Helldivers Wiki:Writing Good Content
Good content is different from properly formatted content. Beyond proper spelling and grammar, writing good articles requires consideration of the structure and subject with which the content is about.
What NOT to do.
- Do not mimic the over-the-top, jingoistic language seen in Super Earth's broadcasts.
- Don't pad out articles with unneeded details and superfluous language.
- Speculation isn't lore, and should generally be avoided. Our articles are for facts.
Avoiding Speculation and Unsupported Analysis
Our articles should be for facts about the game, not for wild theories on how something might be in the game universe.
Speculation
The Lore of Helldivers is delivered in fragments across multiple missions and Major Orders. While there are mysteries, such as the true nature of how the Terminids spread between worlds or how the Last Great War that founded Super Earth played out, we must not indulge in speculation. Articles should stick strictly to what is presented in the game or corroborated by official sources.
The difference is simple. This is canon lore stated by in universe broadcasts:
"The Terminids decompose into E-710, which is why Super Earth can't just wipe them out."
This is speculation:
"Super Earth is probably spreading the Terminids to the colonies deliberately for population control and to create more E-710."
Get Sources for Lore
The best way to fight speculation is to cite your details. Include a blurb with the direct game text, or include a link to a page that does, such as the Major Orders page, the weapon description pages, or one of the many in universe media pages. We have a special template for linking to specific Major Orders: the {{MajorOrderLink}} template.
If you're citing something not on our wiki, use the {{cite web}} template or the {tl|cite twitter}} template.
The Outpost 32 Incident
When overt speculation is used without checking for valid sources, incidents like Outpost 32 happen.
For context, an in game poster referencing Outpost 32 can occasionally be seen on planets with the text "Remember Outpost 32." The exact event this is referring to is never elaborated on within Helldivers 2, yet when the game launched, a persistent rumor appeared stating that Outpost 32 was actually the Helldivers 1 equivalent of Malevelon Creek according to Reddit and Discord users claiming to be there.
Based on these comments and the poster, it was speculated, and then widely considered, that there was a great battle for Outpost 32 in the First Galactic War, canonizing the planet's notoriety within the community at the time.
This is despite the fact that Outpost 32 is not a possible planet name in Helldivers 1, and all non-capital planets generated using a random biome/name on the clientside. It would not have been possible for Outpost 32 to have any kind of Creek like reputation because everyone would have a different experience there! A closer look would've shows that all first/secondhand accounts of Outpost 32 ever being the "Malevelon Creek of Helldivers 1" are all dated after the release of 2.
Yet despite this, the "Battle of Outpost 32" became something of Common Knowledge until it was finally debunked. [1]
This is a prime example of what happens when speculation is used to create a connection that probably wasn't intended by the developers, and everyone copy/pasting it after the fact.
Dealing with Contradictory Information
In cases where the game or its supplementary materials provide conflicting details, avoid making definitive assertions about which version is "correct." Just present both sets of information, including references to their sources (e.g., if it's from the game, Twitter, Discord, Playstation blog). Avoid editorializing on which account is more valid, a mere "this contradicts material from source X which states Y" is often enough.
However, in game content does take priority over supplementary material.
No Unsubstantiated Connections
Do not draw conclusions or forge connections between entities without solid evidence from the final game. Pre-Release material, while useful, shouldn't be considered over the final game's content. Ambiguous pieces of lore should generally be presented as is rather than asserting a complete theory about how factions, events, or items are interrelated.
One absurd example, is saying that the Helldivers 1:Great Eye units are linked to Super Earth's Voting Algorithm because they're both machines.
Maintain a Focused, Neutral Tone
It's better for articles to be written in a neutral, objective tone.
Don't Write Like Super Earth
Do not mimic the over-the-top, jingoistic language seen in Super Earth's broadcasts. Describe game events, details from the lore, and gameplay information in a plain and factual manner.
Don't:
The fascist Terminids cowardly attacked the innocent civilians of Terra III, which the Helldivers valiantly fought back against.
Do:
The Terminids attacked Terra III during Major Order AX-X-X. It was repelled by the Helldivers.
Focus and Relevance
Avoid Flowery Writing
Keep your articles direct and factual. There is no need for ornate, flowery language to describe every single little element.
A good example of this is our planet lore sections. You don't need to describe every routine battle for a planet with the same overenthusiastic prose. We have a battle tracker on each page for a reason. Unless it's involved with a Major Order, it's best not to embellish the narrative with superfluous praise.
Don't Pad Your Articles
If there isn't much to write about a topic, don't feel obligated to pad out whatever you're writing. Shorter articles are not worse articles, we value relevancy more than your word count.
In the end, Padding tends to lead to articles that are far harder to read.
KISS Principle
Short for "Keep it simple, stupid."[2]
Common Pitfalls
Filtering the truth from Super Earth
Although Super Earth is a notoriously unreliable narrator and often presents a skewed perspective, that does not mean everything they say is an outright lie, which is a common pitfall in game discourse. In fact, most of what we know on Super Earth's dystopian elements actually comes from Super Earth propaganda. They gleefully talk about transporting dissident holding pens with forklifts, surprise executions during Liberty Day, and how those too old to be productive should report to bio-repurposer vats.
With that said, everything Super Earth says about its enemies should be taken with a grain of salt. The Automatons don't literally steal babies, and the Terminids likely aren’t facists.
Handling Fanon and Community Content
Fanon[3] is a slang term for elements introduced by fans which are not in the official canon of a fictional world but are treated as if they are by the fan community.
While community interpretations and headcanon contributions can be fun, we strive to be as accurate as possible on this wiki. Under no circumstances should fan-created content or personal theories be incorporated into any main articles, keep them separate please.
If you really want to include your own fanon, make a separate page.
Use the dedicated {{FanContent}} message box on all Fanon pages to avoid confusion.
This includes popular, but unofficial theories like "Cyborgs were originally miners" or any similar headcanon. This wiki is not a place for theories, it's for explaining the game as it's presented.