MechaBay:Layout Guide

This Layout Guide is an official guide as to how an in-universe article should be structured. Feel free to discuss the Layout Guide on the talk page.

Disambiguation and redirection tags

Example:

 {{Otheruses|PLANT}}
 

• Generally used when it is possible that a user has found one article when they were actually looking for another of a similar or same name.
• See MechaBay:Template messages/Redirects and Category:Disambiguation and redirection templates

Maintenance templates

Example:

 {{Citation}}
 

• A series of tags used when the article is in need of some sort of maintenance.
• See Category:Maintenance templates

Header templates

Example:

 {{Noncanon}}
 

• These tags are used to indicate an article's level of canonicity, or if an article is a about a subject from a cancelled or future source.
• See Category:Header templates.

Spoiler tag

Example:

 {{Majorspoiler}}
 

• Spoiler tags on an article alerts a user to any major plot spoilers that come from new sources that are less than a month old
• See Template:Majorspoiler

Infobox

• Used to present vital statistics of subject. Various infoboxes can be accessed by using the standard preloads just below the "Save page" button.
• See MechaBay:Template messages/Infoboxes and Category:Infobox templates

Opening quote

• An opening quote is welcome for almost any type of article.
• Quotes can be said by the article's subject, or said by someone else about the article's subject.
• Do not use links within a quote, unless it is the only mention in the article of a certain subject.

Article body

• Main focus of the article
• Headings and subheadings are usually not required for very small articles.

Images

• Images should be placed where they are most relevent and should not interrupt the flow or the aesthetics of the article.
• Placing them immediately underneath a heading or subheading usually works quite well.
• Images should typically alternate from the right-side to the left-side. If there is a long infobox at the start, multiple images can be left aligned until the infobox ends.

Quotes

• In addition to the introductory quote, further quotes may be used throughout an article.
• Quotes are usually placed immediately underneath a heading or subheading, though they can also be used between paragraphs.
• Quotes are included "as-is", with the original spelling and formatting found in the source of the quote. In the case of a typo or other error, [sic] may be included to indicate that the error is from the original source and not the article.

Non-canon sections

Example:

 {{Noncanonstart}}
 ...
 ...
 {{Noncanonend}}
 

• Articles are allowed to contain non-canon information, provided that it is clearly labeled with the above tags.
• See Category:Advisory templates

Spoiler sections

Example:

{{Spoiler|upcoming media title}}
...
...
{{Endspoiler}}
 

• Articles can contain new spoiler information, provided that it is clearly marked with the above tags.
• See Category:Advisory templates

Stub

Example (for a stub about a character):

 {{Character-stub}}
 

• Placed at the bottom of the article body when the article is too vague or brief, AND when there is clearly more information that can be added
• See MechaBay:Template messages/Stubs and Category:Stub templates

Character articles

There are some guidelines for the organization of character articles within MechaBay. Though there is some flexibility, the following sections are typical:

1. Biography provides an account of the notable events in the character's life. The level of detail in this section is up to the individual author. However, a middle ground between succinct and lengthy is generally preferable. It is generally expected that this section will be divided into subsections on lengthy articles, though the appropriate sectioning of this is left to the author.
2. Personality and traits describes personality traits evident in the source material and how these influence the character's behavior. Examples should be given where possible.
3. Skills and abilities is intended to show any notable abilities possessed by the character.
4. Equipment can be used to give a brief description of any notable mecha, ships, weapons, or other equipment associated with the character.

Each of these sections may be further subdivided as appropriate.

Mecha and mecha class articles

There are some guidelines for the organization of mecha articles within MechaBay. Ideally, they are organized into three main sections, with subsections and extra sections where appropriate:

1. Characteristics includes any descriptive information about the class, as well as any statistical information provided.
2. Role encompasses the duties the mecha type was designed and/or used for. Strengths and weaknesses in application are laid out here, as well.
3. History covers the known operational history of the class, arranged in chronological order. Ideally, all appearances of the type in canon are described here.

Each of these three sections may be further subdivided as appropriate. Note: if anything in particular is of overwhelming significance concerning the class, or a preponderance of information is available, a section of its own can be created.

Starship and vehicle class articles

Starship and Vehicle Class Articles

There are some guidelines for the organization of ship and vehicle class articles within MechaBay. Ideally, they are organized into three main sections, with subsections and extra sections where appropriate:

1. Characteristics includes any descriptive information about the class, as well as any statistical information provided.
2. Role encompasses the duties the vessel or vehicle type was designed and/or used for. Strengths and weaknesses in application are laid out here, as well.
3. History covers the known operational history of the class, arranged in chronological order. Ideally, all appearances of the type in canon are described here.

Each of these three sections may be further subdivided as appropriate. Note: if anything in particular is of overwhelming significance concerning the class, or a preponderance of information is available, a section of its own can be created.

Individual Starship and Vehicle Articles

There are some guidelines for the organization of individual ship and vehicle articles within MechaBay. Ideally, they are organized into three main sections, with subsections and extra sections where appropriate:

1. Description contains all the details of the design of the ship or vehicle.
2. History chronicles the known history of the craft in chronological order. Ideally, all appearances of the type in canon are described here.
3. Commanders and crew (or a similar title such as Owners and operators) provides brief summaries of any individuals of particular import that owned, commanded, or crewed the vessel or vehicle.

Each of these three sections may be further subdivided as appropriate. Note: if anything in particular is of overwhelming significance concerning the ship or vehicle, or a preponderance of information is available, a section of its own can be created.

Behind the scenes

• Portrayal information (for characters appearing in films, computer games, cartoons, radio dramatizations)
• Origin of subject - subject's first appearance, who was responsible for creating and/or naming the subject, how the subject came about, was it based on anything, who did the concept art, etc.
• Any related non-canon information
• Contradictions - point out if one official source contradicts another, and which (if any) is accepted as canon
• Speculation - only included if the speculation is WIDELY believed by fans, or any speculation made by authors
• Filming - if it has a real world location, point out where it is and when it was filmed

Appearances

• Bulleted list of films, novels, comics, cartoons, roleplaying adventures, and computer games that the subject has appeared in
• These are de facto references or sources, but they are listed separately because they are in-universe.
• Includes even the smallest mentions in dialogue, narration, or visual appearance
• Should be sorted in order of in-universe chronology
• If a subject's appearance in a specific film/book/comic is only a brief mention, apply the {{Mo}} template.
• For a subject's first appearance in the saga (in order of publication, not in order of internal chronology), use the {{1st}} template.
• If a subject's first appearance in the saga is only a mere mention, use the {{1stm}} template.
• A subject might not be named in its first appearance, but is identified in a later source. In this case, use {{1st}} and {{1stID}}.
• For novels, make reference to the actual book.
• For comics, link to the individual chapter, unless a subject appears in every chapter of a story arc.
• Format: name of title only
• For generic comments, use {{C}}.
• See MechaBay:Template messages/Sources of articles for other applicable templates.

Sources

• Bulleted list of reference books.
• Includes even the smallest mentions
• Should be sorted by date of publication
• Apply {{1stm}} and {{1stID}} as per "Appearances" section above.
  • If an article has (First appearance) and (First mentioned), that means that the "mention" came first.
  • If something originated in a source, it would have either (First mentioned), or (First appearance). If (First appearance) has not been used by this point, then the first actual appearance would get the {{1st}} template. Not all articles will use this tag.
  • If it originated in an appearance, just that appearance (no sources) would have (First appearance) or (First mentioned). An additional appearance or source may warrant the use of {{1stID}}, {{1stdesc}}, etc.
  • See MechaBay:Template messages/Sources of articles for other applicable templates.
• Format: name of title only

Notes and references

• List of sources for information in the "Behind the scenes" section.
• Items are added to the list by placing <ref>Source goes here</ref> after the information tidbit in question.
• To get the references to show up in this section, use the {{Reflist}} template.

See also

• Links to related topics not already linked in article
• Usually links to family pages and the {{Imagecat}} template that do not really belong in the main article

External links

• It is called "External links" even if there is currently only one link
• Links to other unofficial sources, e.g. blogs, fan sites, Wikipedia articles
  • For Wikipedia articles, use the {{WP}} template (ex: {{WP|Gundam}} gives you: Gundam on Wikipedia:)

Category

• Every article should have at least one category
• Categories should be listed in alphabetical order
• People should be categorized by their last name; for example:

{{DEFAULTSORT:Yamato, Kira}}
[[Category:Coordinators]]
[[Category:Males]]

• Articles beginning with an article ("a," "an," or "the") should be categorized by the first significant word.
• Articles placed in categories should not also be placed in that category's master category; for example, articles in Category:Anno Domini characters should not also be placed in Category:Gundam characters.