This site makes extensive use of JavaScript.
Please enable JavaScript in your browser.
Live
PTR
10.2.7
PTR
10.2.6
Beta
The Guide Spotlight == May Issue ==
Post Reply
Return to board index
Post by
hatman555
Featured Guides
Guide Writers Interview
Tip of the Post
List of Requested Guides
About "The Guide Spotlight"
Welcome to the Guide Spotlight:
First and foremost the
"Guide Spotlight"
is a place for
everyone
to post
anything
they want about guides. Got a new guide that you just released? Bump it here. Have a request for a guide to be made? Ask here, and it will be added to the
list
! Talk to guide writers, share ideas, complement the works of others. This is a free space for all guide related things.
In addition to this, I have filled the first post with some pretty cool stuff. Twice a month, there will be a new set of
"Featured Guides"
, a new
"Interview with a Guide Writer"
, and a new
"Tip of the Post"
. A ton of content to read enjoy and comment on. I hope you guys enjoy this! Check out the guides!
Featured Guides
Hemet Nesingwary: The Collected Quests!
View it now!
Author:
FatalHeaven
About:
FatalHeaven's 4th Guide, this one has the information everyone is "hunting" for. Hemet Nesingwary is a recurring character in WoW, and must be really quick on his feet cause he is always in so many different places at once. This Guide will help you complete the associated achievements to keep this hunter locked and loaded.
Rating:
9/10 Hats!
Guide to all Epic Items in Classic WoW Dungeons
View it now!
Author:
Argiach
About:
You like epics right? Sure you do. You like transmogg right? Hell yeah you do. Time to get your old school gear on, it's a shopping list of all the things that had people jumping for joy before their health pools had K's on them. This guide is full of great items that can be tracked down to bring back the old days. Full of pictures and locations this guide is a must for all purple collectors.
Rating:
9/10 Hats!
4) Custom Emoting: A Limitless Adventure to Expression
View it now!
Author:
Ozlem
About:
/me clicks on guide
/me read guide
/me !! What? I didn't know I could do that!
/facepalm
4th in the series of "
A Limitless Adventure to Expression
" this well written guide will open up the world of custom emoting so you can truly show your friends how you are feeling. Roll a 1 on a loot roll? Let the orange text vent your frustrations. Find that epic you were searching for, but there is only an NPC around? Doesn't mater, highfive that guy!
Rating:
8/10 Hats!
Back to the Table of Contents
Guide Writers Interview
With
Lankybrit
Author of the:
Gearing up when you hit 85
Hatman555:
Hey Lankybrit. Thank you for taking the time to sit down with me to talk about yourself and your guide! We'll start with some easy questions and work our way through to the harder ones.
Lankybrit:
Thanks for the note. That's a really nice idea and thanks for picking my guide out.
Hatman555:
How old are you?
Lankybrit:
I am 51 years old.
Hatman555:
How long have you been playing wow?
Lankybrit:
It's been three years by now.
Hatman555:
What's your main or favourite character class and faction?
Lankybrit:
I have twenty-one 85s, all DPS and my favorite to play is Elemental Shammy
Hatman555:
Do you have a favourite colour?
Lankybrit:
Blue
Hatman555:
Why did you decide to write this guide?
Lankybrit:
I wrote a 'Now that you are 85, now what?' on the Mage forums because I had to figure out by hand what gear I could get and in what order once I was 85 and there was nothing similar. Then, I needed the info for all classes (because I play all classes) so I decided to make a guide for all the classes to use to gear up once they hit 85.
Hatman555:
How long did it take you to write your guide?
Lankybrit:
It only took a week or so to write the first iteration of the guide, but that was just the start. I'd added the generic info on what gear was available. I realized that looking through the information and working out which pieces worked for your class/spec was time consuming. As I also had to update extensively for 4.3, I decided to also add a guide for all classes and specs. This took months to perfect. Also, with a bug in Safari, I couldn't really work on it at home, so I had to (shhh) squeeze in time at work (lunchtime etc.) to work on it.
Hatman555:
What were some challenges in coding your guide?
Lankybrit:
It didn't go too bad. I thoroughly read asakawa's
BCC code thread
to understand how to format the guide. I started using basic concepts, then added tables, pictures, colors, currency etc. If I had any issues, I would ask in asakawa's thread, and he was always very helpful in providing answers and advice.
Hatman555:
What are some things that you wanted to add to your guide but couldn't?
Lankybrit:
One thing I thought of to add was a 'Gemming and Enchanting' section for each class spec. However, in reading information on this aspect on other sites, it was too complex to distill easily for all class and specs, so I gave up on the idea.
Hatman555:
What are some things that you are going to add to your guide in the future?
Lankybrit:
I consider the guide to be complete for this expansion. I don't think I will change it at all, unless they actually add more high-end gear to the game (which isn't likely at this stage).
Hatman555:
Will you write another guide?
Lankybrit:
Yes, I will write another guide. But this gear guide is my passion, so I will write 'Gearing up now that you are 90' once MoP comes out (and wowhead has all the gear info). I can't really think of other information that requires a guide that hasn't already been covered. And, because I had self motivation for my guide (I use it myself all the time), I haven't seen any other personal gaps I really think need filling.
Hatman555:
What is one tip you could give to a up and coming guide writer?
Lankybrit:
One tip for up and coming guide writers is to read asakawa's BCC thread and try to use as many different features in your guide as possible (as long as they make sense). Don't be afraid to experiment in editing. You can always change things back. Use pictures in your guide (they are worth 1000 words after all).
Hatman555:
Well that about wraps it up. Thanks again lankybrit for taking the time to sit down with me. Remember to check out
his guide
for when you hit 85 and need to get yourself geared up.
Lankybrit:
Cheers. Phil.
Back to the Table of Contents
Tip of the Post
Formatting and Guide Maintenance
This is a quick tip which doesn't have many coding aspects to it, but its something that every guide writer should be thinking about when making a guide.
Wowhead BBCode has a lot of cool features, and all these features come with their own . When writing a guide, opened and closed tags can become jumbled and cluttered. You might forget to close a tag before opening a new one, you might even get lost in your own text. Organization and formatting can help you write a guide more efficiently, and help you maintain that guide in the future.
Lets take a look at some examples.
Basic Table Jumble
Here is a table I've made. Looks fun, but lets look at the code.
Its a snake!!!!¤======================╗╔======================╝╚======================©
Click here to see the code.
Its a snake!!!!¤======================╗╔======================╝╚======================©
Wow, that's a mess. That snake is moving all over the page, and it's really hard to make heads or tails of it. Lots of closed brackets and lots of weird ascii characters are all in one line. If you want to make a changes, it's going to take you time to find out what lines of the snake are where, and where you need to add extra changes.
The code to get the table above has been listed exactly the way it is in the code box. It works, but it's still a mess.
Basic Table Clean Up
Table is still here, looks just the same, but I have made changes to the code. Lets see what they are.
Its a snake!!!!¤======================╗
╔======================╝
╚======================©
Click here to see the code
Its a snake!!!!¤======================╗
╔======================╝
╚======================©
Still pretty messy, especially when I'm trying to present it in a Wowhead Code box. Yet there is already some organization. We have split the lines of the table into their own lines. This makes it easy to know where you are in your table, simply by seeing where you are in your code.
Code still works, even with the extra line breaks.
Advanced Table Clean Up
Table is still the same, no change, but this time the code has even more changes.
Its a snake!!!!
¤======================╗
╔======================╝
╚======================©
Click here to see the code
Its a snake!!!!
¤======================╗
╔======================╝
╚======================©
Well, now this is starting to look like something. The first cell of the table belongs with all 3 lines because of its spanning. We can list this cell on its own line. The rest of the lines under it are now roughly same length in the code. There are extra line breaks added in between each line too. This further separates the lines making it easier to find stuff in your code and visualize your table.
Code still works.
Final Table Clean up
Even more code changes, but the table is still the same. Go see how smooth the code looks now.
Its a snake!!!!
¤======================╗
╔======================╝
╚======================©
Click here to see the code.
Its a snake!!!!
¤======================╗
╔======================╝
╚======================©
Even more line separation. Character spaces now which move the code forward and back.
The code looks like the table!
This cleanest version of code presents you no troubles when trying to make changes. You know where everything is and even how its going to lay out. The further indentations of the second and third rows indicate that the top cell is taking up some space there. This is organization at its best!
When it comes to formatting and guide maintenance remember these tips:
Don't be afraid to add extra line breaks and spaces in your code.
Line breaks or spaces not inside a non-code section won't be seen.
You won't always be able to make your code look like the final result, but approximations help.
Don't write all your code at once, make it in blocks and then paste those blocks together.
Back to the Table of Contents
List of Requested Guides
Want to Request a guide?
Want to Write One of These Guides?
Post a reply to this topic and list:
Title of the Guide.
Content that you want to see in the Guide.
Any other information to help people understand your request.
Post a reply to this topic and list:
Title of the Guide you are going to claim.
Time you think it will take you to complete.
If you would like help from another user.
Guide:
Requested by:
Notes:
Claimed by:
New Hunter Guide
Axyn80
A new Guide that would update
this guide.
None
Warlock guide - 5.0+
asakawa
Here is the current
guide
.
Since I will not be playing in 5.0 I would like to see someone take it over.
Willing to share both my formatting/coding any content from the current Guide.
None
L2P: How to Customize Your
UI Like a Pro
TheRealArkayn
Looking for some additional input
A formatting partner
None
Completed Guides
Guide:
Requested by:
Completed Statues:
Completed by:
Guide Writing For Dummies
asakawa
:
100% Complete
SquireKel
Back to the Table of Contents
(##RESPBREAK##)136##DELIM##hatman555##DELIM##
Post by
hatman555
Ok, so most of the content of the May issue is here.
I wanted to get it up because I promised I would, but there is still some work to be done to make this work. I will finish that tomorrow.
Things still left to be done:
New header on all guides which links month to month
New description box that includes the Issue name in the title
New close box that has a condensed about page
Basic thinking of what I'm doing here.
Once a month new featured guides and interview
Twice a month Tips of the post.
This second tip will be posted in a reply, which will bump the post if needed and start conversation again.
The post will be linked into the guide once it comes out mid month.
Each issues is its own post, but common elements will stay the same when updates happen.
AKA the "List of Requested Guides"
I think that 1 month gives me enough time to prepare the content. After all, the content was just something to get people going, hopefully conversations and replies month by month will keep the thread more active.
Cheers,
Hat(##RESPBREAK##)136##DELIM##hatman555##DELIM##
Post by
SquireKel
I really like the idea of new threads for each issue - it removes the problem of a thread becoming too unwieldy. Content will be much easier to find, since posts can be labelled by not only the month they were posted, but also the page, and each thread will be shorter so the whole thing is more reasonable in length. Plus it looks like you plan to link the threads together (did I read #1 right?) so that navigation between them is more simple than searching the forum, and maintains the idea that these are a series of threads rather than stand-alones.
Also, thank you for outlining the format of the spotlight. I like the idea of tips being twice a month while the other components (featured guides and interview) are once a month. There really aren't enough guides or guide writers to justify everything being twice a month, and you'd just blow through them way too fast. I agree that one month is a good length of time between issues, since a particular month might have less activity but overall, the spotlight will remain active with bursts of activity.
One last thing - the Guide Writing Guide has been complete for some time.
Post by
badbee
Nice work, I know it's not supposed to be a thread for patting you on the back, but surely we can for the first month. I followed the last thread without posting in it (don't remember doing so anyway) and you seem to have found a way around a lot of the issues.
Good luck with it, this ought to become a very popular resource in it's own right over time.
Post by
803789
This post was from a user who has deleted their account.
Post by
lankybrit
THanks for putting my interview up.
BTW - I'm 52 now :)
Cheers.
Post by
hatman555
One last thing - the Guide Writing Guide has been complete for some time.
Yup, Your guide was listed in the completed list. I just changed it to 100% now. I think we all considered it complete before tho.
THanks for putting my interview up.
BTW - I'm 52 now :)
Cheers.
I remember that birthday! ^_^
Cheers,
Hat
Post by
TheReal
I'm currently working on a guide called "L2P: How to Customize Your UI Like a Pro" and I'm looking for some additional input and someone willing to subject my wall of plain text to some formatting (in other words, a partner). I'm over 1700 words now and I've managed to add a link or two and an ordered list. I also want to add a section that presents good UIs and describes why they're good. I want to do the same for horrible UIs, and I have a couple ideas for content that I haven't even started to incorporate yet.
Let me know in this thread if you'd like to collaborate on this guide or would like a peek at the content before it's ready for release. Given the subject matter, I don't believe the guide will be something that needs regular updates to stay current.
Post by
SquireKel
@Arkayn
I'm not sure I can help with the extra input, but I'm more than happy to help with formatting if you give me an idea of what you're looking for with the layout. My email address is in my signature - feel free to shoot me an email if you want to discuss this further.
Post by
161859
This post was from a user who has deleted their account.
Post by
TheReal
I'm currently working on a guide called "L2P: How to Customize Your UI Like a Pro" and I'm looking for some additional input and someone willing to subject my wall of plain text to some formatting (in other words, a partner). I'm over 1700 words now and I've managed to add a link or two and an ordered list. I also want to add a section that presents good UIs and describes why they're good. I want to do the same for horrible UIs, and I have a couple ideas for content that I haven't even started to incorporate yet.
My suggestion is to keep "good" vs "bad" as generic (or objective) as possible. I've seen too many UI guides where the author thinks that their way is the best. Yet, they don't seem to understand that UIs are personal and "good" vs "bad" really varies from person to person based on many many factors (like PC, monitor size, play-style, preferences, how they react to different forms of information, what they are trying to accomplish, etc...).
Just something to consider.
Oh, it'll definitely be an objective analysis. UI design principles (not just WoW UI design) will be at the heart of any good/bad comparison: important stuff in the center, trivial stuff away from the center, theme, cohesiveness, use of sound, UI element differentiation, minimalism/elaboration...it'll all be there.
Kel: I'm sending an email off to you now. Thanks for your offer!
Post by
161859
This post was from a user who has deleted their account.
Post by
lankybrit
Is the intent of this post to actively discuss or ask questions regarding specific guides? Or should those questions still just be in the guides themselves?
Also, I had a question for lankybrit regarding his plans for the next "Gearing up when you hit 90" guide, and was wondering if this post is where we should be asking that.
Thanks :)
If you feel it's more appropriate in a guide, then that's probably the place to ask. As your question to me is about a potential upcoming guide, or something else about guides that you don't think appropriate to ask in a guide, it's probably best to ask here.
Cheers.
Post by
161859
This post was from a user who has deleted their account.
Post by
lankybrit
A couple of things.
If you look at the shortcut in my guide, you'll see I do mention the really quick way to gear up. I recommend avoiding regular Heroics and going for HoTs instead. Better risk/reward. I do recommend doing the MF intro quests, because that will net you two 365 pieces while really help towards the 353 you're aiming for.
Secondly, on the formatting of where you get stuff, rather than by the slot it fills. I found that other guides on web-sites usually go the slot route, and include Dungeons and Raids and anywhere to provide a comprehensive list. I didn't want to include Dungeons are Raids, and wanted to provide things by iLvL, rather than slot. I do see your point though, because I have been back to my guide and flipping back and forth between JPs and VPs tabs to see what I can not get for VP that I should prioritize for JP first.
I'll consider this for the next guide, and maybe even try a prototype on one of the classes in the current guide to see how it might look.
Thanks for your comments.
Cheers.
Post by
161859
This post was from a user who has deleted their account.
Post by
lankybrit
If you look at the shortcut in my guide, you'll see I do mention the really quick way to gear up. I recommend avoiding regular Heroics and going for HoTs instead. Better risk/reward.
That shortcut was at the very bottom of a long guide, and hidden (i.e. you have to click on it ot view it). I didn't even notice it was there. If you think it would benefit people, you may want to consider making it more visible.
Dammit. I was trying out the new 'hide' feature that SquirrelKel had shown me in his Guide to Guide writing. Well, as I said in my interview, use all the cool features you can, where they make sense. I guess this one really didn't make sense :)
Cheers.
Post by
TheReal
If you look at the shortcut in my guide, you'll see I do mention the really quick way to gear up. I recommend avoiding regular Heroics and going for HoTs instead. Better risk/reward.
That shortcut was at the very bottom of a long guide, and hidden (i.e. you have to click on it ot view it). I didn't even notice it was there. If you think it would benefit people, you may want to consider making it more visible.
Dammit. I was trying out the new 'hide' feature that
SquirrelKel
SquireKel
had shown me in
his
her
Guide to Guide writing. Well, as I said in my interview, use all the cool features you can, where they make sense. I guess this one really didn't make sense :)
Cheers.
FTFY
Twice.
:)
Post by
lankybrit
If you look at the shortcut in my guide, you'll see I do mention the really quick way to gear up. I recommend avoiding regular Heroics and going for HoTs instead. Better risk/reward.
That shortcut was at the very bottom of a long guide, and hidden (i.e. you have to click on it ot view it). I didn't even notice it was there. If you think it would benefit people, you may want to consider making it more visible.
Dammit. I was trying out the new 'hide' feature that
SquirrelKel
SquireKel
had shown me in
his
her
Guide to Guide writing. Well, as I said in my interview, use all the cool features you can, where they make sense. I guess this one really didn't make sense :)
Cheers.
FTFY
Twice.
:)
LOL - I always glance at that username and it looks like SquirrelKel to me :)
Apologies Madam. Didn't know you were one of the females of our species.
Cheers.
Post by
SquireKel
To "celebrate" my
first
guide hitting 10k views (crazy!), I've updated it to be even more packed full of information!
It's over 9000! An achievements guide
now has a breakdown of how to grind rep with all the factions (that allow a grind up to Exalted) in-game currently! I finally found a use for the annotated tooltips, and while it took a lot longer to input the data that way than it would have been to put things in tables, hopefully it's worth it for you viewers! Check it out!
While you're there, don't forget to look through the other sections to see the breakdown of content if you're an achievement hunter like myself.
LOL - I always glance at that username and it looks like SquirrelKel to me :)
Apologies Madam. Didn't know you were one of the females of our species.
It's definitely Squire Kel and not Squirrel anything. And yes, female.
Post Reply
You are not logged in. Please
log in
to post a reply or
register
if you don't already have an account.