Creation and Upkeep of a Character Page
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While the UPDS is a great organizing tool for our group, it's difficult to really create an in depth look at your character using that area. Using the wiki, you can create a very rich and detailed character page with information about your character, an archive of SIMs, and much more. The tutorial below will teach you more about this.
Character Page vs. User Page
First things first. As you may already be aware, you automatically have a user page when you register on the wiki. If you look to the top of the page you're on right now, you'll see a small list of links, at the left of which is a link to a page called "User:Username" (with your username in place, obviously). Just as with the UPDS, we need to create a distinction between the "User" or "Writer" and the "Character". There's only one of you, the user, while you can have many characters. As such, it's not very efficient to use your user page as your character page, because you may have more than one character. And creating more than one username is also not very efficient.
So, use your user page to give information about you, or at the very least, to create a LIST of characters you write for, and then link to them from there. But you will want to actually create a specific page for each character.
Creating the Character Page
Before you can create a character page, it's helpful to understand how to create a page, and how to name it properly. Please read the content at both of the links below:
Character pages
Now that you have read about how to create and name pages correctly you can proceed with creating your own character page.
On the following 3 links we have created a number of example character pages that you can use.
Keep in mind: You are free to add and edit as much as you wish. The following examples of character pages are just "starting points" to work from.
Basic Character Pages
This is a very basic starting character page with just a short description of your character. This is an excellent page to start with as it is simple to fill out and allows for simple alterations to fit your needs.
Advanced Character Pages
After you have played for a while you will probally want to add some more information to your character. This is a more advance character form that you could use. It can also be adapted to fit your characters requirements.
Complex Character Pages
The final example we have supplied is an extremely indepth approach to makeing a character page. This one will involve makeing addition pages that will be linked to your first page. This will allow for the addition of a great more detail and information as well as history and any other extra information or pictures that you might want to add.
Adding Categories
Once you have selected the type of character page you will use you will need to add the following information to the bottom of the page. Read the next section carefully to make sure you do not miss anything.
All pages on the wiki should be categorized. The category tag(s) should be the last text on the page, one to a line.
The first tag you should add is as follows: [[Category:Characters]]
Occupation
After that you will need to identify if your character is a member of StarFleet or a Civilian?:
- If your character is a StarFleet officer, add: [[Category:Starfleet personnel]]
- If your character is a Civilian of some type, add: [[Category:Civilians]]
Next, what does your character do?:
- S/he is an Engineering officer: [[Category:Engineers]]
- S/he is a Doctor, Nurse, or Medic: [[Category:Healers and doctors]]
- S/he is a Counselor: [[Category:Mental Health experts]]
- S/he is a Security officer: [[Category:Security personnel]]
- S/he is a Helm, Com, or Ops officer: [[Category:HCO Officers]]
- S/he is a Science officer: [[Category:Scientists]]
- S/he is a StarFleet Captain: [[Category:Starfleet Captains]]
- S/he is a Marine of some type: [[Category:Starfleet Marines]]
- S/he is an Intelligence officer of some type: [[Category:Intelligence members]]
More occupations found in the Individuals by occupation category.
Species
Many races already have categories available. Simply head to the Individuals by species category and find yours. Add that category, like so: [[Category:Vulcans]].
If yours is not represented, seek assistance from an Admin.
Traits
Does your character fit one of the following traits?:
- if she/he has any ESP like abilites then they would be a Reader. For more information about this or to make sure your character qualifies as a reader follow the link, Reader. Once you are sure your character qualifies as a reader then add the following category: [[Category:Reader Characters]]
- is she/he is a Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, or Transgendered character then add the following category: [[Category:GLBT Characters]]
- if she/he holds a noble title then add this category: [[Category:Nobility]]
- if she/he is a Secondary Character for you then add this category: [[Category:Secondary Characters]]
- Keep in Mind that only officers who are above the rank of Lt. may request a secondary character. See Characters FAQ for more info on how to request a secondary character.
Current Starship or Base
You'll need to add yourself as a member of the current crew you are on. Head to the Ship Histories page and find your current ship. Now scroll down to the bottom of your ship's page and click on your ship's category name. This should bring you to a list of sub-categories, and pages in your ship's category. Usually there is a category like "Enterprise PCs" or "Enterprise Crew" or "Enterprise Characters." Add that category to your character page.
If you have changed ship, your old ship might have a category for former PCs (e.g. Category:Independence-A Alumni). If so, add this to the bottom of your characters page at the same time as adding it to the PC's category for your new ship.
You have now finished reading all you need to make a character.
Help
In most cases if after reading this you still require assistance you can usually ask either your Captain or 1st Officer. They should be able to either help you out or direct you to someone who can assist you.
Examples
Below are hand-picked examples of well written, in-depth bios. This collection is a fine example of the various creative ways in which you can portray and record your characters history.