Soliciting comments on the index

[Ineti]

Folks, here's a very rough first look at a template for the index. Let me know what you think, what I'm missing, etc.

I'm going with Excel cause it makes the most sense to me. If you want to do an online version or something else, go for it.

[mcb]

It would be nice if there was a master page that integrated all the seperate section into one alphabetical mega list. The seperate page would be great for quickly looking specific things up but it nice to have one mega list to look up all things when you are planing a new chapter.

Structure looks pretty good. Will you add a page for spells? There are already some master spell list but it might be nice in the index especially when spells start appearing in other books.

This is mostly due to my enjoyment of the way Tolkien treats weapons with a history in his writting. It would be neat to have a section for important items like weapons and such.

Definitly an index to all the tables and possible a one phrase discription for them. I am alway looking for some obscure table and can't find it.

I'm sure I will think of more suggest but thats a good start.

Good luck
mcb

[Ineti]

"It would be nice if there was a master page that integrated all the seperate section into one alphabetical mega list."

Is there a way to combine everything into one mega list in Excel? I have no idea. I was originally going to do a simple index along the lines of what's in the core book, but using software like this makes it MUCH easier to break stuff up into chunks (traits, spells, orders, etc.). Any Excel pro out there with an answer to this?

"Structure looks pretty good. Will you add a page for spells? "

Definitely. There will be a worksheet for spells, orders, order abilities, skills, equipment, fell beasts, etc. I just sent what I had to get some initial feedback.

"Definitly an index to all the tables and possible a one phrase discription for them. I am alway looking for some obscure table and can't find it."

That should be doable, though there are a TON of tables.

And I'll do a sheet for maps too.

[Tharkun]

Ineti,

Looks like a good start and it's sure to be something I reference a lot. I'd be curious to hear how many of us use computers during our games. I use my laptop to handle references and quick look-up items all the time now. I'm all in favor of anything reducing the Narrator's work load...

Tharkun

[Brandir]

Using a spreadsheet is probably the best way of creating your index, with different tabs for the various fields.

May I recommend that you also publish a pdf version for those who do not have access to a spreadsheet.

[Ineti]

Originally posted by Brandir
May I recommend that you also publish a pdf version for those who do not have access to a spreadsheet.

That's a thought...though can you search the different fields in a PDF? I mean, with Excel, you can search under a variety of parameters to get exactly the data you need. If you convert to PDF, can you still do the searches, or is the data static?

[Brandir]

You can do a text search using Acrobat Reader. I suppose that a .pdf version would have to be of the 'master' list.

[Ibun]

Hi Ineti,

great idea, and good you have the courage to start this very welcome -and possibly very big- project.


About the already mentioned sub-indexes:

Maps (can be integrated in "Places"; if there is not only a description but a map of a place you can indicate its existence by using Bold or so)

People: would categories of beings also be mentioned here, like eagles, nazgul, orcs (white hand, red eye), easterlings... or do they get a separate sub-index "races, cultures &co"?

Spells (only spells, or a tab 'magic', which would include f.ex. ways of spellcasting, weariness, resisting...?

Weapons (or an "all in one tab" : Items ? (same problem as with people: only "named" items or also general items?)

Tables (very good idea really)

A master index (in pdf) is also a good idea.


I was considering what other tabs could be welcome.
I think there are two different "main subjects" in a good index: the game world and the game mechanics. I think they should be separated as much as possible.

In the first, you have mainly the already mentioned: people, places, ...

In the second, you could make a sub-index fysical combat, magic, social interaction, skills, flaws, size, ... If there is no separate tab for the tables, these respective mechanic-sub-indexes are the best place for mentioning the connected tables.
This kind of technical indexes can grow to quite a large scale if you're not careful.

I hope you can do something with this comment.
(and again, thanks for the effort)

Ibun