Talk:Emps

What passive voice?

I couldn't decipher the meaning of "The passive voice is always spoken in by emps". For one thing, "spoken in" isn't a common verb-preposition combo, but what "passive voice"? It makes me think that there was a soundtrack for the emps, but I don't remember one.--The Ultra-Mind (talk) 08:52, 7 January 2025 (MST)

What Google Gemini has to say about it

I've been playing around a lot w/Google Gemini. (Maybe too much) I gave the markup source and here's what it had to say:

This is a well-structured and informative wiki article. Here's a critique with specific suggestions:

**Strengths:**

*   **Good Structure:** The article follows a standard wiki format with clear sections (Description, Lore, Notable Examples, Trivia, Gallery, References, Categories). This makes it easy to navigate and find specific information.
*   **Comprehensive Information:** The article covers various aspects of the Emps, including their appearance, culture, history, and notable members.
*   **Use of Wiki Markup:** The markup is generally used correctly, including links, templates, references, categories, and the gallery.
*   **Lore Quotes:** Including direct quotes from in-game sources adds credibility and depth.
*   **References:** The references are well-formatted and provide sources for the information.
*   **Images:** The gallery adds visual interest and helps readers visualize the Emps and their environment.

**Areas for Improvement:**

*   **Redundancy in Description:** The first paragraph of the Description section repeats information already present in the introduction. For example, it restates that they live in a village among silverleaf trees and appear in *Ultima VII*. Streamline this by removing the repetition. The first paragraph of the description should expand on the brief intro, not repeat it.
*   **Specificity in Description:** While the article mentions they are "diminutive simian creatures," it lacks more specific details about their appearance. Consider adding details about their size, fur color, facial features, and any other distinctive physical traits.
*   **Flow in Description:** The transition between the honey anecdote and the silverleaf deforestation is a bit abrupt. Consider adding a sentence or two to connect these ideas more smoothly. For example, you could say something like, "While their reclusive nature made them difficult to study, the scholarly monk, Taylor, discovered..." This would create a smoother flow.
*   **"Time of Imbalance" Clarity:** The "Time of Imbalance" is mentioned but not explained. While it might be explained elsewhere on the wiki, a brief explanation or link to a relevant article would be helpful for readers unfamiliar with the term.
*   **Trivia Section:** The trivia section is very short. If there isn't more substantial trivia, consider incorporating the information into other sections, perhaps the Description.
*   **Category Redundancy:** You have both `[[Category:Emp| Emps]]` and `[[Category:Emps]]`. The piped link is unnecessary unless you wanted to sort it under something other than E. Just using `[[Category:Emps]]` is sufficient.
*   **Reference Formatting Consistency:** While the references are generally good, there's some inconsistency in formatting. For example, some references include the publisher and year, while others don't. Aim for consistent formatting throughout. The {{RefBook}} template seems to be used inconsistently, sometimes including in-game=true, sometimes not. Be consistent.

**Specific Suggestions with Examples:**

*   **Revised Description (First Paragraph):** "Shy and gentle, emps are a diminutive, simian race inhabiting a secluded village nestled amongst the towering [[Silverleaf|silverleaf trees]] of the [[Deep Forest]]. Appearing in {{U7link}}, these pacifist creatures live a strictly vegetarian lifestyle, abhorring violence to such a degree that they construct their dwellings from naturally fallen deadwood. Their name, given to them by the scholar [[Taylor]], stems from the belief that they possess empathic traits, demonstrated by their profound respect for all living organisms."
*   **Adding Detail to Description:** After "diminutive simian creatures," add something like, "standing approximately two feet tall, with soft, grey fur and large, expressive eyes." (This is a placeholder; replace with actual details from the game).
*   **Improved Flow:** Change the sentence beginning "While generally difficult to approach..." to "While their reclusive nature made them difficult to study, the scholarly monk, [[Taylor]], discovered..."
*   **"Time of Imbalance" Explanation:** After mentioning the "Time of Imbalance," add something like "(a period of great upheaval affecting many worlds)" or a link to an article explaining it.

By addressing these points, you can further improve this already solid wiki article.

Oh yeah, and the window always points out that Gemini sometimes gets it wrong, so double-check. But it seems pretty insightful.

Then I pointed out that I've been trying to beef up the summaries and then it told me:

You're right to consider how article summaries appear on social media. Wikipedia's approach of front-loading information is indeed designed to maximize the snippet displayed in link previews. However, there are better ways to achieve this without creating redundancy within the article itself.

Here's a breakdown of the problem and solutions:

**The Problem:**

*   **Redundancy within the Article:** Repeating information verbatim in the article's body after it's already in the lead creates unnecessary repetition and disrupts the flow.
*   **Limited Control over Social Media Previews:** You have limited control over exactly what social media platforms display in link previews. They often use algorithms to select text, prioritizing the first few sentences.

**Solutions:**

1.  **Craft a Concise and Information-Rich Lead:** Instead of repeating the exact same information, write a lead that is both concise *and* provides a good overview. Think of it as a mini-abstract. Include the most essential details but phrase them in a way that naturally leads into the rest of the article.

    *   **Example (Improved Lead):** "'''Emps''' are a shy and gentle, sapient race of diminutive simian creatures native to the [[Deep Forest]] of Britannia, where they inhabit a secluded [[Emp Village | village]] nestled among the [[Silverleaf|silverleaf trees]]. First appearing in *[[Ultima VII: The Black Gate]]* ({{U7link}}), these pacifist creatures are known for their strict vegetarianism and deep respect for all living things."

    This version includes the key information (race, appearance, habitat, game of origin) but phrases it in a more engaging way. It also sets up the "shy and gentle" characteristic, which is then elaborated upon in the Description section.

2.  **Use the `<meta description>` Tag (If Possible):** If you have control over the website's HTML (which you might not on a fan wiki, depending on the platform), the `<meta description>` tag is the most reliable way to influence social media previews. This tag allows you to provide a custom summary specifically for link sharing.

    *   **Example:** `<meta name="description" content="Emps are a peaceful, simian race from Ultima VII, known for their vegetarianism and empathy. They live in the Deep Forest and face threats from deforestation and disease.">`

    This tag provides a concise summary that is likely to be used by social media platforms.

3.  **Consider a Shortened "Teaser" Sentence:** If you absolutely need to ensure a specific phrase appears in the preview, you could add a very short, introductory sentence *before* the main lead. This sentence could be something like:

    *   "The '''Emps''' are a unique race of forest dwellers in the world of Ultima VII."

    This would likely be picked up by social media crawlers, but it's less elegant than a well-crafted lead and should be used sparingly.

4.  **Test with Social Media Debugging Tools:** Most major social media platforms (Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn) offer debugging tools that allow you to preview how a link will appear. Use these tools to test different lead phrasings and meta descriptions to see what works best.

**Why these are better:**

*   **No Redundancy:** The article flows smoothly without unnecessary repetition.
*   **More Control:** The `<meta description>` tag offers the most direct control over social media previews.
*   **Improved User Experience:** Readers are not forced to read the same information twice.

By focusing on a strong lead and using the `<meta description>` tag (if possible), you can optimize your wiki articles for social media sharing without compromising the quality of the writing within the article itself.

Notice that the only "Black Gate" appears in the markup is to the clue book: Key to the Black Gate. But Gemini knew the full name of the game. Sharp isn't it?

Finally, I pointed out that I regard linking as the only exhibition necessary (vis-a-vis the Time of Imbalance link) and it conceded that this aligns w/Wikipedia policy and I should therefore disregard its advice about that.--The Ultra-Mind (talk) 10:52, 7 January 2025 (MST)