Difference between revisions of "Team Fortress Wiki:Policies"

From Team Fortress Wiki
Jump to: navigation, search
(Community websites: Trying to make this more readable. I hope I'm not changing the meaning here. Guides are at the linked pages, and could likely do with some small expansion.)
(Unreleased content: Note: main space categories are generally not permitted on articles in user space.)
(6 intermediate revisions by 5 users not shown)
Line 9: Line 9:
 
== Content ==
 
== Content ==
 
=== Unreleased content ===
 
=== Unreleased content ===
* Generally, images or articles relating to unreleased weapons, items or other game content are ''not'' permitted until they are officially released.
+
"Unreleased content" here refers to content for which there is some expectation of pending Valve release, but has not been patched into the game and has not been made public in Community servers; examples being content Valve claims to be developing or content mentioned in an ongoing Update ARG. For Community Mod policy, see [[#Mod notability|Mod notability]]. 
 +
* Generally, images or articles relating to expected but unreleased weapons, items, or other game content are ''not'' permitted until they are officially released. This is because until that point, what the content is, does, or looks like cannot be confirmed.
 
* The main purpose of this is to reduce unverified speculation or other ridiculous conjecture appearing as 'fact' on article pages.
 
* The main purpose of this is to reduce unverified speculation or other ridiculous conjecture appearing as 'fact' on article pages.
* You are, however, free to start creating the article in your user space and have it moved back into the article space upon official release.
+
* You are, however, free to start creating the article in your user space and have it moved back into the article space upon official release. Note: main space categories are generally not permitted on articles in user space.
  
 
=== Images and media ===
 
=== Images and media ===
Line 23: Line 24:
 
The content on Team Fortress Wiki is '''multilingual''', and every effort should be made to ensure that readers of other languages can access the same content in their own native language.
 
The content on Team Fortress Wiki is '''multilingual''', and every effort should be made to ensure that readers of other languages can access the same content in their own native language.
 
* Articles should have multiple language translations. Content related to the organisation of the project (i.e. pages in the ''Team Fortress Wiki'' and ''Help'' namespaces) should normally not be translated.
 
* Articles should have multiple language translations. Content related to the organisation of the project (i.e. pages in the ''Team Fortress Wiki'' and ''Help'' namespaces) should normally not be translated.
* Most templates (excluding some [[:Category:Navigational templates|navigational boxes]]) should use [[Help:Translation switching|translation switching]]. This allows localized text and template code to be kept in one single template.
+
* Many articles are kept translated via [[Help:Translation switching|translation switching]] templates. This allows consistent formatting across pages, and ensures that localized text and template code are kept in one single template.
  
 
=== Community websites ===
 
=== Community websites ===
The community website pages on this wiki have always been prone to abuse, and as time went on, concerns of bias and the usage of the wiki as a vehicle for product advertising became more pronounced. A lack of guidelines acceptable to all parties has also always been an issue, so as of 2014-05-12 the wiki is enacting a concrete policy of '''no site pages whatsoever''' in favor of more helpful and informative basic guides that document the features more generally. This should solve the concerns of advertising and bias, as well as giving a more concrete starting point for newcomers. Guides needed include [[Steam Community Market|Basic Market guide]], [[Trading|Basic trading guide]] and [[Backpack|Basic inventory guide]].
+
The community website pages on this wiki have always been prone to abuse, and as time went on, concerns of bias and the usage of the wiki as a vehicle for product advertising became more pronounced. A lack of guidelines acceptable to all parties has also always been an issue, so as of 2014-05-12 the wiki is enacting a concrete policy of '''no site pages whatsoever''' in favor of more helpful and informative basic guides that document the features more generally. This should solve the concerns of advertising and bias, as well as giving a more concrete starting point for newcomers. The new guides are: [[Steam Community Market|Basic Market guide]], [[Trading|Basic trading guide]], and [[Backpack|Basic inventory guide]].
 +
 
 +
===Mod notability===
 +
Because the Team Fortress Wiki is treated as a reliable source of information by players, all new page additions are reviewed by staff to ensure that they meet minimum quality standards. In the case of community content, certain notability requirements also have to be met, in order to maintain this standard of quality. Before creating a new page for a community mod, please ensure that it meets these requirements, and be prepared to show them to staff should the need arise (either via IRC prior to creating the page, or on the talk page for the mod after it has been created). Beware that if a mod is not deemed as notable, it may be summarily removed.
 +
 
 +
*'''Running on multiple servers''': The mod in question must be shown to be in use on multiple servers, run by different entities (meaning that if there are a half-dozen servers being run by one group or person, it doesn't count). These servers also have to show a reasonable amount of player activity, and not simply be empty all the time. If a mod truly is notable in the community, then players will request that server admins run the mod and/or plugin, and it will see reasonable activity in those servers.
 +
*'''Discussion among the community''': Discussion of the mod must extend beyond the thread announcing its creation and development. It must be shown that the mod is actively discussed by multiple users over multiple communities, in order to illustrate its popularity among players.
 +
*'''Exposure via YouTube''': A very good marker of popularity is if a prominent YouTuber uploads a video of gameplay of the mod, or a popular Twitch streamer plays it (with or without fans/subscribers is acceptable). Simply showcasing the mod over the course of a few videos and a few personalities is proof enough of trending popularity, it does not have to be multiple videos over a consistent time period.
  
 
== Editing ==
 
== Editing ==
See the following links for guidelines on editing.
+
:''For basic help with wiki editing, see [[Help:Editing]]''
* [[Help:Contents]]
+
:''For tips on style, see [[Help:Style guide]]''
* [[Help:Editing]]
+
:''For a complete list of help pages, see [[Help:Contents]]''
* [[Help:Style guide]]
 
  
 
== Other ==
 
== Other ==
Line 40: Line 47:
 
*: User images should follow these rules:
 
*: User images should follow these rules:
 
*:* They should have the user's name in the file name (e.g. {{code|File:User MyName Steam avatar.png}})
 
*:* They should have the user's name in the file name (e.g. {{code|File:User MyName Steam avatar.png}})
*:* They should be placed in the category [[:Category:User images|User images]] (place the code {{code|[[Category:User images]]}} into the upload box)
+
*:* They should be placed in the category [[:Category:User images|User images]] (place the code {{code|<nowiki>[[Category:User images]]</nowiki>}} into the upload box)
*:* User images should not be used in articles.
+
*:* User images should not be used in articles, or share categories with article images.
  
 
* '''Signatures'''
 
* '''Signatures'''
*: Custom signatures are allowed. However, we would prefer that more attention is paid to improving articles rather than your own signature. As with user images, misuse of signatures may result in you losing the right to have them.
+
*: Custom signatures are allowed. However, we would prefer that more attention is paid to improving articles rather than your own signature. As with user images, misuse of signatures may result in you losing the right to have one.
  
 
* '''Pages'''
 
* '''Pages'''
Line 53: Line 60:
  
 
=== Deletion ===
 
=== Deletion ===
{{hatnote|See the above section on [[#Unreleased_content|unreleased content]].}}
+
* Pages may be deleted if they show low effort, or break the [[#Unreleased_content|unreleased content]] and [[#Community websites|community websites]] rules above.
 +
* Images may be deleted if they are low quality, not properly [[TFW:Licensing images|licensed]], or if they are simply not used.
  
 
=== Protection ===
 
=== Protection ===
Line 60: Line 68:
  
 
* If an edit war breaks out and involved parties refuse to stop;
 
* If an edit war breaks out and involved parties refuse to stop;
* If the page is high-risk: this can include templates that are transcluded heavily, or images that are [[:Category:Externally linked files|externally linked]].
+
* If the page is high-risk: this can include templates like {{tl|lang}} that are transcluded heavily, or pages that are heavily trafficked like [[Main Page]].
*: The main exception to this is if the template uses {{tl|lang}} to [[Help:Translation switching|switch translations]] it should not be protected in order to encourage localized strings to be added.
+
*: If a template needs protection ''and'' translation switching, consider making use of the [[Template:Dictionary|Dictionary]] to allow translators to update strings.
* In some cases pages may be protected for other reasons, in particular, if the page is receiving a high amount of regular traffic (e.g. the [[Main Page]]).
 
  
 
=== Blocks ===
 
=== Blocks ===
* Users are only blocked from editing if they prove to be consistently disruptive to the wiki.
+
* Users are only blocked from editing if they prove to be consistently disruptive to the wiki. Vandalism, ignoring your talk page, or spam are all good ways to get blocked.

Revision as of 21:17, 19 September 2020

This page documents accepted policies and guidelines in use on the Team Fortress Wiki.

Terms of Use

Main article: Team Fortress Wiki:Terms of Use

Content

Unreleased content

"Unreleased content" here refers to content for which there is some expectation of pending Valve release, but has not been patched into the game and has not been made public in Community servers; examples being content Valve claims to be developing or content mentioned in an ongoing Update ARG. For Community Mod policy, see Mod notability.

  • Generally, images or articles relating to expected but unreleased weapons, items, or other game content are not permitted until they are officially released. This is because until that point, what the content is, does, or looks like cannot be confirmed.
  • The main purpose of this is to reduce unverified speculation or other ridiculous conjecture appearing as 'fact' on article pages.
  • You are, however, free to start creating the article in your user space and have it moved back into the article space upon official release. Note: main space categories are generally not permitted on articles in user space.

Images and media

For image licensing policy, see Team Fortress Wiki:Licensing images.
For guidelines on image quality, see Team Fortress Wiki:Images.
For placing images in articles, see Help:Images.

Languages and localization

See Help:Language translation for help and specific guidelines related to article translation.

The content on Team Fortress Wiki is multilingual, and every effort should be made to ensure that readers of other languages can access the same content in their own native language.

  • Articles should have multiple language translations. Content related to the organisation of the project (i.e. pages in the Team Fortress Wiki and Help namespaces) should normally not be translated.
  • Many articles are kept translated via translation switching templates. This allows consistent formatting across pages, and ensures that localized text and template code are kept in one single template.

Community websites

The community website pages on this wiki have always been prone to abuse, and as time went on, concerns of bias and the usage of the wiki as a vehicle for product advertising became more pronounced. A lack of guidelines acceptable to all parties has also always been an issue, so as of 2014-05-12 the wiki is enacting a concrete policy of no site pages whatsoever in favor of more helpful and informative basic guides that document the features more generally. This should solve the concerns of advertising and bias, as well as giving a more concrete starting point for newcomers. The new guides are: Basic Market guide, Basic trading guide, and Basic inventory guide.

Mod notability

Because the Team Fortress Wiki is treated as a reliable source of information by players, all new page additions are reviewed by staff to ensure that they meet minimum quality standards. In the case of community content, certain notability requirements also have to be met, in order to maintain this standard of quality. Before creating a new page for a community mod, please ensure that it meets these requirements, and be prepared to show them to staff should the need arise (either via IRC prior to creating the page, or on the talk page for the mod after it has been created). Beware that if a mod is not deemed as notable, it may be summarily removed.

  • Running on multiple servers: The mod in question must be shown to be in use on multiple servers, run by different entities (meaning that if there are a half-dozen servers being run by one group or person, it doesn't count). These servers also have to show a reasonable amount of player activity, and not simply be empty all the time. If a mod truly is notable in the community, then players will request that server admins run the mod and/or plugin, and it will see reasonable activity in those servers.
  • Discussion among the community: Discussion of the mod must extend beyond the thread announcing its creation and development. It must be shown that the mod is actively discussed by multiple users over multiple communities, in order to illustrate its popularity among players.
  • Exposure via YouTube: A very good marker of popularity is if a prominent YouTuber uploads a video of gameplay of the mod, or a popular Twitch streamer plays it (with or without fans/subscribers is acceptable). Simply showcasing the mod over the course of a few videos and a few personalities is proof enough of trending popularity, it does not have to be multiple videos over a consistent time period.

Editing

For basic help with wiki editing, see Help:Editing
For tips on style, see Help:Style guide
For a complete list of help pages, see Help:Contents

Other

User content

  • Images
    Some images are permitted to be uploaded for personal use on user pages. However, users who abuse the right to upload decorative images may have them removed.
    User images should follow these rules:
    • They should have the user's name in the file name (e.g. File:User MyName Steam avatar.png)
    • They should be placed in the category User images (place the code [[Category:User images]] into the upload box)
    • User images should not be used in articles, or share categories with article images.
  • Signatures
    Custom signatures are allowed. However, we would prefer that more attention is paid to improving articles rather than your own signature. As with user images, misuse of signatures may result in you losing the right to have one.
  • Pages
    User pages should not be placed in any article category.

Elevated privileges

See Help:Group rights.

Deletion

Protection

See also: Wikipedia:Protection policy

Generally most pages are not protected to encourage new edits and additions to content. However, some pages and articles are deliberately locked against editing, mostly for the following reasons:

  • If an edit war breaks out and involved parties refuse to stop;
  • If the page is high-risk: this can include templates like {{lang}} that are transcluded heavily, or pages that are heavily trafficked like Main Page.
    If a template needs protection and translation switching, consider making use of the Dictionary to allow translators to update strings.

Blocks

  • Users are only blocked from editing if they prove to be consistently disruptive to the wiki. Vandalism, ignoring your talk page, or spam are all good ways to get blocked.