Spiral Knights - Forum FAQ article?

Forum FAQ article?

8 replies [Last post]

Sat, 07/12/2014 - 16:47

Bopp

On these forums we keep answering the same questions over and over again. That's why I created my sword guide, and tried to create other guides. So I propose that we create a Forum FAQ wiki article with answers to these questions. (It can't just be called FAQ, because that already exists.) For each question, the FAQ would give an answer distilled from various sources, and a Google search link for relevant threads.

Before I create such a page, I'd like a better idea of whether it's valuable, and what should go on it. So please give your opinion, and list frequently asked questions that could be answered on such a page. I'll get us started:
* How do I earn crowns quickly?
* How do I find Orbs of Alchemy?
* Why are Radiant Fire Crystals so hard to find?
* What's a good sword loadout?
* What's a good gun loadout?
* What's a good bomb loadout?
* What's a good FSC loadout?
* Which sprite ultimate skills should I pick?

Sun, 07/13/2014 - 08:37

Dracora-Speaking

Hmm...

You could start a giant forum node (a collection of all things in your list and more!) for all that (in the proper subject thread of course, and if it doesn't exist yet) and just link to that on the FAQ page itself, with something like "General FAQs - As answered by Players on the Forums"

Within this node, link to the most useful wiki page(s).

This way, we avoid picky wiki format, and get users what they want (probably).

General Discussion...or New Recruits? Hmm, I'd say GD. Even old players learn new tricks!

Perhaps it will be awesome enough to become sticky! haha.

Sun, 07/13/2014 - 08:56

Bopp

the problem with the forum

If you answer the question "How do I earn crowns quickly?" in a forum thread, then there will be a mixture of good posts, bad posts, good posts that are out of date, trolls, tangential questions, etc. The reader who actually wants to find the answer will have to wade through a lot of noise to get to the signal.

I've seen this happen many times over the years. Someone posts a question. We respond by posting a link to a Google search with dozens of threads. The original poster responds with something like, "I can't tell which of those threads is good, which are out of date, etc. So just tell me the right answer here, briefly." And then we produce yet another messy thread. By the time the thread has settled on the right answer, the original poster has lost interest. It's a lot of work, and it's largely wasted, again and again.

In contrast, a wiki page can be composed, refined, updated, refined, etc., so that it delivers the right answer in a succinct manner. This approach has worked pretty well for my sword guide, which is basically my FAQ for swords.

Sun, 07/13/2014 - 10:19

Skepticraven

↓

The only bad thing that I foresee this creating is duplicate information - which could cause conflicting information if one area is updated and another is not.
If this page does get created, I urge a note be created for any editors to not duplicate information and instead link to the appropriate location where the info is located.

I'm aware that most wiki editors that visit the forums are aware and do these actions, but not all editors frequently visit the forums.

Sun, 07/13/2014 - 20:57

Dracora-Speaking

@Bopp

you can totally refine an original forum post (if you're the poster). People don't have to read comments at all. While some comments may shed light, yes, most comments are well...just that, comments. Some single (original) posts can take up an entire page, if you want, so comments have a hard time showing up. It can be nearly as sophisticated as a wiki page (minus appearances) - use "jump to" coding for ToC, and so on.

Also, it is much more difficult for it to be "sabotaged" - when only you can edit. Restricted editing is not ideal at all in most knowledge-seeking situations, but for an "opinionated" guide/FAQ that might cause others to want to edit it, it's pretty nice. As the poster, you can choose to add someone's ideas/thoughts into the original post, or just let their comment stay where it is.

This might also bring more players together, when people know they can post guide/info/opinion on forums - most players I speak to don't know that the wiki is for everyone, and anyone can edit it (so long as formats are followed). Like they think it's my job or something. No, it's volunteer! Again, most comments are...not useful. But some shed great insight.

I think you could try both (forum first, wiki later as it gets refined)? But being repetitive is an issue, as Raven says.

I'd just love to have a user-editable sticky FAQ about the game itself, really... the "useful links for new knights" in the "New Recruits" thread is pretty good. But some links in there are horribly, horribly outdated :P. *waves frantically to forum admin so the post can be updated*

Mon, 07/14/2014 - 05:13

Bopp

yes

Yes, you can edit a forum post, and the original post of a thread can be about as rich as a wiki page. I'm not sure about the psychological impact of the comments after the original post. Whether they are useful depends on how good they are. I agree with your other points too.

There doesn't seem to be a lot of interest in this idea. So I might write up the two or three most important FAQs in my own wiki space and start linking to them as they continue to rain down on the forums.

Mon, 07/14/2014 - 08:04

Skepticraven

↓

Some days I feel like I should make a wiki page simply for orb farming, because most players dont find my forum thread.

Mon, 07/14/2014 - 09:22

Bopp

most definitely

Yes, orb farming is one of the two top FAQs now. (See today.)

Your thread covers so much stuff. The people we're trying to reach need a clear, concise answer on their particular question. They don't have the patience to examine data about treasure boxes, pick out the part about orbs, and then figure out where to find the most treasure boxes.

Thu, 09/04/2014 - 16:36

Bopp

by the way

By the way, I created the page here a few hours ago, and it's already come in handy.

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Forum FAQ article?