From d20 NPC Wiki

There is currently discussion about this wiki going on in an EnWorld thread: d20 NPC Wiki?

Contents 1 Automatic Categories instead of Manual Indexes 2 Tidying 3 Approval Badges 4 Admin wanted! 5 Powerline pages? 6 Dice Rolling 7 "Click To Show" Organization 8 Search Engine Plugin 9 OGL vs GFDL - compatibility issues 10 New here 11 Summon Monster Project

[edit] Automatic Categories instead of Manual Indexes

If we can get it so that every NPC here is well categoried... by CR, by creature type, by profession... we could do away with the manually created pages and just use the automatic ones. Creating new pages can be done by typing the name of the page you want into the searchbar to the left, I recently discovered, so creating the red-link first isn't actually a requirement. What do you guys think? Good idea? Or do the manual lists have inherant advantages somehow? Fieari 17:10, 3 February 2006 (UTC)

The major drawback that I see to this plan is that of naming the articles. In the category listings by CR, having the CR in the title is redundant, you'd rather have it sort alphabetically by profession or type. But in the category listings for creature type, having CR in the title is good, and you may want to sort by it. I proposed a change like this on the Talk:D20 NPCs by Challenge Rating page a while back. I'm in favor of a method that makes the page titles different depending on how you are categorizing them. It means more work to maintain, but it would be more useful to me in using the NPCs here. Of course, there's no reason why both can't exist: you can have all the categories you want, and those who care can still maintain the index files manually. --MidnightLightning 22:02, 3 February 2006 (UTC)

This is most likely not relevant any more but If your going to use categories to index multiple things than can't you just set up a series or redirects point to the article and have each redirect categorized in such a way that it the article title is formated correctly for each list 155.42.91.129 05:13, 28 August 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Tidying

I just created Template:Tidy, to be put on pages that haven't been wikified, need to be put into statblock format, or otherwise just look ugly. It automatically adds pages to Category:Tidy, so if you have a spare moment, you can go to that category, clean a page up, and then remove the tag. Fieari 19:03, 8 February 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Approval Badges

In the interest of keeping the NPCs here well within the d20 ruleset, I've added three templates for use on NPC Talk: pages. They are Template:I Approve, Template:I Caution, and Template:I Warn. That way, if you have checked an NPC for rules-correct-ness, you can put a quick badge with your username in the Talk: page, so DMs perusing the site will know how correct the information (might) be. It's still the honor system, but it's better than having to check everything yourself before you use an NPC. If you use the Caution or Warn templates, it's probably best to describe under the banner what the exact offense is. Of course, if it's a minor fix and an obvious accident that the author missed, anyone can just change it, but if it needs original author input, these badges may be useful. --MidnightLightning 16:31, 10 February 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Admin wanted!

This wiki's founder and only administrator is mostly inactive, having only made one edit in the past 9 months. I notice in cleaning up the vandalbot spam that this wiki could use another admin or two to help control vandalism. Who do you, as a community, want to add as admin(s)? I'd suggest that the main criteria are good sense, knowing and being active on this wiki, and good knowledge of the subject. Experience using the admin functions is nice, but it's also very easy for someone new to pick up. Here is a list of active users you might have in mind: Special:Activeusers.

If you'd be interested in being an admin here or you know someone who should be, please discuss it here and see if you can decide who to choose (one or two people would probably be a good number). I'll be checking back to see how it's going. In the meantime, you can ask me or Sannse if you need any admin tasks done. Mindspillage (spill yours?) 16:34, 17 March 2006 (UTC)

I'd be interested in being an admin; I've got past experience with MediaWiki, as well as other forum and Wiki programs. Plus, I'm a neat freak and have already done work to neaten/polish/thin out articles here, and am the starter of the Sample Dragons project.

--MidnightLightning 13:27, 20 March 2006 (UTC)

Cool, one volunteer so far... Anyone else? I'll leave this up for a few more days. Mindspillage (spill yours?) 16:03, 21 March 2006 (UTC)

Tag, you're it! I've made you sysop and bureaucrat, so you can do admin tasks and then create new admins if you need them. Mindspillage (spill yours?) 18:39, 28 March 2006 (UTC)

Wonderful! I accept the position, and since there are so few admins for this Wiki, I've made the Template:Admin needed and associated Category:Admin needed to have an easy way to have users point admins toward trouble spots from now into the future. --MidnightLightning 21:18, 28 March 2006 (UTC)

---

Fieari has stepped forward nominating themself as another Admin of this Wikia; does anyone want to second that nomination to administrator? I agree that they have had a long history on this Wiki of creating quality content and maintaining the site, so if there's no objections, I'll make them an administrator. --MidnightLightning 15:52, 10 July 2006 (UTC)

I will second the notion. PsiSeveredHead 17:58, 15 July 2006 (UTC)

Well, with one vote for, and none against, Fieari is now a sysop/bureaucrat of this Wiki. --MidnightLightning 14:20, 17 July 2006 (UTC)

• Heya, I just joined here but I'd like to throw my hat into the admin ring. I own every 1st party D&D and D20 Modern book since 3.0 was released (and many more 3rd party books as well), have been a player and DM for about 7 years now and since I don't have a job right now I have lots of time :) Plan to fix up the abandoned page first, get that out of the way, any seconds? -- Jorda_The_Knight 5:05, 08 April 2008 (GMT)

[edit] Powerline pages?

In an effort to keep this wiki somwhat organized, I've been perusing the Special:lonelypages list, and most entries there have one-word titles and seem to belong to the "First Edition - Powerline" system. Most all were created by an unknown user, so I don't have them to ask, so I'm asking the group: Does anyone know what Powerline is, and if those should be brought into the fold by being categorized into an existing group, or if they should be deleted since they're not part of an existing group and not linked to by any other pages?

The user(s) who originally created those pages seem to have not been logged in, so if you have any information about what system these are, please step forward by adding to this comment, or commenting on my User talk:MidnightLightning page.

--MidnightLightning 16:19, 29 March 2006 (UTC)

I have categorized all the 103 "Powerline" articles into the Category: Powerline, and made an index for them, so they stop cluttering up the Orphaned pages list (which drops the number of orphaned articles to 16; a much more manageable number).

So now, take a look at the Orphaned pages list from time to time to see if any of your pages have ended up there. If so, odds are forgot to put a link to them from the CR index pages, or have an incorrectly formatted link there. Articles that have been categorized or have links from them to other places are still considered orphans unless some article links to them directly.

--MidnightLightning 19:43, 5 June 2006 (UTC)

I've never played the game, nor do I own it, but all the "Powerline" entries look like they are Mutants and Masterminds characters. I've looked through the M&M rulebook several times, and I'm almost sure these entries are for that game. Also, it makes sense because these entries mention "First Edition," and M&M is now in its 2nd edition. -- ACodispo 23:04, 16 June 2006 (UTC)

---

Well, it looks like the Mutants and Masterminds comment is the best we're going to get, and at this point all the "Powerline" pages are corralled with their own Category and index, so can safely just stay out of everyone's way and not clutter up the various Orphaned lists. And if anyone devoted to M&M wants to do more with them, you're welcome to, as I'm not familar with that system. --MidnightLightning 18:35, 21 June 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Dice Rolling

Massive Wootness! After much Javascript messing about and a few hours help from the Wikia live chatters, I have gotten a die rolling template working! This template functions similar to the one from d20srd.org, with the one noticable exception that you can do multiplication in the roll as well (i.e. valid die rolls include: "1d2", "2d4", "3d6+6", and "10d8x20"). Check out that template at Template:DieRoll. If used with your Stat block, you can now roll the NPCs attacks, saves, skill checks, etc., right from the Wiki page! --MidnightLightning 17:53, 28 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] "Click To Show" Organization

I've been trying to add "Click To Show" navigation support to our wiki, as seen on Wikipedia on their Good Article page, where everything is hidden until you click the appropriate "show" link. I've copied their relevant js from [1] and their css from [2], putting it in Monobook.js and Monobook.css, respectively, but my test page at User:Fieari/TestNavBar doesn't seem to be working. Did I put the javascript and css in the wrong place for our wiki? Fieari 17:54, 16 September 2006 (UTC)

Hrm. I did put it in the wrong place, it seems, but now that I've found the correct place, it still doesn't seem to work. Fieari 00:34, 17 September 2006 (UTC)

Solved! Your page works just fine now. --MidnightLightning 15:13, 18 September 2006 (UTC)

Awesome! I've modified the D&D NPCs by CR page to utilize this neat little bit of javascript now. I find it much more navigatable like this. I also made a template that makes utilizing the code a lot easier: {{HideBox|title=HEADING|color=OPTIONAL COLOR|text=CONTENTS OF BOX}} will make your very own little hide/show box. I didn't use it for the listing page, because our system of tables doesn't work inside it, unfortunately. I'm guessing it has something to do with nesting templates inside of templates. Fieari 21:53, 18 September 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Search Engine Plugin

I came up with a quick addon for any addicts of this website who think it's too much trouble to first browse to d20npcs.wikia.com and then use the search bar on the left. You can now get the d20npcs wiki Search Plugin for Firefox/Mozilla by visiting mycroft.mozdev.org. Install the plugin and it will add d20npcs to the drop-down options in your search bar.

--MidnightLightning 18:40, 2 October 2006 (UTC)

[edit] OGL vs GFDL - compatibility issues

Important:' I have noticed you use OGL content on this wiki. Please note that it is probably not compatible with GFDL. Please go to Forum:OGL vs GFDL, possible multiple copyvios to read more and discuss solutions. --TOR 20:29, 4 February 2007 (UTC)

That forum page seems to have stagnated, which I will take as a conclusion that no action needs to be taken directly, immediately to address this. --MidnightLightning 19:04, 19 September 2007 (UTC)

[edit] New here

Hello all, I'm new to to this wiki, is there a general discussion page where I can introduce myself? (This was the nearest thing I could spot, but it seems a bit quiet, sorry if it's the wrong place!) Marasmusine 19:50, 11 March 2008 (UTC)

Usually your own User page (User:Marasmusine for you), is where people sound off about themselves generally. Welcome to the Wiki! --MidnightLightning 20:03, 11 March 2008 (UTC)

Okay, thanks very much! Marasmusine 08:04, 12 March 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Summon Monster Project

Perhaps the celestial / fiendish summoned monsters could be another collaborative project? I noticed Garnfellow had done a few statblocks, and I've made an index. Marasmusine 10:30, 13 March 2008 (UTC)