Rogue Archetype
Moderator <br> Contest Host
Today, I decided to sit down with a bottle of water and just read . . .
I loaded up the "FEATURED ARTICLES" section of this site and read every front page article that has been posted over the past 6 months.
After doing this, a single question came to mind:
"Who is the target audience of these articles?"
"WHO gets the benefit of Front Page Deck Articles?"
In other words, who are deck articles intended to serve? Tournament players? New Players? People who are marginal and are looking for better options? Experienced league players who are researching options for their first tournaments? Parents? Kids? None of the above? All of the Above?
I began to become suspicious as to whether some articles were being written as a means to earn a little "net cred" or "net fame." That is, to establish one's self as being the AUTHORITY in running the deck that you have just "published." Maybe the perception is "if he put an article on the front page, he MUST be a great player!"
Maybe it's simpler than that. Perhaps, someone wants to just "patent" their deck idea by having it posted on the front page; they want to go down in history as the guy who introduced that deck to the format.
Maybe it's a combination of all of those speculations.
One thing that many of these articles had in common was their lack of detail.
Frankly, I've noticed that there is quite a bit of lazy writing (or lack thereof) in these articles.
I'm not, at all, disappointed with the articles. It's just... I can't determine if they really "help" anyone.
Look at the following card description:
Hypothetically speaking:
If you're a new player, this doesn't even begin to express the benefits of using the card nor does it outline the manner in which the card is used. So, the new player still has no idea (and may even feel a tad inadequate because he doesn't already know what appears to be Common Knowledge) :frown:
If you're an old player, you get nothing from this. Actually, it's a waste of space to you because you already understand why the card is in there.
If you're a lurking parent looking for insight, you won't get any here.
- - - -
So, why is that description even written? Who does it even benefit ?
It appears that THE TARGET AUDIENCE is not considered in many of the articles that are featured.
This is NOT the fault of the site (as these same articles are posted on multiple sites). This is just a situation in which the paradigm is set up a certain way; people haven't been concerned with the wide range of possible readers when they write their articles. As a result, they are ineffective when used as learning tools.
Here's another exerpt from a front page article:
Again, who does this information benefit?
If you're a new player, you have NO IDEA what's going on here. You don't know WHY it's "a great card," you don't know what's up with "staples" and you're now asking yourself about the number of supporters that should be played in decks.
If you're an experienced player, this information does absoltuely nothing for you.
If you're a lurking parent looking for insight, you won't get any here.
How do you make your writing more USEFUL ?
You just take the time to EXPLAIN the WHY/HOW/WHAT !
There were some gems among the sea of articles if you care to dig deep enough.
Contrast this simple description of why someone uses BeBe's Search
With this FUNCTIONAL and specific example:
Nekizalb takes things a step further in his example and explains WHAT he needs that card to search for! He gives specific uses for the card which gives the reader a very meaningful insight into the mechanics of his deck. What if ALL cards in a deck article were written with this sort of specificity?
I won't go any further into this rant.
I just want to discuss the concept of DECK ARTICLE and WHO they are REALLY supposed to target.
If I had to assume, I would think that they are supposed to be written for tournament players who are wondering WHY a certain deck is running through a format. There may be another school of thought that would propose that deck articles should be written for NEW/MARGINAL players to get a shortcut to up their ... playing significance (for lack of a better word).
What do you think?
AGAIN... I'm not trying to hate on front page articles. So, do not take the discussion there.
THE POINT is to discuss WHO they are supposed to be written for as that is not very clear at the present.
I loaded up the "FEATURED ARTICLES" section of this site and read every front page article that has been posted over the past 6 months.
After doing this, a single question came to mind:
"Who is the target audience of these articles?"
"WHO gets the benefit of Front Page Deck Articles?"
In other words, who are deck articles intended to serve? Tournament players? New Players? People who are marginal and are looking for better options? Experienced league players who are researching options for their first tournaments? Parents? Kids? None of the above? All of the Above?
I began to become suspicious as to whether some articles were being written as a means to earn a little "net cred" or "net fame." That is, to establish one's self as being the AUTHORITY in running the deck that you have just "published." Maybe the perception is "if he put an article on the front page, he MUST be a great player!"
Maybe it's simpler than that. Perhaps, someone wants to just "patent" their deck idea by having it posted on the front page; they want to go down in history as the guy who introduced that deck to the format.
Maybe it's a combination of all of those speculations.
One thing that many of these articles had in common was their lack of detail.
Frankly, I've noticed that there is quite a bit of lazy writing (or lack thereof) in these articles.
I'm not, at all, disappointed with the articles. It's just... I can't determine if they really "help" anyone.
Look at the following card description:
Uxie. It sets up. You draw cards. Can also donk Unown Q. The End.
Hypothetically speaking:
If you're a new player, this doesn't even begin to express the benefits of using the card nor does it outline the manner in which the card is used. So, the new player still has no idea (and may even feel a tad inadequate because he doesn't already know what appears to be Common Knowledge) :frown:
If you're an old player, you get nothing from this. Actually, it's a waste of space to you because you already understand why the card is in there.
If you're a lurking parent looking for insight, you won't get any here.
- - - -
So, why is that description even written? Who does it even benefit ?
It appears that THE TARGET AUDIENCE is not considered in many of the articles that are featured.
This is NOT the fault of the site (as these same articles are posted on multiple sites). This is just a situation in which the paradigm is set up a certain way; people haven't been concerned with the wide range of possible readers when they write their articles. As a result, they are ineffective when used as learning tools.
Here's another exerpt from a front page article:
I originally played 4, but at that point I had 20 Supporters. Such a great card, just simply a staple. Period.
Again, who does this information benefit?
If you're a new player, you have NO IDEA what's going on here. You don't know WHY it's "a great card," you don't know what's up with "staples" and you're now asking yourself about the number of supporters that should be played in decks.
If you're an experienced player, this information does absoltuely nothing for you.
If you're a lurking parent looking for insight, you won't get any here.
How do you make your writing more USEFUL ?
You just take the time to EXPLAIN the WHY/HOW/WHAT !
There were some gems among the sea of articles if you care to dig deep enough.
Contrast this simple description of why someone uses BeBe's Search
Bebe Search. It gets me Pokemon I need.
With this FUNCTIONAL and specific example:
Nekizalb said:BeBe Search - This is used primarily to get out Uxie Lv. X to start the Trade Off draw engine, or Mismagius to provide a Mewtwo counter. Bebe’s Search can also grab you a Palkia G Lv. X or Garchomp C Lv. X under a Spiritomb lock. Also, the card that you put back into the deck with Bebe’s Search allows you to draw more with Uxie’s Set Up.
Nekizalb takes things a step further in his example and explains WHAT he needs that card to search for! He gives specific uses for the card which gives the reader a very meaningful insight into the mechanics of his deck. What if ALL cards in a deck article were written with this sort of specificity?
I won't go any further into this rant.
I just want to discuss the concept of DECK ARTICLE and WHO they are REALLY supposed to target.
If I had to assume, I would think that they are supposed to be written for tournament players who are wondering WHY a certain deck is running through a format. There may be another school of thought that would propose that deck articles should be written for NEW/MARGINAL players to get a shortcut to up their ... playing significance (for lack of a better word).
What do you think?
AGAIN... I'm not trying to hate on front page articles. So, do not take the discussion there.
THE POINT is to discuss WHO they are supposed to be written for as that is not very clear at the present.