Help:Tutorial for NPC pages

Tutorial for Creating an NPC page
Preface
:This tutorial is taught from the perspective of Morrowind.
:It frequently uses the NPC Odral Helvi as an example. 
:Why? Covering every possibility for all games clutters up the flow with exceptions. 
:If you follow along, when you finish you should be able to tackle pages like:  
::Places in Oblivion, Quests in Skyrim using the Creation Kit, or NPC's from mods. 
:Moreover, writing an actual working page fulfills a need while learning.

Gathering Tools
To create an NPC page you will need some resources.
:1. Download Morrowind first. Most downloads include the TES Construction Kit. It's free  here.
:2. Check to see if the TES Construction Kit is missing, if so download it here. Or you could "google" them.
 
Go to these important pages and bookmark them, then put them together in a bookmarks folder.
:UESP Log in
:UESP Quick Editing Guide
:UESP Formatting
:Wikipedia's Formatting
:UESP Editing
:UESP NPC Page Layout
:UESP Morrowind's Console
Wiki's, UESP among them, frequently disable some features of HTML, but it is still a good thing to know.
:WWW3's HTML Tutorial
 
 
The character's ID as it appears in the Construction Set will be -
:Morrowind:
:Tribunal:
:Bloodmoon:
 
These require downloading and installing the respective mod. The character's ID as it appears in the Construction Set will be -
:[ Tamriel Rebuilt:
:::# Tr_m1_Di'niah00000000
:::# Tr_m1_Domas00000000
:::# Tr_m1_Edwinn00000000
:::# Tr_m1_Elammus Girneth00000000
: links to other mods  
: any of which along with their undocumented characters may be added here.
 
 
:5. Find a simple text editing app, and a simple graphics editor for cropping and converting file formats.  In Windows, Notepad and MSPaint are both available in the C:\Windows\System32 folder.

Preview
Here is a list of general tasks explained in detail in the sections below.
#Do a one time set up of the Morrowind.ini file. 
#Load up the TES Construction Set at the beginning of each work session. 
Repeatedly, using a Notepad document
#Get information about NPC in the game and from the TES Construction Set,
#Use Notepad to fill out the NPC Summary. 
#Write a paragraph underneath that summary and save them. 
#Take a screen shot picture. 
#Edit and upload the picture.
#Create a blank page or ideally co-opt a re-direct page.
#Paste your saved document.
#Repeatedly Preview and edit, and only Save Page when nearly perfect.
Go back to step 1. "Get information ..." for the next NPC.
The Morrowind.ini file
Open the .ini file in Notepad. 
To allow screenshots find the following and change it to:
:Screen Shot Enable=1
To designate a path from the ''Morrowind.ini's folder to the save folder for screenshots, 
find the following and change it to:
:Screen Shot Base Name="MyPages\ScreenShot"'''
:: (MyPages\ is the path in this example, ScreenShot is the file-name's first part)
To set the number to include within the screenshot's file name, find the following and change it to:
:Screen Shot Index=1
:: so the first saved screen shot file is called:  ScreenShot01.bmp.  It will be in the MyPages folder and the number for the next screen shot will be increased by one.
Now Save these three changes to the Morrowind.ini file, so you need never do this again.
The Construction Set
You will need access to the TES Construction Set (CS) for every work session.  Here is a beginner's recipe.

1. Find & Run - TES Construction Set.exe
 
:::Try searching somewhere like C:\Program Files (x86)\Bethesda Softworks\Morrowind\
:::Try re-installing from the original Morrowind game disk.
:::Try downloading it for free (with the Morrowind game) from lots of sites on the internet.
 
 
:::Try these two steps:
::::a. Create a new path and folder named Morrowind, for example: C:\Programs\Bethesda\Morrowind.
::::b. Place TES Contruction Set files into it.
:::(Optional) 
:::Why these two steps?
::::These two steps are to get around the user account control (UAC) Microsoft puts on the folders:
::::Program Files and Program Files (x86).
::::The UAC can interfere with legacy programs written before Microsoft added UAC to Windows. 
::::You may want to place the game itself there as well.
 
2. In the menu bar of the main window (with the gray display area)  Click  - File 
3. From drop down menu select - Files...  (equals Open in other programs) 
4. From pop up window Double Click to check the box for 
::  [X] Morrowind.esm and do so for whatever other files are of interest such as any mod
::     and do so for whatever other files are of interest such as any mods like
::  [X] TR_Travels.esp 
 
:::In short, include everything through the last entry of the [X] boxes.
:::Open the Morrowind.ini and look at the [Game Files] section.
:::(Edit - Find - [Game Files]) Your need for information should include
:::every thing being used by your version of the game. There may
:::be circumstances for excluding something, perhaps for narrowing
:::down the location of some conflict, but they are rare.
:::(Optional) 
:::The list in Morrowind.ini should look something like:
::::[Game Files]
::::GameFile0=Bloodmoon.esm
::::GameFile1=Morrowind.esm
::::GameFile2=Tamriel_Data.esm
::::GameFile3=Tribunal.esm
:::Followed by any mod files
::::GameFile4=TR_Mainland.esm
::::GameFile5=TR_Factions.esp
::::GameFile6=TR_Travels.esp 
 
5. At bottom Click - [Set as Active File] 
6. Click -  [OK]
 
:::If you are getting warnings (especially "Previous string ...") with the option
:::Continue running executable?, just click the warning and
:::highlight [Yes] (using the arrow keys if need be)
:::then hold down the enter key to ignore hundreds of them.
 
7. Wait for message bar at the bottom of the main window to say  "Loading Files...Done!" 
Good, you have pre-heated the oven! 
The Cycle of Steps
Generally you will: 
#Locate the target, an undocumented NPC, within the game. 
#Take notes using a Notepad document.
#Fill in an NPC Summary at the top of a Notepad document.
#Write a paragraph under the NPC Summary. 
#Take screen shot pictures. 
#Use MSPaint to crop and save the best one as a .jpg .
#Upload the picture to the UESP, 
#Paste the document with the Summary and paragraph
::over a re-direct page, or 
::onto a new blank page.
 9. Repeatedly [Preview] and edit it, until it works, then [Save Page].
::If you have a problem, save your progress back into the Notepad document.
::Leave the page by selecting  , until you solve whatever problem there may be.
Locating the Target
Make certain that the NPC does not already have a page, by attempting to navigate to it on the UESP site. Even if the page already exists it is still worthwhile to read it and ask what is missing and can it be improved. If the page is perfect choose another NPC. 
You are trying to answer the visitor's questions about where the NPC is located and how to get there.
It is actually better to explore in the game to find the target NPC using the Construction Set's location description, and take notes on your travel route which can, for example, prove helpful in describing where a wilderness NPC is located, like the Mudcrab merchant.

You can save time by noting the Construction Set's cell location co-ordinates and then in the console:
::CenterOnExterior, xpos, ypos
::FixMe  (If you materialize inside an NPC or object.)
but at least note where the target is in relation to a large city or landmark. You could also travel from the character back to the city or landmark. 
Taking Notes
Using Notepad take notes for each data item below using these three possible sources:
#In-Game: Directly from your experience playing the game.
#Console: By hitting the tilda key while playing and using the commands e.g. gethealth
#Construction Set: By accessing the NPC list from the Object window and clicking their entry.
:The little numbers, after data item, each refer back to these three sources.

All of these data items can be found in the Construction Set's NPC main page, AI page, and Dialogue page. 
:NPC ID  
:Name  
:Race  
:Gender   
:class   
:level   
:health   
:magicka  
:highest two or three skills if relevant.  3,2 tediously by get 
:the location  
:factions and rank within each.  
:alarm    
:fight   
:items in inventory: weapons, armor, money, clothing, potions, torch, etc.  
:unusual conversation  

All of these data items can be found only In-Game.
:the visible clothing  
:getting to the location   
:any nearby treasures or items of interest   
:cautions dealing with this NPC  

The console largely serves as a back up source. You cannot find alarm, fight, inventory, factions and ranks within it.
Filling out the Summary
Paste this blank summary at the beginning of the Notepad page.
Use your notes to fill it in.  
 
:  
 
 
 
: 
 
 
Writing up the notes
Using Notepad write your notes up in paragraph form after the NPC Summary: 
A complete guide for this paragraph is here. 
The first sentence should be in this format: 
 ' ' ' ' ' 'is a       
 who can be found at   in   
If applicable, subsequent sentences in the first paragraph should: 
#summarize the main reasons why players are likely to interact with this NPC.
#mention any services they provide (merchant, training, spell merchant, recharging, etc.)
#offer a "teaser" that names and links to any major quest in which they're involved.
#describe what they are wearing and carrying.
#name any nearby treasures or items of interest.
#describe how to get to their location within or from a prominent city.
#quote any unusual dialog.
#note any peculiarities or talents.
#mention any relatives.
#outline their schedule or travel pattern.

  
Every related quest should be listed in this format: 
  immediately followed by a short explanation. 
If there are no Related Quests omit this section. 

  
For things that should be mentioned but do not fit elsewhere. If there are none omit this section.  

  
Every repeatable bug should be listed in this format: 
   
If there are no bugs omit this section. 
Now would be a good time to see how this is done for our example, Odral Helvi.

Taking Their Picture (optional)
Pictures are somewhat complicated. If you are overwhelmed just skip it, so that the picture link remains red. Someone else will see the red link and finish this task. After all that's what makes this a Wiki. You can skip taking pictures by clicking here.
If you decide to plunge ahead, here is how to swim.
Changing the Weather
For exterior shots you want a clear sunny day, so in the console:
:changeWeather " +" Region" 0
::e.g. changeweather "Azura's Coast Region" 0
:::note: the inclusion of the word "Region" at the end to get changeWeather to work.
Then use the game's Wait key, if needed, for sun light. 
For interior shots, you can try increasing brightness or gamma of the monitor.
The in-game gamma control does not render an accurate view for the screen shot. The shot is always much darker.
Clearing Obstructions
In the game options menu (Esc):
:subtitles: off
:crosshair: off
Lining up the Shot
Access the Morrowind console with (~) key:
:tcl   (stands for "toggle clipping")
:tai   (stands for "toggle artificial intelligence")
:tm    (stands for "toggle menus")
when everything is perfect, take the picture.  Press [Shift] + [Prt Scr] several (maybe 8) times. 
It is easier to delete bad shots and just use the best one, than to do all of these steps over.
Processing the Shot
In MSPaint, paste and trim/crop the shot to either 16:9 ratio for scenes  
:::e.g. 750 x 422 
:or  1:1 ration for NPCs
:::e.g. 500 x 500
:Use the file naming convention: MW-npc-Odral Helvi.jpg
:and "Save as" from MSPaint to convert from .bmp to .jpg
:Do not squeeze, stretch, or change hues. Less is better here.
Uploading the Shot
:Go to UESP upload page (open in a new window or tab). 
:Browse to your saved picture file from above.
:Click on the picture  
:Enter the name for the wiki using the file name convention:  - - .jpg 
::e.g. MW-npc-Odral Helvi.jpg  
:::(MW is the name space, npc is the use, Odral Helvi is the character)
:The NPC Summary template calls the picture onto the page using this naming convention. 
:Choose a "Use Convention", typically select "From a screen shot by a user not published elsewhere." 
:Finally, Click Upload  (at the very bottom of the page.)
 
:::Click the "edit" tab on the image file page.
:::Add the following to the top of the page:  
::::Where
:::::NS = the namespace abbreviation of the image;
:::::xxx = quest, place, npc, etc.;
:::::yyy = the correct (new) file name, and
:::::zzz = file type: jpg, etc.
:::If you are not sure how the new file should be named, simply use   by itself.
:::Save the edit to image file page.
 
Creating the Page
Use your saved Notepad page for this character. Try to go to the NPC's page on the site, 
::e.g. Morrowind:Odral Helvi.
If there is already a page, try to improve it by correcting errors and adding information. 
If the response says there is no such page, select: create one.  Now paste your document into the empty new page. 
If you are re-directed to another page, which often includes the NPC name somewhere within it, 
click on the re-directed NPC name at the top of that page (in small letters.) This will move you to the re-direct page itself, paste your document over the re-direct language on this re-direct page. 
No matter which of these cases is true, repeatedly [Preview] and edit it, until it works, then [Save Page]. Now start the next one.
Final Word
Yes, it seems complicated. If you are frustrated insert   (work in progress) at the top of the document. Save and come back to it later. Or save the work to a Notepad document and select cancel. You can also go for help at the mentors page. Pick one of the mentors and leave a message with your name and question. You should also include the page name (or a URL) where your work can be read by the mentor.  
Often times an explanation from a different viewpoint can be helpful. 
 
#For in depth help with images try this. 
#For additional tools try this. 
#For shooting better images try tips. 
#For an in depth look at the console commands for better screen shots try this. 
#For help uploading images try this.
#For standards of quality for images try this.
#For file name conventions try this.
#For Wikipedia standards read Wikimedia's page on images.
 
If you make it to the end of an NPC page, you can create most pages with a similar style: creatures, places, quests, etc. They all follow the same familiar rhythm of the NPC page. Get the .ini and CS set up. Find the information. Place it in a template. Write a paragraph. Take and upload pictures. Save it.