View source for Editing Guidelines

The following serves as general guidelines on how to edit and format pages correctly. We all want to be the best editors we can be and we all want this wiki to grow; so when you are editing, please make sure you're formatting pages correctly. These aren't necessarily rules that you must follow to the letter; they are more along the lines of guidelines to make sure things run smoothly and look uniform. 

Below are some tips to help when editing. 

'''''Keep in mind that these guides are specifically designed for editing in <b>Source Mode</b>. If you are new or would like to practice editing in Source Mode (instead of Visual Editor), you can always edit on your personal profile or blog to practice until you are comfortable with the coding used in Fandom websites.'''''

'''''Pro tip: As much as we appreciate people being proactive, we also need to make sure that pages aren't unnecessarily being created. So, please contact one of the [[Special:Listadmins|admins]] or one of the [[Choices Stories You Play Wikia:Administrators|moderators]] if you wish to create a new page.'''''

'''''When creating a new page, it is always wise to have another browser tab/window open with an established similar page. That way you can toggle between the two to compare and determine what you need and what is missing from the page you are creating.'''''

=Disclaimers=
In general, all pages on the wiki contain spoilers. However, the template " <nowiki>{{SpoilerAlert}}</nowiki> " is used only for walkthroughs.  

If you encounter a NSFW (not safe for work) official Choices image, such as [[Frank]], please do not hesitate to use the <nowiki>{{NSFW}}</nowiki> template on the top of the page.

If you are editing a popular page and want to avoid edit conflicts (that can happen when two or more users try to edit the same page at the same time), feel free to use the <nowiki>{{UnderCon}}</nowiki> template at the top of the page. This will show others that the page is currently being worked on and ask them to refrain from editing until you are finished.

{| cellspacing="2" cellpadding="3" width="100%" style="background-color:lightblue; border:3px solid #6dc9fc; font-size:90%; line-height:14px; -moz-border-radius: 1em; padding: .5em .5em; -webkit-border-radius: 8px;  color:black;"
|
{{SpoilerAlert}}
<hr>
{{NSFW}}
<hr>
{{UnderCon}}
|}


If an editor would like to change the format of how certain pages are done or how they appear (for example, adding a new heading or tabbers or collapsible text or summaries), please <b>contact</b> an admin (such as [[User:Fearless Diva|Fearless Diva]], [[User:Jadelady|Jadelady]], or [[User:MondlichtPanda|MondlichtPanda]]) before beginning such an edit. The admin/moderator team will discuss your suggestion before deciding to approve or reject it. This is because we want to try to keep the pages uniform in structure, and certain suggestions will take more to implement it across all similar pages. Keep in mind that there are [[Special:Allpages|{{NUMBEROFARTICLES}} pages]] in the wiki and if we change one page, we most likely will have to change a good portion of the rest.

=Pages=
The basic rule for all pages (except for Theory Pages) is that the information provided on the page is factual or canon to the game. Please read the [[Choices: Stories You Play Wiki:Policies#Editing_on_the_Wiki:|Policies]] regarding this. Think of the wiki (or Fandom.com page) like wikipedia.org or an encyclopedia where facts are provided. This wiki does not allow fanart or fanfiction although users can feel free to post such items under their personal page/blog or the wiki's discussion [https://choices-stories-you-play.fandom.com/f forum]. The wiki does not pass "assumptions" as fact, even if logically and realistically the assumptions would be true in the real non-fictional world.

==Characters==
For general [[:Category:Characters|Characters]], please refer to the [[Character Editing Guidelines]].

===<u>Miscellaneous Characters</u>===
Most unnamed characters appear in this page as the characters are considered to have minor roles in the story. When in doubt, place characters here until more information is given in-game about them and they become full-fledged characters warranting an individual page for each person.

Miscellaneous Characters pages are titled:
''Series Name'' Miscellaneous Characters

They use the template " <nowiki>{{Miscchar}}</nowiki> " which displays the following at the top of the page:
{| cellspacing="2" cellpadding="3" width="100%" style="background-color:lightblue; border:3px solid #6dc9fc; font-size:90%; line-height:14px; -moz-border-radius: 1em; padding: .5em .5em; -webkit-border-radius: 8px;  color:black;"
|
{{Miscchar}}
|}

===<u>Adoptable Animals</u>===
All adoptable animals appear in their series' page titled: ''Series Name'' Adoptable Animals. These are animals where players have the option of renaming them, including animals that do not require premium purchases.

They use the template " <nowiki>{{AdoptAnimal}}</nowiki> " which displays the following at the top of the page:
{| cellspacing="2" cellpadding="3" width="100%" style="background-color:lightblue; border:3px solid #6dc9fc; font-size:90%; line-height:14px; -moz-border-radius: 1em; padding: .5em .5em; -webkit-border-radius: 8px;  color:black;"
|
{{AdoptAnimal}}
|}

==Books==
For books, please refer to the [[Book Editing Guidelines]].

We do not put the book end date until the actual day that it occurs. We understand that Pixelberry will announce it on social media but until the day comes, we leave the date blank. This is to prevent errors in case Pixelberry is early or late on the book drop.  

==Walkthroughs==
For [[:Category:Choices Walkthrough|Walkthroughs]], please refer to the [[Walkthrough Editing Guidelines]].

==Theory Pages==
[[File:TheoryPagePicture.png|thumb|200px]]
Theory Pages are used for players to brainstorm and discuss what the plot and elements are of the said book/series, including what they ''think'' might occur as the stories progress. Theory Pages consist of three headers:
===<u> Current & Unconfirmed Theories</u> ===
*'''A brief one-line summation:''' This summation is expanded/detailed.
===<u>Confirmed Theories</u>===
*'''Above Theory is Confirmed:''' Moved from "Current & Unconfirmed Theories" with the Chapter listed where the theory was confirmed in-game. This can also be "proved" by a writer's tweet with a reference url.
===<u> Debunked Theories</u>===
*'''Above Current/Unconfirmed is Debunked:''' Moved from "Current & Unconfirmed Theories" with the Chapter listed where the theory was debunked. This can also be "proved" by a writer's tweet with a reference url.
===<u> Unresolved Theories</u>===
*'''Formerly "Current & Unconfirmed Theories":''' For series/books that have ended and have unconfirmed theories, the heading may be changed from "Current & Unconfirmed" to "Unresolved" as there those theories will never be answered unless writers tweet about them.

Pictures that are used for Theory Pages can be designed by any editor. It can use any background or it can use the first book cover once it is released. It should contain the book's or series's title as well as the words "Theory Page", and can be added to the Category:[[:Category:Theory Page Covers|Theory Page Covers]]. If using non-Choices backgrounds, please keep images safe-for-work and rated PG-13 <ref>https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motion_Picture_Association_film_rating_system</ref> / T<ref>https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Entertainment_Software_Rating_Board</ref> or less.

==Collectibles==
Collectibles are a gameplay feature that most books have to expand the stories and/or entice players to spend diamonds. If there is more than one collectible type for a book, the general name for the page would be: ''Series Name'' Collectibles. However, if there is only one type of collectible, the title of the page is derived from what is stated in-game. 

For example, in the ''[[:Category:Bloodbound|Bloodbound]]'' series, the collectibles are called "portrait fragments". Thus, their corresponding pages are called [[Bloodbound, Book 1 Portrait Fragments]], [[Bloodbound, Book 2 Portrait Fragments]], and [[Bloodbound, Book 3 Portrait Fragments]]. However, in ''[[Blades of Light and Shadow, Book 1]]'', there are at least two collectibles (Lore Tablets and Legendary Weapons) which warrants the page to be titled [[Blades of Light and Shadow, Book 1 Collectibles]] instead of separate pages for each group of items.

==Redirects==
Please refrain from creating new pages with "redirects". The admin/moderator team will handle redirects. If you have a question regarding redirects, please contact [[User:Fearless Diva|Fearless Diva]], [[User:Jadelady|Jadelady]], [[User:MondlichtPanda|MondlichtPanda]] or any of the daily editors.

=Pictures=
For questions regarding pictures and galleries, please refer to [[Picture Uploading Guidelines]].

= Categories =
Categories group pages together and are used to search and browse through the wiki with ease. Existing categories can be found [[Special:Categories|here]], and generally consist of: Series, 'Series' Characters, Images from 'Series', Images of 'Series' Characters, Locations in 'Series', as well as character-specific categories such as: Female, Male, Non-binary, LGBT, and more.

Importantly, <u>always</u> ask for admin or mod approval when it comes to the creation of '''new''' categories.

= Other Rules =
As always, practice netiquette.
* Avoid CAPS as that equals SHOUTING.
* Avoid excessive spacing for "dramatic effect".

= Confused? =
If you are confused about any of the things listed here or think that anything should be added, then contact [[User:Fearless Diva|Fearless Diva]], [[User:Jadelady|Jadelady]], [[User:MondlichtPanda|MondlichtPanda]] or any of the daily editors.

=References=
<references/>

[[Category:Organization]]
[[Category:Policy]]