ArmchairGM:Why create an account?

Logging in

Click here to create an account/log in (or on the "create an account or log in" link on the left sidebar of every page).

Summary of benefits and abilities given to users with accounts

• The ability to rename pages.
• The ability to upload images.
• The use of a username of your choice.
• The ability to view all of your contributions via a "My contributions" link.
• Your own user page.
• Your own talk page.
• The ability to customize the appearance and behavior of the website.
• The eligibility to become an administrator.
• All your edits will be attributed to your username.
• Your IP address will no longer be visible to other users.
• Comments are attributable to your username

Benefits explained

Username

If you create an account, you can pick a username. Edits you make while logged in will be assigned to that name. That means you get full credit for your contributions in the page history (when not logged in, the edits are just assigned to your IP address). You can also view all your contributions by clicking the "My contributions" link on the left siedebar, which is visible only when you are logged in.

You will have your own user page (there will be a My page link on the left sidebar when you are logged in) where you can write a bit about yourself.

You will have a permanent user talk page you can use to communicate with other users (there will be a My talk link on the left sidebar, or you can click the discuss this page link on the bottom of your user page to access your user talk page. If you choose to give an e-mail address, other users will be able to contact you by e-mail. This feature is anonymous; the user who emails you will not know your e-mail address.

Further, logged in users have their usernames linked to any comments they put on news and opinion pages. Their usernames are clickable and lead to their user page.

More editing options

There are many features that are available only to registered users. Only registered users are allowed to rename pages. Also, you must be logged in if you want to upload images.

Many user preferences

Aside from these features, you can customize the way MediaWiki behaves in great detail by altering your preferences at special:preferences. There you can change the following display settings:

• Under skin: choose between various options as to the appearance of the website.
• Under files: how large image thumbnails are displayed

And various editing preferences:

• How large the editing box should be
• How pages should be displayed in recent changes
• ... and many others (they're pretty self-explanatory).

Administrator status

Administrators (sometimes known as sysops, short for System Operator) can delete and restore pages, protect them from being edited, edit protected pages, and block users for violation of our policies.

Only signed-in users can become administrators. If you are a signed-in user and want to be an administrator, see ArmchairGM:Administrators for more information.