Talk:Novah
I guess the exception is true. Even if it is never mentioned in any of the games, but has been discussed on the forums of Spiderweb for years, it qualifies to be put here. That's one big loophole that was made to admit alot of things in here, except for the things they didn't want. Jerry bush
Standards for inclusion
Jerry: To be perfectly honest, I've never been a huge fan of including Novah here either. HOWEVER, I, like you, came to this encyclopedia long after the project had been started, and after a lot of work had been put into it. It is not up to us to decide that the methodology of the encyclopedia is wrong, or to accuse it of having "loopholes" in what it allows in. The "loophole" is just part of the standards, which have already been decided, before you and before me (though see below).
Like it or not, EE was designed specifically to include some of this creative, collaborative work. It was also designed specifically to exclude any non-Vogel work that doesn't fit within the framework of the games. Like it or not, the standards are a little looser for stuff that was collaboratively designed and has been accepted by "the community" for several years. That's the way it is. If you don't like it, no one's forcing you to contribute.
The main standard, however, remains fitting with the canon. Novah does not contradict anything in the games; neither does the old Empire history here (although there are probably some articles that were written years ago and need to be edited). I am sorry if I was harsh in applying that standard to the work you did here. I tried to apply it sensibly. Inventing a new name for something that's frequently referenced contradicts the games, and you can't get around that. (Not to mention it makes the article harder to find for users of the encyclopedia.) You will notice, however, that I left some of your invented information alone, even though it's not in the games. Your description of Solberg's early life, for example, despite being completely fabricated, does not actually contradict the games.
Aran: I believe this underscores my point that EE needs a more specific description of its scope.
--- Slartucker 14:52, 8 February 2006 (CST)
Two Purposes
There are two goals of the Encyclopedia - the first is to catalogue the information laid forth in the Exile/Avernum series. The second is to fill in the background of the world of Ermarian. It's important that the two fit seamlessly. One thing about Novah is that it is based on the few descriptions that we get of the Vahnatai tongue in Exile II and Avernum 2, and a little in the third game. Another is that Jeff has read the page and basically stamped a 'seal of approval' on it.
Novah doesn't conflict with anything. It's filling in background that makes sense to the games. It adds depth to Ermarian. There are some conventions that are purely arbitrary and community made (the names Ermarian and Alxus, for example, and the list of Emperors). But they provide a backbone that doesn't conflict with anything in the games.
We can fill in holes in the background that the games provide. A lot of the Encyclopedia is inference. That's why backstory that makes sense is left, even if it's not created by 'oldbies'. There's too much work to be done by just two or three people.
--Drakey
Re: Scope
That's exactly the point. I'll see if I can put a summary of this on the Main Page or in the help pages or something. Arancaytar | Send Reply! --- That is not dead which can eternal lie... 23:30, 8 February 2006 (CST)