Policy This page is considered an official policy on the Ratchet & Clank wiki. It has wide acceptance among editors and is considered a standard that everyone should follow. Except for minor edits, please make use of the discussion page to propose changes to this policy.

The layout guide outlines the expected content and layout of articles on the Ratchet & Clank wiki. Some article types may not be fully covered in this guide. If that is the case follow the guide as much as possible and use the discussion pages to resolve any issues. Suggest improvements, changes or additions to the guide on the talk page. The guide for walkthroughs and usage articles can be found towards the end of this page.

The manual of style and contextual style guide also list other styling guidelines and policies.

Contents 1 Normal article layout information 1.1 Title tag 1.2 Spoiler warning 1.3 Improvement templates 1.4 Header templates 1.5 Infobox 1.6 Main article body 1.6.1 Quotes 1.6.2 Images 1.6.3 Non-canon 1.6.4 Spoiler sections 1.6.5 Gaming information 1.6.5.1 Lists 1.7 Trivia 1.8 Behind the scenes 1.9 Appearances 1.10 Sources and references 1.11 Sources 1.12 See also 1.13 External links 1.14 Stub 1.15 Navigation template(s) 1.16 Interlanguage template(s) 1.17 Category 2 Walkthrough content and layout guide 3 Guide article content guide

Normal article layout informationEdit

Title tagEdit

• The {{title}} tag may be used on some pages to italicize the title.

Spoiler warningEdit

• If appropriate, {{spoiler-top}} should be placed here.

Improvement templatesEdit

• Templates such as {{expand}} and {{citation}} should be used as appropriate.

Header templatesEdit

• Templates such as {{conjecture}} and {{cut}} go at the top of an article where relevant.

InfoboxEdit

• An infobox template should be used where possible in articles.
• Usually an infobox should only be added if at least one piece of information can be added to each section of the infobox.

• For example the Location infobox would only be added to an article if at least one field in the general information section can be completed and at least one field in the other section can also be completed.

Main article bodyEdit

• Observe the manual of style.
• A history or biography section is usually appropriate for location and character articles respectively. Character articles should usually contain a section on personality, and skills and abilities.

QuotesEdit

• A quote can be put after the infobox section, but before the main article content starts for the opening paragraph(s).
• Quotes can be used at relevant sections throughout the article and should preferably be used no more than once in each section of an article.

ImagesEdit

• Images should be placed in relevant locations and aim to keep the aesthetics of the article intact. Initial images should be on the right-side but should alternate for multiple images.

Non-canonEdit

• In main canonical articles non-canonical information should appear in this section but must use Template:Non-canon section and Template:Non-canon end. They should appear in chronological order (despite being non-canon) - where no time frame is given the notimeline template should be used. Non-canonical information should be clearly separated from canonical information. If the non-canonical information is an appearance in multiplayer, a cameo or as a skin with little context consider using the behind the scenes section instead.

Spoiler sectionsEdit

• Spoiler warnings can be used in sections if appropriate.

Gaming informationEdit

• Content such as tips on how to defeat enemies, or reach secret areas.
• Written from the gamer's perspective.

ListsEdit

• For location articles, a list of enemies is often appropriate, so it should be split into two sub-sections - native and non-native enemies.

TriviaEdit

• A section for trivial information.
• Should be sourced if mentioning a popular belief.
• Speculation should be kept to a minimum.
• The section should be minimal as content is often more appropriate for the main article and/or behind the scenes section.

Behind the scenesEdit

• Portrayal information - voice acting information for example.
• Creation - their 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.
• Retcon Information: How (if) subject's story has been changed in a retcon.
• Any related non-canon information that isn't appropriate for a sub-section in the main article - for example an appearance as a skin.
• Contradictions: Point out if one official source contradicts another, and which (if any) is accepted as canon.
• Speculation: Only included if the speculation is made or implied by an official source such as a developer or author and should still be sourced.
• "Sub Meanings": If something is named after a real world, why this might have been done. For an example see the article Liberator armor.
• Glitches: Only if minor, for example a graphical glitch. Actual game play glitches can go in the gamer's perspective section, in its own sub-section.

AppearancesEdit

• Bulleted list of games, comics and other licensed media 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 - for mentioned only appearances use the mentioned only template.
• Should be sorted in order of in-universe chronology, for simultaneous chronological appearances use the release order, with the earliest release first.
• For first appearance (in release order, not chronological order) use the first appearance template and/or first mentioned template.
• Use appearance templates as appropriate.

Sources and referencesEdit

• List of sources for information in the "Behind the scenes" section and main content here.
• Items are added to the list by placing <ref>Source goes here</ref> after the relevant information (place it mid article).
• To get the references to show up in this section, insert the following code:

{{Reflist}}

• For further help see Ratchet & Clank wiki:Sourcing.
• This is used as a way of proving that content is canon, by linking to a source, or listing where a source can be found.
• A scrollbox should be used for sources and references with more than 15 separate entries.

SourcesEdit

• Bulleted list of sources.
• Includes even the smallest mentions.
• Should be sorted by date of publication.
• May be sourced as a reference and displayed in sources and references instead.

See alsoEdit

• Links to related topics not already linked in article.
• Usually links to Image categories or pages, that don't really belong in the main article.
• Links to walkthrough articles or usage articles where relevant.

External linksEdit

• It's called "External links" even if there is currently only one link.
• Links to other unofficial sources, e.g. fan sites.
• Can also link to other sites where further information might be listed.

StubEdit

• Used when an article is too vague or brief, and when there is clearly more information that can be added.
• To add, type {{Stub}}, don't just categorize the article! The template does it for you.

Navigation template(s)Edit

• Where appropriate navigation templates may be added.

Interlanguage template(s)Edit

• Where appropriate an interlanguage template should be added for associated wikis.

CategoryEdit

• 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, [[Category:Characters|McMarxx, Skidd]] or [[Category:Bosses|Gears, Courtney]].
• Articles beginning with an article ("a," "an," or "the") should be categorized by the first significant word; for example, [[Category:Weapons|Harbinger, The]]
• Please categorize categories in the same way!
• Articles should usually not be inside a category's master category.

Walkthrough content and layout guideEdit

(Example article)

1. To create a walkthrough for a particular game go to the article based on the game you wish to write about. Then either follow a link or create the page titled: Game title/Walkthrough (make sure it has a link to the walkthrough on the actual game article in the see also section).
2. Then create a list of links that lead to pages for each level, or just add the one you wish to make if it has not already been created. For example, a link to the walkthrough for the first level of Ratchet & Clank Future: Tools of Destruction would be titled: Metropolis/Walkthrough. If a planet or location appears in several games, then the /walkthrough page would be a disambiguation page, that links to pages titled Level name/Walkthrough/Game name ending for example, Metropolis/Walkthrough/Tools of Destruction.
3. Also, if you are creating a new walkthrough page for a game, make sure you make a prologue page for the walkthrough, that will outline the story, the controls, the basics and tips.
4. Then from the list, create the page! Follow the general layout guide's order where applicable, however the tense is present as it is from the gamer's perspective and it is therefore a real world article rather than an in-universe article.
5. Try to follow these walkthrough guidelines:

• Create a new section in the article for each route on a planet. Most planets have two or more routes with different objectives at the end of each one.
• Create sub-sections within the main sections to seperate objectives, missions and milestones.
• Have a collectables section after the main walkthrough content, here briefly describe the location of items such a gold bolts. Remember to also include these locations in the main walkthrough though, the player doesn't want to complete the mission and then have to do it again for an item!
• Place Template:Walkthroughbox at the top of the article. Not all fields are applicable. For example, Nanotech Boosts only appear in Going Commando.
• Remember to include links! Just because it's a walkthrough doesn't mean it can't have links.
• See the example page for more tips.
• Place Template:Walknav at the bottom of the article.

Guide article content guideEdit

Guide articles are articles that explain how a weapon or gadget is used in a game, for example how to use a gadget and tips on doing so. To create a guide page, title it Weapon or Gadget name/Guide. When adding content follow the general layout guide's order where applicable, however the tense is present as it is from the gamer's perspective and it is therefore a real world article rather than an in-universe article. All usage articles should be categorized into either of the following categories: Gadget guide articles or Weapon guide articles.