Guidelines:Article Writing

The article writing policy of Megami Tensei Wiki defines the manner and style of how articles should be written on the wiki. This policy is designed to keep content across the site consistent with one another while presenting information in an organized, intuitive manner.

General

Writing Style

All articles on the wiki are to be written in a formal and encyclopedic style.

• Avoid the use of casual/informal language, colloquialisms, and word contractions (e.g. can't, it's, let's) when writing.
• In most cases, all articles on the wiki must be written in an in-universe perspective, i.e. the use of "you", "the player", and other forms of breaking the fourth wall should be avoided. Instead it is highly preferred to write from a relevant character's perspective (mainly the protagonist's or the party's in most cases) over you/the player. (Examples: Aleph is approached by a demon. The party reaches the district.) There are certain exceptions where writing "the player" may be preferred for articles or sections detailing out-of-universe information, such as gameplay mechanics. In which case, "the player" or "players" must be used over "you".
• By extension, articles also should not be written as game guides or walkthroughs. Although the wiki covers detailed gameplay information as part of its initiative to document the games, which can include statistics or maps, the wiki is not meant to be a place to share game strategies or tips.
• Articles should also not be written as literary fiction and avoid the use of devices and styles associated with it, i.e. superfluous or flowery language, exaggeration, and dramatization should all be avoided. Pages must be written in a straightforward and formal manner.
• Articles should always be written in the present tense, unless an article's or section's content requires a different tense.
• Articles must be written from a neutral point of view, avoiding speculative or personal views of the editor. This includes any personal favor and dislike of media titles and characters.

Article Format

In general, all articles on the wiki should follow this basic format order:

Header
Infobox
Lede
Main body
Trivia
Nomenclature
Gallery
Footer

Not all of the above sections need to be present on every page, and there may also be some page types or subjects where some of these may not be applicable to them. Nonetheless, it is still a good rule of thumb to keep this order in mind when creating or editing a page. These sections are:

• Header — The header space is reserved for notices intended to inform readers of the article ahead (such as About) and for maintenance templates, and as such precede all other content in a page.

• Infobox — Infoboxes are templates intended to provide readers a brief overview of the subject's basic information, which can include the subject's name(s), an image, and any other supplemental facts in their appropriate parameter fields. Infoboxes are displayed in the top-right corner of a page, and as such these should always be placed near the top of a page (immediately following the header space if there is one). There are pre-made infobox templates for certain page types, including Characters, Demons, Skills, Items, Locations, and Games.

• Lede — The lede is the opening statement at the top of a page and is meant to give readers a generalized, brief summary of the page subject as the first thing they read. These are usually formatted as '''{{PAGENAME}}''' is a (type of subject) from (link template to media title or series page). This can be as short as a sentence or as long as a general paragraph, but all pages need to have one. The subject's name (along with any other alternate names mentioned) should be bolded in the lede, but not for every other instance on the page. The lede also should not go over comprehensive information that would be better suited in the main body and it also should be kept free of spoilers.

• Main body — The main body is where all of the article's comprehensive information goes, sorted into sections as necessary to the page type. How the main body should be written and organized is largely dependant on the subject's page type, which is outlined in the sections below. This is also outlined in the page boilerplates as well.

• Trivia — The trivia section is intended for out-of-universe and obscure information on a subject that does not fit anywhere else in the main body. As such, general information should not be placed here and this section is subject to some scrutiny. If a page does not presently have any trivia, this section should be omitted.

• Nomenclature — The Nomenclature section is dedicated to documenting the origin and meaning of a subject's name/title, as well as its official names used in other languages, which should be sorted in the Names template. Nomenclature is preferred over etymology, as etymology concerns over the origin of words while nomenclature extends to names and titles.

• Gallery — The gallery section is for displaying images and/or videos pertaining to the subject, such as official artwork, sprites or models, screenshots, trailer videos, and so on. These are kept in <gallery></gallery> tags. For subjects that appear in more than one media, such as recurring characters and demons, the gallery's files should be ordered by media release order. If a page does not presently need a gallery, this section should be omitted.

• Footer — The footer space, at the very bottom of a page, is where the Notes and References sections, any navigational templates, and finally page categories go, in that order. If a page does not presently cite any notes or references, those sections should be omitted. All pages need to be categorized.

Boilerplates

Boilerplates are page format templates that can be used during page creation to instantly insert a format into any new page, thereby simplifying the creation process and ensuring that information across articles are kept consistent and organized. Boilerplates should thus always be used when creating a new page, even if only a little information is added at its initial creation. Boilerplates can be selected by pulling down the "Select boilerplate" menu above the editor, choosing an appropriate boilerplate to the subject, and clicking on "load". Note that boilerplates are only made available when creating new pages. If you want to add a boilerplate to an already created page, you will have to manually add its content in.

Pages that use boilerplates are added to the Pages created from boilerplates category. This allows wiki staff to verify that a page has and follows its proper formatting, whereupon the category will be removed.

Page Types

Game Pages

(Infobox Game)
(Lede)
==Blurb==
==Synopsis==
{{SeePlot}}
==Gameplay==
==Updates==
==Downloadable Content==
==Version Differences==
==Listings==
===[[Characters in {{PAGENAME}}|Characters]]===
===[[Demons in {{PAGENAME}}|Demons]]===
===[[Skills in {{PAGENAME}}|Skills]]===
===[[Items in {{PAGENAME}}|Items]]===
===[[Locations in {{PAGENAME}}|Locations]]===
==Development==
==Trivia==
==Nomenclature==
==Gallery==
==Notes==
==References==

To use this page type's boilerplate, select "Game" under "Media". If a game is an upcoming title, add the Upcoming template in its header space above the infobox. This template should be swapped for New Release once the title has been released.

If a game or version for a certain platform was only released in Japan, that platform should only be referred to by its Japanese name, i.e. Famicom and not Nintendo Entertainment System; Super Famicom and not Super Nintendo Entertainment System. This rule also applies to system peripherals, i.e. the Mega-CD for the Mega Drive, and not Sega CD for the Sega Genesis; the CD-ROM² for the PC Engine, and not TurboGrafx-CD for the TurboGrafx-16. Platforms also should not include the developer's name unless that is part of the platform's marketed name, i.e. the PlayStation should not be referred to as "Sony PlayStation", however Nintendo DS is acceptable as this is part of its marketed name.

• Synopsis — The synopsis section gives a brief summary of a game's beginning plot or story. For brevity and to avoid plot spoilers, the synopsis should detail no more than a basic summary of the game's opening exposition and initial conflict while providing a link to its full plot summary page. Plot summary pages are titled as Plot:Game Title and are linked to using the SeePlot template at the end of the synopsis section.

• Gameplay — The gameplay section details information regarding the game's gameplay systems and mechanics.

• Updates — The updates section covers any free updates and patches the game received. These should be sorted into tables, providing information about their changes as well as their initial release dates. If a game did not receive any updates, this section should be omitted.

• Downloadable Content — This section details any paid downloadable content, including cosmetics, expansion packs, and season passes or DLC bundles. As with the updates section, these should also be sorted into tables detailing their additions and release dates. If a game does not have any paid downloadable content, this section should be omitted.

• Version Differences — Not to be confused with updates, the version differences section covers any notable differences between ports, remasters, and/or remakes of a game. A sub-section should be added for every release, titled after the release's title or the system it was released for. If a remaster or remake has its own page, its section should be kept brief and provide a link to its page for further information using the Main template.

Straight ports of a game that have no significant differences should not be added to this section, which can include PlayStation Network, Virtual Console, and Nintendo Switch Online ports. Notable releases include those that add new content, revise its present content, have significant graphical or sound updates, or are full-on remakes. If a game does not have any releases that fit this criteria, this section should be omitted.

• Listings — The listings section links to a game's dedicated listings of its characters, demons, items, etc. The actual listings should not be present on the game page itself for brevity. For most Megami Tensei games, common listings include Characters, Demons, Skills, Items, and Locations, and these are the default in the Game Page boilerplate. However, certain games may require different listings to suit their relevant needs.

• Development — The development section details the development history of a game leading up to its release, as well as any post-release development (such as the development of other versions or DLCs). Information added here should be cited with pre-launch press releases or developer quotes.

Series Pages

(Lede)
==History==
==Media==
==Trivia==
==Nomenclature==
==Notes==
==References==

To use this page type's boilerplate, select "Series" under "Media". Pages of this type cover media series within the Megami Tensei franchise, such as the Shin Megami Tensei and Persona series. Given the rarity of new media series introduced, what is presented here is mostly an editing guideline.

• History — The history section entails the media series's developmental and ongoing history since its inception.

• Media — The media section lists all the media within the series, including video games, TV series, movies, CD dramas, novels, anime, and manga. These should be listed in sub-sections using the MediaList template, including their initial Japanese release dates. The "Video Games" sub-section should be further divided into smaller sub-sections for remasters and remakes, spin-off games, and mobile games.

Character Pages

(Infobox Character)
(Lede)
==Profile==
==Gameplay==
==Game Appearances==
==Other Appearances==
==Trivia==
==Nomenclature==
==Gallery==
==Notes==
==References==

To use this page type's boilerplate, select "Character" under "Content".

• Profile — The profile section describes the character's qualities, including their physical appearance, personality, beliefs, and other such things pertaining to them. This section can also include any developer design notes.

• Gameplay — The gameplay section covers any gameplay information or mechanics that are relevant to the character. If the character is playable or participates in battles, this may cover their statistics and skill learnsets. This section also applies to non-playable characters (NPCs) if that character has a gameplay role, such as offering a service. If a character has gameplay mechanics in more than one game, this section should be divided into sub-sections by game. Otherwise, if the character makes no contribution to gameplay at all, omit this section.

The Gameplay section should always precede the Appearances sections, so that readers can quickly find gameplay information without having to scroll through potentially spoilery information below.

• Game Appearances — The Game Appearances section covers every game that character has appeared in, divided into sub-sections by game. If a character only appeared in one game, it should still be given a sub-section for clarity.

If the character has only appeared in non-game media, both the Game Appearances and Other Appearances sections should be replaced with ==Media Appearances== instead.

• Other Appearances — If the character also appeared in non-game media, such as a TV series, manga, etc, the Other Appearances section covers that. This should also be divided into sub-sections by media. If a character only appeared in game media, this section should be omitted. If the character has only appeared in non-game media, ==Media Appearances== should be used instead.

Demon Pages

(Infobox Demon)
(Lede)
==Profile==
===Origin===
===Design===
==Gameplay==
==Compendium==
==Game Appearances==
==Other Appearances==
==Trivia==
==Nomenclature==
==Gallery==
==Notes==
==References==

To use this page type's boilerplate, select "Demon" under "Content". This page type also extends to Personas and Shadows.

• Profile — Profile is divided into two sub-sections:
  • Origin — The origin section covers the cultural, historical, and/or mythological origins that the demon is based on or inspired by.
  • Design — The design section details the demon's portrayal as depicted in the Megami Tensei franchise and media, including their physical appearance, personality, beliefs, and other such qualities pertaining to them. This section can also include any developer design notes.

• Gameplay — The gameplay section covers the demon's statistics by game, including their base level, stats, skill learnsets, attribute weaknesses and resistances, where they are found or how to obtain, evolutions, and other such relevant gameplay information. This section should be divided into sub-sections by game with information compiled into tables.

The Gameplay section should always precede the Appearances sections, so that readers can quickly find gameplay information without having to scroll through potentially spoilery information below.

• Compendium —The compendium section documents the demon's in-game Demonic Compendium entries, sorted in the Compendium template. Game parameters in the template should be omitted if a demon does not appear in that game or has no compendium entry in that. If the demon has no compendium entries whatsoever, this section should be omitted.

If a demon has more than five entries, the Compendium template should be made collapsed by adding the parameter collapse= with any value (such as 1 or y).

• Game Appearances — If a demon has a significant role in a game, such as playing a role in the game's story or as a quest-related NPC, the Game Appearances section will cover that. Otherwise, this section would be omitted. As the Gameplay section already documents demon statistics, the Game Appearances section should not be used for that purpose. Games are to be divided into sub-sections. If a demon only had a notable role in one game, it should still be given a sub-section for clarity.

If the demon has only appeared in non-game media, both the Game Appearances and Other Appearances sections should be replaced with ==Media Appearances== instead.

• Other Appearances — If the demon also appeared in non-game media, such as a TV series, manga, etc, the Other Appearances section covers that. This should also be divided into sub-sections by media. If a demon only appeared in game media, this section should be omitted. If the demon has only appeared in non-game media, ==Media Appearances== should be used instead.

Race Pages

(Lede)
==Profile==
==List of Demons==
==Trivia==
==Nomenclature==
==Notes==
==References==

To use this page type's boilerplate, select "Race" under "Content".

• Profile — The profile section gives a brief description of the demon race, including what they are based on and any other commonality between them, such as statistics or Alignment.

• List of Demons — This section lists all of the race's demons by game, divided into sub-sections for each game. The lists should be compiled into tables and include the demons' base level.

Skill Pages

(Infobox Skill)
(Lede)
==Profile==
==Gameplay==
==Learnsets==
===Party Members===
===Demons===
==Other Appearances==
==Trivia==
==Nomenclature==
==Gallery==
==Notes==
==References==

To use this page type's boilerplate, select "Skill" under "Content".

• Profile — The profile section gives a brief, general overview of the skill and its common mechanics, mostly in regards to its effect when used or activated.

• Gameplay — The gameplay section documents the skill's detailed information by game, including its attribute, effect, and MP cost. These should be sorted into a table.

• Learnsets — Learnsets is divided into two sub-sections:
  • Party Members — If any party members can learn the skill, this section documents that. This should be further divided into smaller sub-sections by game with a table for each party member who can learn the skill and at what level. If the skill is known by default, add "Base" for the level criteria. If there are no games where a party member can learn the skill, omit this sub-section.
  • Demons — This section lists demons who can learn the skill and at what level. This should be further divided into smaller sub-sections by game and sorted into tables. If the skill is known by default, add "Base" for the level criteria.

• Other Appearances — Other Appearances cover any non-game appearances the skill appeared in, such as a TV series, movie, manga, etc. Media titles should be divided into sub-sections. If a skill only appeared in game media, this section should be omitted.

Item Pages

(Infobox Item)
(Lede)
==Profile==
==Gameplay==
==Descriptions==
==Other Appearances==
==Trivia==
==Nomenclature==
==Gallery==
==Notes==
==References==

To use this page type's boilerplate, select "Item" under "Content".

• Profile — The profile section describes the item's qualities, including its physical appearance or in-universe significance. This section can also include developer design notes.

• Gameplay — The gameplay section covers the item's gameplay information and mechanics, including its effect when used, stat changes (if a piece of equipment), purpose (such as key and quest items), buy and/or sell price, and where or how it can be obtained. Data should be compiled into tables. If the item is not from a video game, omit this section.

• Descriptions — The descriptions section documents the item's in-game descriptions, sorted into a table. If the item is not from a video game, omit this section.

• Other Appearances — Other Appearances cover any non-game appearances the item appeared in, such as a TV series, movie, manga, etc. Media titles should be divided into sub-sections. If an item only appeared in game media, this section should be omitted.

Location Pages

(Infobox Location)
(Lede)
==Gameplay==
==Game Appearances==
==Other Appearances==
==Trivia==
==Nomenclature==
==Gallery==
==Notes==
==References==

To use this page type's boilerplate, select "Location" under "Content". This page type also extends to dungeons.

• Gameplay — The gameplay section covers any gameplay information the location has. For many locations, this will usually consist of a listing of demons or Shadows that can be encountered in the area, which should be compiled into a table. This can also include any other notable aspects, such as local services.

The Gameplay section should always precede the Appearances sections, so that readers can quickly find gameplay information without having to scroll through potentially spoilery information below.

• Game Appearances — The Game Appearances section covers every game the location has appeared in, divided into sub-sections by game. If a location only appeared in one game, it should still be given a sub-section for clarity.

If the location has only appeared in non-game media, both the Game Appearances and Other Appearances sections should be replaced with ==Media Appearances== instead.

• Other Appearances — If the location also appeared in non-game media, such as a TV series, manga, etc, the Other Appearances section covers that. This should also be divided into sub-sections by media. If a location only appeared in game media, this section should be omitted. If the location has only appeared in non-game media, ==Media Appearances== should be used instead.