The netpaper about Elftowners, by Elftowners, for Elftowners.
a wiki review by [Chimes]
Review: Astrology & Zodiac, a wiki by [Artsieladie]
Reviewer: [Chimes]
Written Content:
If you're looking to find out about your sign, this is one of the best places to go. The information is to the point and doesn’t waste your time with needless waffle, you wont find anything off-topic in this wiki. It does what it says on the tin which is an admirable aspect in any wiki page especially one designed to inform.
The information is cited which helps the average reader trace its origins as well as adding credibility to the piece - not that anyone would think that Artsie made any of her information up, it is clear that she did her research.
The read is pleasant and light - you do not feel as if you are having too much information shoved down your throat. There are very few grammatical errors, that I have noticed, which makes the text easier on the eye. Grammatically correct writing is definitely more pleasing than a rushed drawl. Another factor that makes the text easier to read is the spacing - you aren't left with huge chunks of text to trudge through. Many will admit that they do not wish to look at a wiki page with one big slab of text - separation is key.
The signs are equal in the amount of information that they each possess - there is no favouritism. You will find on many wikis people will put more time and effort into things that relate to themselves that, fortunately, is not true of this wiki.
Astrology & Zodiac is jam packed with little morsels you may not have known beforehand, like the Zodiac-related semi-precious stones for example.
The written content earns itself a 10/10.
Layout and Graphics:
As soon as you click the link that leads you to
Astrology & Zodiac your eyes are met with a barrage of colour - this wiki certainly does not lack graphics. This can be both negative and positive; on the one hand if it is graphics that bring you to a wiki and bright colours that determine how long you stay you will probably be browsing this wiki for hours. However, on the other hand you might feel there is simply too much - I, unfortunately, am in this category but that is down to personal preference.
On the technical side this wiki may not be the best wiki for someone who uses a dial-up internet connection, the extensive amount of graphics will surely take a long time to load and you may not want to stick around for that long. As I am a broadband user I can't really comment on how long it will take for the average dial-up user to be able to view the vast array of graphics.
Though, saying that, a portion of this wiki is dedicated to graphics and the quality of those graphics is rather impressive - you can tell Artsie spent a lot of time making them especially with the amount that there are. However, I personally do not think that many graphics are needed on the non-graphic related pages.
A lot of the pages seem to be chock-a-block with both writing and graphics, the pages tend to be very long and I think that the wiki would benefit from being separated into different wiki pages, it would make the page seem a little bit more organised. Even with the section links that take you to the different sections of the main page the layout can make viewing the wiki more confusing than it needs to be.
I will score the graphics and layout separately according to the type.
Up for grabs graphics earn 10/10 - I really like them and I think you will too.
General page graphics earn 5/10 - the quality is good but there are too many for my liking.
The layout earns 6/10 - again with the issue of having too much on one page.
Accessibility:
The accessibility of this wiki has me torn, on the one hand the sections are clearly marked despite them all being on one page, on the other one might get confused upon visiting this wiki. The zodiac profiles are placed on the graphic pages and it isn't until you get to the bottom of the list of graphic pages list that you find that the information is stored within them. This could lead to frustration if you have a short fuse and very little time.
However, I am very fond of the section links even if I am not too fond of the fact that it is all listed on one page. These links make it easier for visitors to go straight to the part they are interested in if they haven't the time or simply do not want to look through the entirety of the wiki page.
I give the accessibility 8/10
Overall this wiki is a good read but it really depends on your personal preference as to whether it is too long or has too many graphics. If you are looking for information on the Zodiac then this is definitely a good place to find it.
Overall score: 39/50
Return or Go to:
...The Town Herald - Issue 18 entrance page
...TH Issue 18 Index page
...The Town Herald official wiki page