The task I need help in is the indexing on the Vaults. As the first part of the task I would like to, separate of what is on the Vaults, create an index structure for what articles should conform to. Once the small group puts that together I would think to put it up here for people to comment upon. Then there'd be the second task, putting articles that already exist into that structure, and that is something where I would also appreciate immense help in - and could even be something that more people could help in.
(n.b. mediawiki, while great, doesn't really have the kind of security features you'd want to enforce this level of security properly. I personally use pmwiki for my secure wiki needs, but there are a ton of others).
As to Shawn's question, I am certainly willing to help out with whatever you have in mind. Feel free to PM me, email me, or however you choose, if you think I might be of any assistance.
As a contributor to the Vaults, I'd personally not feel right about a wiki format for the Vaults. I think there are things that a wiki would be useful for- common information, and the like- but not for the sorts of articles and writings that I and others put up. I'd be interested in learning more about wiki security, but my initial reaction is a big thumbs down to the idea.
I'm also not convinced about a wiki for this purpose for similar reasons.
The vaults are set up to be the official webpage of Mystara. Currently it is gaining its articles from this message board. But other D&D webpage also have far more graphic related content than just a select group of posting from a message board.
I am not purposing change.
Yet the media formats of the three differ by design.
D&D Mystara Message board allows an informal discussion of Mystara.
A wiki allows the encyclopedic and searchable data base of formal and agreed upon knowledge of Mystara. (Currently the main focus in the webpage.)
The Vaults are storage of the encyclopedic knowledge and link several contributors' information together.
The problem is that these three will replicate redundant information.
If there is change than the only reasonable use for a wiki would be to co-exist with the vaults.
A possible future for Mystara Wiki, the Vaults and the Message board.
The message board stays the same.
The Wiki would contain agreed canon material. (Copyrights maybe a problem but it would be nice to have a searchable encyclopedia that included descriptions, timelines, character info, place info, artifact, immortal info and the various knowledge that is scattered throughout thousands of pages of resources. I think since paizo is the only publishing company interested in adding more info the Wiki would be useful to collaborating a better understanding of Mystara.)
The future of the vaults would contain the essential graphic/maps character info, rules, gazetteers and PDF adventures that other websites currently store. The vaults could be a "living Mystara" but with a cool name. Perhaps, I know people like their Mystara but the vaults could collect some of the information from the projects like Marco and Thorf. (In fact I think Thorf was trying to make an encyclopedia at one time.)
Currently there is no need for change. Very few of us have the time to keep websites updated and the rest of us are luck we can type on a computer versus knowing everything about html ect.
If we come together I think we can actually create a better project than what TSR ever developed.
I'll be on stand by if anyone needs me to write anything. No matter what thanks to everyone for their hard work.
As an added bonus, you wouldn't be tied to a single machne when updating the site with new information.
sounds good. Sometimes it if hard to find some specific stuff there, and the search function gets you only so far.
Do you think that the change would involve cutting off some stuff already in Vaults? (There are hundreds of half-finished or fragmentary texts etc.) If so, make sure you warn people that they can make copies for themselves. If not, all the better.
Going back to Stanles's original suggestion: a good index for the present Vaults
sounds good. Sometimes it if hard to find some specific stuff there, and the search function gets you only so far.
Do you think that the change would involve cutting off some stuff already in Vaults? (There are hundreds of half-finished or fragmentary texts etc.) If so, make sure you warn people that they can make copies for themselves. If not, all the better.
no the idea here is just to create a whole new index. And then put the contents of the Vaults into that index.
I will not be cutting stuff already on the Vaults, there's no need to do that.
You know, even if you envision a wiki that has just a single person with editor rights (yourself), it would still, in my opinion, be an improvement, because every wiki I have seen has integrated search functions, and categorization tools for cross-indexing, which together make it far easier to find anything inside.
As an added bonus, you wouldn't be tied to a single machne when updating the site with new information.
whilst I'm not against the idea of a wiki as part of the Vaults, I really don't think that it's the answer for the current question.
Meanwhile are there any other offers to help with the current question ...
The task I need help in is the indexing on the Vaults. As the first part of the task I would like to, separate of what is on the Vaults, create an index structure for what articles should conform to.
I agree that some indexing structure could help. I'm also available to help
The collaborative potential of Wikimedia markup is too limited for Mystara because of the fact that it relies heavily on scripting. Not everyones cup-a-tea to be sure. Web-based applications like Mambo/Joomla/Drupal/tikiwiki/ or other CMS are not bad, but there are also simple, DB driven, php forums out there that offer far more in regards to ease of use, organization and administration.(combo cms/forum integration aside)
Ooops back on topic...Anyway, count me in if you need me Shawn. I still have a completely empty mystara php forum set up if any organizational organizing of the organizers needs to be organized.
I think the wikimystara and the content contribution system are still gathering server-dust somewhere as well.
Anyway, count me in if you need me Shawn. I still have a completely empty mystara php forum set up if any organizational organizing of the organizers needs to be organized.
I'll get in touch with those who've offered soon, so that we can get started.
and cheers Morphius for the offer.