User talk:Shawn

Hello and welcome to my talk page.

Feel free to add a new section and I'll be happy to reply.

MTGSalvation

Greetings. I come as an envoy from MTGSalvation, which has recently started its own wiki project. We were wondering if you would like to be involved with our project -- your ability to link directly and easily to gatherer is something we have wanted for some time. Please, have a look at what we have so far, we would love to have your help. VestDan 06:40, 7 April 2006 (UTC)

Pyroclasm

Hi, yeah, I was just sort of experimenting. I think it'd be nice to have pages for cards that have places for notes, combos, bannings, etc. Although, with a direct link to Gatherer, all the extra info seems redundant, so maybe we can take it off. Just use one picture, plus maybe unique art, like the promos.

What I was trying to do with it was first capture all possible data, then figure out how best to present it. So, it looks like a jumble now, but hopefully it can get cleaned up.

I'd also like to do a set of popular decks, like historically. For example articles on Sligh or Red Deck Wins, all the way up to Owling Mine. Example deck builds, placements in tournaments, notes on how they work and how they win, plus the variations folks have tried. I think that could be an interesting set of articles as well.

Let me know what you think. Thanks. Risser 10:59, 25 April 2006 (UTC)

I removed the multiple pix, and kept the first (Ice Age) and promo. As for image copyright, I was thinking about it and realized that (1) most sites that actually sell cards use Wizards card images themselves, AND they make money from it. Also parody sites and stuff. And (2) ... I forgot #2. Oh, yeah, I read in one of the columns (but can't remember where) about how Wizards is pretty lenient on the use of their IP. So, as long as we're not wacky about it. --Risser 15:07, 25 April 2006 (UTC)

Okay, if I uploaded 10,000 MtG card images, that would be about 30k per image, or 300 MB. Is that too much? The articles look so naked without a card image... --Risser 15:53, 25 April 2006 (UTC)

Well, I have almost every card image on my hard drive, pulled down from WotC, for what that's worth. I just don't know how to automate something like that. Similarly, it'd be nice to automatically create a page for every card. I could do that in a few seconds if I knew how to automate them. Just not sure how to do that. --Risser 19:04, 25 April 2006 (UTC)

Card References & links

First, by my understanding, this is a Wiki, which usually means that links in the Wiki link to other pages in the Wiki. Why would we convert all references to cards to point to the Gatherer? That doesn't make sense. If every card page will have these links, it seems like we should link to the page, then have the page link to Gatherer, etc.

Second, I think the page looks okay without the redundant data. I'd prefer it, for flavor, but it does work without it. However, I really think it lacks without a picture. Are you sure you want to go with "no art?"

Third, where do you stand on promo, non-Gatherer pics? I left the one on Pyroclasm, so we could see how it looks. I like the look of it.

Finally, I see you undid all the formatting templates. I like formatting templates for two reasons. First, obviously, if you decide to change the way the references are displayed, you can change them all at once. Second, less obviously, if everyone uses the template, they are less likely to mis-format the link. For example, if everyone uses the S template when refering to sets, they will always be italicized links, as you prefer in the style guide. However, if you leave it to the individual, you will get a few that aren't italicized, as evidenced by some of the references on the Glossary page.

Similarly, with cards, I am able to remove the (wotc) link and make them the Gatherer link by simply changing the template. And, if we ever decide to change the way they are represented, perhaps by underlining or whatever, we can change them all with one change to the template.

So, if there is some reason you don't like the templates, please let me know. Thanks, -- Risser 11:34, 27 April 2006 (UTC)