Airdates

[jennygadget]

I mentioned this over in the other thread, but I figured it ought to be mentioned here, too:

I've added airdates and author attributions to season 1 eps in the Reading Order.  If people don't like it, I can take it off.  If you all do like it, I will add other airdates and author attributions when possible, as well as a disclaimer at the top that the extra content is not attributed to any single author - as per tPTB.

[jeffy]

I mentioned this over in the other thread, but I figured it ought to be mentioned here, too:

I've added airdates and author attributions to season 1 eps in the Reading Order.  If people don't like it, I can take it off.  If you all do like it, I will add other airdates and author attributions when possible, as well as a disclaimer at the top that the extra content is not attributed to any single author - as per tPTB.

I'm going back and forth on this.

First, and foremost, we should definitely get the airdate info added into the individual episode pages on the wiki. I'll try to do that later when I'm sitting at my desk so my boss thinks I'm working.

My conflict is with adding that info to the reading order. I think I'd like to see that page kept as simple as possible to minimize the effect of overwhelming newcomers. If we can come up with a way of presenting the info that doesn't add to the visual complexity or impression of size. Maybe a table? Maybe just pull the author and airdate onto the same line as the title and link? Maybe make the titles hot links instead of showing the links explicitly? Maybe all of that or some subset.

What do folks think?

[jennygadget]

First, and foremost, we should definitely get the airdate info added into the individual episode pages on the wiki. I'll try to do that later when I'm sitting at my desk so my boss thinks I'm working.

haha!

My conflict is with adding that info to the reading order. I think I'd like to see that page kept as simple as possible to minimize the effect of overwhelming newcomers.

Good point.  Although if the info isn't on that exact page, I think we may want to add a note at the top that explains why we think this is the best order to read them in.  Nothing too descriptive, just "the following list generally follows the orginal airdates, with some minor adjustments to move non-spoilery character building extras to earlier in the reading list."  Or, you know, like that, but better.  and possibly shorter.  and less confusing.

If we can come up with a way of presenting the info that doesn't add to the visual complexity or impression of size. Maybe a table?

A table sounds perfect to me.  Especially since I mainly wanted to add the airdates to the Reading Order in order to make going through old board discussions less confusing.  "Wait! but it was mentioned in [blank] that [blank] happened back before [blank].  Oh....but that extra came out laaaaaater...." (I can't possibly be the only newbie whose done that.)

A table compacts all the information into an efficient and easy to navigate format.

I just don't know how to make one yet.    (makes mental note to look it up on wiki)

Maybe just pull the author and airdate onto the same line as the title and link?

I tried that first and it did not look good in preview.  Was very confusing to read bc none of the chunks lined up by type, so everything just looked jumbled together.

Maybe make the titles hot links instead of showing the links explicitly?

I keep going back and forth on this, and I can't figure out why.

(edited bc grammar is not my friend.  or maybe the problem is that I'm not a very good friend to grammar?)

[jeffy]

My conflict is with adding that info to the reading order. I think I'd like to see that page kept as simple as possible to minimize the effect of overwhelming newcomers.

Good point.  Although if the info isn't on that exact page, I think we may want to add a note at the top that explains why we think this is the best order to read them in.  Nothing too descriptive, just "the following list generally follows the orginal airdates, with some minor adjustments to move non-spoilery character building extras to earlier in the reading list."  Or, you know, like that, but better.  and possibly shorter.  and less confusing.

Well it currently says "This page lists the events of the Shadow Unit series in publication order. This ordering will reproduce as closely as possible the experience readers had when the material was initially released."

Which is maybe not totally accurate. Do you think it needs more than just "approximate" between "in" and "publication"? ;-)

bit about table formatting snipped because it sounds like we're in agreement that it's worth a try.

Maybe make the titles hot links instead of showing the links explicitly?

I keep going back and forth on this, and I can't figure out why.

Me too. Part of it is that there's some overloading going on since there are wiki pages for the episodes so it's a little unclear whether a link with the name of the episode would be to the episode itself or its wiki page. Table layout could solve this little conundrum so let's play with that first. See you on the wiki :-)

[Edmund Schweppe]

Me too. Part of it is that there's some overloading going on since there are wiki pages for the episodes so it's a little unclear whether a link with the name of the episode would be to the episode itself or its wiki page. Table layout could solve this little conundrum so let's play with that first. See you on the wiki :-)

Embrace the power of AND - in this case, have a link to the story and a (separate) link to the Wiki page.

[jennygadget]

My conflict is with adding that info to the reading order. I think I'd like to see that page kept as simple as possible to minimize the effect of overwhelming newcomers.

Good point.  Although if the info isn't on that exact page, I think we may want to add a note at the top that explains why we think this is the best order to read them in.  Nothing too descriptive, just "the following list generally follows the orginal airdates, with some minor adjustments to move non-spoilery character building extras to earlier in the reading list."  Or, you know, like that, but better.  and possibly shorter.  and less confusing.

Well it currently says "This page lists the events of the Shadow Unit series in publication order. This ordering will reproduce as closely as possible the experience readers had when the material was initially released."

Which is maybe not totally accurate. Do you think it needs more than just "approximate" between "in" and "publication"? ;-)

yeah, I wasn't really clear there, was I?  

I meant more that if we are going to focus more on it being a Reading Order and be willing to fudge some of the ordering in order to make stuff simple - like say, keep the WTFBBQ as one link rather than try to divide it out according to pub date (as opposed to simply acknowledging that we can't always find publication dates and therefore will need to guess at times) - then we might want to make that clear.  Just so that we aren't contradicting ourselves and therefore confusing people when we are trying to do the opposite.

"This page lists the events of the Shadow Unit series in near publication order. This ordering is meant to reproduce as closely and simply ( ?? ) as possible the experience readers had when the material was initially released."

So, yeah.  what you said.

Then maybe a sentence that says something like: "A comprehensive listing of all Shadow Unit episodes and extras, including author attributions, known airdates, and links to related wiki pages, can be found here."  With "here" obviously linking to the table.

(edited bc I hate it when programs change my punctuation to icon smileys. : (  )

[jeffy]

Okay, I took your words and put them in place of what was there.

Season 1 is also tableized. I think it needs a little more styling (ruling and some subtle background color would be helpful, methings). Take a look and see what you think. Probably make comments on the discussion page if possible.

(edited bc I hate it when programs change my punctuation to icon smileys. : (  )

"Additional Options"->"Don't use smileys" is your friend. :-)

[Elizabeth Bear]

Of course, now that I look more closely, I get to annoy everybody by pointing out that "Kansas" should probably go with "Knock on Coffins" or "Dexterity." (I think it originally aired somewhere around then, and it definitely aired before Brady outed himself.)

[jeffy]

Of course, now that I look more closely, I get to annoy everybody by pointing out that "Kansas" should probably go with "Knock on Coffins" or "Dexterity." (I think it originally aired somewhere around then, and it definitely aired before Brady outed himself.)

I do believe you're right. Since the page has a "next week on..." at the bottom that's for Dexterity, I moved it just above that ep.

[makito]

Ahh, thanks for the correction, Bear. Kansas was another one I wasn't sure about. Dexterity then?


Oh Wiiiiiiiikipeople!!

There's also an issue about the location of the BBQ, and I heard that it was posted in parts. I was going to suggest listing them separately but that's kind of impossible, as it's all one page. Shall we put it before KoC then?