SporeWiki:Fiction Guidelines

In this guide you will learn some important steps to create a fiction that's interesting and not just annoying to other members in the Fiction Universe. It is very important to read this page in order to be accepted and integrated into the community.

If you have read all the guidelines and interacted with another empire, you are an official part of the Fiction universe! Place this userbox on your page:

Spore-based fiction
This is a wiki with information based on the PC/MAC videogame Spore, we recommend that if you are up to write fiction, let it be based on Spore.

How do we exactly do this?


 * Even if your fiction is to overcome in-game obstacles like the Grox, your fiction must have creatures/buildings/vehicles/adventures made from Spore.
 * Don't use images found on Browse websites, such as Google, some of them could be trademarked and you will be breaking Wikia's policy guidelines. (We don't want that to happen, do we?)
 * User-created content for SporeWiki fiction is allowed, such as videos and art.

Wait, I don't have Spore, how am I supposed to even write my fiction?


 * Ask for users that own the game to create your creatures/buildings/vehicles/adventures, this wiki has some very talented creators on their respective areas, I'm sure they will solve your problem.

How to Begin
"Fictions need time to come along well. Don't just instantly release a fiction and say it's the best. If they have, they must learn they can't do that. they usually do. However, when fictions are allowed to come along well, they're great. Get a good idea, get originality, make it work with the fiction and be welll explained, and you're good to go!"

- Technobliterator

"Fiction goes as far as your imagination. A good fiction equals a good imagination. Make sure you actually know what you are doing and how far you will go."

- Xhodocto3546

"Sometimes its good to think about the fiction before writing it on the wiki. Have your story planned. And if your thinking of something really big, and want a lot of users involved, then build up the story over time, slowly introduce the characters and creations.  This guarantees a great fiction!  Don't forget to add images, and maybe even adventures, although adventures are not required."

- Wormulon

"Always remember, every user was once a new user. So even if they might seem like gods and their fiction might dominate, it's always best to ask for any help you might need, as well as crossing fictions whenever possible. That will make you more involved, and your fiction be at a better level thanks to others' influence and help."

- MushrumKing

"A good fiction needs a variety of things: originality, creativity, imagination, and even patience! Make sure most ideas haven't been used before, and if they have, change them in your own unique way."

- FalcoPunch

"Always remember, to ask permission from the administers of a fiction before you mix your fictions together! Also it is best to actualy start your fiction first!"

- Cyrannian

"Remember, that here on SporeWiki the only limit is your imagination!"

- Cyrannian

"The only limits are that you can't make a super-powered empire that crushes everything in it's path, but besides power level there are few limites. You have to ask for permission to destroy another's empire. Also, try to be original, don't just copy someone or something else. Finally, you don't need a completely good or completely evil empire, you can create something that has traits from both sides of the scale."

- MasterMachine

"Common subjects include, humans, the grox, and inter-species relationships. Try and start unique. Don't limit yourself to this. The limit to your fiction is only limited by human imagination. If you have trouble, stop by the simple stuff. Start small and go back to basic once and a while."

- Twinkyberries

First of all, if you want to write good fiction for your creatures or civilizations, they need to be believable. Have reasons to explain your fiction, and what it illustrates. You might think that simply saying something like the next sentence will attract readers:

-''My empire of the _____ will destroy everyone! They will wipe out the universe in a second!''

Practically, saying that is the best way to get your fiction disliked and discredited. Initially claiming this results in your fiction gaining a bad reputation and you will struggle to gain a good one until it has been improved dramatically.

Basically, don't ever make this.

Namespaces
Namespaces are easy to understand. They are for fan-made content. For example, Creature:Grimbolsaurian is in the Creature namespace. Why? It's a creature. Fiction:Delpha Coalition of Planets doesn't belong in the Creature namespace because it is not a creature. For everything in Spore you can create, there's a namespace for, for example, Building:_____ and Captain:______ (although Fiction can't be made in spore).

A full list of namespaces for fiction:
 * Cells - Cells that you have created in Cell Stage.
 * Creatures - Creatures that you have created in the game.
 * Captain - Captains and subjects relating to him/her such as history.
 * Vehicles - Vehicles that your empire or civilization uses.
 * Buildings - Buildings that you have created in the game.
 * Flora - Please do not make new concept flora, unless you have hacked the editor and are creating them. These are mostly more Maxis flora.
 * Fiction - Anything that can't be included in the above categories, such as empires or wars.
 * Empire - this is for empires that you've created.
 * Character - this is for characters and is basically the fiction version of a captain.
 * War - this is, naturally, for fiction wars between empires and factions.
 * Planet - For planets that you have encountered or created.
 * System - A planetary system.
 * Adventure - Write about your adventures.
 * Taxon - See SporeWiki:Taxonomy

Namespaces no longer in use:
 * Content: This old namespace has now been replaced by the above more specialized namespaces.
 * Concept: Very old namespace that is only in use in some cases.
 * Fiction/Galaxy - this was disused when creating galaxies was ended on Sporewiki FIctions when the cleanslate happened.

An Important Rule
Perhaps one of the most important rules on this guide is to not mix fiction with the main namespace. Adding "The Xoroxians are vastly more powerful than any other empires" to the Space Stage article will be marked as vandalism or spam and will be reverted. If this is repeated, you will be warned by an admin, who in the most serious of cases will block you for a week or more.

Communication With Other Users
As a general rule, before you collaborate your fiction with other users, you obviously must ask for permission. Most of the users here on SporeWiki are very friendly and are more then willing to help you get integrated into the Wiki, many users have written a paragraph about themselves, here!

If you want to contact a user, either edit their talk page, or their fiction's talk page;
 * Many empires are willing to accept alliances with other empires.
 * Even some so-called evil empires will ally, mostly with similar ones.
 * Most fictions accept the alliance, don't worry about too many reasons why.


 * War is an important part of the Fiction Universe, here are some tips for it to succeed.
 * If your fiction is new and is declaring war on an old fiction, it may not be accepted, however with experience, your chances will increase.
 * While your fiction may be described as "foolish", that's not a bad thing! They're insulting the fiction, not the user.
 * When declaring war, don't insult the user of the other fiction, or try to criticize it, most users dislike this and may end the war.


 * Socializing is a very important part of the wiki, and most users love to chat!
 * You can talk to users via blogs, IRC, MSN or talkpages.
 * Try not to be shy, most users will be more then happy to answer any questions you have!


 * Other kinds of fiction
 * Remember to let your imagination run wild! SporeWiki is not limited to creating empires and wars, many different kinds fictions have evolved here, like Station Halcyon, Voyages of the Avenger and The Love of Two Natures!

1
Ok, you've made a Fiction like this and want it to be more like Creature:Taxton or maybe Creature:Gablinus-Avis or, if you gain a superb reputation like, Fiction:Rambo Nation or an amazing reputation, like Fiction:Ayrai'Shikua.

What to add:
 * Sub pages; To do a sub page, create a page called Creature:Insert your creature here/sub page name i.e. military For sub pages, you could include things like,
 * Language- Example for complex: Fiction:Ayrai'Shikua/Xhodocto Language
 * Attributes
 * i.e.-Military- Example for complex: Fiction:United Republic of Cyrannus/Republic Navy
 * Gender- Example for complex: Creature:Loron, Creature:Loron/Da Chikz
 * History
 * As a timeline- Example for complex:Fiction:Ayrai'Shikua/Timeline for easy:Fiction:Vyro'Narza/History
 * Or like this- Example for complex:Fiction:Delpha Coalition of Planets/History
 * Add even more conent- Example for complex: Creature:Vartekian
 * Add people in (under Captain or Fiction)- Example for complex: Captain:Tyraz Breek

What to remember when adding:
 * Detail.
 * Explanation- Example for complex: The Krassio Host
 * Use appropriate grammar, dnt tlk lyk dis.
 * Don't claim your fiction is better than anyone elses. For example; if a user (Xhodocto3546) has been around for a long time (a year) and their fiction (The Xhodocto) is powerful yet is well explained and has good reputation and a new user (We're going to use our example: Random Noob) creates a fiction (The Badass Empire) and claims they could beat the Xhodocto, this is unfair and will get you haters. Don't ever claim your fiction is better than another by yourself.
 * Exception: Maybe you could say your example is extinct or lost power, i.e. the actual Taldar
 * Other exception: If your fiction is coming along, has a good reputation and you have explained why they're good, then why not? In this case your fiction is recognized by the community and not only by yourself.
 * Only associate your fiction with another when you've talked to the owner of the other fiction, the other user is right to know you are including his/her fiction.

2
Since when was there a rule against making different kinds? There are several kinds of alliances or multi-species empires on this wiki. You could make one with multiple species. Just make sure to add:


 * The above
 * The most most important race- Example for complex:Creature:Civatron
 * Other species involved- Example for complex:Fiction:Defensive System's Bloc/Species

What are forums?
The Forum Namespace is for discussions about Spore. They are created when you want more freedom to add to the page than Blogs.

What are Blogs?
Blogs are something Wikia introduced in late 2009. They have several uses on SporeWiki. They can be used for-
 * General Wiki Discussion- User blog:Wormulon/You have played Spore too long when...
 * General Spore Discussion (What happened in Spore lately?)
 * General Creature Discussion- User blog:Technobliterator/What is your Empire's average IQ?
 * General Creature Collections User blog:FalcoPunch/What's your nation's population?
 * General User Discussion- User blog:Xhodocto3546/The Offical Xhodocto3546 Q&A Blog

How do I carry on?
Be unique, but, don't be godly just yet. So then, assuming you followed Steps 1 and 2, you are now a good fiction and your fiction has potential, you may also be a well-recognised user, as many read your content thanks to the links on your allies' pages (assuming those allies are well known, such as the DCP), now you are allowed to expand your fictions horizons.

Remember
 * You are still not in a position to claim that they can beat any species on SporeWiki.


 * Try get on blogs, such as User blog:Wormulon/Tier instruction manual for your fiction more well known and compare it to others.


 * Explain your uniqueness, i.e.- The Zazane are powerful because they (just an example, not actually in fiction) have magic, which they gained from their planet's magic and from studying magic crystals

Collaborative Fictions
"It's no fun to write it alone."

- Twinkyberries

Now, there's several ways it can be done. An easy example is here. But, several users like to get more extreme than that.

An example many like to go through is wars. Discuss with another user about how you're going to do it and then make the page. An example of a fiction that started off basic but became major is here. Or you could just go to the main one here, rather than starting your own.

Some fictions allow users to add their empire's story. An example is here.

There are even alliances. Though you have to be good to get in. An easy example is here, though the most common is here.

Before joining collaberation, make sure you complete your main fiction page. Some wars will not accept fiction, unless it has well wrtitten military info.

Collaberation is not limited to war. You may also do collaberative stories that involve a few caracters of multiple user's creation.

Limits to your Power
You can make your empire as powerful as you like, provided that they are well explained.

Limitations...
 * Refrain from give them power that deliberately matches another fiction
 * Don't make them unrealistic
 * Provide good, well written reasons why they are powerful
 * If your creature believes in their own God(s) and if they are active or just returned to the real world, do not assume when they 'destroy' the Galaxy, that they destroyer other users fiction too, that is there own decision to make. So be careful with adding Gods into a fiction which want to destroy Galaxies etc.

Assuming you're now a popular user, try blogs.

Disliked Fictions
If you have made a fiction like this and you don't want to make it even worse like this, read the tips below.

Where did I go wrong?
Many users are clueless as to where they went wrong, it really depends on the situation. Many fictions die from the beginning. You are definitely not impressing anyone if you write:

- The _____ are so powerful they can destroy the entire omniverse in a few seconds 

The only thing this accomplishes is general dislike from other users. You will not be in any position to claim anything like this from the beginning.

It's obvious that you've made a mistake; maybe there's no explanation as to why they rule a large dimension? Maybe their IQ or Height or Super Strength aren't explained? Maybe you bored the reader by not setting it out well in paragraphs and not using good grammar? This could go on, but if your fiction is disliked, it must mean one of these explanations:


 * You probably did not read this guide.
 * You did not follow the fiction examples supplied on this page.
 * You ignored other users and their advice.
 * You made your fiction below the standard of the wiki, before this guide was made.

In any case, the remainder of this guide shows you how you can address these issues without stating "Forget it. My creature sucks. No one likes it. I will give it up as a lost cause, and make another empire that can burn a planet by folding it's arms". That is not the attitude that we tolerate here on SporeWiki.

And don't forget, Empires and Creatures/Fiction need time to get more known among users on the wiki, so give it time to expand and try making it more attractive, like adding pictures or joining other fictions.

Improvement
Quite easily. Below there is some tips!:

The Beginning
Perhaps the easiest and most common way to get out of the dilemma is to simply take back the earlier facts about your new civilization.

Here's an example of how an actual SporeWiki Empire evolved fiction wise:


 * The fiction started poorly written and unpopular.
 * Users disliked it and requested it was improved.
 * The page was given some major improvements.
 * Gradually gained popularity.

Explanations
Generally, you will need very well written explanations as to how your empire can accomplice certain takes, such as colonization and warfare. An easy (And generally unpopular) way to proceed is to give them divine powers, which eliminates the need for scientific backstory. Recently, this course of action is unpopular and the growing number of users who prefer scientific explanations demand that you make them more believable. Further reading on the subject can be seen below.

Instantly Omnipotent Empires
In many users opinions, this is the worst example of a fiction. An empire that's instantly omnipotent (All powerful) with little or even no detailed fiction and suddenly described as "the best" isn't a good example of fiction. It is suggested that users don't make an empire and say "it will destroy everyone", or even that it's really powerful. There are exceptions, however:


 * If you've said they are extinct, say they were once this powerful


 * If your fiction is well explained, with detailed sections on history or power, then your fiction has a higher chance of being accepted by the community.

Besides from the above reasons, try not to make an instantly omnipotent empire, or you risk starting your time on the wiki badly.

To solve it, you can follow these tips! :
 * Add a timeline- This gives other users an insight into their past, and explains your civilizations gradual rise to power. For example, Fiction:United Republic of Cyrannus/History


 * Add a historic war- During wars, both factions usually advance in terms of technology and scientific knowledge. Wars add an interesting side note to your fiction.

Humorous Pages
Some fiction pages are based on something in reality, such as Chuck Norris. Writing these for humor can sometimes be acceptable by the wiki community (With some exceptions), as long as:


 * They state on they page that that is their intention


 * They are not offensive like this

Important: Have Fun
Don't forget to have fun on SporeWiki, if you want to learn more about other fictions or you just need help with something, simply ask any user, admin or otherwise. The chances are that they will reply and help you with whatever you need!

We are here to improve the wiki and let it expand and grow, with new creatures, empires and adventures, never hesitate to ask a fellow user about fiction or anything else that troubles you. SporeWiki has been the birthplace of many great alliances and friendships, both in fiction and in real life, and we hope that in the future, these partnerships will only grow and blossom.

Don't forget, have fun and let the only barrier be your imagination!

Tier Levels Information and Guidelines
The SporeWiki Fiction Universe has developed a way to classify and compare different empires. The system was developed by an administrator, Wormulon, and can be viewed at his blog, the Tier instruction manual. The technology, size and population all play important roles in the organizing of your empire. To know the difference between the different tiers is important.

Tier 5
Tier 5 empires are relatively small compared to the higher tiers and yet their technology is still a century or two above the current standards of 21st century. Tier 5's are the most efficient way to start your fiction and gain the respect of the community. Because of the fact they are not as advanced, users may enjoy reading about how your empire travels space, and which weapons it generally uses.

Empires in this state could simply be newly emerging, or could be in a dystopian state. An example is the Hogomoth Refuge, a small collection of city ships and their struggle to survive. It is a perfect example on how a fiction of a similar level can be as engaging as a much larger empire.
 * Fiction

Expanding Tier 5 is relatively simple, which makes it the best choice for a new user, or a more experienced user who wants something different. You can create sub pages for military or economy, however this can be unnecessary if you can place it on the main page until your fiction expands. A good option for Tier 5 expansion is history, included in your history section or page, could be a back story, as to how your empire got to the state it is currently at. As for technology and military, it obviously shouldn't be too powerful compared to the higher tiers.


 * Technology

Tier 4
Tier 4 empires are the most common empires in the universe and have technology much more advanced then Earths current technology. Empires in this Tier have more advanced technology than their Tier 5 counterparts, with common themes being Warp technology, nanotechnology and teleporters.

Many of the rules apply as with Tier 5, but these empires are less likely to be in a dystopian state. Best option is to say that they're new to space faring, which can open interesting stories as they discover more powerful empires.
 * Fiction

Expanding Tier 4 is very similar to Tier 5.


 * Technology

Tier 0
Creating a Tier 0 empire is discouraged by most users, and can be extremely difficult to construct and maintain. It is recommended that you announce your empire to the community, often via a blog of information about your empire. It must also be discussed and agreed on first.

Other Tips
Here are some tips that users in SporeWiki respect.

Omnipotent
Omnipotent doesn't mean a creature that is powerful enough to defeat the Xhodocto, no. It is simply a term by users here to describe a fiction of which has content that is well written, well explained and there's a lot of it that it matches/beats the Xhodocto or Rambo Nation fiction wise. So, you want to do that? Sure, we all do. However, you'll have to remember these points:


 * The Civatron were the first creature to be enemies of the Xhodocto on SporeWiki, which is the only reason why they can potentially beat them, and others can't.
 * You don't necessarily have to say they're ancient and super powerful and godlike, being more unique (example: Fiction:Rambo Nation) in some cases is much better and makes it easier to get more popular as a fiction. Even if they are not as powerful as the Xhodocto, can still rival them in terms of fiction quality.
 * Omnipotent empires don't have much of a place in the wiki, and should be discussed first.

By now, your fiction should have many fans across the wiki community and can be involved with anyone you want, and you'll have learnt about making them unique, not making claims etc... So, really, that's all you need to know!

Gods
If your creatures believes in their own god(s) and if they are active or just returned to the real world, do not assume when they 'destroy' the Galaxy, that they destroyer other users' fiction too, that is their own decision to make. So be careful with adding gods into a fiction which want to destroy Galaxies!

Inspired Fictions
Many fictions on the wiki, such as the United Republic of Cyrannus and Rambo Nation often use elements from other sci-fi universes, such as Star Wars, or Star Trek. There is absolutely nothing wrong with doing this, and these fictions are very popular. However, also try to incorporate unique ideas into your fiction, such as a unique name and characters.