perhaps it was just a dream? Either way, it was written as a very interesting folk-tale'ish way that was very entertaining from beginning to end.

Reviewer: Balthazar Black
Link: From One Dog Lover To Another
Thread: From One Dog Lover To Another
Reason: I enjoyed almost everything about this thread. It was a great example of how to write alchemy and a wonderful look into the character. The writer took a small event (Ilaren getting a dog) and used it to bring the whole society of Rharne alive by showing how one dedicated citizen who is also fond of canines would react to the news.

!	Message from: Avalon
	Flair awarded for April 2022!

[Balthazar Black]

Reviewer's Choice - May 2022

Reviewer: Avalon
Link: Council Meeting: Rebirth Cycle 722
Name of Thread: Council Meeting: Rebirth Cycle 722
Reason: Scalvorian politics is where it's atttttttt! The past two council meetings have been a treasure trove of fun and all the pcs involved really play their parts. I mean, it's politics. It's differing agendas. It's political maneuvering. You name it - this thread has it.

These threads by their very nature, featuring so many pcs, are challenging on a lot of levels, and they did a great job with the material and situations given to them, by other pcs and the mod!

Reviewer: Doran
Link: I Dance
Thread: I Dance
Reason: There was something incredibly atmospheric and evocative, something almost magical about this thread. Areia made the sandspecks, a phenomenon that happens every Ashan, seem like a truly miraculous thing. Her curiosity about them was almost tangible, and her dance was beautifully written.

Reviewer: Pig Boy
Link: A Bad Batch III
Thread: A Bad Batch III
Reason: Maxine is one of the tougher customers around. While this thread doesn't strip away that toughness or downplay it, at the same time it shows how a tough character can become vulnerable. The dialogue was fantastic here and gets across to me just how put upon Maxine has become, in the weight of the curse on her and also the weight of addiction.

The use of the curse here (where she refuses to attack Sabrina until she's commanded) is really an ideal example of how a character can roll with the punches and continue to tell stories that are interesting to read. I'd recommend a read of this Maxine series to anyone who doesn't mind darker subject matter.

Reviewer: Pegasus
Link: Gift of the Magpie
Thread: Gift of the Magpie
Reason: I loved this thread! On the surface, it seems to be just a slice of life of two people meeting up (Woe turns up uninvited tut tut!) but it's so much more than that. It's a thread about a shared connection they both have with Llyr, about their relationship as almost-friends (maybe friends?) and each of them engages in some really interesting self-reflection. It's one of those threads which looks to be one thing when you start but, as you read you realise that it's quite another. Beautiful writing from two amazing writers!

!	Message from: Avalon
	Flair awarded for May 2022!

[Balthazar Black]

Reviewer's Choice - June 2022

Reviewer: Oberan
A Link With the Name of the Thread: Shaping Up
What did you enjoy most about this thread?
Shaping Up is a very well-written thread all around. Its premise is simple and old as time: a student-teacher relationship. As Praetorum is a very established PC, he’s not the one needing to be taught, but doing the teaching. Maybe it’s just me, but seeing a PC teach an NPC seems not as common as the reverse.
While the focus of the thread is on Praetorum figuring out how to help his protégé and setting up a small test, what impressed me most is the characterization of Daeven. There’s just so many hints to his inner conflicts and worries seeping through his depiction and dialogue, which give him an intriguing amount of depth. Wonderful stuff, really.

Reviewer: Doran
A Link With the Name of the Thread: Leaving the Warren
What did you enjoy most about this thread? This was an utterly adorable thread. Clara left her parents' house in order to move into a place of her own. She was so nervous, but also very brave, and her writer described that well in my opinion. My heart really went out to her when she forgot that there were stairs in front of her parents' house and landed face first on the ground. I also loved the scenes with the NPC Chorum. The way Clara and Chorum interacted was heart-warming. All in all, this is one of the threads that leave you with a smile on your face.

Reviewer: Pig Boy
A Link With the Name of the Thread: With a Flower with a Flame
What did you enjoy most about this thread?: I really enjoyed the emotion that the PC opened up with in this thread. So many lines stand out from it. There's the pain of being separated from the man she loves, and knowing that she can't be with him and yet she's got to truck on, or else the worry and uncertainty will consume her.

It's also the beginning of a big move by Faith, to create a huge Wonder of the World sized hospital. It's interesting that an amazing idea would come out of that pain and drive her to create an establishment that is sure to have an enduring legacy. So it shows how from great pain and heartache and wounding, a character can and does come out stronger if they can carry on, if they try.

It's a beautiful story that really deserves a read.

!	Message from: Avalon
	Flair awarded for June 2022!

[Balthazar Black]

Reviewer's Choice - July 2022

Reviewer: Oberan
A Link With the Name of the Thread: Hips Don't Lie
What did you enjoy most about this thread? I feel Natalia's writer is someone who's been flying below the radar for quite some time. I'm not sure why, honestly. They're a great allrounder who consistently produces well-written pieces with well-realized characters, be they PC or NPC. Sure, their plots aren't often about epic quests and high-stakes situations, but instead they usually focus on inter-character relationships, and the slow, personal growth of their PCs.

This thread showcases a little bit of everything that I like. It has nice prose, fantastic character dynamics and dialogue, pulls you in quick, and leaves you wanting to read more.

While it is a run-up to other solo threads, it itself remains fun, and doesn't feel like it's just there because there has to be some set-up. Rather, it also explores an aspect of her character and builds the reader's expectations, only to then turn them on its head a little later. I think it is intriguing for a character to so willingly step out of their comfort zone to pursue growth and some hereto unknown goal. And throwing in a little wrinkle at the end... well, it certainly wets the appetite for more to come.

Reviewer: Doran
A Link With the Name of the Thread: So, Mr Miller...
What did you enjoy most about this thread? This was just such a highly entertaining thread. Winston participates in a cooking contest and is being interviewed. I couldn’t stop grinning. There were so many funny moments, from Winston’s new and previously non-existent signature dish over the way he met his interviewer to the reason why he started cooking. This thread wasn’t just funny though. Winston is also a very honest and humble cadouri!

Reviewer: Pig Boy
A Link With the Name of the Thread: Land Legs
What did you enjoy most about this thread?: Most of all, what I like about this thread was the vivid descriptions and sensations that were brought so brilliantly to life by the mer character Areia.

There's obviously so much knowledge and research that went into how aquatic life works, but it isn't presented in an overbearing, info-dump way, but rather expressed through the character's perspective, not quite understanding why things are the way they are but that they are, and how that feels and impacts them.

This I think is probably one of the first Mer-Legs threads I''ve seen on the boards. I've seem a few mer characters in my time, but none that were played as wild and tribal as this character. She plays the naivete of someone who is new to the wider world very well.

A real fish out of water.

Reviewer: Pegasus
A Link With the Name of the Thread: Chest Thumpin'
What did you enjoy most about this thread?: I loved this thread! Winston is such a fun and funny pc - but more than that, he's got hidden nuances and depth, which I really like! He's well written and the whole cutout box of the "devil on his shoulder" makes me laugh. Really well-written - lots of fun! A very deserving recipient of a reviewers' choice, I feel!

Reviewer: Avalon
A Link With the Name of the Thread: An a-MAZE-ing find
What did you enjoy most about this thread?: Winston is an incredibly unique pc with a genuinely honest, unfiltered outlook on things. This solo had depth and humor, which is a tricky combination to write.

In this piece, we are treated to several things, including Winston's philosophy on gift-giving, which as a child of Saoire allows up to understand how he personally connects to the Immortal through such. It was a very subtle moment but really added a lot of understanding for the reader.

Winston is such an endearing example of a cadouri. His curiosity and excitement to experience the world is infectious!

At the same time, we see the 'devil on the shoulder,' which all people deal with, allowing the reader to connect to Winston and understand that even though he's small and adorable, he deals with the same internal pressures that we all do.

Just a lovely, fun piece of writing!

!	Message from: Pig Boy
	Awarded all flair but Pig Boy's

[Balthazar Black]

Reviewer's Choice - August 2022

Reviewer: Pig Boy
A Link With the Name of the Thread: Shared Reflections
What did you enjoy most about this thread?: I have a special fondness for old threads that have been left in the wake of either an absence (ones own or that of their writing partner), and yet manage to pull through with an accurate and appropriate mindset that is based on that part of the character's life.

There's something special about a player that can pull that off, and I really appreciated and enjoyed that Darius found it in him to finish up this old solo. He did so in great fashion, furthering his pc's relationship with his budding love interest.

Very nicely done.

Reviewer: Pegasus
A Link With the Name of the Thread: Shower Onyx On The People
What did you enjoy most about this thread?: This thread was awesome! I really enjoyed reading about the inner workings of Woe's mind here - he's clever and nuanced and the thread was a really interesting example of how clever he is. The writing is excellent, the story is great fun and the PC is a pleasure to read. I loved reviewing it!

Reviewer: Avalon
A Link With the Name of the Thread: Proving you've got it!
What did you enjoy most about this thread?: Winston is just a breath of fresh air! It's so fun to watch him experience Scalvoris, seeing it all through his little eyes. This thread was just a fantastic example of his good heart and how he often knows something's off about a situation, but he never lets it change who he is. It's just fantastic, entertaining writing!

!	Message from: Peg
	All tags and medals awarded!!

[Balthazar Black]

Reviewer's Choice - September 2022

Reviewer: Pig Boy
A Link With the Name of the Thread: Young and Reckless II (Adult Forum, for Drug use, language, murder, and suggestive themes.)
What did you enjoy most about this thread?: I think there are many layers to this thread, and it's always great to see that sort of thing revealed in the characters involved. Here, what might've been a throwaway victim character, actually was given depth by Maxine in order to showcase how far her PC has gone. At once, we're shown how Maxine can have sympathy for her victim, and also even sort of identify with her. In the end, she reveals and realizes that she's not at all like her, despite their brief connection, and condemns herself as a monster. Really powerful stuff.

Reviewer: Pegasus
A Link With the Name of the Thread: Take It All Back
What did you enjoy most about this thread?: This solo by Max is just beautiful. It's exquisitely written, it's emotional, immersive, totally beautiful. It's a harrowing moment in Maxine's life and the nuances of writing in this thread make it a masterclass in writing in a forum RPG. I was pulled in to the story from the opening words and I was totally entranced to the end. Beautiful writing!

Reviewer: Oberan
A Link With the Name of the Thread: No Easy way
What did you enjoy most about this thread?: I will be honest. I am a simp for Kasoria's writing. I have yet to read a piece written by them that I did not thoroughly enjoy. I see a Kasoria thread, I click and read. It's that simple.

Kasoria usually writes satisfying storylines --perhaps better described as chapters-- spanning anywhere from 3 to 5 or more threads that all have impeccable prose, great character work, and amazing descriptions. It's often on the grittier side, and their threads do tend to go dark places, featuring violence, foul language, and killing. They don't hold back challenging Kasoria at all. Earlier escapades always tended to have Kas on the back foot despite his terrifying prowess as a death salesman, fighting the odds in one way or another. It's tense, it's bloody, and Kas kicks all sorts of ass.

This... well, it is that. But not quite the same as before. In recent times, Kasoria has come face to face with a situation he can't carve his way out of, enemies he cannot kill, and problems that aren't solved by tearing them to pieces with his trusty karambit. And I think it's a great read.

This thread is a second part of three part chapter. It hits harder if you're familiar with Kas's earlier stories, but it's worth the read all the same.

Reviewer: Doran
A Link With the Name of the Thread: Accessories
What did you enjoy most about this thread? The topic of the thread! The review request immediately attracted my attention. I wanted to know why Woe thought there was a need for a brothel at the hospital because a hospital with a brothel attached to it seemed like a strange thing to me. Woe explained it perfectly though, and I love how Faith came up with a system for it, and they discussed the advantages and disadvantages. Apart from that, it was just a very well written and interesting conversation!

!	Message from: Balth
	All tags and medals awarded!!

[Balthazar Black]

Reviewer's Choice - October 2022

Reviewer: Pig Boy
A Link With the Name of the Thread: But in Battalions
What did you enjoy most about this thread?: If you've been around the site, and read or reviewed you've probably come across Kasoria's work once in a while. He has a really great command of action scenes and horrific violence that doesn't shy from describing in frightening detail the visceral terror of the other side on the receiving end. Yet here, he shows that he is just as capable of writing his pc in a way that is less in his violent element. Here we get a little glimpse of his work and home life.

In this single thread, his ultra-violent murdering pc shows such things as humility, restraint, vulnerability, and is meanwhile mocked, scorned, reviled or, at best, feared by those around him. The sequences where he feels like he's losing his grip on the relationship with his son is very emotional and hits the right dramatic beats.

The ending is superb as well, bringing father and son back to the same place for the only thing that could. The one person and only bond they have in common.

Looking forward to reading more from Kasoria, and highly recommend looking at his other stories.

Reviewer: Pegasus
A Link With the Name of the Thread: Within Earshot
What did you enjoy most about this thread?: Why I chose this thread: Darius was such a great sport here! I felt so bad for him when his writing partner abandoned the thread and it would have been easy to just "get it done" but I wanted to make sure that he had a story which was good for his PC. He really just rolled with the punches and more than once he was just so flexible in terms of the story itself. There were loads of aspects of this story which were challenging for the pc and he really showed his leadership and his tactics here. Awesome, truly awesome, writing here. I really enjoyed the thread - and was keen to read every time I saw a reply!

Reviewer: Fate
A Link With the Name of the Thread: Cylus V1
What did you enjoy most about this thread?: There are a number of reasons I enjoyed this thread. Partly the righting style itself keeps me interested and the fact that is almost a play within the post made me have to think. The subject mater is very serious but I feel that Woe allows one to think about the seriousness with delving into uncomfortable details. It also left me rooting for the protagonists to triumph.

Reviewer: Doran
A Link With the Name of the Thread: How To Present One's Concerns
What did you enjoy most about this thread? I love that Kura is being an active Albarech in this thread - and willing to deal with dangerous situations when she could be sitting in her office instead. She personally deals with a hostage taker, and then she holds court in the victim's shop. That was great in my opinion. I also like that her writer shows us that the Elements aren't as fond of Kura dealing with a threat herself though - and that he adresses the fact that people find the Council hard to approach. We also get to read about the less pleasant aspects of being Albarech!

!	Message from: Balth
	Tags and medals Awarded!

[Balthazar Black]

Reviewer's Choice - November 2022

Reviewer: Pig Boy
A Link With the Name of the Thread: Don't Mess with the Country Boys
What did you enjoy most about this thread?: This was a very good action thread by Jasper, and not a role I see that PC taking too often, but the magic play and fighting were well done, a little lack of clarity not withstanding with whether the snapshot managed to land or not

Reviewer: Pegasus
A Link With the Name of the Thread: The Guild Has Eyes
What did you enjoy most about this thread?: It's no secret that I've loved the way that Balthazar and Woe have dealt with this calendar event and this final thread certainly didn't disappoint! What I've been most impressed by, from both players, is how nuanced their writing is. They play their strengths and their weaknesses, IC, and they are so very different. I love the way both PCs are written - from Balth's undertones of cynical good guy, to Woe's real business acumen, it's just a really well-crafted thread in a beautifully written series. Fantabulous!

Player Choice!

Player: Pyrre Ej'qy and Woe
A Link With the Name of the Thread: A Bone to Pick
What did you enjoy most about this thread?: "Woe's hauntingly fun and cryptic portrayal throughout made me make all kinds of excited noises each time I read a reply. He was truly brilliant and so fun to write with, especially with how he portrayed Woe's NPC, Lacrima. I have had a habit in the past of taking time to reply, but this thread had me wanting to respond immediately. It was also my first time really writing with Pyrre and his two NPCs (and my first collab on ST!!) and, although I don't feel like Pyrre did much beside initiating the whole thing, I think it will remain one of my favourite threads. It was also one of the first threads where I didn't go in with any expectations beyond the premise and was blown away with how it all managed to fit in seamlessly with where I plan to take the trio and that's all credit to Woe's writer. 10/10, absolute fun, definitely recommend." Pyrre

and

"Not a usual thread for Woe to have, as he's essentially acting as background dressing largely throughout this, yet I enjoyed watching the scene unfold of Lacrima telling a fortune to Pyrre through the lens of my pc. There was a lot of NPC playing in this thread, but it was all well done on both sides in my opinion! Pyrre is a great PC too!" - Woe

Player: Vega
A Link With the Name of the Thread: [Sweetsong] Nïtọsï Ẹrẹkẹ
What did you enjoy most about this thread?: Oh this thread was great. I loved writing this with Kisaik, he just brought his family to life and the way that he wrote really inspired me to write better. I really enjoyed it - I always enjoy writing with Kis, but this thread was super special!

Player: Zana
A Link With the Name of the Thread: Bird and Egg, Wolf and Bear
What did you enjoy most about this thread?: This was a politics thread and I just adored writing it. The pcs in there were all working very much to their own agenda, but with a sort of common goal. There was a lot of fun to be had and I really enjoyed the dynamic between the pcs. It also meant that things got done, so it was the best kind of politics thread, I think. Really enjoyable, really lovely writing. Thanks to all concerned, it was great.

Mod Choice!

Mod: Pig Boy
A Link With the Name of the Thread: Dedication and Commitment
What did you enjoy most about this thread?: I loved the dynamic relationship that Zana and Devin have found for themselves here. It is a strange situation where two very different characters find themselves in a position where they can not only get along, but thrive on each other's strengths. I enjoyed playing Delroth here, and am quite proud of his appearance there. Foisting the marriage of his daughter off on his high priest was a high point for me

Mod: Pegasus
A Link With the Name of the Thread: Blackberry Picking
What did you enjoy most about this thread?: I loved the way that the PCs in this thread just rolled with the punches. We had people turning into sparky wolves, into elderly folks, into little children and even into clouds. There were coughs and hiccups and it was a very odd situation to say the least. I loved modding it, the imagination of all concerned amazed and delighted me. Players are what makes modded threads special, and this was a very wonderful group of players. Kisaik's idea of how to save the Flapdoodle really surprised me, and I loved the whole experience!

!	Message from: Balth
	Reviewer Choice Tags and Medals Awarded, others in progress!

!	Message from: Avalon
	Player and Moderator's Choice Medals Awarded (exception - Elisabeth Angelus)