View source for Forum:Reformatting feature lists

{{Forumheader|Community Proposal}}
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When listing appearances of in-universe subjects in game articles, we currently use a system in which all of the subjects are listed under a set of rather rigid in-universe categories in alphabetical order. However, I'm not convinced that this is the best way to convey the information to readers.

Firstly, in our current format, the in-game roles of the various items are largely ignored in favor of in-universe based categorization; for example, enemy types may be found anywhere depending on whether they're living beings or machines. In addition, the usage of highly technical designations for weapons and technology is probably not the best choice in game articles; a lot of people who look for information on the games aren't hardcore fiction fans. The average person sees a title like "Deployment Platform Type-56 Ground Support/Ultra Heavy" and they have no idea what it might be referring to, so it's not helpful in the least. Add to that the confusing lack of faction-based categorization and most people will be completely lost with all the designations.

That is why I'm proposing a new format for feature lists: not a raw list of things that appear in alphabetical order, but something more informative and actually useful: a list sectioned more closely based on in-game function and role, such as Weapons, Enemies, and so on. The lists would also be faction-specific, unlike our current quite uninformative style of putting everything under a single category in alphabetical order. I know how much we all love painstakingly specific and rigid in-universe categorization and complex technobabble terms, but there are instances where this does not benefit the purpose of the article in any capacity. Ease in finding information should be the key point and that will not happen if we get caught up in technicalities. In addition, the lists don't need to be nearly as long and include every scrap of detail possible, like the various Covenant species combat harnesses. If we did this with everything the list would be endless.

For example, [[Halo 4#Features|this is what Halo 4's feature list looks like now]], and the following is what it might look like with this proposal implemented:

==Features==
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
===Characters===

====Major characters====
'''Human'''
*[[John-117]]
*[[Cortana]]
*[[Thomas Lasky]]
*[[Andrew Del Rio]]
*[[Sarah Palmer]] {{1st}}
*[[Catherine Halsey]]
*[[Sandra Tillson]] {{1st}}
*[[Marcus Stacker|Marcus P. Stacker]]
*[[Roland (AI)|Roland]] {{1st}}
*[[Henry Glassman]]
*[[Fireteam Majestic]]
**[[Paul DeMarco]] {{1st}}
**[[Tedra Grant]] {{1st}}
**[[Hoya]] {{1st}}
**[[Madsen]] {{1st}}
**[[Gabriel Thorne]] {{1st}}
*[[Jared Miller]] {{1st}}
*[[Robert Dalton]] {{1st}}
*[[Forthencho]] {{C|Terminals only}}

'''Forerunner'''
*[[Didact]]
*[[Librarian]]
*[[Faber]] {{C|Terminals only}}

'''Sangheili'''
*[[Jul 'Mdama]]
*[[Gek]] {{1st}}
*[[Parg Vol]] {{1st}}

====Other characters====
*[[Armstrong (sailor)|Armstrong]]
*[[Austen]]
*[[Casillas]] {{1st}}
*[[Cox]] {{1st}}
*[[Dunlap]] {{1st}}
*[[Edwards]] {{1st}}
*[[Estey-Bethel]] {{1st}}
*[[French]] {{1st}}
*[[Lincoln]] {{1st}}
*[[Peters]] {{1st}}
*[[Philips]] {{1st}}
*[[Tashi]] {{1st}}
*[[Tim Pherson]] {{1st}}
*[[Warner]] {{1st}}

===Enemies===

====Promethean====
*[[Promethean Crawler]] {{1st}}
**[[Crawler Snipe]] {{1st}}
**[[Alpha Crawler]] {{1st}}
*[[Promethean Knight]] {{1st}}
**[[Knight Lancer]] {{1st}}
**[[Knight Commander]] {{1st}}
**[[Knight Battlewagon]] {{1st}}
*[[Promethean Watcher]] {{1st}}

====Covenant====
*[[Unggoy|Grunt]]
**[[Unggoy Storm|Grunt Storm]] {{1st}}
**[[Unggoy Ranger|Grunt Ranger]] {{1st}}
**[[Unggoy Imperial|Grunt Imperial]] {{1st}}
**[[Unggoy Heavy|Grunt Heavy]]
*[[Kig-Yar|Jackal]]
**[[Kig-Yar Storm|Jackal Storm]] {{1st}}
**[[Kig-Yar Ranger|Jackal Ranger]]
**[[Kig-Yar Sniper|Jackal Sniper]]
**[[Kig-Yar Heavy|Jackal Heavy]] {{1st}}
*[[Sangheili|Elite]]
**[[Sangheili Storm|Elite Storm]] {{1st}}
**[[Sangheili Ranger|Elite Ranger]]
**[[Sangheili Commander|Elite Commander]] {{1st}}
**[[Sangheili Warrior|Elite Warrior]] {{1st}}
**[[Sangheili Zealot|Elite Zealot]]
*[[Mgalekgolo|Hunter]]

===Allies===
*[[UNSC Marine Corps/Gameplay|UNSC Marines]]
*[[SPARTAN-IV Program|SPARTAN-IVs]]
*[[Office of Naval Intelligence|ONI security personnel]]
*[[Sentinel Aggressor]]

===Equipment and technology===
*[[Artificial intelligence]]
*[[Constraint field]]
*[[Cryo chamber]]
*[[Cryptum]]
*[[Composer]]
*[[Geas]]
*[[HAVOK tactical nuclear weapon]]
*[[Stationary shield generator]]

====Armor and upgrades====
*[[MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor]]
**[[MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor#First generation|MJOLNIR [GEN1]]]
***[[MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor/Mark VI|MJOLNIR Mark VI]]
**[[MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor (GEN2)|MJOLNIR [GEN2]]]
*[[Armor permutations (Halo 4)|Armor permutations]]
*[[Tactical packages]]
*[[Support upgrades]]

'''Armor abilities'''
*[[Active camouflage]]
*[[Z-2500 Automated Protection Drone|Autosentry]] {{1st}}
*[[Z-90 Photonic Coalescence Emitter/Aegis|Hardlight shield]] {{1st}}
*[[Type-27 Responsive Holographic Form Emulator|Hologram]]
*[[Portable jump-jet|Jetpack]]
*[[Z-5080 Short-Range Spectrum Augmenter/Vision|Promethean vision]] {{1st}}
*[[M2705 Regenerative Kinetic Dispersal Field|Regeneration field]] {{1st}}
*[[M805X Forward Acceleration System/Fulcrum Mitigating|Thruster pack]] {{1st}}

===Locations===
*[[Carinae Station]] {{First mentioned}}
*[[Charum Hakkor]] {{C|Terminals only}}
*[[Circinius IV]] {{Mo}}
**[[Corbulo Academy of Military Science]] {{Mo}}
*[[Sol system]]
**[[Earth]]
***[[United Republic of North America]]
****[[New Phoenix]] {{1st}}
**[[Luna]]
*[[Halo Array]]
**[[Installation 00]] {{Mo}}
**[[Installation 03]]
***[[Ivanoff Station]]
**[[Installation 05]] {{Mo}}
*[[Requiem]]
{{col-2}}
===Organizations===
*[[Ecumene]]
**[[Builder]]
**[[Lifeworker]]
**[[Promethean]]
*[[Covenant remnant]]
*[[Prehistoric human civilization]]
*[[United Earth Government]]
**[[United Nations Space Command]]
***[[Spartan (branch)|Spartan]] {{1st}}
****[[SPARTAN-IV Program]] {{1st}}
*****[[Fireteam Crimson]] {{1st}}
*****[[Fireteam Majestic]] {{1st}}
***[[UNSC Army]]
***[[UNSC Air Force]]
***[[UNSC Marine Corps]]
***[[UNSC Navy]]
****[[UNSC Fleet Command|Fleet Command]] {{Mo}}
*****[[UNSC Home Fleet|Home Fleet]]
******[[Battlegroup Dakota]]
*****[[Orbital Defense Command]]
****[[UNSC Special Forces|Naval Special Weapons]]
*****[[SPARTAN-II Program]]
****[[Office of Naval Intelligence]]

===Species===
*[[Flood]] {{C|Terminals and War Games only}}
*[[Forerunner]]
*[[Human]]
*[[Jiralhanae]] {{C|Prologue only}}
*[[Yanme'e]] {{C|Prologue only}}
*[[Kig-Yar]]
*[[Lekgolo]]
**[[Mgalekgolo]] 
*[[Sangheili]]
*[[Unggoy]]

===Vehicles===
====UNSC====
*[[Cyclops Mark II]] {{1st}} {{C|Static model only}}
*[[D79-TC Pelican]]
*[[F-41 Broadsword]]
*[[Mark IX ADS|Mark IX Mantis ADS]]
*[[M12 Force Application Vehicle|M12 Warthog FAV]]
**[[M12 Light Reconnaissance Vehicle|Warthog LRV]]
**[[M12G1 Light Anti-Armor Vehicle|Gauss Warthog]]
**[[M12R Light Anti-Aircraft Vehicle|Rocket Warthog]]
*[[M274 Ultra-Light All-Terrain Vehicle|M247 Mongoose ULATV]]
*[[M808 Main Battle Tank|M808 Scorpion MBT]]
*[[Mobile Anti-Aircraft Weapons Platform M510 Siegework/Ultra-Heavy|Mammoth]] {{1st}}

====Covenant====
*[[Type-26 Assault Gun Carriage|Wraith]]
*[[Type-26 Ground Support Aircraft|Banshee]]
*[[Type-31 Exoatmospheric Multi-role Fighter|Seraph]]
*[[Type-32 Rapid Assault Vehicle|Ghost]]
*[[Type-44 Troop Carrier|Phantom (Type-44)]] {{1st}}
*[[Type-55 Anti-Infantry Stationary Gun|Shade (Type-55)]] {{1st}}
*[[Deployment Platform Type-56 Ground Support/Ultra Heavy|Lich]] {{1st}}

===Ships===

====UNSC====
*{{Class|Charon|light frigate}}
**{{UNSCShip|Forward Unto Dawn}}
*{{Class|Halcyon|light cruiser}}
**{{UNSCShip|Song of the East}}
*{{UNSCShip|Infinity}}
*[[Orbital Defense Platform]]
**[[Cairo Station]] {{Mo}}
*[[UNSC prowler]]
**{{UNSCShip|Aladdin}} {{1st}}

====Covenant====
*[[CAS-class assault carrier]]
*[[CCS-class battlecruiser]]

====Forerunner====
*''[[Mantle's Approach]]'' {{1st}}

===Weapons===

====UNSC====
*[[ARC-920|ARC-920 Railgun]] {{1st}}
*[[BR85 Heavy Barrel Service Rifle|BR85 Battle Rifle]] {{1st}}
*[[Combat knife]]
*[[H-295 Forward Observer Module|H-295 Target Designator]] {{1st}}
*[[M247H Heavy Machine Gun]]
*[[M363 Remote Projectile Detonator|M363 Sticky Detonator]] {{1st}}
*[[M395 Designated Marksman Rifle]] {{1st}}
*[[M41 Surface-to-Surface Rocket Medium Anti-Vehicle/Assault Weapon|M41 Rocket Launcher]]
*[[M45D Tactical Shotgun]] {{1st}}
*[[M46 Light Anti-Aircraft Gun]] {{1st}}
*[[M6 Grindell/Galilean Nonlinear Rifle|M6 G/GNR Spartan Laser]]
*[[M6H Personal Defense Weapon System|M6H Magnum]] {{1st}} 
*[[M739 Light Machine Gun|M739 SAW]] {{1st}}
*[[M9 High-Explosive Dual-Purpose grenade|M9 Fragmentation Grenade]]
*[[MA5D Individual Combat Weapon System|MA5D Assault Rifle]] {{1st}}
*[[Sniper Rifle System 99-Series 5 Anti-Matériel|SRS99-S5 AM Sniper Rifle]] {{1st}}

====Covenant====
*[[Assault cannon]]
*[[Type-1 Antipersonnel grenade|Plasma grenade]]
*[[Type-1 Energy Weapon/Sword|Energy sword]]
*[[Type-2 Energy Weapon/Hammer|Gravity hammer]]
*[[Type-25 Directed Energy Pistol|Plasma pistol]]
*[[Type-25 Directed Energy Rifle|Plasma rifle]] {{C|Prologue only}}
*[[Type-27 Special Application Sniper Rifle|Beam rifle (Type-27)]] {{1st}}
*[[Type-33 Guided Munitions Launcher|Needler]]
*[[Type-33 Light Anti-Armor Weapon|Fuel rod gun]]
*[[Type-50 Directed Energy Rifle/Heavy|Concussion rifle]]
*[[Type-51 Carbine|Carbine]]
*[[Type-52 Directed Energy Support Weapon|Plasma turret]]
*[[Type-55 Directed Energy Rifle/Advanced|Storm rifle]]

====Promethean====
*[[Z-040 Attenuation Field Generator|Pulse grenade]] {{1st}}
*[[Z-110 Directed Energy Pistol|Boltshot]] {{1st}}
*[[Z-130 Directed Energy Automatic Weapon|Suppressor]] {{1st}}
*[[Z-180 Close Combat Rifle/Asymmetric Engagement Mitigator|Scattershot]] {{1st}} 
*[[Z-250 Directed Energy Engagement Weapon|Lightrifle]] {{1st}}
*[[Z-390 High-Explosive Munitions Rifle|Incinerator cannon]] {{1st}}
*[[Z-750 Special Application Sniper Rifle|Binary rifle]] {{1st}}

===Events===
*[[Human-Flood war]]
*[[Forerunner-Flood war]]
*[[Human-Forerunner War]]
*[[Human-Promethean war]] {{1st}}
**[[Battle of Earth (2557)]] {{1st}}
**[[Raid on Ivanoff Station]] {{1st}}
**[[Requiem campaign]] {{1st}}

{{col-2}}
{{col-end}}



The main differences, as you might notice, are the following:
*Characters are no longer listed in alphabetical order but rather in rough order of significance; one-off or mentioned-only characters are dumped into the "Other" list
*Enemies are now listed under their own category and not in random categories
*Armor, armor permutations and abilities now have their own category and one doesn't have to look for them amongst loads of other random tech - again, in-game function is key here, not technical in-universe categories
*Only the more prominent pieces of technology important to the plot or gameplay (e.g. Composer, Cryptum) are listed - trivial items such as the Sangheili combat harness or Kig-yar shield gauntlet are left out, just like the various MJOLNIR permutations
*Enemies, weapons and vehicles are listed based on faction and use popular terminology with the exception of the Species section (e.g. Grunt, plasma pistol as opposed to Unggoy and T-25 DEP) and specific models are only identified when necessary to disambiguate them from others (e.g. beam rifle, Phantom)

Now, I know that forgoing our precious in-universe terminology is tantamount to heresy, but if you were a random player looking for information on one of the above subjects, would you rather look for it on this list or the one we currently use?

While we're on the subject, in addition to changing the standard in our game articles, I'm proposing we add similar appearance lists to novels which currently only list characters. This is for the simple reason that a lot of pages get made based on subjects that appear in novels and it would be useful to link them somewhere in the article for the novel - a plain appearance list is a better solution than stretching out the synopsis to the level of detail it includes every minor character, location, ship and so on. We might even use a tabbox as an elegant way to save space.

--[[User:Jugus|<font color="MidnightBlue"><b>Jugus</b></font>]] <small>([[User talk:Jugus|<font color="Gray">Talk</font>]] | [[Special:Contributions/Jugus|<font color="Gray">Contribs</font>]])</small> 01:48, 27 November 2012 (EST)

:<nowiki>*raises pitchforks*</nowiki> — <span style="font-size:14px; font-family:Arial;">[[User:Subtank|<span style="color:#FF4F00;">subtank</span>]]</span>  02:13, 27 November 2012 (EST)

I like it. Events should also get listed in order of occurrence, though. Currently everything under Human-Promeathean War is alphabetical and thus in reverse-order. [[User:Tuckerscreator|<span style="color:#6600cc;">'''''Tuckerscreator'''''</span>]]<sup>([[User talk:Tuckerscreator|<font color="#008000">stalk</font>]])</sup> 02:39, 27 November 2012 (EST)

I'm alright with this. If we're going to put "M6H Magnum" or "M808 Scorpion", could we list Covenant weapons, Covenant vehicles, and Promethean weapons in the same style as  [[Template:Covenant Vehicles|this]] template? Like "Type-56 Lich", "Type-55 Storm rifle", or "Z-750 Binary rifle" for example?--{{User:Spartacus/Sig}} 10:51, 27 November 2012 (EST)
:I don't see why not. Just so that it stays relatively simple and the colloquial name comes across somewhere. --[[User:Jugus|<font color="MidnightBlue"><b>Jugus</b></font>]] <small>([[User talk:Jugus|<font color="Gray">Talk</font>]] | [[Special:Contributions/Jugus|<font color="Gray">Contribs</font>]])</small> 11:28, 27 November 2012 (EST)