View source for User talk:Mystic-Scholar

==Welcome . . . ==
to the Great Library of Greyhawk. Be sure to check out the [[Writing Guidelines]]. Feel free to post any questions you may have on my [[User talk:Robbastard|talk page]].  Also, be sure to use the edit summary when making changes.--[[User:Robbastard|Robbastard]] 21:19, 23 August 2009 (EDT)

PS: I've noticed that most of your changes have been in the wording of existing articles, essentially keeping the same content with a different presentation. If this is because you feel the wording can be improved, fine. However, make sure that you're not duplicating the wording directly from any sourcebooks, as we try to avoid plagiarism. If you find that you have unwittingly copied any source material word-for-word, it would be much appreciated if you corrected this. Thanks.--[[User:Robbastard|Robbastard]] 21:30, 23 August 2009 (EDT)

==Rel Astra==
Given the fact that [[Rel Astra]] is a city-state, the [[Template:Greyhawk Realm|Greyhawk Realm]] infobox would probably be more appropriate.--[[User:Robbastard|Robbastard]] 18:34, 25 August 2009 (EDT)
:I figured since you'd taken an interest in the article, you might be interested in changing the infobox--just copy and paste the stuff in the box with dotted lines under "Usage.". Also, you can use four tildes (~) to sign your posts.--[[User:Robbastard|Robbastard]] 20:43, 25 August 2009 (EDT)

Your enthusiasm is great, MS--it's good to have another contributor.  You'll notice that I made some changes--nothing to take personal, this is common practice in wikis.  This is the first time I've had a chance to really look over some of your work. Aside from some of the minor stuff (excess capitalization & italicization, for example), I've noticed that in some places you include speculation on the nature of things, such as why certain deities have a presence in the city. Unless such speculation is found in a ([[Greyhawk canon|canonical or apocryphal]]) source, it should not be included (I only got as far as the religion section, btw) on the article page. Anyway, thanks for helping out, and don't get discouraged by the learning curve--we were all there, once. Also, feel free to use an article's talk page if you have any questions about that subject or the article itself.--[[User:Robbastard|Robbastard]] 00:46, 26 August 2009 (EDT)

==Bibliographies==
If you haven't noticed, they're in alphabetical order, by author's last name. Could you please alphabetize the sources you've added? Thanks.--[[User:Robbastard|Robbastard]] 00:56, 27 August 2009 (EDT)

==When you have a question==
About a certain article, it would be helpful if you link to the article in the text of your message, so I can go directly to it instead of searching for it. Thanks.--[[User:Robbastard|Robbastard]] 20:01, 28 August 2009 (EDT)

==It would also be helpful==
. . . if you checked your links after creating them, to make sure they go to the desired page. For instance, in [[Society of Magi]], you linked it to [[Greyhawk]], which goes directly to the article on the campaign setting, when you meant for it to link to the city of the same name. You could either link it to the correct title ([[Free City of Greyhawk]]), a page that redirects there ([[Greyhawk City]]), or by using a pipe (|) in the link, such as [[Free City of Greyhawk|Greyhawk]] (hit "edit" to see how I did this).--[[User:Robbastard|Robbastard]] 20:16, 28 August 2009 (EDT)

==Pipe==
Look for it to the right of your left bracket key, same key as the backslash (\).--[[User:Robbastard|Robbastard]] 20:22, 28 August 2009 (EDT)

==If it looks like==
Rip & I are making fewer corrections to your edits, it could be that you're improving, but it could also be that we just haven't had time to look over everything in its entirety--I'm still making corrections to articles that are over a year old, for instance. :)  That said, you do seem to be coming right along in learning the ropes. If I did have one suggestion, it would be to avoid creating articles for subjects that rely solely on [[Greyhawk canon|apocryphal sources]], such as the ''[[Oerth Journal]]''. Canonical sources for a subject can be located via the ''Encyclopedia Greyhawkania'', [http://melkot.com/mechanics.html found here]. Articles written with only apocryphal sources for reference run the risk of having outdated and/or incorrect information.--[[User:Robbastard|Robbastard]] 11:23, 29 August 2009 (EDT)

==Categories==
Also, make sure to add the appropriate categories to the bottom of pages you create. The categories can be found [http://www.canonfire.com/wiki/index.php?title=Category:Greyhawk here]. Note that categories are often divided into subcategories.--[[User:Robbastard|Robbastard]] 12:19, 29 August 2009 (EDT)
*Categories are added by placing "Category:x" in double brackets '''after''' the Bibliography. For an article about a city or town, for instance, you'd do "Category:Greyhawk settlements" (in double brackets, without quotes). For an organization, you'd do "Category:Greyhawk organizations."--[[User:Robbastard|Robbastard]] 15:22, 29 August 2009 (EDT)

==Be careful==
To avoid plagiarizing when creating new articles. Your [[Druniazth]] article had several instances of entire phrases being copied word-for-word.  I've fixed most of it. I find a good thesaurus helps, and also changing the order of the sentence.--[[User:Robbastard|Robbastard]] 22:45, 26 April 2010 (EDT)

==Mistakes==
I see you repeating many of the same mistakes--for instance, excess spacing, unnecessary capitalizations (generally only reserved for proper names and at the beginning of a sentence), failing to put spaces between years & "CY" ("586 CY" not "586CY"), misuse of categories (The [[Earldom of the Tangles]] is a realm, but not a settlement; the [[Men of the Rift]] are a realm and realm & possibly an organization, but not a character), and improper format on references ("*[[Gary Holian|Holian, Gary]], [[Erik Mona]], [[Sean K. Reynolds]], and [[Frederick Weining]]. ''[[Living Greyhawk Gazetteer]]''. Renton, WA. Wizards of the Coast, 2000." not "[[Gary Holian|Holian, Gary]], [[Erik Mona|Mona, Erik]], [[Sean K. Reynolds|Reynolds, Sean K.]], and [[Frederick Weining|Weining, Frederick]]. [[Living Greyhawk Gazetteer]]. Renton, WA. Wizards of the Coast, 2000."). Keeping track of little things like this would help a great deal. :) Thanks--[[User:Robbastard|Robbastard]] 22:34, 27 April 2010 (EDT)

Sorry about that Rob, will work to improve that. Don't want to make unnecessary work for you. Thanks for the coaching.  [[User:Mystic-Scholar|Mystic-Scholar]] 23:22, 27 April 2010 (EDT)

==The [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apostrophe#Singular_nouns_ending_with_an_.E2.80.9Cs.E2.80.9D_or_.E2.80.9Cz.E2.80.9D_sound apostrophe]==
I've noticed you're often writing "Iuz's" as "Iuz'." An 's is always added to "[[Iuz]]" when denoting possession. The only time an apostrophe alone suffices is in the case of certain Classical or Biblical names, which generally won't come up.--[[User:Robbastard|Robbastard]] 22:56, 29 April 2010 (EDT)

==Stoink==
Were you logged in when you edited Stoink? If you edited it anonymously, it would only show your IP. -- [[User:Rip|Rip]] 13:34, 2 May 2010 (EDT)

::I'm sure that's likely what happened. You weren't logged in, and you didn't notice, so the wiki logged your IP instead of your nickname. That can't happen anymore, since it's set to not allow anonymous edits. -- [[User:Rip|Rip]] 14:13, 3 May 2010 (EDT)

==Greyhawk bodies of water==
We have a "bodies of water" category for all lakes, oceans, seas, and rivers. Dividing the category into subcategories wouldn't be a bad thing, but right now it seems adequate. If you think there should be subcategories, you can create new categories just by putting them at the bottom of articles (like you did) and then clicking on the redlink and writing some small explanatory text for what the category is for. Like, "This category lists rivers in the [[World of Greyhawk]] setting." That'll be enough to turn the redlink blue. Then make sure you give the category itself a category. The category "Greyhawk rivers" should have the "Greyhawk bodies of water" category linked at the bottom. For now, rather than re-categorize everything in the Greyhawk bodies of water category, I just put your new articles there. If you think it'd be better to make subcategories for all those things, feel free. -- [[User:Rip|Rip]] 14:13, 3 May 2010 (EDT)

::Oh, also, I've been alphabetizing your bibliographies, and adding a bullet point (*) where you forget them. Bullet points should be in front of everything in the bibliography list, and the list should appear in alphabetical order by the first author's last name. -- [[User:Rip|Rip]] 14:29, 3 May 2010 (EDT)

==Desayeus==
Desayeus is from the 3rd edition adventure ''Bastion of Broken Souls''. While there's nothing to stop anyone from incorporating him into the mythos of the World of Greyhawk, he isn't specifically linked to anything Oerth-specific. He was worshiped somewhere in the same multiverse as Oerth, since he was exiled to the same [[Pandemonium]] that the gods of Oerth know (and I'm pretty sure I mentioned him in the Pandemonium entry), but his worshiper base may (or may not) have been on another world. And yeah, I wrote [http://www.planewalker.com/encyclopedia/desayeus that entry on Planewalker]. 

The closest god to Thoth would be [[Boccob]], I think, as the god of magic and balance. -- [[User:Rip|Rip]] 09:04, 4 May 2010 (EDT)

==Article titles==
When creating new articles, make sure you observe proper, consistent capitalization for article titles. For example, when "river," "forest," "lake," "mountains," hills," etc, are included in the proper name, those should also be capitalized. Thus, "[[Javan River]]" would be correct, whereas "[[Javan river]]" would not. Note that's it's perfectly okay to create a redirect for the later, but the main article title should utilize the proper spelling.--[[User:Robbastard|Robbastard]] 22:13, 5 May 2010 (EDT)
:It can be fixed by moving the article to its proper title using the "move" tab.--[[User:Robbastard|Robbastard]] 22:32, 5 May 2010 (EDT)

==Notes==
A "Notes" section is not necessary for every article. Notes sections should '''only''' be used when the information doesn't fit under another heading. For example, in your [[Davish River]] article, you placed information about the island of [[Avenstane]] under "Notes," when it it would more appropriately belong under "Features and settlements."--[[User:Robbastard|Robbastard]] 22:13, 5 May 2010 (EDT)

==Flora and fauna==
This section probably works best as a subsection of "Ecology."--[[User:Robbastard|Robbastard]] 22:40, 5 May 2010 (EDT)
:This can be done by adding another "=" to each side of the section title.--[[User:Robbastard|Robbastard]] 22:43, 5 May 2010 (EDT)

==sources==
Don't forget to ''italicize'' the titles of your sources, where needed.--[[User:Robbastard|Robbastard]] 23:52, 5 May 2010 (EDT)

==Your contributions. . .==
'''are''' appreciated, as is your willingness to learn. Everyone has growing pains, so don't take any aggravation I might seem to exhibit personally--it's mostly being overwhelmed at the volume of your contributions (which is good, btw :). I've found that coaching new "scribes" in the Great Library can be rewarding for all, as pointing out mistakes & offering suggestions gives them incentive to write better articles (& improve their originals, thus lightening my workload). Your work continues to improve, which gives me confidence. Don't be discouraged if it takes me (or Rip) awhile to look over your articles, or to add images. Wiki productivity comes in spurts, and you yourself seem to have gotten on quite a roll over the last week! Also, feel free to offer suggestions of your own. :)--[[User:Robbastard|Robbastard]] 23:52, 5 May 2010 (EDT)

== Melkot ==
Since Denis' site is a fan site (even though he is the creator) are there any Canon references to [[Melkot]] that I can use to create an entry?  [[User:Mystic-Scholar|Mystic-Scholar]] 00:24, 6 May 2010 (EDT)

==/and map==
Adding this designation is not necessary in the bibliography, as the product listed includes all content.  Individual parts of a product (booklets, maps, reference cards, etc) would generally be reserved for in-line citations (though well known maps might have unofficial designations unrelated to the actual product name, such as the [[Darlene map]] for the map in the 1983 box, or the [[Paizo map]] instead of the ''[[Dungeon]]'' magazine that section of map was bundled with).--[[User:Robbastard|Robbastard]] 17:17, 6 May 2010 (EDT)

=="loading" templates==
To "load" a template (for [[Melkot]], you'd use the [[:Template:Greyhawk Settlement]] template), go to the "Usage" section, copy the info in the box, then paste it to the page you're working on.--[[User:Robbastard|Robbastard]] 00:48, 8 May 2010 (EDT)

== Blemu Hills ==
My submission of the [[Blemu Hills]] is ready for your perusal. Thanks! [[User:Mystic-Scholar|Mystic-Scholar]] 20:00, 8 May 2010 (EDT)

==[[Yeomanry]] map==
It's detail from the "[[Paizo map]]" that was packaged in four different sections in ''[[Dungeon]]'' #118-121. [http://paizo.com/dungeon/products/issues/greyhawkmap Link].--[[User:Robbastard|Robbastard]] 14:17, 10 May 2010 (EDT)

=="X years ago"==
The above phrase, as you used in [[Dark Gate]], is best avoided, as the reader has no point of reference. For example, was the discovery of the [[Passage of Slerotin]] "some twelve years ago" from: [[600CY]]? [[576 CY]]? [[591 CY]]? [[1 CY]]? Instead, try to come up with an accurate date. In this case, the ''[[Living Greyhawk Gazetteer]]'' (set in 591 CY) conflicts with ''[[Return of the Eight]]'', ''[[The Adventure Begins]]'', & ''[[Living Greyhawk Journal]]'' #0, all of which have dates of 576 CY, [[577 CY]], and 576 CY, respectively. To accommodate this discrepancy between canonical sources, I changed the wording to "Between 576 and [[579 CY]]." A handy page for finding dates like "x years ago," btw is Steve Wilson's [[Grey Chrondex]], located [http://www.www.canonfire.com/cf/ghchrondex.php here].--[[User:Robbastard|Robbastard]] 21:02, 11 May 2010 (EDT)

==New category==
Given the number of new river articles you've created, I've made a [[:Category:Greyhawk rivers]] category. Could you please use this category for any new river pages you create? Also, if you wouldn't mind, could you change the categories of the river articles you've previously put in [[:Category:Greyhawk bodies of water]]? Thanks.--[[User:Robbastard|Robbastard]] 21:16, 11 May 2010 (EDT)

==Also==
Unless you have any particular issues with a new page, it isn't necessary to post a link to every article you create on my talk page, as I'll probably see it anyway.  I regularly monitor the [[Special:Recent changes|Recent changes]] page (link on left as well), and I can also see your contributions by going to [[Special:Contributions/Mystic-Scholar]].  However, don't hesitate to post on my (or Rip's) talk page any time you need help or have a question.--[[User:Robbastard|Robbastard]] 21:24, 11 May 2010 (EDT)

==Tip==
As easy way to find additional material on this wiki about an article you're working on is to click on the "What links here" link to the left. It will display a list of all current pages that link to your subject.--[[User:Robbastard|Robbastard]] 23:50, 11 May 2010 (EDT)

==Flora & fauna in rivers==
The fact that a river passes through or near a forest doesn't actually make the forest part of the river's flora.  This section should be used for plants and animals that actually inhabit waters of the river itself.--[[User:Robbastard|Robbastard]] 23:58, 11 May 2010 (EDT)

==Corrections on talk pages==
There's no real need to do this. In the cases you modified, redirects were already in place. Also, leaving examples of mistakes visible on talk pages can give new users a sense of how to avoid similar issues.--[[User:Robbastard|Robbastard]] 14:46, 13 May 2010 (EDT)

==Thalland==
Nope, since Cordell put Thalland on the Harp River. It's the LGG that associates Thalland with the Thelly. -- [[User:Rip|Rip]] 17:02, 21 May 2010 (EDT)
::See the ''Living Greyhawk Gazetteer'', page 13. -- [[User:Rip|Rip]] 18:10, 22 May 2010 (EDT)
::This sort of question would be appropriate for the [[Thelly River|article's]] talk page, by the way. I check the wiki often enough that I'll see it there. -- [[User:Rip|Rip]] 18:18, 22 May 2010 (EDT)