Help:Tips
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This page represents an official eRepublik Wiki help page. |
See Also |
The eRepublik Wiki has gotten a lot of new members lately. Therefore, a few contributors have shared their best tips and tricks with you, enjoy!
Look Around and Use Templates
This Wiki is rapidly coming up on 1000 articles. There is a good chance that someone else has already made a page similar to the one you want to create. Scope other pages for graphics, organizational structures, or tables that you might want to use.
Most pages start with a template. There are some great ones on this site and more are being created every day. There is a good chance there is a template that fits your needs. Also, many templates will automatically place the article into a category.
Here is a good place to start: Help:Common templates.
Link Your Page... But Not Too Much
Page linking is integral to the Wiki. Link to other pages; but at the same time, do not over a link.
Here are the guidelines I use:
- Link to parties, people, Countries, events (wars).
- Link it once. For example, if I am writing about the Ibero-American War, I will only link the first mention of Spain or Mexico, not every mention of the countries.
- Don't link the page to itself (unless you really like running around in circles).
- If a link is red, rethink it. Check to see if the link adds anything to the article or if it is misspeled.
Use Categories
Categories organize the Wiki and make it easier to find related articles and direct users to your page. To find existing categories, on your left, in the navigation bar, click Special Pages, then click Categories.
You can, however, OVER categorize. For instance, you are creating a page for a Romanian political party. Since you used the party template, your page will automatically put the page in the Parties of Romania category. You do not need to add the Romania category, because Parties of is a subcategory of the country one.
Break Up Your Page
Use headings, bullets, numbers, tables, and images to break up your pages. It makes it easier for the reader. No matter how good your article is, if it is a wall of text, a reader won't get to the end. (Pages like this make me want to create a TLDR template, to slap on the top.)(Seems like someone created it:{{Wall}})
Also, experiment with placement on the page. See DrogbaPT's comments below in "Images" for more information.
Remember to KISS (Keep It Simple, Stupid)
Don't get over ambitious with your article. Keep it concise and relevant to eRepublik and the topic of your article. Keep to what is necessary to understand a topic. Always start an article with a summary sentence. Details and references are good, but don't overdo it.
Use Abbreviations Sparingly
There are so many political parties and organizations, abbreviations are hard to understand. It is always best to spell it out, instead of using abbreviations. Only use and abbreviation IF it has been defined earlier in the SAME Article.
Write Out Dates
This might seem like a small thing, but it adds to the readability of the wiki. There are a lot of ways to write dates (mm/dd/yyyy, dd/mm/yyyy, yyyy/mm/dd, etc). This is an international community and every country has a preference for the positioning of digits. Most Americans read 02/03/2008 as February 3rd, while others would read this as is March 2nd. Instead of digits - it is best to write out dates in the format 2 March 2008 or March 2, 2008 - I think we all understand what that means, no matter what the language. Also, there is no reason to write: March 2nd, 2008.
Use Preview
Every edit page has a "Show Preview" button. This is your friend. Use this button and ask yourself:
- Do I need to fix links?
- Should I put a word in bold or italics?
- Do I need headers?
- Do I like the way it looks?
This is better than repeatedly clicking "Save Page." If you do click "Save" for a lot of little edits, expect to get the following message on your user talk page:
Thank you for your contributions to eRepublik Official Wiki. In the future, please use the preview button before you save your edit; this helps you find any errors you have made, reduces edit conflicts, and prevents clogging up recent changes and the page history. Below the edit box is a Show preview button. Pressing this will show you what the article will look like without actually saving it.
It is strongly recommended that you use this before saving. If you have any questions, you can either write on the Bar or leave a message on my talk page. Thank you.
Review
ALWAYS REVIEW BEFORE YOU SAVE! Check your spelling, grammar, and punctuation. Make sure your point is getting across to the reader.
One of the reasons why I use Firefox is because of the built-in spell checker.
Keep Your Attitude in Check
If you are writing articles on the Wiki to push a certain agenda or to glorify a country, party, or yourself, then you are in the wrong place. This inevitably leads to edit wars and vandalism. The "ban-mobile" is ready to remove those who regularly engage in such activities.
Also, don't get offended if someone edits a page you created. It is the nature of the Wiki.
Other Hints
I now turn this over to other Uber Editor on this wiki. Please share your tips!
DrogbaPT's Hints
Don't give up on your first try
If it's your first time with a Wiki please don't give up on the first difficulty. Try asking on the Bar or PM in game a more experienced Wiki editor. Also be aware that if you do something that is wrong and someone corrects it, don't get mad, especially if you don't know the rules yet.
Don't submit unproven information
This is important to keep the Wiki as much as accurate as possible. For example, phrases like "Portugal is the best country in the eRepublik World" or "The USA was the first country to have a hospital" without proper evidence it is considered unproven information and may be contested and deleted by others Wiki Editors. Also, remember paragraph "Keep your Attitude in Check" - eRepublik Wiki is not a place to glorify any country but instead to write his true history.
Images
I believe images are important to the Wiki as it makes it more beautiful and enjoyable. But remember, images don't replace information. Therefore it is important to keep a balance between images and information. It is important to say that if an image is too large put it in a thumb. To do it is very simple. Just write:
[[File:Example.jpg|thumb]]
If you want to add a text under the image just do this:
[[File:Example.jpg|thumb|left or right| Caption]]
MiniBill's Hints
Accept other edits
Don't feel sad, or angry, if someone edits a page you created: that's how the wiki works!
| “ Please note that all contributions to eRepublik Official Wiki may be edited, altered, or removed by other contributors. If you don't want your writing to be edited mercilessly, then don't submit it here. ” | |
| (This is written just below the edit box)
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Get drunk ;)
The Bar is a beautiful place to let everyone talk about important matters, and I assure you they serve the best beer of the whole eWorld. The Bar is not a substitute for article talk pages, so if you need to talk about a single page use that page's talk page, eventually inviting users via their user talk page.
Laugh
I really mean it. Don't take things too seriously. It's a game after all! If someone insults you, don't start warring, just ignore it. If you're proven wrong, don't feel like other people are conspiring against you. Our objective is to have a better game, not to be always right. Wikipedia:WP:DGAF
