Help:Advice for new editors: Difference between revisions
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Welcome to the Path of Exile Wiki! All the content you see here is added and maintained by volunteer editors. We'd love it if you would join us! | Welcome to the Path of Exile Wiki! All the content you see here is added and maintained by volunteer editors. We'd love it if you would join us! | ||
==First and always, have fun!== | |||
If you find yourself getting frustrated, step back. Take a break. Ask for other editors' advice. Or just stop doing whatever's frustrating you and try something different. Remember, the thing that's frustrating you may be some other editor's favorite thing. Do what makes you happy and energized, and let other editors do the rest. | |||
=Get started= | ==Get started== | ||
*Create an account | *Create an account | ||
** | **You need to create a [[Special:CreateAccount|free account]]. This will let you make edits and join in discussions. | ||
*Be bold | *Be bold | ||
**There's no need to wait. This article will give you advice on what you can do and some good ways of doing it. But when in doubt, jump in and start editing. You can't break anything; there are other editors that can help you fix mistakes and improve. Every editor you interact with, even the ones who seem to know all the answers, | **There's no need to wait. This article will give you advice on what you can do and some good ways of doing it. But when in doubt, jump in and start editing. You can't break anything; there are other editors that can help you fix mistakes and improve. Every editor you interact with, even the ones who seem to know all the answers, were once a new editor just like you. | ||
*Be respectful | *Be respectful | ||
Line 14: | Line 15: | ||
*Join the conversation | *Join the conversation | ||
**See the issues that editors are currently [[ | **See the issues that editors are currently [[Path of Exile Wiki talk:Community portal|discussing]] about the wiki as a whole. | ||
**Join the [https://discord.gg/evEfBBF7b8 Discord server] for real-time conversation and help. | **Join the [https://discord.gg/evEfBBF7b8 Discord server] for real-time conversation and help. | ||
=Start an article= | *Learn the basics of wiki editing | ||
If you feel like jumping in with both feet, pick a topic that doesn't seem to be covered by the wiki, and start an article to cover it! | ** The documentation on this wiki tends to assume that you're starting with a basic knowledge of how wiki editing works; it concentrates more on the things that make the Path of Exile wiki different from, say, Wikipedia. | ||
** If you've never edited a wiki, you'll find it easier to understand things if you start by learning a bit about wiki editing in general. [[wikipedia:Help:Introduction|Wikipedia]] has some great tutorials. | |||
** In particular, this wiki makes extensive use of [[Help:Templates|templates]], which can be recognised by the double-curly-brace <code><nowiki>{{Template name}}</nowiki></code> syntax. To view the documentation for a template, visit the page 'Template:template name'. For example the code <code><nowiki>{{il|Tabula Rasa}}</nowiki></code> produces a nicely formatted item link: {{il|Tabula Rasa}}; this is documented at [[Template:il]]. | |||
==Start an article== | |||
If you feel like jumping in with both feet, pick a topic that doesn't seem to be covered by the wiki, and start an article to cover it! Just fill in this box with the name of the article you want to write. Or, when you use the wiki's search box to search for something, and there's not already an article by that name, just click the link at the top of the search results to start writing that article. | |||
<inputbox> | <inputbox> | ||
type= create | type= create | ||
Line 25: | Line 30: | ||
</inputbox><br /> | </inputbox><br /> | ||
==Improve an existing article== | |||
If you'd rather start smaller, improving existing articles is a great way to learn about editing while helping the wiki. | |||
Remember: '''You can make any article better, but you can't make any article perfect.''' Just like Path of Exile, editing a wiki is a game of diminishing returns. If you pile all your points into one stat, every new point will have less of an impact than the one before. If you pile all your effort into one article, the same thing can happen. You can often help out more by doing a little work on a lot of articles than you can by doing a lot of work on a few. But if a particular article is a labor of love that energizes you, that works too! | |||
==Find something to improve== | ===Find something to improve=== | ||
*Pick an article that covers a topic that you're knowledgeable about or interested in. There's bound to be a way to make it better. | *Pick an article that covers a topic that you're knowledgeable about or interested in. There's bound to be a way to make it better. | ||
*If you're knowledgeable about Path of Exile, try [[:Category:Articles with unconfirmed statements|confirming]] some [[:Category:Articles with disputed statements|dubious]] statements or cleaning up some [[:Category:Articles that appear to use guesswork|guesswork]]. Or dig into an article that needs to be [[:Category:Articles needing updates|updated]] to reflect game changes. | |||
*If you're knowledgeable about Path of Exile, try [[:Category:Articles with unconfirmed statements|confirming]] some [[:Category:Articles with disputed statements|dubious]] statements or cleaning up some [[:Category:Articles that appear to use guesswork|guesswork]]. | *If you like making things more readable and understandable, try fixing some articles with the wrong [[:Category:Articles with tonal issues|tone]]. Or find an [[:Category:Pages needing cleanup|article needing cleanup]] that may need more serious help. | ||
*If you like making things more readable and understandable, try fixing some articles with the wrong [[:Category:Articles with tonal issues|tone]]. | |||
*Check the list of [[Special:RecentChanges|recent changes]] to see what other editors are currently working on. | *Check the list of [[Special:RecentChanges|recent changes]] to see what other editors are currently working on. | ||
*And | *And if you want to start writing a lot of your own content, try picking a [[:Category:Stubs|stub]] that you can expand into a full article. | ||
==Start with the basics== | ===Start with the basics=== | ||
* Correct spelling and grammar. | * Correct spelling and grammar. | ||
* Reword complicated or convoluted text to make it clearer. | * Reword complicated or convoluted text to make it clearer. | ||
Line 46: | Line 48: | ||
* If an article's structure makes it hard to read and understand, or if it looks quite different from other similar pages, fix it. The [[Path of Exile Wiki:Manual of Style|Manual of Style]] should always be your guide. | * If an article's structure makes it hard to read and understand, or if it looks quite different from other similar pages, fix it. The [[Path of Exile Wiki:Manual of Style|Manual of Style]] should always be your guide. | ||
==Fix the facts== | ===Fix the facts=== | ||
* If an article makes unsourced factual statements that don't seem like they're common knowledge, look for a source and add it to the article. | * If an article makes unsourced factual statements that don't seem like they're common knowledge, look for a source and add it to the article. | ||
** If you can't find a source, use the {{tlx|Citation needed}} tag to request others to have a look. | ** If you can't find a source, use the {{tlx|Citation needed}} tag to request others to have a look. | ||
Line 52: | Line 54: | ||
** Or use the {{tlx|Better source}} tag to bring in other editors. | ** Or use the {{tlx|Better source}} tag to bring in other editors. | ||
* If you know that something about PoE has recently changed in a patch, that's a great time to update the related articles and add new sources. | * If you know that something about PoE has recently changed in a patch, that's a great time to update the related articles and add new sources. | ||
** Is there a video in the article? It might be outdated and need to be removed, or better yet, replaced with a newer video on the same topic. | |||
** Make sure to update the revision table at the bottom of the article to reflect any changes. | ** Make sure to update the revision table at the bottom of the article to reflect any changes. | ||
*** Note that many specific facts about particular PoE items are imported from the game data itself. If an incorrect fact doesn't seem to be in the article text itself -- if it comes from some complicated query in the article's source -- then the problem probably needs to be fixed by importing new game information rather than by editing the article. You'll probably want to leave changes like that for the experts. | |||
==Add new facts== | ===Add new facts=== | ||
* If an article is missing information about the topic it's discussing, add more. | * If an article is missing information about the topic it's discussing, add more. | ||
* If the way a mechanic works is difficult to understand from the article, it may help to add an example. Just don't go overboard with this. | * If the way a mechanic works is difficult to understand from the article, it may help to add an example. Just don't go overboard with this. | ||
* A video can really help to demonstrate a boss fight or explain a mechanic. Check YouTube and other video sites. But watch the video fully before adding it to the article! And don't forget that videos can become obsolete after changes are made to the game. If the video's title refers to a particular patch level, check the revision table at the bottom of the article to see whether things have changed significantly since then. If the video doesn't mention a patch level, check the date that the video was uploaded, and compare it against the release date of the patches in the article's revision table. | |||
* Be reluctant to manually write lists of game items, especially long and complicated lists. There's often a way to create these lists directly from the game data, so it will stay up-to-date when changes are made. When in doubt, ask other editors. | |||
* If you need to add mathematical facts and examples, [[wikipedia:Help:Displaying_a_formula|adding LaTeX formulas]] with the {{tlx|Math}} tag can make things much easier to read. | * If you need to add mathematical facts and examples, [[wikipedia:Help:Displaying_a_formula|adding LaTeX formulas]] with the {{tlx|Math}} tag can make things much easier to read. | ||
=Keep going= | ==Keep going== | ||
As long as you have the time and the inclination, there'll always be something more you can do to improve the wiki. Stay bold. Keep trying new things. Remember to ask for help when you need it. And always have fun! | As long as you have the time and the inclination, there'll always be something more you can do to improve the wiki. Stay bold. Keep trying new things. Remember to ask for help when you need it. And always have fun! | ||
[[Category:Help]] |
Latest revision as of 07:34, 11 December 2023
Welcome to the Path of Exile Wiki! All the content you see here is added and maintained by volunteer editors. We'd love it if you would join us!
First and always, have fun!
If you find yourself getting frustrated, step back. Take a break. Ask for other editors' advice. Or just stop doing whatever's frustrating you and try something different. Remember, the thing that's frustrating you may be some other editor's favorite thing. Do what makes you happy and energized, and let other editors do the rest.
Get started
- Create an account
- You need to create a free account. This will let you make edits and join in discussions.
- Be bold
- There's no need to wait. This article will give you advice on what you can do and some good ways of doing it. But when in doubt, jump in and start editing. You can't break anything; there are other editors that can help you fix mistakes and improve. Every editor you interact with, even the ones who seem to know all the answers, were once a new editor just like you.
- Be respectful
- Remember that all those other editors will have their own opinions about your contributions. And you will have your own opinions of others' contributions. Always stay civil. Don't insult others. Criticize articles when needed, but don't criticize the people who contribute to them. Work things out respectfully in talk pages. Don't get into edit wars. You can always add the
{{discuss}}
tag to an article to ask other editors for their thoughts.
- Remember that all those other editors will have their own opinions about your contributions. And you will have your own opinions of others' contributions. Always stay civil. Don't insult others. Criticize articles when needed, but don't criticize the people who contribute to them. Work things out respectfully in talk pages. Don't get into edit wars. You can always add the
- Join the conversation
- See the issues that editors are currently discussing about the wiki as a whole.
- Join the Discord server for real-time conversation and help.
- Learn the basics of wiki editing
- The documentation on this wiki tends to assume that you're starting with a basic knowledge of how wiki editing works; it concentrates more on the things that make the Path of Exile wiki different from, say, Wikipedia.
- If you've never edited a wiki, you'll find it easier to understand things if you start by learning a bit about wiki editing in general. Wikipedia has some great tutorials.
- In particular, this wiki makes extensive use of templates, which can be recognised by the double-curly-brace
{{Template name}}
syntax. To view the documentation for a template, visit the page 'Template:template name'. For example the code{{il|Tabula Rasa}}
produces a nicely formatted item link:Tabula RasaTabula Rasa
Simple RobeMovement Speed: -3%Item has no level requirement and Energy Shield (Hidden)
Item has 6 White Sockets and is fully linked (Hidden); this is documented at Template:il.
Start an article
If you feel like jumping in with both feet, pick a topic that doesn't seem to be covered by the wiki, and start an article to cover it! Just fill in this box with the name of the article you want to write. Or, when you use the wiki's search box to search for something, and there's not already an article by that name, just click the link at the top of the search results to start writing that article.
Improve an existing article
If you'd rather start smaller, improving existing articles is a great way to learn about editing while helping the wiki.
Remember: You can make any article better, but you can't make any article perfect. Just like Path of Exile, editing a wiki is a game of diminishing returns. If you pile all your points into one stat, every new point will have less of an impact than the one before. If you pile all your effort into one article, the same thing can happen. You can often help out more by doing a little work on a lot of articles than you can by doing a lot of work on a few. But if a particular article is a labor of love that energizes you, that works too!
Find something to improve
- Pick an article that covers a topic that you're knowledgeable about or interested in. There's bound to be a way to make it better.
- If you're knowledgeable about Path of Exile, try confirming some dubious statements or cleaning up some guesswork. Or dig into an article that needs to be updated to reflect game changes.
- If you like making things more readable and understandable, try fixing some articles with the wrong tone. Or find an article needing cleanup that may need more serious help.
- Check the list of recent changes to see what other editors are currently working on.
- And if you want to start writing a lot of your own content, try picking a stub that you can expand into a full article.
Start with the basics
- Correct spelling and grammar.
- Reword complicated or convoluted text to make it clearer.
- Add links. If an article mentions something that's the subject of another article, add a link so that the reader can quickly see the related article.
- If an article's structure makes it hard to read and understand, or if it looks quite different from other similar pages, fix it. The Manual of Style should always be your guide.
Fix the facts
- If an article makes unsourced factual statements that don't seem like they're common knowledge, look for a source and add it to the article.
- If you can't find a source, use the
{{Citation needed}}
tag to request others to have a look.
- If you can't find a source, use the
- If a source seems dodgy or out-of-date, find and add a better one.
- Or use the
{{Better source}}
tag to bring in other editors.
- Or use the
- If you know that something about PoE has recently changed in a patch, that's a great time to update the related articles and add new sources.
- Is there a video in the article? It might be outdated and need to be removed, or better yet, replaced with a newer video on the same topic.
- Make sure to update the revision table at the bottom of the article to reflect any changes.
- Note that many specific facts about particular PoE items are imported from the game data itself. If an incorrect fact doesn't seem to be in the article text itself -- if it comes from some complicated query in the article's source -- then the problem probably needs to be fixed by importing new game information rather than by editing the article. You'll probably want to leave changes like that for the experts.
Add new facts
- If an article is missing information about the topic it's discussing, add more.
- If the way a mechanic works is difficult to understand from the article, it may help to add an example. Just don't go overboard with this.
- A video can really help to demonstrate a boss fight or explain a mechanic. Check YouTube and other video sites. But watch the video fully before adding it to the article! And don't forget that videos can become obsolete after changes are made to the game. If the video's title refers to a particular patch level, check the revision table at the bottom of the article to see whether things have changed significantly since then. If the video doesn't mention a patch level, check the date that the video was uploaded, and compare it against the release date of the patches in the article's revision table.
- Be reluctant to manually write lists of game items, especially long and complicated lists. There's often a way to create these lists directly from the game data, so it will stay up-to-date when changes are made. When in doubt, ask other editors.
- If you need to add mathematical facts and examples, adding LaTeX formulas with the
{{Math}}
tag can make things much easier to read.
Keep going
As long as you have the time and the inclination, there'll always be something more you can do to improve the wiki. Stay bold. Keep trying new things. Remember to ask for help when you need it. And always have fun!