Category talk:Episode Guide (TOS)

You really should list an episode guide by production order, rather than alphabetically. I know no one probably wants to hear this, but I would reccomend looking to Memory Alpha for some good examples of layout for certain pages.--Tombstone 22:26, 4 December 2006 (CST)

This isn't the "list" of episode guides. This is just the category that contains the episode guides. Kinda like Memory Alpha does it. We really do try to use MA and Wikipedia as models where appropriate. We do have the episodes listed in broadcast order on the season page as well as the bottom of each episode. List of Episodes (at the top of this category) also has a list of the episodes ordered by broadcast as well. --Steelviper 22:42, 4 December 2006 (CST)

We use our Portal to show the main list. The categories are just for reference, not for navigation as MA uses. Templates and the "List" pages are used to show order. Even the BW:AIR dates. Shane ^{(T - C - E)} 13:46, 5 December 2006 (CST)

I'm sorry, I had a difficult time finding the Season 1 page. In fact, had you not posted a link to it in your comments above, I doubt I would have found it yet. The root page links to a Portal page, which is somewhat lacking in links and information about the show when compared to the Main Article and particularly the Season 1 pages.

Working backward, I did find links to the Main Article and the Season 1 page on the Portal, buried within the text of a paragraph rather than prominently posted where visitors can easily locate them.

If I may be so bold, the series' Portal, the Main Article, and the Season 1 page, should probably be combined into the Main Article on the series, and that should be the Portal as well. The same, of course, should be done for BSG:80 and BSG:RDM. (BSG:RDM's Portal/Main Article should have a summary list of all the episodes to date, tabulated by season)

Thank you for your comments. I hope I am helping, as that is my wish. For someone who doesn't know exactly what they're looking for, this Wiki is rather difficult to navigate. For now, I am a stranger here and I have a visitor's point of view. I am hoping that point of view can be valuable to you, to help make your Wiki the absolute best it can be. This is an attractive Wiki with a great deal of potential. I hope to be a part of it, if I may. Thank you for considering my perspective. --Tombstone 19:35, 6 December 2006 (CST)

Well, navigation has always been a concern of mine, and it's something we've struggled with. I disagree that the main articles should become portals, at least insomuch that as an "encyclopedia" each series deserves its own article. However, that being said, I would have no opposition to the expansion of the portals to include more information, nor would I object to some more cross linking (via a "See Also" type header) to relevent articles or portals from the main articles. Also, while incorporating the season 1 page for TOS and 1980 might be feasible, doing so on RDM would not, as you would quickly exceed the 32K suggested size on such a page. Adding the episode list template (like the ones on the bottom of the portals) would accomplish the navigation for TOS and 1980 without taking up much space. Anyway, that's just my opinion. You might want to start hitting the talk pages of the particular articles in questions with your ideas and suggestions, as this is some lightly treaded ground. You might try starting with TOS or 1980 first, as those are usually a good proving ground. There are fewer articles to update and there is less activity on them (conflict-wise). I will go ahead and add a summary sentence on this cat with some links that may aid navigation. --Steelviper 08:07, 7 December 2006 (CST)

I didn't mean that all three series' should be combined on a single page, just that all three TOS pages (Portal, Main Article, Season 1) should be combined. At the very least, "Season 1" and the "Main Article" should be combined. Considering TOS only had one season, it seems redundant to me to have a "Main Article" and a separate "Season 1" page. At Memory Alpha, Trek:TOS's Main Article has a complete tabulated and linked episode list for all three of its seasons, much like the one we have for BSG:TOS on its "Season 1" page.

Regarding 80 and RDM, I meant that they should be consolidated in the same fashion. Again referring to Memory Alpha, Trek:TNG's Main Article contains a series summary (maybe 3 paragraphs), a cast and crew list, some background information (a couple of paragraphs), and a complete tabulated episode list for all 7 seasons. In contrast, each TNG season's own page, has a wealth of background information specific to that season, and a concise episode list for that season. This should be the skeletal model for BSG:RDM

Since both BSG:TOS and BSG:80 ran for a single season or less, you're basically duplicating all the information on the main article in the series' season page. That seems wasteful to me, and I would suggest eliminating the "season" pages for both of these series'. Now, one could suggest that BSG:80 was BSG:TOS season 2 for all intent and purpose, but I think I would ultimately disagree with that.

Thank you for your consideration, Steelviper. Also, if you would like to move this conversation to a more appropriate Talk page, I have no objection.--Tombstone 15:19, 9 December 2006 (CST)

This is fine for now. We can hit up the talk pages of the target pages once we start things in motion. My initial inclcination was that the "season" pages should stay, in that it keeps with the model that each season of each series has a page. However, I'm beginning to agree with you that perhaps the "season" pages might be incorporated into the main articles for those two series...

In fact, there IS no season page for 1980. Huh. However the episode list is in the main Galactica 1980 article. It's hard to argue keeping the TOS season 1 page for "consistency"'s sake when we're not consistent to begin with.

I guess the question one would ask would be, what would be on the season page for TOS and 1980 that wouldn't be in the main article? I can't think of anything at the moment. Maybe if we had a "seasons" category, you could make an argument for keeping them, but that would be a confusing category to browse (season (1978-79), season 1 (1980-81), season 1 (2004-05), etc.)

I'll drop a note on the season 1 (1978-79) page or whatever it's called seeing if anybody can think of a reason why it shouldn't be merged in to Battlestar Galactica (TOS).

As for adding a list of episodes onto Battlestar Galactica (RDM)... it feels a bit unwieldy. That takes up an awful lot of space when you have three (or hopefully 4+) seasons of episodes. However, upon examining the page it's NOT obvious how to navigate to where the episode lists are at, and that definitely would be of value. I'll drop a note on that page suggesting either links to the season pages, or maybe the episode guide subportal (or both).

Damn. I'd have much stronger standing arguing to keep the episode lists off of RDM if there were more content on that page. As it is now it's mostly me worrying about redundancy. --Steelviper 15:54, 9 December 2006 (CST)

Re-imagined Series definition: Battlestar Group ^{(TRS: "Water")}. It also doubles as an acronym for the television series itself.