User talk:Ec5618/Laboratory

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Concerning Wikipedia:WikiProject Dungeons & Dragons

-- 12:32, 5 January 2006 (UTC)

1 Wikiproject?
2 Important points
3 Core Dungeons & Dragons articles
4 Page creation
5 To do
6 Category tree

[edit] Wikiproject?

It may be useful to create a WikiProject Dungeons & Dragons.

[edit] Scope

To organise all articles related to the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game, and create internally consistent style and useful wikilinks. This may include merging some articles, and deleting others.

[edit] Parentage

Oddly, the father of this WikiProject is WikiProject Forgotten Realms.

[edit] Descendant WikiProjects

No descendant WikiProjects have been defined.

[edit] Similar WikiProjects

No similar WikiProjects have been named.

[edit] Related WikiProjects

A similar WikiProject is:

WikiProject Final Fantasy

[edit] Important points

Copyrighted images. Several of the articles use copyrighted images, which cannot be used in Wikipedia. Faerûn for example includes a full map of Faerûn, which is unfortunately copyrighted. Is there a way we could get permission from Wizards of the Coast, or claim a case of fair use? Alternatively, could we create similar content (and is that legal)? What about {{game-screenshot}}:

This is a screenshot of a copyrighted computer game or video game, and the copyright for it is most likely held by the company that developed the game. It is believed that the use of a limited number of web-resolution screenshots

for identification and critical commentary on
- the computer or video game in question or
- the copyrighted character(s) or item(s) depicted on the screenshot in question
on the English-language Wikipedia, hosted on servers in the United States by the non-profit Wikimedia Foundation,

qualifies as fair use under United States copyright law, as such display does not significantly impede the right of the copyright holder to sell the copyrighted material, is not being used to generate profit in this context, and presents ideas that cannot be exhibited otherwise. See Wikipedia:Fair use and fair use rationale.

To the uploader: please add a detailed fair use rationale for each use, as described on Wikipedia:Image description page, as well as the source of the work and copyright information.

Dead articles. It seems that a lot of articles have been abandoned, or have been created in zeal without having been tied in with the rest of the articles.

A clear distinction should be made between the world of Dungeons & Dragons, and individual campaign settings. For example, Reckoning of Hell is currently listed in the general Dungeons & Dragons category, and is presented as having taken place in D&D cosmology, while glossing over the fact that there are many different worlds, and many different cosmologies.

[edit] Core Dungeons & Dragons articles

There are currently a number of categories and articles, which should possibly be changed. The following is a list of articles that should exist, listing currently existing articles that either don't cover the concept as it exists in Dungeons & Dragons, or should be merged. For example, there is no page describing 'skills', even though several articles refer to the concept.

[edit] Game mechanics (Dungeons & Dragons)

Listing basics such as combat on a grid, initiative rolls, attack rolls, combat modifiers, Hit Die, and the like. Sections could be included to discuss the different systems used in different campaign settings, and reference should be made to house rules, which should be expanded.

Skill (Dungeons & Dragons)

Several articles refer to the skills posessed by a character, but none explain exactly what this means in the context of Dungeons & Dragons.

Feat (Dungeons & Dragons)

While feats are not refered to as often, they do deserve a page, as they are an important part of what defines a character, in terms of game mechanics.

Feat is not an article yet, but I would tentatively prefer to create an article using the 'standard' format, including (Dungeons & Dragons). Perhaps also a redirect? -- Ec5618 02:05, 6 January 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Magic (Dungeons & Dragons)

A general introduction into magic, as used in Dungeons & Dragons, is missing. Magic (gaming) comes closest, though it is awfully generic. Spells of Dungeons & Dragons deserves a mention too, though it is incomplete.

It may be adequate to reserve subsections for arcane magic, divine magic and psionics, or to create three single articles:

Arcane magic (Dungeons & Dragons))

Arcane magic deals with mostly Dungeons & Dragons, even though the term is not unique to Dungeons & Dragons. Perhaps it should be made into a form of disambiguation page.

Divine magic (Dungeons & Dragons)

Divine magic does not mention Dungeons & Dragons. An article refering to divine magic in games, or even specifically in Dungeons & Dragons seems warranted.

Psionics (Dungeons & Dragons)

Psionics does not mention Dungeons * Dragons. An article refering to psionics in games, or even specifically in Dungeons & Dragons seems warranted.
- Psionicist should probably be copyedited, and brought into Category: Dungeons & Dragons character classes.

[edit] Character class (Dungeons & Dragons)

The main article should list all character classes, and draw parallels between them. Perhaps it should list all magic users, and all those capable of magical healing.

There should also be a single description of the concept of prestige classes in Dungeons & Dragons, incorporating the content of all three articles on that subject: Prestige class, Prestige classes in Dungeons & Dragons and Prestige Class. This should include a number of examples, and refer to any examples notable enough to deserve their own article.

I have merged the articles, and they all now redirect to Prestige class. It's still a bit of a mess though. -- Ec5618 02:05, 6 January 2006 (UTC)

Each class description page should contain a header for the different edition of Dungeons & Dragons, to explain their differences/changes over time.

Additional character classes, added in individual campaign settings, may deserve individual articles, but for the time being it may suffice to list them under articles such as Character class (Eberron).

Barbarian (Dungeons & Dragons): Ability to rage.

Bard (Dungeons & Dragons): Bardic knowledge and magical effects.

Cleric (Dungeons & Dragons): Healing.

Druid (Dungeons & Dragons): Wildshape.

Fighter (Dungeons & Dragons): Additional feats.

Monk (Dungeons & Dragons): Unarmed fighting.

Paladin (Dungeons & Dragons): Always righteous, even when evil. Aura of ..

Ranger (Dungeons & Dragons): Favoured enemy.

Rogue (Dungeons & Dragons): Sneak attack.

Sorcerer (Dungeons & Dragons): Able to cast anything on spell list at will

Wizard (Dungeons & Dragons): Must study spells ahead of time.

[edit] Page creation

Should there be articles on the old character classes, such as Elf and Dwarf? The Thief has been renamed, as have the Fighting man and the Magic-User. All of these aren't a problem then. But Elf (Dungeons & Dragons) to refer to an outmoded character class?
Should there be a page about the specific traits of creatures, as mentioned in the Monster Manual: concepts such as extraplanar, fey, aberration ..?

[edit] To do

De-stub the individual character classes, by writing a little about what makes each unique.
Change every instance of 'D&D' to Dungeons & Dragons.
Wikilink all reference to editions to Editions of Dungeons & Dragons.
Link all references to specific planes to their section on Planes (Dungeons & Dragons)
Append Magic (gaming) with references to new articles.
Find a way to linkify 'spell', 'spell-like ability', 'spell slot' and the like.

[edit] Category tree

There seem to be a lot of categories for creatures and characters. While creatures may be notable, individual characters are rarely. Monsters such as the beholder shouldn't exist in Category:Forgotten Realms creatures when it is also in Category:Dungeons & Dragons creatures.

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