Lifepaths Wiki [Archive] - The Burning Wheel

luke

01-15-2006, 10:31 PM

Who wants to help me set up a lifepaths Wiki for BW?

That way you all could post your half-baked ideas and, since you complain about how hard it is to finish them, let other people tinker with them.

whaddya think? who's game?

-L

khelek

01-16-2006, 11:14 AM

What will the wiki hold?

The ones from the CharBu and MonBu? Free Ware LPs? Fan Ones?
Are you, O' Luke, entering a new LP writing frenzy?

Eric Minton

01-16-2006, 12:03 PM

Seems pretty clear that Luke's talking about fan-designed LPs. Of which I have a few to post for critique.

Judd

01-16-2006, 12:30 PM

This sounds like fun.

viktor_haag

01-16-2006, 01:11 PM

Who wants to help me set up a lifepaths Wiki for BW?

What kind of help are you looking for, Luke? Some of the simpler Wikis are actually quite straightforward to set up. I would recommend one of these; I've employed both of them at various points in the past:

- UseModWiki, or OddMuseWiki (an off-shoot of UseMod), written in Perl
- MoinMoin, written in Python

Of the two sets, I think UseMod/OddMuse were easier to install and get off the ground, while MoinMoin operated a bit better and was a little easier to maintain.

The EmacsWiki project uses OddMuse, so I would say it's reasonably robust.

Iskander

01-16-2006, 03:10 PM

Sure.

It might spur me to write those fucking Borrible LPs.

What help do you need? Setting them up is a piece of piss.

Raegenhere (Huscarl)

01-16-2006, 04:27 PM

Hi Abzu.

Yes, would be interested in this.

However, just thought before kicking off it might be useful if there was an FAQ / methodology from you in creating life-paths.

With the CURSUS HONORUM one for ROME that I tried you made the following observation which I didn't quite get:

"It seems like you have lifepaths that contain lifepath traits but have no requirement. To me, that's a big no-no in BW. The lifepath trait is the price you pay for the path."

I'm sure that there are other pieces of wisdom and recommendations that you could throw in before the thing kicks off.

Of interest to most (maybe all) would be an example creation. What about some LOTR - like the Fellowship of the Ring characters.

Raegenhere

Eric Minton

01-16-2006, 04:31 PM

However, just thought before kicking off it might be useful if there was an FAQ / methodology from you in creating life-paths.
Information on creating lifepaths can be found in the Monster Burner.

luke

01-16-2006, 05:39 PM

what I'm looking for:

1) I know nothing about Wikis. So some advice on software and set up is good.

2) Commitments to use the damn thing -- LPs posted right away!

3) Ideas on organizing it. Should it be organized like the CB? or something different?

-L

rafial

01-16-2006, 05:47 PM

Ideas on organizing it. Should it be organized like the CB? or something different?

When putting up a wiki, the steps to success are:

1) Put it up
2) Get enough seed content on there to attract a few people -- doesn't matter how it is organized
3) People will add stuff and reorganize it until its better

...so I wouldn't waste any time worrying about organization up front.

stormsweeper

01-16-2006, 08:55 PM

Presuming you're using the same server as the rest of your site, I'd recommend MediaWiki (http://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/MediaWiki), which is what powers Wikipedia. I like MoinMoin and its derivatives, too, but you're somewhat less likely to find python installed on your average virtual hosting account.

Kaare Berg

01-17-2006, 06:26 AM

I'll commit with my wood troll lifepaths

viktor_haag

01-17-2006, 06:40 AM

what I'm looking for:

1) I know nothing about Wikis. So some advice on software and set up is good.

The big question here is how much control you have over the machine that hosts your website. Is it sitting in your closet? Or is it run by a third party and you just have some mechanism for uploading data? If the latter, than you must find out what software they already have on the server that can support you. If the former, then you can install the needed software yourself if it isn't already there.

MoinMoin and its children require Python; UseMod and its children require Perl.

It's highly likely that a hosting service would have Perl on the server, but whether you have (a) access to it, and (b) permission to use it to run a wiki from your web site account, is a different matter. If you use a hosting service, you should talk to them about your options (but I assume that you knew that).

2) Commitments to use the damn thing -- LPs posted right away!

Given your forum community, do you really think that would be a problem? 8)

I only have one lifepath I can contribute at the moment, and its specific to my campaign, but I'm sure there are others that can put up lots of stuff.

3) Ideas on organizing it. Should it be organized like the CB? or something different?

Wiki's are organized loosely into a "pool" of topics. Each topic has a "name" and other topics can link to it by using the name. The Wiki builds those links automatically -- if I name a topic MyFirstTopic, then whenever a use that character string in another topic, the Wiki builds a link to MyFirstTopic. If you write a topic name like MySecondTopic that doesn't yet have a topic page, the Wiki builds a link that will create that topic page when someone clicks on it.

This makes the building process very quick.

It also makes "editing" and controlling the building of the Wiki difficult.

I would suggest that you create a general two-fold structure. "Generic" lifepaths that could be added to the CB, and campaign-specific lifepaths that shouldn't go in the CB. These latter could be organised according to contributor. On the main page, each contributor could put a link to a sub-contents page that would organise all their specific lifepath contributions with a brief description of the kinds of lifepaths people could find there.

If you really know nothing about Wikis, Luke, then you should either learn or give the task of administering and editing the Wiki to someone who knows or has the time to learn. Installing the Wiki isn't the hard part, really; the hard part is being the "lead editor" or manager of the Wiki over time.

I'm not really sure what a Wiki will do for you that your forums don't already do -- if people want to contribute lifepaths, can't they do it in the context of your forums? Maybe you can create a new forum section for only lifepaths?

Eric Minton

01-17-2006, 08:12 AM

I'm not really sure what a Wiki will do for you that your forums don't already do -- if people want to contribute lifepaths, can't they do it in the context of your forums? Maybe you can create a new forum section for only lifepaths?
Wikis are awesome for developing gaming material. Go look at an existing gaming wiki (like, say, ExaltedWiki) and you'll see what I mean.

Kevin

01-17-2006, 09:22 AM

Wikis are better for stuff that will get referenced frequently. The problem with the forum is that stuff disappears (in effect) over time as threads age.

If this starts, I'll throw in some Barbarian lifepaths I've been working on.

Thor

01-17-2006, 09:34 AM

Wikis are better for stuff that will get referenced frequently. The problem with the forum is that stuff disappears (in effect) over time as threads age.

It has little to do with LPs (which are fun! I think we should add our own monsters and spells too!), but I'd like to see the wiki also serve as a reference library for important Fevered Circle discussions. That should keep them more accessible.

Kublai

01-17-2006, 09:39 AM

I can put my Star Wars LPs there!

MadJay

01-17-2006, 03:22 PM

I'd second using MediaWiki software of Wikipedia fame. It's free, and fairly easy to install - I just did two installs this afternoon - depends on your current setup, really. I'd be happy to volunteer my tech skills if needed.

Kane

01-17-2006, 05:25 PM

I'd hit it.

Iskander

01-18-2006, 09:39 AM

Since I just became a gentleman of leisure, I will gladly offer my services in populating the wiki.

Kudzu

01-18-2006, 09:55 AM

Wiki == good idea

MediaWiki == good idea

TimP and I started working on some modern espionage sorts of LPs last fall, but never really got around to finishing them. Maybe this will spur (me|him|us) to finish them --- or at least write down and post what we have so others can. :)

Steven

Thor

01-18-2006, 10:57 AM

Since I just became a gentleman of leisure, I will gladly offer my services in populating the wiki.

FUUUCK! Tell me they didn't!

mtiru

01-18-2006, 11:01 AM

Since I just became a gentleman of leisure, I will gladly offer my services in populating the wiki.

those bastards! say it ain't so!

Iskander

01-18-2006, 12:45 PM

It's not so bad (see the nerd thread), but yes, I got laid off (not fired) this morning.

Gentleman of Leisure
Res: 0 (not so much with the income)
Stats: 1 M,P (lots of time to go to the gym and meditate)
Skills: 2pts, Reading, Writing, Movie-wise, Freebie-wise, Freeloading
Traits: 2pts, Happy-go-lucky, Carefree, Lazy, Hairy Palms
Leads: City, Noble, Outlaw

Kudzu

01-18-2006, 02:30 PM

Raegenhere (Huscarl)

01-21-2006, 10:21 AM

Hi Abzu,

I'd like to put up the Roman Senate Setting once I've gone back through the Monster Burner and taken a look at some other guidelines for Settings and Lifepath creation.

Raegenhere

Drozdal

01-23-2006, 02:10 AM

Gentleman of Leisure
Res: 0 (not so much with the income)
I would go with Res 0 or 1. Sometimes You're able to get some money back from the goverment, while you're enjoying Your "leisure time".

Omar

01-30-2006, 11:45 AM

Maybe we can open up a BW page on the RPGnet Wiki, there doesn't seem to be one.

luke

01-30-2006, 01:07 PM

Ok, the Wiki is 100% go. In fact, I want to move away from the News/Postnuke stuff and use MediaWiki to support that side of the site. Seems a more robust solution. Just have to find the time...

As it happens, I've got spam scripts installed on my server right now and they are fucking killing me. If any of you know what spam scripts look like or how the fuck to get rid of them, please send me a PM.

luke

02-08-2006, 08:03 AM

http://www.burningwheel.org/wiki/index.php?title=Main_Page

Go for it; surprise me.

I'm swamped at the moment, so I can't direct the wiki construction, but I figure we might as well get started.

Here's what I want:

I want a rules/errata FAQ.
I want a lifepaths wiki: By race and setting.
I want a downloads page (I might have to do this), but the downloads page has got to track number of downloads
I want a news/calender front page.
It'd be great to have a style sheet that uses our brown and red theme.

thanks!
-L

Iskander

02-08-2006, 09:58 AM

Hey folks,

I'm operating as Luke's web bitch for the time being, so don't be surprised if the wiki moves and shifts under you - at some point we will want to impose some structure on it, and then permit all edits within that. For now (except for the front page) the wiki's a free-for-all.

Just don't be too miffed when things move and change, is all!

- Iskander.

Drozdal

02-08-2006, 10:20 AM

RooK ON!

ChrisG

02-08-2006, 10:40 AM

neat. community directed site content. i'm excited to see how the site turns out.

there's two requests i've got: some kind of uber-editor who sets up the site structure for us to fill in.
edit: cross-posted with uber-editor Isk :oops:

and a red/brown theme that is more legible than what we've got on the forum. personally, i totally dig the margin art in the books, and think some red/brown accents and the margin art on a white background would make a very evocative and clean design.

i know... community directed. i'll get started on it.

Iskander

02-08-2006, 11:11 AM

Hey, Chris,

Both those things are coming... although I'm not expecting to remain an uber-editor, just get things set up right.

The BW-theme will most likely come after the site structure stuff. Abzu and I disagree about the legibility of these here forums... so it's not wholly improbably that there will be two BW themes. We shall see!

Just to clarify: please start adding content right away, folks. It might move, but I promise it won't be arbitrarily deleted.

- Isk.

Raegenhere (Huscarl)

02-08-2006, 11:38 AM

Hi Iskander,

Probably a very silly question on my behalf. Glad there's a sandbox to play in.

When an entry is created, does one have to create the alphabetic entry, for example, if I wanted to create a Roman lifepath, do I have to do something to have it appear under "R" or will the Wiki take care of that itself?

Thanks.

Ragenhere

Iskander

02-08-2006, 11:59 AM

Suicide King

02-09-2006, 03:47 AM

This is an interesting project, I'll see if I can slap my Birthright material together in a format so I can upload it here.

Thor

02-09-2006, 08:43 AM

This is an interesting project, I'll see if I can slap my Birthright material together in a format so I can upload it here.

We are in the process of building templates for posting stuff. We have a Lifepath template on the wiki now.

Iskander

02-09-2006, 09:32 AM

At some point, the template-y stuff will be made much easier for folks, but for now, it's just copy-n-paste.

viktor_haag

02-09-2006, 12:01 PM

At some point, the template-y stuff will be made much easier for folks, but for now, it's just copy-n-paste.

Yup. the easiest way to copy a page's look is to ask to edit the page you want to use as a template. Then copy all the stuff in the editing window that shows up. Then you can paste that stuff into the new page you're creating, and edit it as you wish.

This is a quick way to learn all the wiki syntax tricks as well...

Suicide King

02-10-2006, 08:54 AM

Thor

02-10-2006, 09:11 AM

How about if I have an entire setting of lifepaths I want to upload? I am working on a mannish Tribal setting right now, which I wouldn't mind sharing...

So how would I do that in this system? I haven't contributed to a wiki before.

You go to this page (http://www.burningwheel.org/wiki/index.php?title=Basic_Lifepath_Template). Click the "Edit Tab," and copy everything.

Then go to your user page. Hit edit. Start a section of stuff you are working on:

==Stuff I'm working on==
[[Name of Setting]]

and post it.

Your user page will now have a heading called "Stuff I'm working on" with your setting below it as a red link (because nothing has been added there yet).

Click on the link to go to that page. Paste in the template that you copied earlier. Fill in the stuff in the template with your stuff.

You're good to go.