View source for Elite Dangerous Field Manual:Creating a Guide

How to write a Field Procedure (guide) article on EDFM.

== A guide is not a second encyclopedia article ==
If the subject already has a Main-namespace reference article (e.g. [[Broo Tarquin]], [[Multi-Cannon]]), don't re-explain what it is, what it specialises in, or its lore here — link to the reference article and keep this page to the actionable checklist. [[Unlocking Broo Tarquin]] is the worked example: it never restates Broo Tarquin's specialties, only what a commander needs to do to reach him.

== Title ==
Flat, human-readable, action-shaped title — e.g. <code>[[Unlocking Broo Tarquin]]</code>, not <code>Guide:Unlocking Broo Tarquin</code>. Same no-namespace convention as every other article on EDFM.

== Starting from the skeleton ==
Create the page and, as your first edit, enter <code>{{Article header|eyebrow=EDFM // Field Procedure|deck=To be added: a one-line summary of what this guide accomplishes.}}
{{Article status|status=Draft|mode=Both}}

== Objective ==
To be added.

== Prerequisites ==
{{Prerequisites|
* To be added
}}

== Required Materials, Equipment, and Access ==
To be added.

== Estimated Time ==
To be added.

== Step-by-Step Procedure ==
{{Procedure steps|
# To be added
}}

== Expected Result ==
{{Expected result|To be added}}

== Common Mistakes ==
{{Common mistakes|
* To be added
}}

== Troubleshooting ==
{{Troubleshooting|
; To be added
: To be added
}}

== Related Reference Pages ==
{{Related articles|[[To be added]]}}

== Relevant External Tools ==
{{Related tools|To be added}}

== Sources ==
<references />

[[Category:Field Procedures]]</code>, then fill in the placeholders. The skeleton's sections are: Objective, Prerequisites, Required Materials/Equipment/Access, Estimated Time, Step-by-Step Procedure, Expected Result, Common Mistakes, Troubleshooting, Related Reference Pages, Relevant External Tools, Sources. Only include a section if it actually applies — an empty "Estimated Time" saying "not applicable" is fine, but don't pad a section that has nothing real to say.

== Cross-link both ways ==
Once your guide exists, add a link to it from the reference article's Related Guides section (see how [[Broo Tarquin]] links to [[Unlocking Broo Tarquin]]) — a guide that nothing points to won't get found.

== Don't invent steps ==
Same rule as everywhere else on EDFM: leave a step, quantity, or requirement as "to be added" until it's actually checked, rather than guessing at something plausible. See [[Elite Dangerous Field Manual:Source Quality Guide]].

{{Related articles|[[Elite Dangerous Field Manual:Creating an Article]] [[Elite Dangerous Field Manual:Editorial Policy]] [[Unlocking Broo Tarquin]]}}