User talk:Cuthalion/WikiRPS

WikiRPS

Here's an idea: WikiRPS (pronounced "wiccurps"), an entirely wikified role-playing system where the core mechanics are themselves GPL. Contributors would be free to modify rules or suggest variants to their heart's content, beginning with the best features from all the systems already out there (within copyright restrictions, of course). Campaign source books would all be GPL, as would skill descriptions, etc.

Of course, the Wizards and Mr. Jackson might not like this idea ... --Cúthalion 08:04, 1 March 2007 (MST)

Would you be willing to take it from the start and make it become something? I like the idea it's just that someone needs to take the time and care about it for other people to start using and expanding it. --Green Dragon 00:39, 4 March 2007 (MST)

Let me get back to you on that. I'd probably want to have a group set up for playtesting.

My big question would be where and how to host the wiki. Would you be able to provide the resources for that? --Cúthalion 08:39, 4 March 2007 (MST)

Hello Cúthalion. I would be very willing to host this wiki for you. It can be any subdomain of dandwiki.com that you want. It can also be interwiki linked with D&D Wiki so that you can create a link such as [[dndwiki:SRD]] to link to the SRD. Let me know the details of everything. --Blue Dragon 12:30, 4 March 2007 (MST)

Hmm. Okay, in that case, how about setting it up at wikirps.dandwiki.com, and giving me admin access so I can do things like modify the skin. (Can you do that without making me a D&D Wiki admin?) This is still very much the brainstorming stage -- I only had the idea three days ago -- but I've got some thoughts I can start putting out for discussion as I find the time. I'm hoping others will contribute their expertise, and this will truly be a community effort. Thank you for the support. --Cúthalion 18:21, 4 March 2007 (MST)

Okay. I have created it at wikirps.dandwiki.com. Create a user there, and then I will grant you admin rights. --Blue Dragon 18:50, 4 March 2007 (MST)

I've created user Cuthalion. Has the interwiki linking been established? If so, how does it work? I've tried the following, but they're ineffective: [[dndwiki:SRD]] [[dndwiki:Image:Cuthalion.jpg|thumbnail|right]]. Thanks. --Cúthalion 20:37, 4 March 2007 (MST)

To start, I have problems with the idea of multiple branches and wiki's stemming from D&D Wiki; see what happened to the D20M Wiki. I don't like the idea of a separate wiki - at all. However, I will go along with it, if you really are dedicated. Starting your own wiki is hard, and it is a very large job. As I see it their are lots of problems that need to be addressed with you having your own wiki.

1. Will people really contribute? How will you make sure of that?
2. How are you going to get visitors?
3. Edits and user-names will not transfer over - Are you okay with that?
4. What will you do about vandalism etc? Will you check over every edit?
5. How will you get this off the ground, do you have people to help?
6. Do you need server-side permissions from Blue Dragon?

Basically it will be like starting your own wiki with only one little link from D&D Wiki, however that is more than D&D Wiki started with. I think the final question that really needs to be answered before you start your own wiki is "What is it's ultimate goal of my wiki-branch, and why does it not fit in D&D Wiki? Why do I need my own Wiki?" I don't mind you having your own wiki at all, however I just want to make sure you know what you are getitng into. So, are you sure you want to do this? --Green Dragon 22:52, 4 March 2007 (MST)

I still consider this to be in the brainstorming phase. Thanks to Blue Dragon, I actually have a forum in which to start experimenting. I'm quite aware of my ignorance of all that's involved. If it flops, so be it. However, I appreciate your thoughtful questions to help me become aware of the potential challenges. I'll need lots of such help if this is to work. --Cúthalion 08:21, 5 March 2007 (MST)

Will people really contribute? How will you make sure of that?

I'm counting on folks to recognize the obvious advantages of a wikified RPG. If the concept works, they will want to contribute. If the concept doesn't address a real need, they won't. I'm okay with that. --Cúthalion 08:21, 5 March 2007 (MST)

How are you going to get visitors?

Until a core foundation is in place, I'll rely simply on word of mouth, through D&D Wiki and my own circle of friends (and maybe the GURPS Wiki). Once we have a core foundation, then I'll find appropriate places to link from Wikipedia. --Cúthalion 08:21, 5 March 2007 (MST)

Edits and user-names will not transfer over - Are you okay with that?

It's not ideal, but I don't see it as a show-stopper. Do you? --Cúthalion 08:21, 5 March 2007 (MST)

These can transfer over if you want them to. --Blue Dragon 18:30, 5 March 2007 (MST)

I think that makes sense. Do you mean just by using redirects the way you did, or something at a deeper level? --Cúthalion 20:21, 5 March 2007 (MST)

My user (when started on your wiki) will have 0 edits - on D&D Wiki I have over 20,000 edits. When I make an edit on your Wiki it will not give me an edit here. Their is a problem. However, the "transfer over" that Blue Dragon is talking about will not work. Here is why: if I go to your wiki I would have 2 different edit counts both starting at around 20,000 (the edits I have now) one on D&D Wiki and the other on your wiki. If we want a truly inter-wiki environment usernames need to transfer over and share content. --Green Dragon 22:27, 6 March 2007 (MST)

Hmm. I really have no opinion on this. --Cúthalion 08:46, 7 March 2007 (MST)

So, do you even want a truly inter-wiki environment (on a user-name note) to exist between D&D Wiki and your wiki? --Green Dragon 09:50, 7 March 2007 (MST)

It would be a convenience for current D&D Wiki users, so, sure, it would be nice. --Cúthalion 09:58, 7 March 2007 (MST)

Their is a problem: Their is no easy way to make a "truly inter-wiki environment". Blue Dragon would have to program a nasty hack - if you want a "truly inter-wiki environment" ask him to program it so it works. --Green Dragon 10:04, 7 March 2007 (MST)

What will you do about vandalism etc? Will you check over every edit?

Here I definitely hope to pick the brains of you folks who have been through this before. For starters, yes, I'll be reviewing all changes. --Cúthalion 08:21, 5 March 2007 (MST)

How will you get this off the ground, do you have people to help?

Nope. I only thought of it four days ago. I have some good ideas (I think), but if no one else catches the vision, it will flop. I'm okay with that. --Cúthalion 08:21, 5 March 2007 (MST)

Do you need server-side permissions from Blue Dragon?

Yup, and I've got 'em. :) --Cúthalion 08:21, 5 March 2007 (MST)

I think you are talking adminship - I was referering to you having the power to change information server-side (you would have a server login (or whatever one uses to get on a server (not what one literally uses to get on a server as those things are called hands, feet, and a good climb check ;)))). --Green Dragon 22:31, 6 March 2007 (MST)

I suppose I should admit that I have no idea what you're talking about. However, whatever permissions I have now seem to be satisfactory. That may be because BD is helping out with the server-side stuff. --Cúthalion 08:43, 7 March 2007 (MST)

He is helping. I was only asking because some of the other sites he hosts the author has a password to change some server-side preferences around on their part of his server. --Green Dragon 09:54, 7 March 2007 (MST)

What is it's ultimate goal of my wiki-branch ...

WikiRPS:About#Why? --Cúthalion 08:21, 5 March 2007 (MST)

... and why does it not fit in D&D Wiki?

D&D is a recognized (if not registered) trademark referring to Dungeons and Dragons, a commercial product created originally by Gary Gygax and now owned by Wizards of the Coast. WikiRPS is not a commercial product, is not affiliated in any way with Wizards of the Coast, and is not based on D&D or the d20 System any more than it is based on GURPS, Champions, or any other published system. To incorporate it within D&D Wiki conveys the wrong impression, it seems to me.

On the other hand, I wouldn't take a stand on this point in the face of pragmatic considerations. Blue Dragon graciously offered the wikirps.dandwiki.com subdomain to host the wiki, and I'm not about to turn it down just because it shares the dandwiki domain. Likewise, if there are good reasons to integrate it more closely with D&D Wiki, I'm open to the debate.

I wasn't around for the attempt to spawn D20M Wiki, so I can't speak to what happened there. Offhand, though, d20 Fantasy and d20 Modern are intended to share a common core, so one might expect the two to be fairly tightly integrated. WikiRPS shares no such common core with the d20 System. --Cúthalion 08:21, 5 March 2007 (MST)

Oh... I feel dumb now. --Green Dragon 22:32, 6 March 2007 (MST)

Was it something I said? I appreciate the questions, and may end up using them as the basis for a FAQ (when I get around to it). --Cúthalion 08:46, 7 March 2007 (MST)

I did not know it would be using a non D20 system. I now know, thats is why I said what I said above. --Green Dragon 09:51, 7 March 2007 (MST)

Why do I need my own Wiki?

I don't view this as "my wiki". I view it as a community wiki. If it takes off, I would expect to be able to remove myself completely from admin duties in a year or two and have it continue just fine without me (not that I'll necessarily do that). --Cúthalion 08:21, 5 March 2007 (MST)

So, are you sure you want to do this?

Am I sure this is an idea worth pursuing? Yes. Am I sure I'm up to the challenge? No, not really. But I'm willing to take the risk. The success or failure will ultimately depend on whether the community buys into it. --Cúthalion 08:21, 5 March 2007 (MST)