Howdy everyone!

With the release of our player wiki, the powers that be have entrusted me with the task of running a rather cool wiki contest!

Our wiki currently is rather sparse on guides for players, much less new players (there are some, I won't discount those!), and we want to make the wiki a great resource for new players or returning players with a lot of foggy memories on how to do things. Hence, we want to get new and more thorough guides up and to do so, I shall bribe you! Okay, bribe is not the correct term. I shall reward you with RPAs and possibly, alterations!

What we want to see are newbie guides that are profession specific, as well general guides. So you could have a guide explaining on how to be the very best paladin, but also a general guide that explains how to get around and enjoy the basics of the game. For the general guide, the intended audience should be the wide-eyed new player who has almost zero background or knowledge of the game.

The spirit of this contest is collaboration. We want everyone to work together to produce the best product possible, so one ring, instead of nine human rings that all come with a big asterisk. Okay, let me rephrase that, one guide where everyone works on it, versus a series of competing guides on the same subject.

Likewise, there will not be just one winner. Rewards will be allotted to all who make a significant edit (so no, fixing your to you're in one spot will not garner a reward), and they will come in the form of the liberal use of RPA/role playing awards and even alterations that will presented at my discretion to those who I feel are going above and beyond. Yes, that's right, the reward criteria is based entirely on my own perspective of what constitutes a significant edit.


Requirements:

The collaborative guide is a newbie guide. It should be aimed at people who have limited to no experience with GemStone. Professional guides should avoid spoiling any puzzles that might exist with regard to guild membership. The general guide should be a severely newbie guide. We're talking stuff like "What's a rolton?" or "Why is mana important to me, an empath?!" Optimally a total newbie can read the general guide and get a sense of how the first steps of their character's life will go.

All guides and entries will be hosted on the Gemstone Wiki. Entries sent via e-mail, carrier pigeon or what have you will not be accepted. Seriously. Make the edits on the wiki. I will not edit for you.

This will, of course, be an ongoing project as the game is updated and changes are made, but for purposes of the contest, edits to be considered must be made by the stroke of midnight on March 8th, 2015. That's just over a month to perform amazing wiki magic.

Anticipated FAQs:

Q: What counts as a substantial edit?

A: Generally, we are looking for actual additions or significant stylistic edits to the page, not just grammar checks. Beyond that, it will come down to what myself or fellow judges deem appropriately fit that definition.

Q: I have no idea how to edit a wiki, can I participate?

A: Yup. Plain text submission is acceptable as long as it's a substantial edit. We encourage you to learn how to stylize a wiki -- it's quite easy! -- but it's not a requirement.

Q: I am a Gamehost/Mentor/Etc and want to participate, can I?

A: This is open to all players, including our player-volunteers. Use your player accounts to contribute and they will be judged on the same criteria as all other players.

Q: I already wrote a guide, can I still participate?

A: Yup. Existing guides can be used as templates or taken in whole/part for the collaborative guide. If this is done, the original author gets credit for the edit.

Q: I want to work on multiple guides, do I get multiple prizes?

A: If you get an alteration, that's one per person. Multiple RPAs may be given out.

Q: What kind of alteration?

A: Right now, just your average run of the mill alteration.

For similar information, but helpfully, a link to the wiki, here you go!

https://gswiki.play.net/mediawiki/index.php/Player_Guide_Contest


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