Puffer's Nifty Tricks at Writing
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G'day g'day, I'm Professor PufferProfessor Puffer as you know. If you've stumbled onto this page, it means I've either given you the link while critiquing your ideas or drafts and you require assistance in CSS coding or are in need of other tidbits of information. Below are the useful bits of information I've accumulated while helping authors on my travels. Come rest awhile, dear author.

Table of Contents




What is SCP?

The SCP Wiki1 is a collaborative writing project with thousands of participating authors. Anyone can join the Wiki. It's quite simple. Everyone is welcomed and you can freely write whatever you want.

But what is an SCP Wiki article composed of? It's divided into three key concepts:

  • An interesting idea
  • Reasonable and effective containment procedures2
  • A clear description

These are crucial to writing a good SCP article. You must draw in the reader and show them the world you've created. Otherwise, they'll just go read SCP-5000 again3 and leave your article in the dust, and we can't have that.

Also, make sure to not drown the reader in exposition. An SCP blandly explaining their entire life story in an interview is boring. Show the reader, don't tell them.

What are Object Classes?

So you've heard of Safe, Euclid, and Keter. But what exactly are these?

Safe

Safe-class SCPs are anomalies that are easily and safely contained. This is often due to the fact that the Foundation has researched the SCP well enough that containment does not require significant resources or that the anomalies require a specific and conscious activation or trigger. Classifying an SCP as Safe, however, does not mean that handling or activating it does not pose a threat.

For a complete list of Safe-class articles on the site, click here.

Euclid

Euclid-class SCPs are anomalies that require more resources to contain completely or where containment isn't always reliable. Usually, this is because the SCP is insufficiently understood or inherently unpredictable. Euclid is the Object Class with the greatest scope, and it's usually a safe bet that an SCP will be this class if it doesn't easily fall into any of the other standard Object Classes.

As a note, any SCP that's autonomous, sentient and/or sapient is generally classified as Euclid, due to the inherent unpredictability of an object that can act or think on its own.

For a complete list of Euclid-class articles on the site, click here.

Keter

Keter-class SCPs are anomalies that are exceedingly difficult to contain consistently or reliably, with containment procedures often being extensive and complex. The Foundation often can't contain these SCPs well due to not having a solid understanding of the anomaly, or lacking the technology to properly contain or counter it. A Keter SCP does not mean the SCP is dangerous, just that it is simply very difficult or costly to contain.

For a complete list of Keter-class articles on the site, click here.

Thaumiel

Thaumiel-class SCPs are anomalies that the Foundation specifically uses to contain other SCPs. Even the mere existence of Thaumiel-class objects is classified at the highest levels of the Foundation and their locations, functions, and current status are known to few Foundation personnel outside of the O5 Council.

For a complete list of Thaumiel-class articles on the site, click here.

Neutralized

Neutralized SCPs are anomalies that are no longer anomalous, either through having been intentionally or accidentally destroyed, or disabled.

For a complete list of Neutralized-class articles on the site, click here.

►Show Additional Object Classes

What is the ACS?

The ACS, or Anomaly Classification System is the relatively newer method of identifying SCPs. There are key features in this new system that I will be discussing, should you use the ACS in your article.

First up: How do you make one of these and how do you check if you're classifying something correctly?

Here is the bare bones code for the ACS that you can put in your article. As an example, I'll be using SCP-2951.4

[[include :scp-wiki:component:anomaly-class-bar-source

|item-number= 2951

|clearance= 3

|container-class= euclid

|secondary-class= none

|secondary-icon= https://urlhere.com

|disruption-class= vlam

|risk-class= warning

]]

And as you can see, the ACS below is a direct copy of what is above.

Item#: 2951
Level3
Containment Class:
euclid
Secondary Class:
none
Disruption Class:
vlam
Risk Class:
warning
link to memo


But ACS isn't limited to just the standard Safe-Euclid-Keter system. Now there are dozens of
Esoteric Classes to choose from for your specific entry. Hell, you can even make your own Esoteric Class if you want and use that.

Below is a few examples of SCPs with different classes. All of these are created with the simple code used above.

Item#: 3000
Level5
Containment Class:
esoteric
Secondary Class:
thaumiel
Disruption Class:
ekhi
Risk Class:
critical
link to memo

Item#: 4511
Level4
Containment Class:
pending
Secondary Class:
none
Disruption Class:
none
Risk Class:
none
link to memo

Item#: 5015
Level5
Containment Class:
esoteric
Secondary Class:
archon
Disruption Class:
vlam
Risk Class:
warning
link to memo

Item#: 5017
Level3
Containment Class:
euclid
Secondary Class:
none
Disruption Class:
ekhi
Risk Class:
notice
link to memo

You get the general idea now of what these look like, but what do they mean?

Each classification: Clearance Level, Container Class, Disruption Class, Risk Class; they all identify the anomaly in a specific way. In describing the anomaly with a glance, readers can tell what kind of story they're about to read.


General Overview

Clearance Level

This is an adaptation of the already existing Clearance Levels. A number of modifications will be described below. Clearance Levels refers to the level of an employee that is given permission to read the information contained within the document.

Containment Class

This is the same as the classic "Object Class." It is renamed in order to more clearly convey what the classification refers to: Containment. This is the "Contain" part of "Secure, Contain, Protect."

Disruption Class

This is one of the new classes invented for this Classification System. Disruption Class refers to an anomaly's ability to disturb the status quo and/or break the veil. This is the "Secure" part of "Secure, Contain, Protect."

When considering the Disruption Class of an object, ask yourself these questions:

  • How swiftly will the influence of the anomaly spread?
  • How far will it spread if left unchecked?
  • How easily can The Foundation neutralize its effects?

Risk Class

This is one of the new classes invented for this Classification System. Risk Class refers to the severity of an anomaly's effects on an individual person and how easily one can recover from it. This is the "Protect" part of "Secure, Contain, Protect."

When considering the Risk Class of an object, ask yourself these questions:

  • How easily can an individual recover, if at all?
  • How severe are the effects?
  • At what proximity do these effects start being noticed?

Secondary Class

This is an optional new class used, but not invented, for this classification system. The Secondary Class can also be known as the "Esoteric Class."

It is standard for the Containment Class to be set to "Esoteric" when utilizing a Secondary Class, but this is not required.

Clearance Levels

Now onto the Clearance Levels, which comprise of six levels as follows.

► Show Clearance Level Descriptions

Next up is the Disruption Classification system.

► Show Disruption Class Descriptions

Alright got that? Good. Because there is one more. The Risk Class.

► Show Risk Class Descriptions

The final bit to consider while creating the ACS for your article is the Secondary Class, which I will describe below.

The Secondary Class is reserved for Esoteric anomalies, which is a new category altogether. It replaces the Primary Class with Esoteric and the secondary class with your desired anomaly as shown below.

These specific icons were created by ShineShadowDShineShadowD and translated by Dr FishboneDr Fishbone

ShineShadowIcons.png

A full list of their icons can be found here.

These specific icons were created by JosephJoestarJosephJoestar and translated by Dr FishboneDr Fishbone

JosephJoestarIcons.png

A full list of their icons can be found here.

These specific icons were created by Calibri BoldCalibri Bold

CalibriIcons.png

A full list of their icons can be found here.

These specific icons were created by Dr MonedDr Moned

DrMonedIcons.png

A full list of their icons can be found here.

These specific icons were created by ItsDenaliItsDenali

ItsDenaliIcons.png

A full list of their icons can be found here.

A full list documenting the Anomaly Classification System can be found here:

Anomaly Classification System Guide
Anomaly Class Bar

What Are Threat Levels?

Threat Levels, are an optional classification you can add to an anomaly, further identifying them. I will show you what the individual levels mean, as well as how to add them to your article.

Threat Levels come in seven different levels:

White

The object is beneficial to the Foundation and its use is strictly regulated, as detailed in the object's special containment procedures. Often assigned to Safe class objects.

Blue

The object might be beneficial, but its mechanisms are poorly understood or remain unknown. This applies to items with undefined properties or to entities that react differently to different individuals. Often assigned to Safe and Euclid class objects.

Green

The object is not beneficial, but isn't harmful as long as it is handled correctly. Often assigned to Safe and Euclid class objects.

Yellow

The object is harmful but easy to recontain. This may indicate that it can quickly be brought under control as long as certain, easily achievable conditions are met. May be assigned to either Safe, Euclid, or even Keter class objects.

Orange

The object is unpredictable, exhibiting dangerous properties and is difficult to recontain. It is generally the lowest level assigned to humanoid entities. Often assigned to Euclid and Keter class objects.

Red

The object is highly unpredictable and possesses considerable destructive capabilities. A containment breach may escalate into a K-Class scenario, and the object's recontainment is to be considered a high priority. Often assigned to Euclid and Keter class objects.

Black

The object possesses the capacity for destruction on a global scale. Moreover, containment breaches by such objects are to be considered synonymous with an XK-Class scenario and its recontainment and/or neutralization is to be considered top priority. It is chiefly assigned to Keter class objects.

This is what each Threat Level looks like in an article.

Threat Level: White

Threat Level: Blue

Threat Level: Green

Threat Level: Yellow

Threat Level: Orange

Threat Level: Red

Threat Level: Black

What is Canon?

In the SCP Universe, there are many different storylines and characters. So how exactly does it work?

Each story can belong to a canon or a series of stories. Normally within a hub or series. You can create your own story and characters and have canons interest and overlap with other canons and stories, creating an intricate web of characters and sub-stories.

You can mold and shape your new stories to be however you want, set wherever you want, in any time period you want. There are no limitations to how you can craft your stories and characters.

How Do I Use the Existing Canon?

In Regards to Redaction and Expunging


How Do I Write This Thing?

Commonplace Ideas

Am I Writing Well?

Finding Inspiration

Pacing, Pacing, Pacing

What is An Author Insert?


Wrapping Up An Article

What is the Ideas Critique Forum?

What is the Drafts Critique Forum?

Where Do I Go From There?

Footnotes