Guild Wars Wiki:Formatting/NPCs

From Guild Wars Wiki
Jump to navigationJump to search
Formatting guideline

This page is an accepted formatting guideline on the Guild Wars Wiki.

It has wide acceptance among editors and is considered a standard that all contributors should follow. Before editing this page, it is suggested to gather consensus on the talk page first.
Shortcut:
GWW:NPC
GWW:NPCS

This article will give you a basic understanding of how to format your NPC-articles. These guidelines should be adhered to where possible to maintain an overall consistency. Please read it carefully.
NPC articles have three segments: header, body, and footer. Only the footer is optional. Always be wary of spoilers and indicate them where necessary using the {{spoiler}}-tag.
Make sure you've read the general formatting guidelines as well, which take precedence should there be a conflict. If things aren't clear or you're not sure how to apply a certain formatting then check out this page for additional info and examples.

Definition[edit]

Non-Player Characters, or NPCs are any creatures in the game world that aren't controlled by a human player. The term includes both friendly and hostile characters. NPCs are shown in the compass as red or green dots, or lime green triangles.

Special cases[edit]

There are certain types of NPCs that require additional explanation:

  • NPCs with multiple versions or that appear in multiple campaigns
  • NPCs that can be both friendly and hostile
  • NPCs that share the same name but appear in male and female versions

Generally: always treat it as a normal NPC and fill out the sections as usual.

An NPC may be presented differently from area to area. Use listings or tables in the appropriate sections to mark differences in between versions. If an NPC is present in multiple campaigns, use tables to distinguish the campaigns.

If an NPC is known to be friendly once, and hostile else given a certain period in a campaign, put a screenshot of the NPC as a friend and as a foe if possible. If there are significant differences, treat it as for multiple versions.

There are known cases of NPCs that appear as both male and female versions (i.e. Vabbi Guard). If possible, provide a picture of both versions.

Syntax and example[edit]

{{npc-stub}} <!-- no type-specific tags. -->
<!-- Table of contents not needed on short article pages -->
__NOTOC__{{NPC infobox
| type = Human
| affiliation = White Mantle
| profession = w
| service = Merchant
| level = 1, 5 (22)  <!-- hard mode level in parentheses -->
| boss = y   <!-- remove if not a boss -->
| campaign = Prophecies
| map1 = map image location <!-- Maps should be added for NPCs of high interest (like bosses with a unique item or elite skill that can be captured) -->
| map1-text = map caption
}} <!-- no blank line between this and the next -->
Intro text here (description, lore, or important information...) <-- this is level 0

==Locations==
<!-- Group by campaign name if NPC appears in multiple campaigns.
Don't list missions here (use "Missions" section instead) -->
* [[campaign1]]
** [[region1]]
*** {{NPC location|Location1}}
*** {{NPC location|Location2}}
*** {{NPC location|Location3|explorable area}} <!--used for diambiguation-->
*** {{NPC location|Location4}} (during [[quest name]])
** [[region2]]
*** {{NPC location|Dungeon1}}: Level 2
* [[campaign2]]
** [[region3]]
*** {{NPC location|Location5}}
*** {{NPC location|Location6}}
*** ...

==Missions==
<!-- List missions this NPC appears in, group by region.
Mark missions where a hero's required with <sup>R</sup> -->
* [[Region]]
** {{NPC location|Mission name}}
** ...

==Quests==
<!-- List the quests this NPC gives or appears in. Use grouping only if both apply.
Mark quests where a hero's required with <sup>R</sup> -->
'''Quests given:''' <!-- default situation -->
* [[Region]]
** [[Quest name]]
** ...
'''Quests involved in:'''
* [[Region]]
** [[Quest name]]
** ...

==Recruitment== 
<!-- For heroes only ! -->
[[Image:MyHeroUnlocked.jpg|thumb|right]]
Specify how to recruit or unlock this hero. Link to any relevant quests or missions.
Add screenshot of the in-game hero unlocked message if possible.

==Skills==
<!-- Sort by profession (when applicable), alphabet -->
* {{Skill icon|Skill name}}
* {{Skill icon|Skill name}} ([[elite]])

==Armor ratings==
<!-- For enemies only ! -->
<!-- hard mode rating in parentheses -->
{{NPC statistics
| prof =
| blunt =
| piercing =
| slashing =
| cold = 
| earth =
| fire =
| lightning =
}}

==Armor==
<!-- For heroes only ! -->
Detail the hero's armor, such as the names, skins, and stats that depend on the hero's level.
If the armor's appearance can be upgraded, explain where to upgrade and what it upgrades to.
See also: [[My Hero/Armor gallery]] <-- optional page

==Evaluation==
<!-- For henchmen and summoning stones only ! -->
Write down general NPC behaviour, comments. List pros and cons, tips...
If you can't think of anything, this section can be or shall be omitted.

==Dialogue==
: ''"Something NPC says when clicked on or when prompted. Group by location if necessary"''
: ''"No mission- or quest-specific dialogue."''

==Quotes==
: ''"Random/idle quotes, group by location or situation if necessary."''
: ''"no mission- or quest-specific quotes."''

===Battle quotes===
: ''"Random battle quotes, group by location or situation if necessary."''
: ''"no mission- or quest-specific quotes."''

<!-- Special sections: Armor offered/rare crafting material/goods, skills, weapons offered/collector items/... -->
<!-- Collectors example: -->
==Collector items==
{{:{{subst:PAGENAME}}/Collector}}

==Items dropped==
<!-- when applicable, list alphabetically -->
* [[Granite Slab]]
* etc...

==Notes==
* Additional notes here.

==Trivia==
* Trivia here.

<!-- All categories below this line--->
[[Category:<Category name>]] etc...

Article header[edit]

The header portion is mainly the NPCInfo template info box. Please mark new NPC articles with {{npc-stub}}. The stub mark can be removed if the article contains all the relevant information.

If it is necessary to hide the automatic table of contents (TOC), place the __NOTOC__ tag in front of the NPCInfo template, on the same line. This prevents an unnecessary blank space at the top when the article is saved. In general you don't want a TOC when the article only has a few short sections, or you don't need to scroll down to read the article. Decisions on placing a TOC should be done on an article-by-article base.

NPC infobox template[edit]

Fill in only known details. Avoid using "Unknown" or question marks. If unknown, omit the parameter.

The template accepts following parameters: name, image, species, profession, profession2, profession3, boss, service , level, campaign, campaign2..campaign4, map1..map5, map1-text..map5-text . Example usage: 

{{NPC infobox
| name = Example Monk
| image = [[Image:Example monk.jpg|150px]]
| type = Human
| profession = mo
| service = Collector
| level = 10, 20
| campaign = Prophecies
| map1 = [[Image:Borlis Pass map.jpg|150px]]
| map1-text = Location in Borlis Pass}}
name
The name of the NPC in question. Defaults to pagename. Can be omitted. Do not leave this empty.
image
The image of the NPC in question. Defaults to a ".jpg" image file with the same name as the page, 150px wide. Remember that spaces and underscore characters are treated the same. Try to post an image that is as clear as possible. You will need to manually specify the size of the image; the recommended width is 150px. Read the helpful tips on screen capture. See also the image use policy. Do not leave this empty.
affiliation
Required. The general force or group the creature is affiliated with. Equivalent to the internal "army" grouping in game mechanic effects. Examples: White Mantle, Corsairs, Undead, etc. Defaults to "Not specified".
type
Required. Base type. Examples: Human, Plant, Zombie, etc. Defaults to "Not specified".
profession
Supply the name of the profession. This can either be in full form (e.g. "Warrior"), or it can be shortened as "w", "r", "mo", "n", "me", "e", "a", "rt", "p", "d". Unrecognized values default to "None".
profession2, profession3
Applies only if profession# is specified. For NPCs with multiple professions.
service
Optional. If the NPC provides a service, list it here.
level
The level(s) this NPC can be found at. Use a single number, comma-separated numbers or a range of numbers as appropriate. Put hard mode levels in parentheses after the normal mode level.
boss
Optional. If supplied, a "(boss)" tag is added to the species. Omit if not a boss.
campaign
The campaign(s) this NPCs appears in. Defaults to "Not specified".
campaign2, campaign3, campaign 4
Applies only if campaign# is specified. For NPCs appearing in multiple campaigns.
map1..map5
Optional. Provide a map image for this NPC. You will need to manually specify the size of the image; the recommended width is 150px. A maximum of 5 maps can be added.
map1..map5-text
Optional. Defaults to "(Click to enlarge)".

Stick to the order shown above for consistency. Also, see the Template:NPC infobox for more on usage.
Note: Only the image, map#, and map#-text parameters require manual wikilinks. All other parameters that should be linked are automatically linked.

Article body[edit]

The body of an NPC article contains the bulk of the information. As per the general style and formatting guidelines, please omit any section that does not have content.

Intro text[edit]

In general: put a short description, purpose and/or history of this NPC here. In-game relationships with other NPCs are also appropriate. Try to phrase it such that the more detailed version appears in their relevant sections. Rehashing something that will be stated in the other sections is not a good definition. If you cannot find anything to say, simply leave this section blank.

For hostile NPCs: include looks, patterns of movement, signs to spot them. Do not include notes and tips on fighting here. It's important to always establish context and define what the creature is.

Locations[edit]

List all explorable areas/towns/outposts/missions/dungeons... where this NPC can be found. Group by region, sort regions in the order encountered during the campaign storyline and sort locations in a region alphabetically. When grouping with regions from multiple campaigns, do not group by continent; group by campaign name instead, as regions are not unique to a campaign.

Use {{NPC location}} as a wrapper for the location where the NPC can be found. Always use this template, as this also autocategorizes the NPC by location. Usage is: {{NPC location|Location|Disambiguation identifier}}. For example: {{NPC location|The Eternal Grove}}, and {{NPC location|The Eternal Grove|explorable area}} For locations that don't have a disambiguation identifier, omit it, e.g. {{NPC location|Ascalon city}}. See {{NPC location}} for more detail.

For NPCs of high interest (like bosses with a unique item or elite skill that can be captured) a map should be added that shows in detail all possible locations where this NPC can be found, or a detailed text description of the location can be written.

Should an NPC appear in all towns/outposts in a certain region, name the region and mark it with A. Make a note of it on the page, like this:

A located in all towns and outposts

Important note: don't list missions here! Always use the "Missions" section for that. If an NPC only appears in a mission/missions, the whole "Location" section should be omitted and the "Missions"-section be used instead.

Missions[edit]

List the missions where the NPC takes part in. Group by region, sort regions in the order encountered during the campaign storyline and sort missions alphabetically.
Heroes: missions where the hero is required in the party should be marked with R. Make a note of it on the page, like this:

R indicates that <Hero name> must be in the party

Use {{NPC location}} as a wrapper for the mission where the NPC can be found. Always use this template, as this also autocategorizes the NPC by location. Usage is: {{NPC location|Mission}}. For example: {{NPC location|The Eternal Grove}}. See {{NPC location}} for more detail.

Quests[edit]

List quests that involve or can be obtained from this NPC in any manner in the order of availability. There's no need to mention requirements, but do note if it is no longer available (such as special event quests).
If an NPC both gives and appears during quests, group them like this:
Quests given:
Quests involved in:

Heroes: quests where the hero is required in the party should be marked as such:

R indicates that <Hero name> must be in the party

Recruitment[edit]

This section applies for heroes only.
Specify how to recruit or unlock this hero. Link to any relevant quests or missions. Add screenshot of the in-game hero unlocked message if possible. The image should be linked at the top of the section, placed to the right - as seen in the template above.

Skills[edit]

List all skills the NPC possess by using the {{skill icon}} template. Avoid adding unconfirmed skills. Sort the skills by profession, then alphabetically within each profession. Punctuation marks are sorted first (i.e. all the shouts). Common skills and monster skills are sorted below profession-specific skills. See also the profession formatting guidelines.

Monster skills should use {{monster skill icon}} instead. For elite skills, append a "(elite)" after the skill icon template.

If attribute ranks are known or can be derived, list the known attribute ranks on a single line above the skill list. Keep in mind that Atrophy, Wail of Doom, and weakness will lower their attribute ranks.

Multiple skill sets may be divided into subsections. The section headers for these subsections should concisely and clearly identify the conditions or situations for the skill sets. If two skill sets differ only slightly, consider appending a simple explanatory note in parentheses to the skill in question.

Bosses
Skill listings for bosses that are confirmed with a Signet of Capture should be marked with “Skills SoC confirmed” in the talk page, including the date of the check.
Heroes
List the skills that the hero has when first unlocked.
NPCs with multiple skill sets
Include subheadings for each variant. Omit subheadings if the NPC only has one skillset.
==Skills== <!-- example, using subheadings -->
===Level 20, Aeromancer===
12 [[Air Magic]] (15 Air Magic in [[Hard mode]])
* {{skill icon|Air Attunement}}
* {{skill icon|Lightning Bolt}}
* {{skill icon|Lightning Javelin}}
* {{skill icon|Lightning Surge}}  ([[elite]])
* {{skill icon|Whirlwind}}
===Level 20, Hydromancer===
14 [[Water Magic]]
* {{skill icon|Blurred Vision}}
* {{skill icon|Freezing Gust}}
* {{skill icon|Vapor Blade}}
* {{skill icon|Water Attunement}}
* {{skill icon|Water Trident}}  (elite)
===Level 24===
15 [[Earth Magic]], 10 [[Energy Storage]], 12 [[Fire Magic]]
* {{skill icon|Aftershock}}
* {{skill icon|Elemental Attunement}}  (elite)
* {{skill icon|Earthquake}}
* {{skill icon|Fireball}}
* {{skill icon|Rodgort's Invocation}}
* {{skill icon|Glyph of Lesser Energy}}

Armor rating[edit]

This section applies for hostile NPCs only.
State the enemy's armor rating against each damage type, with Hard Mode values between parentheses.

Armor[edit]

This section applies for heroes only.
Detail the hero's armor, such as the names, skins, and stats that depend on the hero's level. If the armor's appearance can be upgraded, explain where to upgrade and what it upgrades to.

Evaluation[edit]

This optional section applies to henchmen and summoning stones only.
Write down general NPC behaviour and/or comments. List pros and cons, tips...
If you can't think of anything at the moment then simply omit the section.

Do keep following restrictions in mind:

  • Keep it short and simple, no need to write entire biographies.
  • No personal opinions (i.e. I think <x> is a better henchmen than this one or this summoning stone is better than that one, etc.)
  • Nothing that can be mentioned in the other sections or is already mentioned in the other sections.

Dialogue[edit]

Write down the lines an NPC says when clicked on or prompted. Group by location and/or situation if necessary. If grouped by location, sort them by storyline. Additional sorting should be done alphabetically. Don't include mission- or quest-specific dialogue, those dialogues are covered in the mission- and quest-articles itself. Mission briefings on the other hand can go in here. "Dialogue text should be written in italics, included in double quotes".

Quotes[edit]

Write down the random (idle) lines an NPC says for no apparent reason at all. It's known that for hero's the idle quotes change as the player progresses along the primary quests and missions, so always try to group by location and/or situation where applicable. If grouped by location, sort them by storyline. Additional sorting should be done alphabetically. Don't include mission- or quest-specific quotes, those dialogues are covered in the mission- and quest-articles itself.
"Quotes should be written in italics, included in double quotes".

Battle quotes[edit]

List quotes during battles here. Again: don't include mission- or quest-specific quotes. Sort them alphabetically. Use {{battle quotes}} if they are standard/default battle quotes.

<Special sections>[edit]

Before going further, see the editing guide for more information on tables.

Armorers: Add a section called Armor sets to list the offered armor sets in a table grouped by profession. See Category:Armorers for examples.

Artisans: Artisans produce Rare crafting materials. List the materials under a Rare crafting materials offered section. Use the {{Artisan materials offered}} template. See Category:Artisans for examples.

Collectors: Add a section called Collector items to list the items offered. A table listing the name, requirement and rewards of the particular NPC. This information is placed on a separate page for inclusion in the article and collectible item articles. These subsections can also be indexed in pages such as Collector.

Armor
  • The page should be called Collector armor.
  • List professions as per Guild Wars Wiki:Formatting/Professions.
  • If the collector offers armor and weapons, separate them onto different subsection pages and include them both into the collector's article.
====[[Collector name]]====
'''Location:''' [[Location]]<br>
'''Collecting:''' 1..10 [[Item]]s
{| {{STDT}}
! Profession || Item || [[AR]] || [[Armor bonus]] || Value
|-
| [[Warrior]] || [[Armor type|Name of the piece in the window]] || 80 || List any modifiers separated by a comma || List the item's Value
|-
| [[Ranger]] || [[Armor type|Name of the piece in the window]] || 70 || If there aren't any, say: None. || 
|-
| [[Monk]] || [[Armor type|Name of the piece in the window]] || 60 || Link to associated attributes || 
|-
| [[Necromancer]] || [[Armor type|Name of the piece in the window]] || 60 ||  || 
|-
| [[Mesmer]] || [[Armor type|Name of the piece in the window]] || 60 ||  || 
|-
| [[Elementalist]] || [[Armor type|Name of the piece in the window]] || 60 ||  || 
|-
| [[Assassin]] || [[Armor type|Name of the piece in the window]] || 70 ||  || 
|-
| [[Ritualist]] || [[Armor type|Name of the piece in the window]] || 60 ||  || 
|-
| [[Paragon]] || [[Armor type|Name of the piece in the window]] || 80 ||  || 
|-
| [[Dervish]] || [[Armor type|Name of the piece in the window]] || 70 ||  ||
|}

<noinclude>[[Category:Armor collector subpages]]</noinclude>
Weapons
  • The page should be called Collector.
  • List the items shown in the order on the screen, or per profession.
====[[Collector Name]]====
'''Location:''' [[Location]]<br>
'''Collecting:''' 1..10 [[Item]]s
{| {{STDT}}
! Item || Stats || Requirement || [[Weapon bonus]]es || Value
|-
| [[Item]] || [[Energy]] +X <br> [[Damage type]]: X-X || X [[Attribute]] || List the modifications on the item with links to associated attributes || List the item's Value
|-
| [[Item]] || [[Energy]] +X <br> [[Damage type]]: X-X || X [[Attribute]] || List the modifications on the item with links to associated attributes || List the item's Value
|}

<noinclude>[[Category:Collector subpages]]</noinclude>
Other items
  • The page should be called Collector.
  • List the items shown in the order on the screen.
====[[Collector name]]====
'''Location:''' [[Location]]<br>
'''Collecting:''' 1..10 [[Item]]s
{| {{STDT}}
! Item || Stats || Value
|-
| [[Item]] || List any description attached to the item. || List the item's Value
|-
| [[Item]] || List any description attached to the item. || List the item's Value
|}

<noinclude>[[Category:Collector subpages]]</noinclude>

Merchants: The section Goods offered is used to list items offered in a table. See existing merchant articles for examples.

Skill trainers and Hero skill trainers: List available skills by using the Skill trainer list template in a Skills offered section. Only include skills which the trainer offers before they are unlocked, as all skill trainers offer all unlocked non-elite skills available in their campaign. See any skill trainer for examples.

Weaponsmiths: List the possible weapons in a table under a Weapons offered section. For examples, see existing weaponsmiths.

Items dropped[edit]

This section applies to hostile NPCs only. List items that are dropped by this NPC in alphabetical order and singular form (e.g. [[Bone]], not [[Bone]]s). The general rules for what is and isn't listed are:

Article footer[edit]

The footer section includes the Notes and Trivia sections as well as the categories. Remember to omit them if they are not needed. As a matter of consistency, always place Notes above Trivia.

Notes[edit]

If there is any information that you believe is useful but are not sure where it goes, place it here. If you are not sure this information is correct, then leave a note on the NPCs talk page. Click on "Discussion" at the top of the article.

Trivia[edit]

Please use Trivia for any trivia information regarding the name or concept of the NPC.

Categorization[edit]

See Guild Wars Wiki:Formatting/Categories. Always try to use a subcategory, as Category:NPCs is considered the topmost category for all NPCs.

{{NPC infobox}} automatically categorizes the NPC in its appropriate profession category, and {{NPC location}} autocategorizes it in the respective location categories, so generally there should be no need to manually enter any of these category types.

Retrieved from "https://wiki.guildwars.com/index.php?title=Guild_Wars_Wiki:Formatting/NPCs&oldid=2577881"