Blooncyclopedia:Update history guidelines: Difference between revisions

→Sections: i think covering "looking forward" in the notes and any deviations from that under pre-release makes the most sense
→Writing style: i hope this makes the formatting of these kinds of changes more clear, i'll probably add more deets to this over time
 
Line 11: Line 11:
Changes use bullet point lists. Each change should use a template such as {{temp|buff}}, {{temp|nerf}}, {{temp|change}}, or {{temp|neutral}} to indicate how it affects the player.
Changes use bullet point lists. Each change should use a template such as {{temp|buff}}, {{temp|nerf}}, {{temp|change}}, or {{temp|neutral}} to indicate how it affects the player.
*Changes should not end in periods.
*Changes should not end in periods.
*Changes relating to timing, such as cooldowns and durations, should always be expressed in seconds, with decimal values if necessary, and suffix numbers with "s" (e.g., "Duration increased — 5s → 7s").
*Changes relating to timing, such as cooldowns and durations, should always use seconds, with decimal values if necessary, and suffixed with "s" (e.g., "Duration increased — 5s → 7s").
*Changes to a "bonus" modifier, such as a damage bonus, should prefix the numbers with a "+" sign (e.g., "Damage to Ceramics increased — +3 → +5").
*If a change is adding or removing a "bonus" modifier, it should simply list the bonus instead of comparing two numbers (e.g., "Now deals +5 damage to Ceramics" or "No longer deals +5 damage to Ceramics").
*If a change to a property of an upgrade is a direct buff/nerf, but a change to a previous tier also affects that same property by extension, then the direct change to the upgrade should be listed first, then the ''overall'' impact when factoring in previous tiers should be listed in an indented line below it. For example: "{{nerf}} Attack cooldown modifier reduced — ×0.7 → ×0.8" and "{{buff}} Overall attack cooldown reduced — 0.6s → 0.5s (due to changes to previous tiers)".
*If the subject has multiple mechanics, use the <code>|name=</code> parameter of the change to label which mechanic(s) a change applies to. This is not necessary if a change applies to all mechanics or to the subject as a whole (e.g., "All attacks now deal +1 damage to Ceramics" instead of "'''All attacks''': Now deal +1 damage to Ceramics").
*If the subject has multiple mechanics, use the <code>|name=</code> parameter of the change to label which mechanic(s) a change applies to. This is not necessary if a change applies to all mechanics or to the subject as a whole (e.g., "All attacks now deal +1 damage to Ceramics" instead of "'''All attacks''': Now deal +1 damage to Ceramics").
**The name of a mechanic should be written in lowercase unless it is official (e.g., use "'''Main attack'''" instead of "'''Main Attack'''").
**In general, if an attack needs a name label and the attack is the primary way the tower attacks, simply refer to it as the "Main attack" (or "Main attacks" if the tower technically has multiple copies of the same attack, like [[Quad Darts (BTD6)|Quad Darts]]). This does not apply if the tower has multiple different main attacks (like [[Admiral Brickell (BTD6)|Admiral Brickell]]) or the main attack has multiple projectiles (like [[Flash Bomb (BTD6)|Flash Bomb]]).
**The name of a mechanic should be in lowercase unless it is official (e.g., use "'''Main attack'''" instead of "'''Main Attack'''" normally, use "'''Main Gun'''" and "'''Machine Gun'''" for [[Captain Churchill (BTD6)|Captain Churchill]]).
**Changes to activated abilities should just be "'''Ability'''" unless the subject has multiple abilities, or the ability has a confirmed name different from the subject's name. If so, it should not end in "ability" (e.g., use "'''MOAB Takedown'''" instead of "'''MOAB Takedown ability'''").
**Changes to activated abilities should just be "'''Ability'''" unless the subject has multiple abilities, or the ability has a confirmed name different from the subject's name. If so, it should not end in "ability" (e.g., use "'''MOAB Takedown'''" instead of "'''MOAB Takedown ability'''").
*If a change to a property of an upgrade is a direct buff/nerf, but a change to a previous tier also affects that same property by extension, then the direct change to the upgrade should appear first, followed by the ''overall'' impact when factoring in previous tiers on an indented line below it. For example: "{{nerf}} Attack cooldown modifier reduced — -30% → -20%" and "{{buff}} Stacks with buffs to the base attack cooldown; overall attack cooldown reduced — 0.6s → 0.5s".
====Changes to modifiers====
In this context, a modifier means something that isn't an absolute value (like the base damage of an attack), but anything that additively or multiplicatively modifies something else. This includes things like attacks that have different damage and/or pierce consumption against specific Bloon types, buffs applied by towers to other towers, changes that crosspaths make to towers, and debuffs that apply to Bloons.
*For clarity's sake, if a modifier is to or against a specific kind of entity, generally "X modifier to Y entity" or "X modifier for Y entity" works best (e.g., "Range buff to Druids" or "Pierce penalty for bosses"). For crosspaths, use "X upgrade does Y to Z", that way tier 1 crosspaths that carry up to tier 2 will clarify which upgrade causes it (e.g., "Permafrost now applies to the ability")
*If a change is adding or removing a modifier, it should simply state what the modifier is instead of comparing it (e.g., "Now deals +5 damage to Ceramics" or "No longer deals +5 damage to Ceramics").
*If a change is to a strictly additive modifier, prefix the numbers with a "+" if the amount is positive or "-" if negative (e.g., "Damage to Ceramics increased — +3 → +5")
*If a change is to a multiplicative modifier, the best way to represent it depends on the context, but in general:
**If either value is less than or equal to 1 (and greater than or equal to -1), representing the values in terms of added or removed percentages is usually better, especially if the multiplier stacks additively (e.g., "Ability cooldown buff to Primary towers increased — -10% → -20%" instead of "Ability cooldown buff to Primary towers increased — 0.9× → 0.8×")
**If both values are greater 1 (or less than -1), representing the values in terms of multiplication is usually better (e.g., "Knockback to MOAB-class increased — -3× → -4×")


===Use of icons===
===Use of icons===