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User:Salmancer/TCG Origin Policy draft

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Origin sections are fun. They're why people are looking at cards on Bulbapedia and not on any number of other sites that are actually built around viewing cards as efficently as possible. (They have useful text searches, sorting of search results, and the ability to display multiple cards at once. What do we have? Categories?) Origin sections allow for using the bulk of non-TCG content to the advantage of the TCG content, by letting users zip between a card and the thing said card is based upon. That being said, there is a careful line to toe with these things, lest they be affronts to Bulbapedia:Speculation policy. Yet if that page is strictly adhered to all the time, you end up with fairly unhelpful pages. (Technically, the original Pokémon Red & Blue never say directly Mr. Fuji was involved in Mewtwo's creation as Dr. Fuji, but there's a level of interpretation media sometimes expects viewers to take that should be reflected in wiki-ing. That page uses "rumored".) As such, this set of guidelines is for stating what does and does not go in Origin sections:

Pokémon

Art

For everything here, there are cases where the note only applies to specific printings of cards. Remember to mention the set with the printing. In cases where that doesn't work, because a set has the same card with multiple illustrations, refer to the words that the page's gallery uses for the cards. If this isn't an issue because no prints introduce new elements, then it's okay to only say "this card"

  • If a Pokémon is in a "named" form, then the form should be noted in the section. "Named" is doing a lot of heavy lifting here, but the idea is that a card is assumed to be showing whatever the unnamed form is and if that is true then it does not need to be clarified further. For this purpose, "Kantoian" and descriptors of that ilk (the ones referring to non-regional forms for Pokémon that have regional forms) do not count as names.
  • If a Pokémon card has one or more species in its name and there are other species of Pokémon visible in the illustration, or other parts of a Pokémon that can be identified as belonging to a Pokémon are in the illustration, name the additional species. (The species in the name are assumed to be on the card, and wouldn't bear mentioning unless the above "form clause" is tripped.) For ones where only a part of the Pokémon is seen, remember to phrase it to only mention that part.
  • If there are humans of a Trainer class or a named character in the illustration, mention those too. For named characters, this comes with mentioning their role in the games and if they use the Pokémon on the card and/or are otherwise associated with that Pokémon. (Sometimes, it might be a fully original thing. It's rare though.)
    • If they do use the Pokémon in games, you'll have to specify which games. For major anime characters, it is often also relevant to state if the Pokémon is associated with the character in that way as well, as well as in what series if it's Ash/one of his friends seen across multiple series.
    • If the Pokémon is dressed to resemble a human, mention that human too. (This largely only concerns the Pretend Boss Pikachu and some other oddities like Mario Pikachu (XY-P Promo 293), but exceptions by specific card name are illegal. There has to be criteria.)
  • If the art features an named object that we have an article on that is not a regular Poké Ball, mention it. (Poké Balls are a little too common.) Note the wishy washy "named object" because it means objects only seen on Item cards and Pokémon Tool cards count, despite the fact those aren't always obtainable items in the video games.
  • If the art features a named location that we have an article on, mention it. Once again, "named location" means taking Stadium cards into consideration. However, the "named" phrase is also important. Note that named places can be generic. Gym (GO)s and Pokémon Centers are not specific places, but they are named and should be included. Also note that unnamed locations are instead the jurisdiction of Narrative illustration (TCG), and are mentioned in Trivia as part of that article's coverage.
  • If an illustration is tied to a specific sequence in the games, it should be mentioned as well.
  • If a Pokémon is using a move in the artwork (consult Bulbapedia:List of moves with unique animations), then name that move as per the rules for naming attacks. If the move is not an attack on the card, and a attack with vaguely similar wording is, then name that attack. Refer to the attack rules below.

Text

Older cards have levels. If the card has a character present and the level on the card is an exact match for a level of that Pokémon in a video game, mention this.

Attacks

Attack names are always written in bold.

  • If the name of an attack matches the name of any concept from any Pokémon game, name it. This usually is for moves from the core series. but also includes Shuffle Skills, Ranger Field Moves, and Conquest Warrior Skills. Notably, this includes items, as Sharp Beak counts. Also check if the match exist in Japanese, as only a match in Japanese actually is considered correct. A match in English only is considered a "false positive", which should be mentioned but also noted to only exist in English. This group is also the only group that should be applied retroactively, as in a move from a game released after the card came out should be mentioned, with the note that the move shows up after the card attack included.
    • If it is a concept that Pokémon can use in gameplay of any kind, specify if the Pokémon of the card is able to use that concept. If it is a move, it is sometimes relevant to say if it is learned by TM or Move Tutor.
  • If the card's effect mentions species of Pokémon aside from the species in the card name, mention those here.
  • If the card's effect names a specific attack that is not itself...
    • If that attack is tied to the function of a Ability or attack on this card, mention it
    • if that attack appeared in a prior set, mention this.
  • If the attack has appeared on a Pokémon card released in a prior set, mention this as well as the first card to have that attack. (Use the cards by attack categories, they make this super easy since you can just copy off another card this applies to.) Note that Bulbapedia chooses to do this by Japanese sets, meaning that you'll have to check against that chronology. (Yes, it adds way more friction than it really should.)
  • If the attack is a GX attack, and its name is similar to that of a Z-Move, then mention this.
  • If the attack is has "Max" or "G-Max" as a prefix, and the rest of the name is an actual move, then mention that move with a note that the TCG diverges from the game's interpretation of Max Moves and G-Max Moves.

Except for named Pokemon or named attacks, the effect of attacks and Abilities are fully ignored. However:


Trainer

  • If the name of the card matches the name of a item, character, or place, name that concept. Include a simple description of its role. Note that it should be 1-2 sentences tops, having all the information is what the link is for.
    • If the card is a Supporter, refrain from mentioning elements like their type specialty unless it trips the first clause in the text section.

Art

  • Please refer to the Pokémon section above. But...
    • Every Pokémon species is named.
      • If one of those species is a species the character is assoicated with, that Pokémon is usually considered to be one of the character's Pokémon. (Yes, I know there are some exceptions! Those largely come down to Word of God, for consistency's sake.)
    • The card's subject is assumed to be present in the artwork and does not have to be called out a second time

Text

Energy

See all this for Pokémon and Trainers? Well, Energy is really simple: they don't get Origin sections. Similar or identical effects are regulated to Trivia. What a twist! (Honestly, we should do this. Not being able to say Twin Energy is based on Double Colorless Energy is weird.)

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