Halopedia talk:Layout guide

Regarding "List of Appearances" section
I think it's best to list them according to their media category rather than according to their first appearance. Such order makes much more sense given that we now have indicators such as (First appearance) and (First mentioned). This is because when the Layout Guide was first presented, we didn't have such indicators. — subtank   19:23, 11 May 2012 (EDT)
 * I've always been annoyed when I see an article with a list showing the item's first appearance being halfway down the list. It doesn't make sense to me to have The Fall of Reach being listed below other things such as Halo 4 when it has a first appearance tag. In my opinion, it's more professional to list media items in order of release date. For anyone who doesn't know what were talking about, these are the two current formats used on Halopedia.

Release date format
 * Halo: The Fall of Reach
 * Halo 2
 * Halo 3
 * Halo 4

Media category
 * Halo 2
 * Halo 3
 * Halo 4
 * Halo: The Fall of Reach


 * Which one looks the best?--Gravemind.svg  Col. Spartacus  Talk Page Contributions  19:38, 11 May 2012 (EDT)
 * I'd have to agree that sorting it by release chronology looks the best, plus it just makes sense for it to be at the top.
 * I prefer the media category format as it looks more organised. The release date format looks messy once the list gets larger and longer. For example, compare UNSC Frigate's List of appearances section which utilises the release date format and Scarab's List of appearances section which utilises the media category format.— subtank   20:08, 11 May 2012 (EDT)
 * I can't really see how it looks messy. Neither of the formats look messy to me. The thing that annoys me is seeing the First Strike halfway down the list with the First appearance tag. Oh well, if we change to a media format, I can get over it.--Gravemind.svg  Col. Spartacus  Talk Page Contributions  20:15, 11 May 2012 (EDT)
 * It looks messy for the reason being that it jumps from one media type to another media type.— subtank   20:23, 11 May 2012 (EDT)

Ugh, I hate changing opinions. :P Given a lot of things in the universe have a respectable appearance list, couldn't we just use a scroll box and use a small font, then section them off into "GAMES", "LITERATURE/COMICS," and "OTHER" using both media separation and chronological release? For example:

GAMES
 * Halo: Combat Evolved
 * Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary
 * Halo 2
 * Halo 3
 * Halo: Reach
 * Halo 4

LITERATURE
 * Halo: The Fall of Reach
 * Halo: The Flood
 * Halo: First Strike
 * Halo Graphic Novel
 * Breaking Quarantine
 * Halo: Ghosts of Onyx
 * Halo: Uprising
 * Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe
 * The Mona Lisa
 * Palace Hotel
 * Human Weakness
 * Halo: Helljumper
 * Halo: Fall of Reach
 * Boot Camp
 * Covenant
 * Invasion
 * Halo: Glasslands

OTHER
 * Halo Legends
 * Origins
 * Homecoming
 * Odd One Out
 * The Package
 * Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn


 * Perhaps without the scroll box? The appearances template received negative feedbacks because of that. :P — subtank   20:23, 11 May 2012 (EDT)
 * I just updated it above and it doesn't look all too bad.
 * Actually, I really like sorting the appearances like that. Only, perhaps just for pages with more than 7-10 items on the list?--Main-Superintendent.png KEEP IT CLEAN  Comm Line  Transmissions 20:43, 11 May 2012 (EDT)

What were the negative complaints of the scroll box on? I don't think it looks bad that way. Tuckerscreator (stalk ) 20:37, 11 May 2012 (EDT)
 * Well, "negative complaints" and "negative feedback" is somewhat too strong. It's more of a redundant feature. As Jugus commented, the template "isn't all that necessary since the titles need to be fully written anyways." — subtank   20:45, 11 May 2012 (EDT)

I don't really see the problem with listing appearances in order of release date. Does the media type really even matter that much here? Appearance lists are chiefly about listing the subject's appearances rather than cataloging different types of media. As for having different sections for different media types, it looks nice but I can't help but feel it's a needlessly complicated way to present something that's ultimately very simple. Chronological order works the best for me.--Jugus (Talk  | Contribs ) 08:49, 13 May 2012 (EDT)


 * Guess you're right. :) — subtank   11:13, 13 May 2012 (EDT)
 * Well said, Jugus.--Main-Superintendent.png KEEP IT CLEAN  Comm Line  Transmissions 11:17, 13 May 2012 (EDT)