Wikipedia:Peer review/State Military characters of Fullmetal Alchemist/archive1

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State Military characters of Fullmetal Alchemist[edit]

This list has been growing and expanding ever since its divorce from the old Characters page, and now I think it may be good enough to warrent a try for Featured Lists. Before I do that I would like some feed back for how the article may be improved. Two things to keep in mind: this is heading for Featured List Candidates, not featured article canidates. Secondly, school is still in session, so have some patients with me I seem to be slow getting on top of your suggestions. TomStar81 04:12, 9 February 2006 (UTC)[reply]

  1. Copyedit. While not as bad as the episodes list or the homunculus list, this still needs at least two thorough copyedits by as many editors.
  2. Linking. There are many more possible links- major characters that could be linked to, aren't. While I realize linking, say, Wrath is not easy, it should still be done.
  3. Images. You'll find FA people are harsh on licenses. Most of those images could be tagged with the character-artwork template, and should probably have fairusein templates added as well. The source data looks kinda scanty as well. --maru (talk) contribs 05:52, 9 February 2006 (UTC)[reply]
  • The source listed on the FMA characters takes the person to a page where downloadable screenshots from the episodes can be saved and unzipped. Its a litle unconventional, but at the time I was adding images the site was the best source I had avaliable. I think that the tv-screenshot and character-artwork templetes should be enough as far as liscences are conserned since the pictures all fit into predefined categories. I will also add more information for the character source (ie: which episode, which picture) and a detailed fair use rational as soon as possible. The same goes for the linking and copyediting. TomStar81 06:26, 9 February 2006 (UTC)[reply]
  • A "Reference" section is a requirement. In that section put all the sources used to write the list. Leave the "External links" section for general further reading on the topic. This is so that others can verify the information (hopefully quickly), to ensure the list is comprehensive (it covers all characters), and to show it is not just a duplicate of another website (that what Wikipedia offers that is unique). The inclusion of manga profiles is an excellent idea. Also, best to fill the sections with text to match the size of the images so there are not large blank spaces (ex. Denny Brosh). It might be useful to expand the intro paragraph (currently it is just one sentence) to include an explanation of what the series is (ex. dates of publication and airing, number of episodes, number of state military characters, etc) so that people not familiar with it can get a graspe of the scope/depth of the series. --maclean25 17:17, 9 February 2006 (UTC)[reply]
    • To extrapolate on the idea, referencing facts on the characters to specific episodes/manga chapters would be quite interesting. For instance, Mustang wears gloves with Transmutation Circles on them that are made of a material called "pyrotex/ignition cloth" that sparks when he snaps his fingers. could have a (Anime 34) added to it if the information described there was provided in the 34th episode of the anime. (Citation style needs work though). — Ambush Commander(Talk) 00:45, 10 February 2006 (UTC)[reply]
      • Well, episodes have names- one could well link directly to the correct one, could just use redirects (eg. "It is revealed that Al can transmute despite having lost his body (To Challenge the Sun).") --maru (talk) contribs 04:11, 10 February 2006 (UTC)[reply]
  • Standardize the texts regarding formatting. Will a bolded character's name be included inside or not? Sheska, for instance, does not have her name mentioned "Wikipedia" style, but Yoki and Basque Grand have their names bolded within the text. I would lean towards bolding their names in the text. But dang, then again, I should be editing the article myself. — Ambush Commander(Talk) 00:48, 10 February 2006 (UTC)[reply]
  • I can offer my services as far as cleaning up profiles and reorganizing and streamlining information, but otherwise I'm still rather new at this, and the Homunculus page (Which you mentioned and is, indeed, in need of serious repair) is my main priority at this time. --Nepharski 10:41 PM, 9 February 2006
    • Yes, the Homunculus page is in dire straits and needs all the help it can get. I asked for your help because I have not read the manga version of FMA and therefore can not confirm that the information present in the manga related entries is indeed correct. If you could check that for me I would be very greatful. TomStar81 22:05, 10 February 2006 (UTC)[reply]
      • Will do. --Nepharski 6:45 PM, 10 February 2006
      • From what I can see, the information for the manga is, for the most part, accurate...but it's also few and far in between. This article focuses mostly on the anime counterparts over the manga one, tossing in information about the manga as if it was a second-rate side dish, when the truth is that the Manga is still growing and developing to the point where it could, and should, outgrown the anime information. I'd propose Dividing articles in a similar manner as I am currently attempting with the Homunculus page: Have a brief paragraph about their personality, powers, universal traits, then have two sections, one for each form of media. All characters specific to the anime (Or, conversely, the manga) do not need such divisions, however. Merely a note saying they are specific to one strain. Once the Homunculi page has been cleansed of it's diseases, I'll move on to this page. Just an update. It's not that it's wrong, just that it needs a bit more. --Nepharski 10:31 PM, 10 February 2006
        • Actually, I am begining to wonder if we should split the character pages again and created one set entirely devoted to the anime and another set entirely devoted the manga. The anime is finished, the manga marches on, and at the rate we are going these pages are going to start bursting at the seems. I am putting this up for discussion on the talk page for the main characters of Fullmetal Alchemist if you wish to comment on this proposal. TomStar81 06:45, 11 February 2006 (UTC)[reply]

I want to say that despite the apparent "list" status, this is definitely FAC material, not FLC. See for example List of human characters in the Digimon series (although I'm planning a thorough trimming for it to leave as an actual list, you get my gist). A consolidated lists of characters (pertinent here as they seem to be currently split between numerous biographic articles, either grouped or not) with only very minimal data (e.g. what season/series/game they're from) would be a FLC, but this isn't. Circeus 21:01, 10 February 2006 (UTC)[reply]

  • I had a 50/50 when nominating, and went with list because at first glance, thats what it looks to be. If you believe that this would be better filed under articles and not lists I will strike that note from the top of the page. TomStar81 22:05, 10 February 2006 (UTC)[reply]
What is the article? Certainly not a list. It's a concatenation of small biographical carticles that could not stand on their own. I don't know about the folks at FAC, but It's a fair guess you'll get a 90% at FLC to turn at FAC. Circeus 22:34, 10 February 2006 (UTC)[reply]

I just finished the first round of improvements for the article, including a lot of interwiki links and episode numbers for source info. What else needs done? TomStar81 00:29, 12 February 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Oddly enough, there seems to be no details on original names (if they were changed) or Kanji, as is usual in such articles. Circeus 00:47, 12 February 2006 (UTC)[reply]

I presume because they're all just katakana, and a lot of (ロイ・マスタング Roi Masutangu) is more confusing than helpful, perhaps.

Problems you'll run into with any featured-ness:

  • No actual sources, and though yeah, it's obvious 'the manga and the anime', the fact that's the *only* source, and that these little biographies have trouble breaking out of the fictional world, just screams fancruft.
  • No lead section... or rather, possible lead section, but it's currently under the header 'Background'.
  • Slightly bizarre over linking.

If you really want a challenge, you should try and do something about the dire listyness of the parent article on the franchise, and try and make that more feature-worthy. --zippedmartin 08:44, 24 February 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Believe me when I say that I am well aware this will never become featured. The FAC page is loaded with people who absolutly love shooting down articles they consider "fancruft", and I carry no illusions what-so-ever as to the potential for the page to be featured; that number is exactly zero. Still and all, its my little way of helping out the anime Fullmetal Alchemist, and it gives me something to do, and for that I am content. TomStar81 01:30, 25 February 2006 (UTC)[reply]
You tell me. I'm the one that re-launched WP:DIGI... Circeus 01:35, 25 February 2006 (UTC)[reply]
I dunno guys, Bulbasaur is probably gonna make it, despite the ridiculous amount of hot air expended in the process. It *is* possible to write 'the best wikipedia has to offer' on 'fancrufty' subjects. The main issue with anime, apart from the fact most fans are barely literate, is that there's really not much credible reference material in English, apart from the largest of franchises, and even then it tends to be pretty shoddy. There's lots in Japanese of course, especially for Tezuka etc. - but the average person who wants to work on some anime bits on en.wikip doesn't have access to that. Fact is that an article on fiction *can't* be completely devoid of real-world-information and commentary and still be comprehensive, even if digging any up is near impossible. --zippedmartin 08:48, 26 February 2006 (UTC)[reply]