[Skarlath]

In the 'What do Silkyvenomites want' I started spewing my thoughts on the Wiki. I decided it would be tidier if I moved them here.

I was just having a little flick through the Wiki, and I decided I would put myself in the position of someone who has not heard anything about Vanguard before. I feel that such a visitor would have problems getting around the Wiki, largely because the current layout is great for referencing. If you know what you are looking for you can zoom through to the correct article. However if you just want to browse aimlessly, there isn't a logical 'newbie layout' available.

Me as a visiting newbie:

Hmm, 'master categories', ah, as a player I want to know about 'systems and mechanics' first and foremost. What will set Vanguard apart? I want some good consolidated information about the game. *Click*.

Woah! Spheres? Confusing! I want to read about 'Combat', 'Crafting' and stuff. Adventuring Sphere? Alright, ill have a look. *Click*.

Wha? Well *I* don't know what I want to know about the 'adventuring sphere'! I don't even know what it is! Argh! Im temporarily blinded with the multitude of possibilities! *Randomly clicks and by some miracle the cursor was over 'combat'*

Ahhhh! Info! Thaaaat's better.


Ok, im over exaggerating. The information in the Wiki so far is pretty damn cool, but the combat section is the way the whole Wiki should feel. Not page after page of options, but rather a natural broad starting point from where the visitor can read and follow the natural paths of curiosity.

Think of it like water flowing down carefuly dug prebuilt channels, or like Tarzan swinging gracefully through the trees. If you know something about Vanguard to begin with, the Wiki is fine. However if you are entirely new then Tarzan has to stop after each swing to carefully choose which vine will be next, with a good chance he will have to swing back again 10 seconds later.

To me the Vanguard Wiki should be a little bit more like an FAQ, and less like an encyclopedia. An FAQ gives you the information, an encyclopedia waits for you to go and find it yourself.

Im happy to help make changes to the Wiki, to put it more in line with how I feel it should be, but I definitely wouldn't want to damage the structure currently in place due to the hard work of Therian and Xyrrus everyone else who has been entering information.

[Elrar (of Silky Venom)]

Actually, this is something we just talked about last night, and in fact have a "remedy" for it (we hope)

Basically we will utilize the Vanguides as a sort of newbie helper. Just hard information derrived from our own articles/knowlege/wiki and then link to wiki articles from within these guides.

It gives players a way to explore the wiki, and easily find the hard info they need without being so overwhelmed.

How does that sound?

[Skarlath]

That sounds like a terrific idea! It allows complete newbies to find their basic information as a starting point, whilst pointing them towards a more comprehensive review, and at the same time it leaves the 'easy to navigate if you know what to look for' system there for the veterans of Vanguard.

I'll give it an A+.

[Garioch]

I am going to make a post about it in one of the other forums, but if a player were to construct a language specifically for a Vanguard race, is this where it would be displayed?
And what do you suppose would be the techicallities involved in developing such a thing? Not so much the vocabulary or syntax of the language itself, but official acceptance by Sigil?

Just curious at this point.

Garioch

[Skarlath]

Originally Posted by Garioch

I am going to make a post about it in one of the other forums, but if a player were to construct a language specifically for a Vanguard race, is this where it would be displayed?
And what do you suppose would be the techicallities involved in developing such a thing? Not so much the vocabulary or syntax of the language itself, but official acceptance by Sigil?

Just curious at this point.

Garioch

Well it is quite possible that Sigil is developing their own languages (written or spoken) for different races, for use within the game.

If you were to create a language, it would likely not fit with how Sigil feels about the race they created. They would also need it to be signed away, so you cannot lay claim to it in any way.

It is unlikely that Sigil would adopt a player-made racial language.

HOWEVER!

If the game goes live, and races don't have languages, then roleplaying communities might accept player-made languages for use. As long as they were well thought through, and fit perfectly with the intended race, then many people may enjoy using them, on an unofficial level of course.

[Garioch]

As you may glean, my motivation for this of course is to counter the use of Drow in the Dark Elf community.
Not that what I am developing would be for the DE.

This contribution would be more for the Vulmane race, as they seem to be the ones that I consider the most often in reference to what their basic natures would be.

I must confess that I am not a linguist, however I dont think RA Salvatore was either, and look how popular his Drow speak is...

Thanks for the reply, but what would be the next step do you think?