StrategyWiki:Guide/Appendices

Things that are not required for completion of the main storyline go on pages like these. Activities that are required at one point of the walkthrough but can be optionally done at other times, should be noted in the walkthrough while being covered in-depth as an appendix. Some appendix topics can be quite large, and would fit better as multiple appendices. In this case, use an h3 template on the Table of Contents page to denote a sub-section. Keep in mind that pages under the sub-section should still physically be sub-pages of the guide (e.g. Game name/Sidequest 1, not Game name/Sidequests/Sidequest 1).

Many pages might be just as appropriate in the Getting Started section as in the Appendices, and this depends mostly on the type of game. Some pages that could appear in either section are Characters, Enemies, Items, Equipment, etc. These are pages which are likely to be referred to or even linked to throughout the walkthrough. Some pages should only ever be found in the Appendices section, such as achievement/trophies pages, most lists, cheats/secrets and sidequest/item collection. Any topic that should be fully covered in the walkthrough, such as boss fights, do not belong in the Appendices section (or the Getting Started section, for that matter), as it only serves to create redundancy.

Lists
Lists are very helpful, and should usually be kept separate from any other page so they can be easily accessed from anywhere via the table of contents. As a rule, pages with large amounts of statistics should be presented in tables, and perhaps be sortable if that would be useful. If the lists become extremely long, consider splitting by type. As a general rule, use an identical layout for each entry or section, leaving parts blank that don't apply to that section. When creating list pages, title the page as the plural of its subject, rather appending "list" on the end (e.g. "Items", not "Item list").

Sidequests and collections
Sidequests and collection pages almost always belong in the Appendices section, as they're only relevant after you've started playing the game. While their existence and impact on the game may be noted in the Getting Started section, reserve walkthroughs on how to complete them or pages on where to find them for the Appendices.

Achievements and trophies
Many games have achievements and/or trophies, which are earned by completing particular tasks. StrategyWiki has a standard page layout for achievements which is detailed on the achievements project page. Achievements and trophies that can be earned by completing particular story objectives can also be noted in the walkthrough using the Achievement template. Unlike other guide pages, achievements and trophies pages are categorized by system (e.g. [[:Category:Xbox 360 achievements]], [[:Category:PlayStation 3 trophies]], etc.).

If the game only has achievements – Xbox 360, Xbox Live Arcade, Games for Windows, Steam – it should be titled "Achievements". If the game only has trophies – PlayStation 3, PlayStation Network, PlayStation Vita – it should be titled "Trophies". For a game with both, use "Achievements and trophies".

Cheats, unlockables and glitches
This page can have many titles depending on what is most appropriate for the game: Cheats, Codes, Unlockables, Secrets, Glitches, or a combination of more than one term. Keep in mind that these things simply exist, and they are not inherently "good" or "bad" themselves. Avoid any sort of connotation that might give a negative impression of using "cheats" or "codes". These are usually simple lists of data, so no editorializing should be required.

FAQs
A FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) is a list of common questions players have asked (or might ask). FAQ pages are unwanted and will be deleted or tagged for merging if they are created. All information that might be found in a FAQ should be present in the applicable sections of the guide. If you think a certain topic would be important to have on a FAQ, make sure to stress that importance in the appropriate place in the guide and make it easy to find.