Wikipedia:WikiProject Magic: The Gathering/Style guide

Basic Structure

Magic: The Gathering articles under this project's jurisdiction should at least have the following information:

• If the article is about a single card or where seeing the card will enhance the readers experience include {{mtgcard}} to automatically link to the Wizards of the Coast Gatherer database. For example, {{mtgcard|Mind's Desire}} will yield Mind's Desire. Use these links sparingly and follow the MOS guidelines.
• Always include the project banner {{WikiProject Magic: The Gathering}} on the discussion page of any MTG-related article, both as a means of recruitment to the project, and to create a point of contact for other editors to reach the project.
• Place a {{MTG navbox}} at the bottom of the article for uniform navigation between MTG-related articles.
• {{MTG-game-stub}} should be used to mark stub-length articles.

Images

While images to illustrate a subject generally enhance the article's utility and appeal, remain aware that the components of all packaged games are subject to copyright protection. A fair use rationale is needed for any copy of such.

Note that set symbols are considered fair use for the purposes of identification of and critical commentary on the thing depicted. Therefore, do not use set symbol art for identification purposes only. Keep in mind that commentary must (as usual) cite verifiable sources. Assuming these criteria can be satisfied, there exists a fair use tag, Template:MTG set symbol, specifically for this purpose.

Components and Rules

It is best to avoid listing out the game's parts or other specifications (such as detailed explanations of game phases outside of parent articles). Such exacting detail is rarely necessary to give the reader a good general idea of how the game works. In most cases, detailed "Rules" or "Components" sections would violate WP:GAMEGUIDE.

A good general style guideline is to give only the detail that is necessary to understand the context of any descriptions of gameplay and strategy elsewhere in the article.

Strategy

Observations on game strategy must not be drawn simply from the analysis or experience of the editor. To do so constitutes a clear-cut case of original research. In particular, it "introduces a theory or method of solution" to the problem of effective play. Exposition on strategy is admissible only where it provides a verifiable source.

Editors are encouraged to be diligent in correcting violations of Wikipedia's No Original Research policy with respect to game strategy. If such a section seems to be simply the conclusions of particular editors, it is proper to tag it with the {{OriginalResearch}} template. Even better, if possible, is to either provide citations to support the section or rewrite it based on such sources.

Further, despite the fact that this material may be of interest to the reader, Wikipedia is not an instruction manual. Discussion of game strategy should serve to illustrate why the subject is of interest, and not be included simply for its own sake.

If you would like to share more extensive information, consider Wikiversity, which hosts the Simulations and Gaming Archive and has a Portal called Game design for people who want to develop open educational resources outside the scope of Wikipedia.

Formats

• The official or accepted name of the format. (for example: Elder Dragon Highlander, EDH, Commander)
• Where the format originates from.
• How many players the format is most commonly played with.
• Deck information including: number of cards, banned cards, deck-building restrictions (for example: draft and blitz), and links for readers to find related players and events.
• A brief synopsis of the rules, sufficient only to show what is notable about the format or to distinguish it from other similar formats. Lengthy sections and separate rules articles should be avoided – after all, Wikipedia is not an instruction manual.
• Where appropriate, an infobox should be used. (It would nice to have a more specialized template for MTG formats, input is appreciated.)

{{Infobox card game
| title            = <!-- Accepted or official name -->
| subtitle         = <!-- Any other names -->
| image            = <!-- A diagram if the format uses a unique field or other relevant picture -->
| image_size       = 
| alt              = 
| image_caption    = 
| alt_name         = 
| designer         = <!--If multiple designers, use "designers" instead. If known.-->
| date             = <!-- Date when the format began if known {{Start date and age|yyyy|mm|dd}} -->
| players          = <!-- How many players -->
| num_cards        = <!-- How many cards in a deck -->
| origin           = <!-- If known. -->
| related          = <!-- Similar formats if any exist -->
| playing_time     = 
| footnotes        = 
}}

Developers, artists, and players

• Follow biography guidelines.
• For developers:
  • Links to cards or sets that the developer has worked on.
  • History with Wizards of the Coast if applicable and available.
• For artists:
  • Include the names of any cards or sets that the artist has worked on, be specific.
  • Include active years if applicable.
• For players:
  • For articles about MTG players use {{Infobox Magic: The Gathering Player}}.
  • {{MTG pth header}} {{MTG pth event}} {{MTG pth footer}} can be used to create a table of a player's accomplishments.

Sets

• For articles about MTG sets use {{Infobox mtgset}}.

External links

Consider adding these links to games articles:

• Links to any official full descriptions of the rules.
• Links to the website(s) of any governing bodies of the game.
• Links to the Gatherer database using {{mtgcard}}