User blog:Subtank/Blog test

<!-- "Know your Halo history by studying Halopedia"

- Rob Adams, Senior Environment Architect of Bungie.

That quote will forever be the highlight of my Administrative career.

Cleaning Halopedia from redundancies, factual inaccuracies as well as keeping vandalism from harming the wiki has always been and will always be a tough task. Halopedia's reputation as a credible and reliable Halo database has improved considerably from its Halo 3 years, based from feedbacks gathered from the Halo community (i.e. halo.bungie.org, Bungie.net forums). So, give yourself a pat to the back!

If you haven't gone dark yet, you may have noticed that administrative activities in Halopedia has increased rapidly for the past few days. *hint: main page* For those who haven't got a clue what's going on, here's what you've missed for the past few days.

This blog will address all the major updates implemented into Halopedia for the past few days (since August 31st). Most of the updates are currently enforced by the Administration Team while some are still undergoing some administrative review. These updates includes "how to reference properly", "what images could be uploaded and used", and "layout guides".

How to reference/cite
First and foremost, this update on citing sources was suggested by. The suggested citation format has been slightly altered by me. It's quite simple and you don't have to worry.

For information using novels and magazines as citations, the citation format would be the following:


 * For example,


 * "Do note that the main format of citation should focus on title of novels/magazines and page numbers. If relevant as to providing clarification, include the paragraph/section and quote."

For information using electronic media such as news articles (i.e. IGN articles) or Bungie Weekly Update as citations, the citation format would be as so:


 * For example,

For information using games as citations, the citation format would be as so:

Image Policy
Now, while I was gone for the summer, it seems Wikia updated the GALLERY tags and things have gone bad. This problem has went minor based from my observations, though there are several obvious glitches and bugs that Wikia has not fixed. Enough from me, the following are updates/amendments to the Image Policy:


 * 1) Images are to be titled as such:
 * For example, you have an image of Thom-293 from Deliver Hope trailer. The filename should be
 * For example, you have an image of Thom-293 from Deliver Hope trailer. The filename should be


 * 1) Add only canon image, not screenshots from customized/tweaked canon games or mods. For example, only the core/default model of Noble Six is allowed to be used in all Halopedia articles. Customised Noble Six models are to be removed immediately.
 * 2) Images that were previously intended to be used for userpages/personal use but have not been in used for quite some time are subjected to be deleted by the administration. As such, no notice will be given to the uploader.
 * 3) The "SLIDESHOW" feature in the gallery mode is prohibited from general use, due to tag compatibility errors.
 * 4) Leaked content are to be deleted and uploaders will be subjected to Halopedia's Blocking Policy.
 * 5) Preferred filetypes are PNG for transparent images and JPG for normal-everyday images. If not available, use GIFs.

As for the gallery tags, we need to establish an official format on creating a proper gallery. After running through multiple alterations, I think the best gallery format would be most rewarding if images are reduced to 160px/pixels.

If you still feel confused, just refer below.

Manual of Style v1.2
Somewhat the main focus of this blog, the Manual of Style has been updated but there were no official announcements to inform users of the update. Referred as v1.2, this update includes the general "what you should do" and "what you shouldn't do", along with introducing a clause as to when you should divide an article and what tense you should use in an article. The following sub-sections are what will be/have been added to the MOS.

Editing Standards

 * Any game, media (i.e. Novels) and level title must be written in italics.

Images/Files

 * Add only canon image, not screenshots from customized/tweaked canon games or mods.
 * Avoid uploading pictures you don't have a purpose for, unless they can add to a subject gallery. Before uploading, read Help:Images for more information on image use.

Verb Tense
It is often difficult to know which tense is most suitable in articles. Below are some guidelines constructed to clarify when to use them. Thanks you,, for helping me out with this one.


 * Use past tense when referring to specific events that have already run their course in the game's plot. Examples below:


 * Wrong

When Alpha Halo is destroyed, it emits a signal that places all other Forerunner installations in standby mode, including the Sentinels guarding the Shield World located within the artificial world of Onyx. On October 31, 2552, the first of these Sentinels to awaken suddenly begin attacking UNSC forces on or near Onyx. Coincidentally, Gamma Company is participating in the Top Honors exercise at the time.


 * Right

When Alpha Halo was destroyed, it emitted a signal that placed all other Forerunner installations in standby mode, including the Sentinels guarding the Shield World located within the artificial world of Onyx. On October 31, 2552, the first of these Sentinels to awaken suddenly began attacking UNSC forces on or near Onyx. Coincidentally, Gamma Company was participating in the Top Honors exercise at the time.


 * Plot summaries are rare exceptions to this, as they use present tense to maintain the narrative. Chapter summaries summarize a chapter's events in a "this is what happens in this chapter" fashion, as opposed to a "this is what happened in that chapter" fashion. Examples below:


 * Wrong

The "Pillar of Autumn" is the first level in the campaign mode of Halo: Combat Evolved and in the Halo Trilogy. Master Chief Petty Officer SPARTAN John-117 was revived from his cryo-sleep and made his way to the bridge of the titular ship to be debriefed by Captain Jacob Keyes about their current situation. After the brief meeting, the Master Chief, with his AI companion Cortana, made his way off the ship via a Bumblebee escape pod.


 * Right

The "Pillar of Autumn" is the first level in the campaign mode of Halo: Combat Evolved and in the Halo Trilogy. Master Chief Petty Officer SPARTAN John-117 is revived from his cryo-sleep and makes his way to the bridge of the titular ship to be debriefed by Captain Jacob Keyes about their current situation. After the brief meeting, the Master Chief, with his AI companion Cortana, makes his way off the ship via a Bumblebee escape pod.


 * Use present tense when referring to gameplay elements, characters, weapons, enemies, and the like. Examples below:


 * Wrong

The M6D PDWS was a handgun seen in Halo Universe. It was used by various characters and was the first ranged weapon the player encountered.


 * Right

The M6D PDWS is a handgun seen in the Halo Univers. It is used by various characters and is the first ranged weapon the player encounters.


 * DO NOT include phrases like "his ultimate fate is unknown" or "what happened to the ship after that is a mystery."

Layout Guide
Halopedia now has an official layout guide that can be- and should be used by all editors. The standards of all articles have been updated to accommodate a more professional format as well as buffing up the quality. To those still unaware what "layout guide"'s purpose is, it is simply to improve the quality and readability of all articles in Halopedia.

Categorising You!
"For example, we have a category entitled "UNSC". Of course we need a category for things directly related to the UNSC. This includes the armed forces of the UNSC and other UNSC organisations directly under its control. It should not include every weapon, event, officer, non-commissioned officer, civilian, technology, military unit, location, or any of the hundreds of other things indirectly related to the UNSC that clog up the category, make it impossible to find anything, and otherwise extend the category's length to a ridiculous 1,175 articles."

- The All-knowing Sith\'ari.

Read the above quote properly. Now, think about it critically. Now, apply it in a situation where you need to an info using the categories but everything is so disorganised. Frustrated? Angry? Hah!!

This has been troubling Dragonclaws and a few other users for quite some time and I think it is best we get this problem fixed. Truth be told, Halopedia's categorisation system is horrendous. It is simply horrible, unfriendly and difficult to navigate around.

As of now, I don't have any actual proposals for category. It's just too darn confusing and complicated! I believe the Administration Team along with the community should attempt to agree to a proper categorisation system and construct an official Halopedia page. *stares at Halo-343*

One final call
This blog serves as an official announcement for my resignation. By 31st of September, I will be retiring as an administrator and editor. It has been a great experience editing, maintaining and administrating the wiki. It has been three years (started in 07/09/07) since I first started. Quite a long year... *sniff*

To be really honest, I originally planned to retire on the release of Halo 3: ODST. For some unknown reasons, I delayed my plans for retirement and continued administrating the wiki. Some call it addiction, others call it your-inner nerd-ness.

Special thanks to the Administration Team of Halopedia, to the both current and former members. Administrating this wiki is not as easy as anyone thinks. "Politics, how tiresome..."

Extra-special thanks to the following ( not in alphabetic order):
 * Omar-065 - Quiz time; when did Subtank resign from Halopedia? ;)
 * DavidJCobb - I've learnt a lot from you. Your templates rawk!!
 * Halo-343 - Remember, the Cabal owns you when you agreed to the application!!
 * Nicmavr - Will always remember that battle we had over at Coldsnap. *Headshot!*
 * Matoro3311 - Thank you for being my first best-friend in Halopedia. Wish you were here. :D
 * Durandal-217 - Always had fun clearing up any canon questions with you! Research more!
 * Bioniclepluslotr - Enormous help with action figure articles.
 * Forerunner - Note to others, avoid using templates if you don't understand how they work.
 * General5_7 - Enormous help with action figure articles. Good luck administrating the wiki!
 * Halopediaman - For everything. :)
 * Dark Neptune - For reminding/informing me of everything that requires critical attention.
 * SPARTAN-984 - Try to avoid being random in the future. Lurk moar!
 * Exalted Obliteration - Your argument is invalid. ;)
 * Ghost sangheili - You has no powuh over me!
 * Jugus - Always had fun clearing up any canon questions with you!

And last but not least....

To all Halopedians, I love you all!


 * Tears stream down your face,
 * When you lose something you cannot replace.
 * Tears stream down your face,
 * I promise you I will learn from my mistakes.
 * Watch me as I depart from this theatre,
 * Not with a bang but a whimper...

*executes a melodramatic exit*