Proposal: FAQ for Newbies

Proposal: FAQ for Newbies by Neshomeh on 2010-01-06 18:04:00 UTC

For the record... by Sedri on 2010-01-11 10:08:00 UTC Reply

I'm currently compiling everything I can find in order to make thie FAQ, and will be posting a draft for the article for comments and critique as soon as it's ready. Trojie's helping me, but I second Neshomeh - ANYTHING you guys think needs to be included in here, please mention it. Please. I was a newbie more than two years ago, and I've forgotten a lot of the questions I had then.

Re: For the record... by Elorie on 2010-01-12 12:09:00 UTC Reply

I have a question. What is the specific difference between a Character Analysis Device and a Canon Analysis Device. I never quite got that.

Re: For the record... by Elorie on 2010-01-12 12:10:00 UTC Reply

Sorry, there was a small mistake. The question should have ended with a question mark. didn't find the mistake in time.

No worries. Now, to answer... by Sedri on 2010-01-12 23:00:00 UTC Reply

In short, a Canon Analysis Device measures how out-of-character a canon character is, while a Character Analysis Device takes similar readings for an original character, such as a Mary Sue. There are combined versions around, but they're not too common.

(All those links will take you to the relevant wiki articles.)

Re: No worries. Now, to answer... by Elorie on 2010-01-13 07:08:00 UTC Reply

Thanks!

Concerning response centers by anamia on 2010-01-09 04:26:00 UTC Reply

This one is a bit personal, but the idea is probably fairly universal.

Question: after having agents approved (in the distant future for me, but oh well), are there rules for creating RCs? Basically, can my agents inhabit RC number ZZ9-plural Z-alpha, or are letters reserved for Jay and Acacia?

--anamia

You're on the right track. by Neshomeh on 2010-01-09 18:30:00 UTC Reply

Yeah, letters are reserved for Jay and Acacia. You can have letters IN the RC number, just not as the first character. The only exceptions seem to be letters that stand for numbers, like i and e.

The list can be viewed on the Wiki, but you have to make your request to Araeph on the original LiveJournal copy or here on the Board.

~Neshomeh

Not even for the sake of quoting Douglas Adams? by anamia on 2010-01-10 06:08:00 UTC Reply

Well, damn. -shrugs- Oh well. I'm sure they'll get over it. It's not like they don't have a whole month to think things over before I request permission.

Thanks for the links. I'll be paroosing them eventually.

--anamia

Re: Concerning response centers by Pads on 2010-01-09 04:37:00 UTC Reply

I believe there's a list floating around somewhere, either on lj or the wiki or both, comprising all claimed response centre numbers thus far. I'm sure someone more sober than me will be along with a handy link shortly. SHould definitely be included in any sort of FAQ.

My remembered questions... by Cinnia Aine on 2010-01-07 19:48:00 UTC Reply

These have all been answered, but I think they're important for other newbies, anyway.

- Can someone start an OFU if one has already been made?
- Are we allowed to PPC original badfic?
- How can we adopt minis?
- How do we get our RC number added to the list?

Some answers by IndeMaat on 2010-01-07 22:00:00 UTC Reply

I think others can add some, but the basics are:
- I believe the rule is only one OFU per fandom. But you could always ask the author(s) of that OFU if you can contribute or carry on.
- nope. We Protect the Plot Continuum. In original badfic, the badfic is the Plot Continuum.
- yes. Occasionally boarders put minis they've rescued from badfic up for adoption.
- according to the wiki: you comment here

Complete history? by anamia on 2010-01-06 19:01:00 UTC Reply

My main question, after having poked around a bit, is where I might find a fairly complete history of PPC. I've found the Reorganization, and the Crashing Down, mostly by accident, and read those. (Well, all of Reorganization and I'm working on Crashing Down. I got distracted by the snowball fight. But I will finish.) These, however, seem to be a very small part of the entire history. Is there a PPC history archive where a newbie might find it from the beginning and read until now? Like, the story of the MS' coming, or the Mary Sue invasion, or anything else I haven't yet found. If it's not all in the same place, then a Wiki history article with links in chronological order would be wonderous.

thanks!
--anamia

As it happens... by Neshomeh on 2010-01-06 20:29:00 UTC Reply

I've just been working on categorizing events on the Wiki. You can find most of the major events by looking up Events, PPC History, and PPC Emergencies.

However, there isn't really any such thing as a complete history of the PPC. Huinesoron's PPC Histories were larks that got accepted into the main continuity because everybody likes the stories so much. Aside from that, PPC History is made up of things that happen in missions and sometimes on the Board, and as such it's a pretty nebulous thing. Not to mention the fact that continuity in HQ is notoriously wonky, meaning that all events don't necessarily apply for all people at all times.

So... yeah. Good luck. ^_^;

~Neshomeh

Still, a brief summary might be good. by Sedri on 2010-01-06 22:13:00 UTC Reply

Between all of us here on the Board, I'm quite certain we've all read the bulk of existing PPC material, and I think a collaborative effort to put together a very brief summation of PPC history would be a good idea.

I haven't had time to get all the way through Crashing Down myself, and I always feel like I'm missing something. The problem with looking up most major events is that people don't always know what events are there to be looked up - I didn't know Crashing Down existed until I stumbled across a reference to it on the wiki.

So, in short, I'm seconding anamia.

Okay. by Neshomeh on 2010-01-07 17:11:00 UTC Reply

It IS a good idea if all of us here on the Board step up and collaborate. If I start a History of the PPC Page, will you guys help fill it in? Sometimes I get the feeling that most of us prefer to wait for Someone Else to do things. *points at Current Events page and, in fact, this very thread*

As for Crashing Down, it's hard to find because hS prefers to keep it that way until he's done with it. The last I heard he was almost done, but since his laptop died, who knows?

~Neshomeh

Re: Okay. by Sedri on 2010-01-07 21:25:00 UTC Reply

I'll do my best to help, of course, though I have to say that I don't feel overly qualified, for exactly the same reason that I seconded the request in the first place.

A chance to show your quality. by Neshomeh on 2010-01-09 18:35:00 UTC Reply

~~No I haven't been watching the LotR movies, why do you ask?~~

Anyway. People are much too worried about whether or not they're worthy these days. If you know about one thing, you're absolutely qualified to talk about that one thing. You don't have to be here a certain length of time or read a certain amount of material in order to be "qualified;" you just have to know what you're talking about when you choose to talk. {= )

~Neshomeh

In that case... by Sedri on 2010-01-10 06:31:00 UTC Reply

Might I suggest that instead of a "PPC History" page, which doesn't seem like it would have much useful content, why don't we make an article that sort of touches on all major points about life in the PPC today which a newbie will need to know about before they start writing stories - the lack of solid directions, things like that; bits and pieces that we all take for granted but that aren't always obvious to newcomers?

There are important minor things too by anamia on 2010-01-10 06:40:00 UTC Reply

The main one is, of course, Makes-Things. I assume that, like good newbies, people read the Original Series, and Makes-Things is fun. Unfortunately, he's dead, so using him would be bad. But that tidbit's hard to find unless you're looking for it.

I can't think of any other similar things at the moment, baring perhaps the retirement of Jay and Acacia, which is easier to find, but I'm certain there are other, little things like that which, while not as important as Major Events, are more crucial when actually writing missions.

--anamia

Yes, good point. by Sedri on 2010-01-10 09:53:00 UTC Reply

Poor Makes-Things. I didn't want him to die. But you're certainly right - I think perhaps we should draft this article as a group, no?