Difference between revisions of "Dungeons and Dragons Wiki:Using the Wiki"

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{{Dungeons and Dragons Wiki:Getting Started Header}}
 
{{Dungeons and Dragons Wiki:Getting Started Header}}
  
== Using the Wiki ==
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__TOC__
  
If you are interested in learning about how to use a wiki in general, [http://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/MediaWiki|Mediawiki Help] has a wide variety of help topics to get you started. You can also review the information in the Authoring section and Wiki Syntax section for details on specific conventions and tools we use here.
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If you've already read our [[Project:Getting Started|getting started]] page, you should have a good idea what you can expect to find here. This page should help you better understand our layout and some of the tools at your disposal. If you are interested in learning about how to use a wiki in general, [http://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/MediaWiki Mediawiki Help] has a wide variety of help topics to get you started.  
  
On Dungeons and Dragons Wiki, you can find a copy of the [[SRD:System Reference Document|System Reference Document]]: the 3.5 edition D&D rules made available for reproduction by Wizards of the Coast. Certain parts of the basic rules of the game are missing such as experience tables, character wealth, and a few monsters. These parts are not Open Game Content, so we can't include them.
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===Navigation===
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In the default "skin" of the wiki, the main navigation bar is on the left side of the window. It is broken up into sections by focus, to better assist users in finding what they're looking for. Inside each of the main links on the left is another navigation page, with links to the various subgroups of things found in the section. These navigation pages are intended to narrow down the options until you can easily find what you're looking for. Every navigation page and article page should also have a breadcrumb at the bottom, if not also at the top, of the page to assist you in backtracking.
  
You will also be able to use the [[Publication:Unearthed Arcana|Unearthed Arcana]] variant rules. This is another set of rules that was licensed under the Open Game License (OGL). In fact, we have several [[3.5e Open Game Content|Open Game Content]] source books already transcribed and available for your perusal. If you want to get involved and have a rulebook that is OGL, talk to one of the administrators about how to go about transcribing it.
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===Adding New Articles===
  
The main focus of this wiki is its user created material (homebrew). We have an active set of users that belong to a [[Dungeons and Dragons Wiki:Rating Committee|Rating Committee]] and they make sure that each article that is available on the wiki is able to fit into a campaign without a Dungeon Master (DM) needing to worry about balance. DM's can be confident that the material here is usable and won't unbalance their game.
 
  
=== Balance Points ===
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You can also review the information in the Authoring section and Wiki Syntax section for details on specific conventions and tools we use here.
  
In order to cater to different play styles and different DMing styles, we tag each article with an appropriate [[Dungeons and Dragons Wiki:Balance Points|balance point]]. Each balance point represents a level of power and capability an individual player character should have within a game.  
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Please note that most of our navigation is updated automatically, and there is rarely a need to manually add your article to the list. If your article hasn't shown up after a few days or you have other questions about adding a new piece, feel free to ask any one of our [[Special:ListUsers/sysop|Administrators]].
  
The rating committee also favors articles to highlight exceptional content within a balance point. If an article does not have any favors, that does not mean that the rating committee considers it unusable, it only means that none of the members have given it their favor as exemplary content for that balance point. This wiki maintains high standards and we are rigorous about quality control by ensuring that incomplete and unbalanced content is marked as such (see [[Dungeons and Dragons Wiki:Content Requirements|Content Requirements]]) and we promote users creating their own workspace for any content they want to publish by [[Dungeons and Dragons Wiki:Creating a Personal Sandbox|creating a personal sandbox]]. These standards allow us to be confident that our published content in the [[3.5e Homebrew]] and [[4e Homebrew]] is usable.
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===Updating Articles===
  
=== What to do Now? ===
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===Messaging Users===
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You can leave messages for other users in a whole bunch of different places. At the top of each page is a tab labelled "discussion"; we generally call it the talk page. Pretty much every page on with wiki has an associated talk page. Putting a comment up on a user's talk page is the easiest way to message them, since it will often show them a notice on the wiki. You can also message people about a specific page on that page's talk page. Comments on an article page should be primarily about the article itself. One thing to keep in mind though is that once you start a conversation on a talk page, replies are most likely to show up on the same page. You may need to remember to check the page later on.
  
If you are '''interested in browsing the wiki for homebrew content''', read [[Dungeons and Dragons Wiki:Navigation|Navigating the Wiki]].
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You'll also want to sign your comments on talk pages with either <nowiki>~~~~</nowiki> or the signature button at the top of the editting window. It makes it easy to identify who is saying what, and you can follow their name link back to their pages if you wanted to send them a message directly about something
  
If you would like to '''start publishing your own homebrew content''' and join the community, read the Authoring section and Wiki Syntax section for tips on how to make a successful article.
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===What to do Now?===
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If you are interested in learning about some advanced navigation options, read [[Dungeons and Dragons Wiki:Navigation|Navigating the Wiki]].
  
 
If you need any other further assistance, feel free to leave a message on the talk page of any of the [[Special:ListUsers/sysop|Administrators]] or ask in the IRC Chatroom (link on the sidebar).
 
If you need any other further assistance, feel free to leave a message on the talk page of any of the [[Special:ListUsers/sysop|Administrators]] or ask in the IRC Chatroom (link on the sidebar).
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Latest revision as of 02:59, 3 February 2012

Introduction

Using the Wiki

Community Portal

Navigating the Wiki

Canon Content Requirements

Homebrew Content Requirements

Publication Transcriptions

General Editing Policy

General Deletion Policy

Uploading Images

Wiki Syntax

If you've already read our getting started page, you should have a good idea what you can expect to find here. This page should help you better understand our layout and some of the tools at your disposal. If you are interested in learning about how to use a wiki in general, Mediawiki Help has a wide variety of help topics to get you started.

Navigation[edit]

In the default "skin" of the wiki, the main navigation bar is on the left side of the window. It is broken up into sections by focus, to better assist users in finding what they're looking for. Inside each of the main links on the left is another navigation page, with links to the various subgroups of things found in the section. These navigation pages are intended to narrow down the options until you can easily find what you're looking for. Every navigation page and article page should also have a breadcrumb at the bottom, if not also at the top, of the page to assist you in backtracking.

Adding New Articles[edit]

You can also review the information in the Authoring section and Wiki Syntax section for details on specific conventions and tools we use here.

Please note that most of our navigation is updated automatically, and there is rarely a need to manually add your article to the list. If your article hasn't shown up after a few days or you have other questions about adding a new piece, feel free to ask any one of our Administrators.

Updating Articles[edit]

Messaging Users[edit]

You can leave messages for other users in a whole bunch of different places. At the top of each page is a tab labelled "discussion"; we generally call it the talk page. Pretty much every page on with wiki has an associated talk page. Putting a comment up on a user's talk page is the easiest way to message them, since it will often show them a notice on the wiki. You can also message people about a specific page on that page's talk page. Comments on an article page should be primarily about the article itself. One thing to keep in mind though is that once you start a conversation on a talk page, replies are most likely to show up on the same page. You may need to remember to check the page later on.

You'll also want to sign your comments on talk pages with either ~~~~ or the signature button at the top of the editting window. It makes it easy to identify who is saying what, and you can follow their name link back to their pages if you wanted to send them a message directly about something

What to do Now?[edit]

If you are interested in learning about some advanced navigation options, read Navigating the Wiki.

If you need any other further assistance, feel free to leave a message on the talk page of any of the Administrators or ask in the IRC Chatroom (link on the sidebar).