As proposed by Sius (http://fodev.net/forum/index.php?action=profile;u=753) in a suggestion thread (http://fodev.net/forum/index.php?topic=5420.0), we are starting today the Beginners Guides Competition!
There are three contests in this competition. Each contest is about writing one guide. The best three guides in each category will be rewarded (See below for the rewards details). You can participate in one, two or three contests by writing one, two or three guides (But not more than one guide in each contest).
The competition starts today, June 14th, and will end the 1st of July.
I just want to say that you should not hesitate and use also images, links and other creative stuff in your guides. Simple text guides are good but we are looking for the best guide here, not the average. Once upon a time this (http://forum.madbrahmin.cz/viewtopic.php?f=34&t=522) was a great guide for newcomers (warning: its in Czech). Also don't forget to mention great utilities and stuff from tools+mods section (http://fodev.net/forum/index.php?board=23.0). Character calculators, transparent UI, namecolorizing editors... all that stuff is completely unknown for newcomers so it will be good to put some of it to your guides.
I. Getting started guide
Post your guide here (http://fodev.net/forum/index.php?topic=5794.msg50021#msg50021).
This guide shall contain instructions about how to install the game, details of character creation, crafting, combat modes (RT/TB), tips about what you think is necessary, presentation of the game's most important towns, reputation system, basic commands, important game rules, etc.
The perfect thing for this guide would be to write it so that it leads a newcomer that never heard of Fallout 1&2 from the very beginning of the game install to the first levels, with solid knowledge on how to grow stronger. Try to see the game as if it was the first time you were playing it.
II. Combat guide
Post your guide here (http://fodev.net/forum/index.php?topic=5795.new#new).
This guide shall be read by a newcomer that hasn't made any character yet, and wants to fight in PvP, but also in PvE (Two subguides ?). It is necessary to write fully detailed guides for all kinds of builds (SG/BG/EG/Unarmed/Throwing/Mercs-leader) and their sub-builds (Big Gun using a minigun or a rocket launcher, Small Gun using a P90 or a Sniper Rifle, etc). Ways to get your gear, basic combat tactics and Town Control system should be explained here too, as well as everything you think is useful. For players that would like to fight NPCs, it should contain informations about combat modes (TB/RT), slavery, crafting, encounters, FOnline's geography and also all kinds of informations that would be useful for a PvE player (Caravan carts, useful skills, and why is it interesting to do PvE only ?).
III. Crafting guide
Post your guide here (http://fodev.net/forum/index.php?topic=5796.new#new).
This guide is meant to be a complete crafting guide. Most of the crafting formulas/requirements are on the wiki, so don't bother writing them in your guide (but you can put links), but you have to explain here what is crafting, how to craft, how to mine, what can be crafted and how, where you can find books, workbenches, what's the most useful to craft (in order to use it or sell it), and any hint or advice that is needed.
Rewards
For each contest, best three guides will be rewarded. All in all, 9 guides will be rewarded, 6 PAs will be given, 3 cars, 7 items and 100.000 experience points!
1st place
Guide written on wiki and kept up-to-date by wiki team.
+
(http://www.fo2238.fodev.net/wiki/images/7/79/Pwrarmor.gif)
x1 Hardened Power Armor (http://www.fo2238.fodev.net/wiki/Hardened_Power_Armor)
+
(http://www.nma-fallout.com/fallout2/car/car.gif)
x1 Chryslus Motors Highwayman (http://www.fo2238.fodev.net/wiki/Vehicles#Highwayman)
+
(http://images2.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20050503000130/fallout/images/a/a5/F2hintbk.gif)
x50.000 experience points
+
x2 craftable items (http://www.fo2238.fodev.net/wiki/Category:Craftable_Items) (Chosen by player)
2nd place
(http://www.fo2238.fodev.net/wiki/images/7/79/Pwrarmor.gif)
x1 Power Armor (http://www.fo2238.fodev.net/wiki/Power_Armor)
+
(http://images2.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20050503000130/fallout/images/a/a5/F2hintbk.gif)
x30.000 experience points
+
x3 craftable items (http://www.fo2238.fodev.net/wiki/Category:Craftable_Items) (Chosen by player)
3rd place
(http://www.fo2238.fodev.net/wiki/images/9/92/Comba2a.gif)
x1 Brotherhood Armor (http://www.fo2238.fodev.net/wiki/Brotherhood_Armor)
+
(http://images2.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20050503000130/fallout/images/a/a5/F2hintbk.gif)
x20.000 experience points
+
x2 craftable items (http://www.fo2238.fodev.net/wiki/Category:Craftable_Items) (Chosen by player)
Really not as many votes as it was needed to have true top 3 of winners, but...
Results of the contest !
THE MORE POINTS YOU HAVE, THE CLOSER YOU WERE TO FIRST PLACE IN ALL THE JURY'S VOTES
REWARDS1st place
Guide written on wiki and kept up-to-date by wiki team.
+ (http://www.fo2238.fodev.net/wiki/images/7/79/Pwrarmor.gif) x1 Hardened Power Armor (http://www.fo2238.fodev.net/wiki/Hardened_Power_Armor) + x1 Chryslus Motors Highwayman (http://www.fo2238.fodev.net/wiki/Vehicles#Highwayman) + (http://images2.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20050503000130/fallout/images/a/a5/F2hintbk.gif) x50.000 experience points + x2 craftable items (http://www.fo2238.fodev.net/wiki/Category:Craftable_Items) (Chosen by player)
2nd place
(http://www.fo2238.fodev.net/wiki/images/7/79/Pwrarmor.gif) x1 Power Armor (http://www.fo2238.fodev.net/wiki/Power_Armor) + (http://images2.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20050503000130/fallout/images/a/a5/F2hintbk.gif) x30.000 experience points + x3 craftable items (http://www.fo2238.fodev.net/wiki/Category:Craftable_Items) (Chosen by player)
3rd place
(http://www.fo2238.fodev.net/wiki/images/9/92/Comba2a.gif) x1 Brotherhood Armor (http://www.fo2238.fodev.net/wiki/Brotherhood_Armor) + (http://images2.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20050503000130/fallout/images/a/a5/F2hintbk.gif) x20.000 experience points + x2 craftable items (http://www.fo2238.fodev.net/wiki/Category:Craftable_Items) (Chosen by player)
I. Getting started guide
First place
With a total score of 10 points
TAKAKASHI & YAMAKASHI BROTHERS
[Their guide] (http://fodev.net/forum/index.php?topic=5794.msg50563#msg50563)
A complete guide, with a lot of accurate pictures, good advice and even explanations about advanced features like Namecolorizing. However, it lacks some informations about the good ways to start the game and to earn caps/experience.
Second place
With a total score of 6 points
RJ & BALTHASAR
[Their guide] (http://fodev.net/forum/index.php?topic=5794.msg55442#msg55442)
A complete guide, with tons of informations, but unfortunately not always really accurate for beginners. This guide has more to do with a manual and we have been thinking that, even if it is really well written, it could have discouraged newcomers. More pictures would really have helped with this guide.
Third place
With a total score of 5 points
ARICVOMIT
[His/her guide] (http://fodev.net/forum/index.php?topic=5794.msg50038#msg50038)
A very well written guide, without any english mistakes, and containing useful informations. However, this guide doesn't go deep enough in explaining the game's mechanics and features.
II. Combat guide
First place
With a total score of 10 points
GORDULAN
[His/her guide] (http://fodev.net/forum/index.php?topic=5795.msg52724#msg52724)
Some inaccurate informations and lack of good pictures made this guide getting less points than it should have. However, it explains the combat system quite well. Too short guide, though.
Second place
With a total score of 9 points
AVORAL
[His/her guide] (http://fodev.net/forum/index.php?topic=5795.msg52921#msg52921)
A lot of text, not always useful, especially the endless part about SPECIAL. If you want to make the "perfect" build it seems like it is the best guide, however it wasn't really the goal of the combat guides. The end, with the "How to fight" part, is too short and inaccurate. But builds advice gave this guide more points.
Third place
With a total score of 6 points
Z0M2H14
[His/her guide] (http://fodev.net/forum/index.php?topic=5795.msg55063#msg55063)
Written for both loners and people fighting in teams, and from the point of view of different build "classes". It gives useful advices about combat. The text needs formating - pictures - and improved language, but informations are there.
III. Crafting guide
First place
With a total score of 7 points
DYLAN FRASER
[His/her guide] (http://fodev.net/forum/index.php?topic=5796.msg50243#msg50243)
Really understandable and avoiding to write useless information, this guide provides help about the basics of crafting, but it's sad that it recommends Shady Sands as a home.
Second place
With a total score of 6 points
NEXXOSFIN
[His/her guide] (http://fodev.net/forum/index.php?topic=5796.msg55128#msg55128)
This guide explore professions and ways to earn caps through crafting. It doesn't have pictures, unfortunately, but features good avice that balance the loss of pictures.
Third place
With a total score of 4 points
WICHURA
[His/her guide] (http://fodev.net/forum/index.php?topic=5796.msg50472#msg50472)
A perfect guide - about gathering. However, crafting system isn't just about gathering resources, so thsi guide loses a lot of points there - but the quality of the informations about gathering saved it and made it go to the 3rd place.
Note : The guides will be written on wiki on contributors' time. No complain about the time it takes will be valid.
WINNERS - SEND YOUR IN-GAME CHARACTERS NAMES TO IZUAL IN PM TO RECEIVE YOUR REWARD.
Once again, congratulations to all the contestants and to the winners !