Help:Getting Started
Coordination
Wiki efforts are being organized through the Baten Kaitos Discord server. Please coordinate with other users through the wiki-revamp channel and feel free to ask any questions or leave suggestions there as well.
If you would like to help write and edit articles, please use the Baten Kaitos Wiki Revamp - Google Sheet to coordinate who's working on what pages. (See pinned messages in the Discord.) This is to help us avoid creating duplicate pages and to better track what still needs to be created.
How Do I Get Started?
It can be a bit daunting to learn how to add things, so feel free to ask questions in the Discord!
How to Make a New Page
MediaWiki's page explains it more in depth, but there are three main ways to create a new page.
Use the search function: Type the name of the page you want to create into the wiki search bar and hit enter. Then click the red link that appears and start typing in the box that pops up.
Use an existing link: If an existing page is trying to link to a page that does not exist, the link will appear red. Click the red link and you will be directed to a page where you can create the article.
Type the desired URL into your browser's address bar: You will be given the option to create the page if it does not already exist.
Page names have been mostly predetermined and are listed on the spreadsheet doc along with a link to the wiki for consistency.
Editing
To edit, click the Edit or the Edit Source button at the top of the page. This will bring up a text box where you can make changes to the content on the page. Before saving your changes though, you should click the "Show preview" button— this way you can make sure that you've typed everything in as you intended before making the change public.
Edit will bring up the Visual Editor, which lets you edit the article in an area that appears very close to the final page style, but may not offer as much control over the precise placement and coding of images and extra features.
Edit Source will bring up the raw PHP code that makes up the page, offering more control. You can toggle a live preview in the top right to view your changes in real time if you'd like.
Before submitting your edit, you should also type in a quick summary of the changes you made to the page. For example, "Fixed typo". You should also check the "This is a minor edit" box if you made a small change, like correcting a misspelled word. If everything looks right, click the save page button. You can view a list of your recent edits on the Special:Contributions page.
Formatting
All article titles not beginning with a number will have the first letter capitalized automatically. Any subsequent letters will not be capitalized unless specified. Generally, you should always capitalize your page titles manually. Apostrophes will work in the link, however, it's advisable to not use apostrophes unless they exist in the source material ie."Sandfeeder's Nest". Spaces are turned into underscores in the web link, but remain spaces in the title itself.
Pages that require distinction between the two games should include the suffix (BKEW) or (BKO) in the title. For example Magnus (BKEW). This is reserved primarily for pages having to do with gameplay. For lore and in-universe subjects such as characters and locations, the information from both games should be contained in a single page with separate sections within as needed.
Helpful Links
Wikipedia's Getting Started page
Formatting Text
Adding Links
Adding Images
Categories
All pages, images, and templates must be placed within the wiki's category system. The category system functions similarly to the folder structure of a computer and enables users to better navigate the site without relying solely on the menus and search bar.
Main: is the main root category. All other categories should be somewhere within this root location. To tag a page or image with its category either type [[Category:CategoryNameHere]] at the bottom of the source code, or open the Page Options menu in the top right of the visual editor and type the category name in there. All categories that a page is tagged with will appear on the right side of the page once saved.
Templates
Templates are a way for pages to stay consistent without needing to copy paste the same stuff over and over again. Templates also allow for retroactive changes across all pages they are used in. For example, if a template is used on 20 different pages, updating the base template will automatically update that template on all 20 pages it appears in.
The method of adding a template to a page is to copy/paste {{TemplateNameHere}}. Include any additional info in between the brackets if present on that template's page. These are adjustable parameters and their use should be documented on that template's page. Simply replace the fields as directed. Template:Usable By BKEW is a good simple template to try this out with.
Read in depth about templates here.
Images
Image uploads are disabled for all users by default for security reasons. If you need to upload new images, you must request image uploading to be temporarily enabled in the wiki-revamp channel of the Discord server.
How Can I Help?
There's a lot of work to be done in order to get this wiki in presentable state. Any and all help is welcome. Even a single article makes a difference!
Articles that are ready to be worked on
These pages either don't rely on templates, or they have an example article with templates that are ready to copy and reference. Please follow the use of existing templates and headers. If something unique pops up that requires an additional section, please bring it up in the Discord so we can add it to the example article to establish consistent formatting.
Enemies: Example:Enemy_BKEW Use this for both BKEW and BKO enemies. Boss enemies may need additional formatting.
Locations: Example:Location Islands, towns, castles, ect. Additional formatting needed for dungeons, places with shops, add section for sidequests. Needs a bit of work, but people can start on the writing portion.
Characters: Rodolfo] Additional formatting still needed, especially for playable characters, but people can start the writing portions.
World Lore: Anything in-universe lore related. Pages will vary in formatting depending on the complexity of the topic.
Game Mechanics: Gameplay, Status Effects, Spirit Choices, ect. These pages will vary wildly in formatting depending on the complexity of the topic.
Non-Game Media: Music, books, merchandise, behind the scenes stuff, ect. Pages will vary in formatting depending on the complexity of the topic.
Other Things that Need to be Done
Info Gathering
- List out all remaster censorship changes: Renamed magnus (put this info in the magnus tabs of the spreadsheet), dialogue changes, visual changes, ect.
- List out all voice actors, both English and Japanese with a link to their Behind the Voice Actor page if available.
Image Gathering
- Screenshots of locations
- Screenshots for major quest lines
- Screenshots showing off game mechanics (Both HD Remaster and GC versions if UI varies wildly)
Lower Priority Images
- Screenshots of finisher moves
- Screenshots of important npcs without character art
Website Design
- Wiki Icon
- Backgrounds/CSS stuff
- Color schemes, visual flourishes
Articles that are NOT ready to be worked on
These categories are pending template creation/automation and should not be worked on until we establish more consistent formatting. Magnus Pages: We are hoping to figure out a way to automate these since there are so many.
Additional Notes
- The look and formatting of the wiki is subject to change drastically in the coming months. If you are primarily interested in writing articles you may certainly begin to do so, but expect to have various templates and formatting changes applied to your articles as we figure out how we're structuring things.
