Alternative History:2014 Stirling Awards

This is the nomination and voting page for the 2014 Stirling Awards that honor the editors and timelines of 2013. This is the fourth time the Stirling Awards have been held.

CURRENTLY THE AWARDS ARE ONLY OPEN FOR NOMINATIONS. If you want to make a nomination you need to link to the thing/person you wish to nominate and explain why you think that it deserves the award. Only registered editors who have 200 or more edits and have been on the wiki for at least a month can make nominations. All nominations must be signed by the person nominating as well. Certain awards have additional rules or regulations, so please read the description carefully before supplying your nomination.

''Please REFRAIN from giving your opinion of anyone's nominations. That is what the voting is for. If a nomination is "bad" it will not win.'' Simple.

Voting will begin on January 1, 2014 and end on January 25, 2014. Results will be posted and awards handed out on January 26, 2014, the anniversary of the creation of this wiki.

'''NOTE: No fancy sigs, template or not. '''

=Writer Awards=

Writer of the Year
This award is for the best writer on the wiki in 2013.

Nominations

 * KingSweden - KS has done a bunch of new stuff this year and also jump started his Cinco De Mayo timeline. I particularly like his writing for this timeline because he makes a bunch of parallels to OTL without making it cliche. Scraw

Discussions
I have honestly never seen king edit, maybe pick a more active user. OCT MARIUS, HAIL HIM

That would be because you don't look at the edits. He edits fairly regularly.

And, on that note, as it says in bold at the top, don't criticize the nominations of others. Don't do it again.

Lordganon (talk) 19:40, December 6, 2013 (UTC)

Best New Contributor
This award is for the best new contributor to the wiki in 2013. In order to be eligible their joining date must be in 2013.

Nominations

 * Feudalplague - He's been very helpful and plausible overall, in timelines and map games. -Kogasa
 * Local Mafia Boss - Local is a very nice guy, plausible, and has helped out hugely with the implausogasm known as Y1936 --Guns

Best Writer in a Community Timeline
This award is for the best writer on a community timeline in 2013. Acceptable community timelines are listed here, or have similar notices on their front pages.

Nominations

 * Imperium Guy - Imp has been a force in community projects this year. Writing in DD, trying to help get proposals passed, helping other community projects try to get off the ground, and trying to help the community in general. Lordganon (talk) 14:06, December 14, 2013 (UTC)

Best TSPTF Member
This award is for the member of the TSPTF that has been the "best" in 2013. Only current members of the TSPTF can be nominated. Brass, Lieutenants and Constables can all be nominated. No member of TSPTF can nominate themselves.

Nominations

 * Imperium Guy- He is always helping me and finding ways that i can be a better contributor and bans me when i am sh*tt.y ~ oct
 * Lordganon is always sorting through categories and cracking down on vandals/trolls, and I'm pretty sure he runs the wiki at this point if I'm not mistaken - KingSweden
 * Seiga Miyako - Been handier than hell in a handbasket this year. Reverting spam, banning trolls... you name it. Lordganon (talk) 07:39, December 9, 2013 (UTC)

Discussions
I don't think that's the correct usage of "hell in a handbasket." NonEuclidean (talk) 18:57, December 19, 2013 (UTC)

How do you vote? Mafia CBA doing his signature. Don't judge Him. This Sig is inspired by Guns.

(Forgot about the Template Rule)

Voting is not allowed yet. Mscoree (talk) 19:59, December 19, 2013 (UTC)

ah, kk 81.158.49.129 21:40, December 19, 2013 (UTC)

Best Copy Editor
This award is for the editor who has done incredible copy editing work in the year 2013.

Nominations

 * EoGuy: I really have to renominate the wiki's dutiful editor. He doesn't create articles, he doesn't post on map games, and he doesn't make blogs. He's gained huge edit counts by just fixing spelling and grammar. He's one of the wikis few constants. --Yank 16:03, December 3, 2013 (UTC)
 * NuclearVacuum: Nuke has done a great job this year. He took it upon himself to fix our files, so that there is no longer hundreds of duplicate files around here. A monstrous task, that he has made great progress at, if not completed. Lordganon (talk) 18:07, December 10, 2013 (UTC)

Discussions
There really is no arguing for this one. :)  Imp (Say Hi?!) 16:15, December 3, 2013 (UTC)

I truly agree with Imp ;) FirstStooge (talk) 10:57, December 4, 2013 (UTC)

Oh man. Nuke is a good candidate too. He's helped fix a lot of broken links and file duplicates. Imp (Say Hi?!) 23:40, December 17, 2013 (UTC)

Best Ban
This award is for the most deserving one year or more ban of 2013.

Nominations

 * Alexlee8991 - Sure as heck was the one that annoyed me the most. Lordganon (talk) 17:51, December 8, 2013 (UTC)

Discussions
Where do we even start with this one? :P  Imp (Say Hi?!) 15:56, December 3, 2013 (UTC)

LOL Daeseunglim (talk) 21:31, December 3, 2013 (UTC)

Note that Branbran64 was banned for six months, rather than "one year or more". --NFSreloaded (talk) 22:06, December 3, 2013 (UTC)

Oh my apologies. I was told at the time that he was banned indefinitely. Mscoree (talk) 22:37, December 3, 2013 (UTC)

This was a pretty mild year. Knock on wood. CrimsonAssassin- "I have special eyes" 02:19, December 4, 2013 (UTC)

Yeah, that one's invalid, Ms. Removed.

You guys can see the list of blocked users here.

Lordganon (talk) 18:04, December 4, 2013 (UTC)

=Timeline Awards=

Timeline of the Year
This award is for the best timeline of 2013. Any and all timelines are eligible, provided that large updates have occurred to the timeline in the last year.

Nominations

 * Fidem Pacis-- Excellently done, no redlinks, and frankly speaking deserves a featured too. That Mysterious Guns Fellow (I don't trust him, do you?)
 * The Kalmar Union--A rather new timeline, still under construction, but boasts a very large array of articles, especially regarding nations. --Bfoxius
 * Cinco De Mayo -- KingSweden's new timeline. He takes an overdone POD and manages to keep it plausible while interesting. ~ Scraw
 * A World of Difference - By Scraw. Thought enough if it last year to nominate it for best new timeline, and he's surpassed that this year. Lordganon (talk) 17:06, December 18, 2013 (UTC)
 * Ohga Shrugs - by Salnax. I know Salnax has taken the TL elsewhere now but I think this Alt-Althist really deserves it, showing that a cultural TL can be just as good as a nations and wars one. Yan Hoek (talk) 09:13, December 19, 2013 (UTC)

Best New Timeline
This award is for the best TL that was created in 2013.

Nominations

 * Fidem Pacis-- Excellently done, no redlinks, and frankly speaking deserves a featured too. That Mysterious Guns Fellow (I don't trust him, do you?) ... seeing as it was made this year...
 * Yellowstone: 1936 - Although I have not yet had a chance to write for it, I am already taken aback by Yellowstone's universe that is unfolding before our eyes. It brought dozens of contributors together this year, who have put in some real hard work to make sure it is plausible and well thought out. Seems like great articles are being worked on every day. The new 1983? Tr0llis (talk) 14:01, December 4, 2013 (UTC)
 * A Federation of Equals - By 99KingHigh, DensleyBlair, TheAhawk, Somberg, Otto of England, Gen. Marshall, Keperry, Ab Ovo, Czechy9898, and some anons. A good read so far, and I look forward to seeing more. Lordganon (talk) 15:41, December 11, 2013 (UTC)

Discussions
Considering im on the Council idk about Dozens.. but we get along fine, just need to get some of the bigger wars and stuff out of the bag haha. But ill only dicuss considering im on the council it would make me look biased if i voted. The Unchallenged Conqueror #FP (Talk to Me)

Arbo is making a good work for single-handedly develops Fidem Pacis as one of respected timelines on this wiki today. And also, Fidem Pacis is a very good timeline since its start. FirstStooge (talk) 09:05, December 5, 2013 (UTC)

Since Yellowstone is newer I'd rather see Fidem Pacis win the best timeline of the year, especially considering it has had edits all year around basically. At this point in time it's nominated for both. Tr0llis (talk) 11:39, December 5, 2013 (UTC)

Best New Article
This award is for the best article created in 2013.

Nominations

 * Fifty Years War (The Kalmar Union) - by Yan Hoek. Talk about a big article, imo. Well-written, too. Lordganon (talk) 08:27, December 18, 2013 (UTC)

Best New OTL/non-AH Work
This award is for the best OTL/non-AH work that was created in 2013. The creator or principal contributor can only nominate a single one of their works. This category includes all such items on this wiki, be it from blogs, the forum or articles. The only exclusions are user pages and their extensions.

Discussions
So I guess the Revolution page is a no go?

~ Scraw 23:18, December 3, 2013 (UTC)

Why are user page extensions not allowed? The only reason it's on one my user pages is because we couldn't figure out where else to put it since Lordganon deleted the portal page. Not to mention that exlusion is newly added. I guess we can always move it to a blog post or something, but considering that this project is one of the largest collaborative projects of its kind this year, I think it would be a shame for it to be excluded. Mscoree (talk) 03:13, December 4, 2013 (UTC)

The Revolution pages seems like the best no-atl work of the year in my opinion. Tr0llis (talk) 14:02, December 4, 2013 (UTC)

And it would appear that no one is nominating anything else. Can we waive this rule?

No.

That exclusion is not "newly added." Has always been there. That concept, Ms, is Bull. You need to not lie.

Lordganon (talk) 18:04, December 4, 2013 (UTC)

Sorry I'm not lying. I said newly added because last year this section said, "The only exclusions are user and talk pages", and before that there was no mention of it. This year it says, "The only exclusions are user pages and their extensions", which if I'm not mistaken is a different collection of words than last year. Regardless, mind changing this rule? Mscoree (talk) 18:16, December 4, 2013 (UTC)

TECHNICALLY, though, even though the rule was changed, the Revolution page was an althist. A mighty strange althist but an althist none the less. 'What if the rebles had actually rebled?'

(The spelling of 'Reble' was intentional there.)

23:31, December 4, 2013 (UTC)

Yep, you are - and don't do it again. There has always been limitations on it - more implied at first than anything, and made much clearer later on. The restrictions have been getting less and less each year, for that matter. It is very clearly mentioned in last years' awards, as well. That article talk pages can, in theory, now be nominated, is a change from last year, but that is the only one. As has been the case for a while, user pages outside of blogs are not included. Nothing "newly added" about it. As to your question? No. Lordganon (talk) 19:40, December 6, 2013 (UTC)

I guess it's time to copy and paste everything to a blog post, perhaps as a finished project. Mscoree (talk) 19:52, December 6, 2013 (UTC)

Um Lordganon I don't know if you read the page, but it is in fact different. Honestly I don't see why these pages are limited in the first place, why anyone would nominate a talk page, why you feel you must follow a path of progressive change (only changing one thing a year), or why you cannot fix it, other than to be difficult.Tr0llis (talk) 19:56, December 6, 2013 (UTC)

Read what I said again - extremely apparent that you did not. Such an exclusion has always been there. Nor is there anything to "fix." Lordganon (talk) 13:50, December 8, 2013 (UTC)

Considering that we all advocate for the rule being changed is there any reason why you cannot? Mscoree (talk) 18:45, December 11, 2013 (UTC)

I read what you said, but it is incorrect. The following sentences: "The only exclusions are user and talk pages," and, "The only exclusions are user pages and their extensions" are two different sentences. I don't see how anyone could interpret that as lying, nor is it a personal attack against you or some sort of argument. I think MS was just pointing out that the sentences are slightly different. Tr0llis (talk) 18:48, December 11, 2013 (UTC)

So apparently Imp just made the revolution a page. I guess that solves that. Hopefully it isn't deleted. Mscoree (talk) 18:57, December 11, 2013 (UTC)

Any objections to restoring the portal page as well? I still don't understand why that was deleted in the first place. Mscoree (talk) 18:59, December 11, 2013 (UTC)

No its all there - although I may have screwed up the one on Ms' page. Sorry Ms. I don't know how to undo the damage on the one on Ms' page - but there is another page for the story now - completely whole. Imp (Say Hi?!) 19:00, December 11, 2013 (UTC)

No sorry, I meant, I hope the new page you made is not deleted by Lordganon in the future. Carry on as you had, leaving the user extension as a redirect. Mscoree (talk) 20:05, December 11, 2013 (UTC)

Yet another lie from MS. Not happening. Will wonders never cease. Troll, that's not what he said - don't care if that was what he was trying to say. Moved that page back to where it belongs - again. Lordganon (talk) 18:08, December 13, 2013 (UTC)

I honestly don't see how MS is lying either. Why can't novel projects be made their own thing. This is like LG just started deleting map games in their early years. NonEuclidean (talk) 15:45, December 14, 2013 (UTC)

Best Non-English AH Wiki
This award is for the best non-English alternate history wiki. Unlike the other awards, this one covers the lifetime of the wiki itself and not just work done in 2013. The administrators of these wikis may nominate them.

Nominations

 * Historia Alterna -- Founded by Ms, the newest of the Non-English AH wikis. Of course, given that Latin isn't really widely spoken (or at all really) it may not get far, but here's to hoping. Guns 20:07, December 3, 2013 (UT)
 * Historia Alternativa - Our Spanish counterpart. By far the largest of the non-english versions of this wiki, with three times the content of the second-place wiki, our Russian counterpart. Lordganon (talk) 18:08, December 13, 2013 (UTC)

Best New Map Game
This award is for the best map game created in 2013.

Nominations

 * Night of the Living Alternate History - Yeah, the game had its ups and downs, and I was a part of them, but it was very fun to play and it let to some truly awesome scenarios around the world. I don't think a game like this could ever be reproduced. Great game! [[Image:1.png|23px]] Imp (Say Hi?!)

Discussions
I agree!!!!! My first Map Game was NotLAH, I think it deserves this!!! Daeseunglim (talk) 21:32, December 3, 2013 (UTC)

Best New 1983: Doomsday Article
This award is for the best article in our largest timeline - 1983: Doomsday - that was graduated in 2013. A list of articles graduated this year may be found on the Awards talk page.

Nominations

 * Operation Dissolution - It's a neatly written page, and gives a good amount of detail. -Kogasa [[Image:Miko THPW2.png|50px]] [[Image:Flag of Europe.svg|23px|border]] 2013 December 03, 21:47 (CET)

Discussions
How many 83DD articles were actually gradded in 2013? I know only of two... Guns 20:02, December 3, 2013 (UTC)

There's a list on the talk page. -Kogasa 2013 December 03, 22:03 (CET)

Yeah, just noticed that, haha. Guns 20:05, December 3, 2013 (UTC)

I think that Operation Dissolution was pretty good. :)  Imp (Say Hi?!) 22:12, December 3, 2013 (UTC)

=Content Awards=

Best New Photoshopped Picture
This award is for the best photoshopped picture created in 2013. The creator can only nominate a single one of their pictures.

Best New Flag/Arms
This award is for the best fictional flag or coat of arms created in 2013. For reference see Category:Flags and Category:Coats of Arms.

Nominations
Flag by User:Mscoree. Why I like it? Well, first of all, it's based on the British OTL flag, but the way the colors are changed and the way the yellow, white and red combine with each other give it a soothing and aesthetic touch. The combination of the three legs of man with the shield and circle with presumable Welsh writing looks good. The crown fits perfectly on top of the circle and blends in with the rest of the flag.

Discussions
Thanks for the nomination. If anyone is curious, this flag is for a nation comprised of Anglesey and the Isle of Man. The red and gold added to the OTL British flag are the colors of Anglesey. The symbol in the middle features an altered version of the Royal Badge of Wales, pulled from the flag of 1953–59. The center symbol has been replaced by the triskelion of the Isle of Man. Mscoree (talk) 21:14, December 16, 2013 (UTC)

Told you that one looked good, lol. Lordganon (talk) 08:23, December 18, 2013 (UTC)

Best New Map
This award is for the best map created in 2013. World map, off-world map, city map or any kind of map is acceptable.

Nominations

 * Sultan_of_the_Hill.png - By Chris123. Beautifully done for the 'King of the Hill' Map Contest. CourageousLife (talk) 21:58, December 3, 2013 (UTC)
 * Unite_O_Francia_(Map_Contest).png - Also By Chris. Another amazing entry, for the 'Unlikely Union' Map Contest. CourageousLife (talk) 21:58, December 3, 2013 (UTC)
 * India for Cal (NAV).png- By Imperium Guy. Imp made this - I think very lovely - map for my timeline. It is a very clear, succinct map definitely worthy of such an honour. Callumthered (talk) 10:34, December 5, 2013 (UTC)
 * New Japan.svg - When it came down to nominating a map by Mscoree I was torn. He has a lot of great maps that he makes for people per request. This particular svg is a WIP map for Yellowstone: 1936 showing Japan's possible future borders. Very clear borders and colors. Great detail. Tr0llis (talk) 11:33, December 5, 2013 (UTC)
 * Blank map of Europe 1914 with text by eric4e -ENG- (Imperial Machines).png - By Eric4e. Very interesting map of Europe. One of the more unique design choices with regards to colors and setup I've seen on here. Lordganon (talk) 13:50, December 8, 2013 (UTC)

Discussions
A note about my map. Make sure you click to view it fully, then let it load. The actual image is slightly different than the preview since it has since been updated. Mscoree (talk) 19:07, December 10, 2013 (UTC)

Best New Template
This award is for the best template created in 2013. The creators can nominate their own work, once.

Discussions
...That template was from 2011, Chris. Removed. Lordganon (talk) 20:05, December 16, 2013 (UTC)

Even if he revamped it this year? Hm, okay. ChrisL123 (talk) 21:58, December 19, 2013 (UTC)

=Special Nominations=

Lifetime Achievement Award: Writer
This award is for the best male or female writers across the entire lifetime of the alternative history wiki. Once individual wins this award, they cannot win this award ever again. No editor can nominate him/herself.

Nominations

 * Nik/Nik42-- Well, he founded the wiki, and seeing as he (strangely) has not won the award yet ...Guns 20:04, December 3, 2013 (UTC)
 * Seiga Miyako - One of the most active modern contributors, and has one of the top edit counts. Has been here since mid-2011 and he does not seem to be leaving anytime soon. --Bfoxius
 * Louisiannan - One of the first users on this wiki, and the longtime person in charge of it until handing it off to Mitro. Writer of several of the featured timelines as well. Lordganon (talk) 18:08, December 13, 2013 (UTC)

Discussions
My thoughts exactly - and why I've nominated him each year for a while, LOL. Lordganon (talk) 19:40, December 6, 2013 (UTC)

^ In fact, I was reading through the Stirlings last year, when I saw your nomination for him - and decided to beat you to the punch this year.

20:05, December 10, 2013 (UTC)

Lifetime Achievement Award: Timeline
This award is for the best timelines across the entire lifetime of the wiki. Once a timeline wins this award, it cannot win this award ever again. Nevertheless, this award can be held in conjunction with any other award.

Nominations

 * Ætas ab Brian by C II R. With possibly the most intricate and numerous maps of any work here, Ætas ab Brian is an exemplary timeline for the wiki. Its articles contain details that other timelines ignore (like the little idiosyncrasies of the modern Roman culture) and its timeline is thorough from start to the point it has reached so far. Despite having a point of divergence out of science fiction, it follows through with it realistically (compared with many other timelines) and tends not to lose sight of events that could have far-reaching consequences. In short, I'm honored just to nominate this timeline for a lifetime award. Red VS Blue (talk) 17:55, December 3, 2013 (UTC)
 * An Independent in 2000 - by YNot1989. Despite the thing being ASB beyond belief, always did think it a good read. Lordganon (talk) 12:07, December 9, 2013 (UTC)

Discussions
I was going to nominate Ætas ab Brian for this much-deserved award again this year, so it's good to see you've saved me the effort. ;) --NFSreloaded (talk) 18:25, December 3, 2013 (UTC)

Lifetime Achievement Award: Article
This award is for the best articles across the entire lifetime of the wiki. Once an article wins this award, it cannot win this award ever again.

Nominations

 * Assiniboia (French Trafalgar, British Waterloo) - By Tbguy1992. A great example of an article on a nation, and a fairly unique idea at that. Lordganon (talk) 18:13, December 13, 2013 (UTC)

Lifetime Achievement Award: Flags and Coats of Arms
This award is for the most interesting, most ironic or most impressive flags or coats of arms in the archives of this wiki. The file must come under the form "File:XXXXXXXX". Once a flag or coat of arms wins this award, it cannot win this award ever again.

Nominations

 * Flag of Utah (Vegetarian World).svg By J4p4n. Just intriguing to me. Lordganon (talk) 20:06, December 16, 2013 (UTC)

Discussions
Oh my. How can anything compete with that? And how didn't I see this flag before? Imp (Say Hi?!) 20:14, December 16, 2013 (UTC)

You should have a look through the featured timelines, then - this one is from Vegetarian World. Lordganon (talk) 08:23, December 18, 2013 (UTC)

Funny you mention that. I was actually reading the timeline and portal page for Vegetarian World. I remember noticing the ironical aspect of the world population; where we all look to have greater populations on Earth, Ric went completely the other way with the world population only being 1.6 billion. Funny thing is that in his, too, they are trying to reduce it lol. Imp (Say Hi?!) 09:26, December 19, 2013 (UTC)

Yeah, that timeline is a really weird one. Yet to some degree, it all makes some sense in context. Odd. Lordganon (talk) 16:36, December 19, 2013 (UTC)

Lifetime Achievement Award: Maps and Other Files
This award is for the most interesting, most ironic or most impressive maps and other files in the archives of this wiki. The file can be a portrait, map, picture, etc. as long as it comes under the form "File:XXXXXXXX" and it is not a flag or coat of arms. Once a file wins this award, it cannot win this award ever again.

Lifetime Achievement Award: Map Games
This award is for the best map games across the entire lifetime of the wiki. Once a game wins this award, it cannot win this award ever again.

Nominations

 * Night of the Living Alternate History (Map Game)-- This was one of the most popular map games this year, and though I never played it, I have heard good things, so... *raises glass* I propose a toa- erm, Lifetime Stirling Award, to reward what I am sure will go down in history as one of the Greatest- and most controversial- games of this wiki. Cheers. Guns.
 * Axis vs Allies - The original AvA wasn't the most plausible game ever, nor was it the most successful. However, despite its ups and downs, it started a series of map games that never seems to die, and we're currently playing the sixth or seventh version. I think it has a very profound legacy and a great impact on the map game community today. ~ Scraw