Want to learn how to create your very own Guide? Look no further than this very guide, as it will cover every element that's involved in making a guide on The Hunter's Cabin.
Game
God of War
Collaborators
PS5 • PS4
2/10 · Easy
3 Hours
2
favorites
362
views
80%
approval
4
1
Trophy Roadmap
Use this roadmap to understand the main path through God of War. Review the difficulty, estimated time, platform coverage, walkthrough notes, and trophy-specific tips before starting your next clean-up run.
Tap a section to jump or scroll through the detailed breakdowns below.
Introduction | Table of Contents
Welcome to How to Write a Guide 101! This guide will teach you all the basic fundamentals that go into making a detailed guide, whether it be a guide for Trophies/Achievements, Gameplay Walkthroughs, Boss Fight Breakdowns, or a Game Glossary for Recipes/Crafting.Guides, of any kind, are designed to help the reader to achieve specific goals and to provide necessary information to "guide" them through obstacles. The job of a guide writer is to make a digestible guide that's easy to follow and supply the reader with the knowledge to assist them as best as possible. While there is quite a handful of important factors that go into creating a guide, this very guide will explain each of these factors one by one, to make guide creation seamless.Below will be a full list of every section presented within this guide regarding Guide Creation:
Table of Contents
1.
Guide Basics, Difficulty, and Metadata
2.
Sections - Order of Explanation
3.
The Importance of Proper Grammar
4.
Writing a Trophy Description
5.
How to attach Trophy Tags
6.
Adding Images and Videos
7.
How to Color Code
8.
How to Utilize Tables
9.
Guide Writing Standards and Rules
10.
How Guides are Graded
11.
How to Publish a Guide
12.
List of Bugs & Solutions
Guide Basics, Difficulty, and Metadata
The first step to any guide is to display what form of content you plan on covering in the guide. These aspects of a guide can be found near the top of the page and will provide readers with some immediate context of what your guide is and what readers should know before reading further.
Guide Basics
The Guide Basics highlights four elements of the guide: Title, Pitch, Game Name (if applicible), and Estimated Time. The Reader's eyes will always see this section first, meaning first impressions matter for catching the attention of the viewer. This also means a low-quality Guide Basics Breakdown will stick out like a sore thumb and leave a negative impression on the reader. The two pictures below will showcase the difference between a Bad Guide Basics Description and a Good Guide Basics Description.
Bad Guide Basics
Title of Guide is not clear
Lack of an Elevator Pitch
Incorrect Game
Poorly Written Estimated Time
Good Guide Basics
Proper Guide Title
Excellent Elevator Pitch
Correct Game
Proper Estimated Time
IMPORTANT: The Elevator Pitch must be written within 200-300 Characters. This pitch should provide players with an idea of what kind of game they can expect to play when using your guide.
Difficulty
The Difficulty is meant to explain how challenging the guide will be to complete, ranging from 1 = Very Easy to 10 = Extremely Challenging. Difficulty can be quite subjective and can differ from person to person. When deciding the difficulty level, please keep in mind how difficult it may be for a new player who is unfamiliar with the game as a whole. A 10 Difficulty Rating should only be used in guides in which they are nearly impossible; possible to complete, but extremely challenging, such as the video game "Crypt of the Necrodancer".
MetaData
The MetaData has two main purposes: Stating the Platform and Specifying the Type of Content. One of the selections is to choose the platform on which your guide will be using for reference. Some games may have multiple platforms or are available on EVERY platform, such as Borderlands 2. In those cases, only select the platform that you have played on to accurately provide information, as different versions of a game may have non-existent features on other platforms.The other selection is equally important, as it will elaborate on the type of content readers can expect in your guide. This is slightly different to the Guide Title, as this will add a "Focus" to your guide and make it easier to find through the Search Bar.
NOTE: All Trophy/Achievement Guides will be using PlayStation Trophies as the template for explaining trophies and acheivements across all platforms. This may be subject to change in future updates.
Sections - Order of Explanation
In order to make a solid guideline for what readers should expect to learn from your guide, you must know how to utilize Sections. The best way to describe Sections is to essentially think of them as Step-by-Step Walkthroughs, with each step acting as a specific checkpoint in the long-term goal of the guide. Depending on the kind of guide you intend to create, it could either require a few Sections or numerous Sections to give full context for the readers. No matter the guide, the most important element of Sections is the ORDER of how they explain information to the reader. Guides are intended to make consuming information as easy as possible, and ordering each Section allows for dedicated blocks of information regarding specific aspects of a guide. If the Sections were disorganized and randomly placed, it could easily disorient the reader and cause the reader to have more questions than answers.A perfect example of how these sections should be prioritized can be seen within Trophy/Achievement Guides, specifically seen in the Gears of War: Reloaded - Trophy Guide. In this particular guide, there are four Sections ordered as follows: Step 1: Completing the Campaign on Co-Op (Insane Difficulty Recommended), Step 2: Versus Mode (The Multiplayer Grind), Step 3: Miscellaneous Clean Up, and General Information.
Image of Sections within Gears of War: Reloaded - Trophy Guide
Step 1: Completing the Campaign on Co-Op (Insane Difficulty Recommended) encourages the reader to start with the Campaign, specifically in Co-Op to earn numerous trophies. Additionally, starting with the Campaign as the first step allows the player to learn the game's mechanics and become comfortable with the controls for future sections.The following Section, Step 2: Versus Mode (The Multiplayer Grind), guides the reader to the next objective in their trophy-hunting journey: The Multiplayer Mode. After playing through the Campaign, they will have a solid foundation of the game and be capable of better performance fighting against other players in Multiplayer. If new players had started with Step 2 first, it could make learning the controls far more challenging and would cause them to struggle against real players without prior knowledge.Step 3: Miscellaneous Clean Up acts as the final hurdle before players can achieve all the trophies/achievements in the game. Whilst the earlier sections consisted of the primary modes and long-term trophies/achievements, this specific section is meant to be, as the name entails, "Clean Up", the last remaining elements of the guide. These trophies/achievements could technically be earned in the prior sections, but players may have missed them on their initial playthrough and can easily go back to obtain the last remaining trophies/achievements.The final Section is the General Information, also considered a vital Section for all guides! General Information will provide the readers with as much core knowledge as the writer can include, which would greatly assist the reader in completing the guide. The contents inside this section can hold a massive amount of information, such as: Color Keys, Controller/Game Settings, List of Characters, Movesets, Weapons, Map Breakdowns, etc. The Gears of War: Reloaded - Trophy Guide also has a dedicated topic for improving gameplay and increasing the player's skill level to make the Multiplayer less stressful.Sections are a pivotal aspect in guide writing and will act as a pathway for the readers to navigate their journey through the guide, following along with every step without getting lost along the way.
IMPORTANT: In the event of making a Trophy/Achievement Guide, please number the title of each Section, except for General Information. Numbering the Sections that are directly tied to trophies makes it easier to follow through specific steps within the guide.
The Importance of Proper Grammar
The MOST important habit that any guide writer is expected to learn and develop is proper grammar. All guides should be proofread by the writer before sending in their guide to be reviewed, as there may be some spelling mistakes that may not have initially been seen. Mistakes are bound to happen while writing, but they can easily be fixed and adjusted by looking over your guide. There are numerous elements that go into proper grammar, which will be fully explained throughout this section.
Spelling and Accurate Terminology
When writing/typing a guide, it's essential to use both appropriate spelling and provide accurate terminology, unless directly quoting something within your guide, such as a voice line or option to choose in-game. Depending on the kind of word you're attempting to spell and your internet browser, you may be able to auto-correct the word indicated via a red-underline beneath the mispelled word (ketten → kitten). To keep track of spelling corrections and guarantee minimal errors, it is highly encouraged to download a useful text program called Grammarly. Grammarly is a free program that can be downloaded as a browser extension and as an app on your phone, which will provide live grammar corrections from spelling to punctuation. This program will drastically improve your writing and make your guide of exceptional quality.
IMPORTANT: If you decide to use Grammarly to improve your writing, you MUST disable every Setting under the "Generative AI", as using AI to rewrite preexisting sentences and create brand new sentences completely is strictly forbidden in The Hunter's Cabin. You can find this specific page by heading to "Settings" and select "Feature customization". From there, you will be able to disable the "Generative AI" function.
Outside of spelling corrections and how to avoid them, here are three important notes to keep track of when writing a guide:
#1: Avoid using slang terms
The issue with slang terms is that they are not only grammatically inaccurate, but they can also make the reader confused, especially since slang terms are heavily tied to trends during certain months or years. Guides are meant to be readable to the general public, and the reader must be able to comprehend the contents within your guide.
For Example: A Trophy Guide is describing a difficult level and explaining specific steps to take to complete the level with little effort. The addition of slang terms can completely butcher a sentence.
Slang Description: "Now this level finna be really hard. However, there's an exploit you can use to make it very easy, no cap. Before starting, yeet the "Hibiscus Trident" item from your inventory, and the game will crash out, thinking you've already handed over the Trident, allowing you to win with light work.
Proper Description: "The upcoming level will be fairly difficult. However, there's a useful exploit you can use to easily complete this stage. Before entering the stage, remove the "Hibiscus Trident" from your inventory, and this will cause the game to glitch. The game thinks you have already turned in the Trident, and it will allow you to win the stage with minimal effort."
#2: Pay attention to comma usage
Although it might sound like a very minor concern, commas make up a large majority of guides and serve as a way to pause between a sentence (Just like this very sentence). Commas should not be used to extend a sentence even further than necessary. If there is too much information to display within a single sentence, use a period/full-stop and provide context in the next sentence.While commas can help pause and explain sections of a sentence, there are also instances where adding commas in unnecessary places can ruin the sentence, resulting in the sentence meaning something entirely different. When listing items within a sentence, the placement of commas to separate those items is referred to as the Oxford Comma. The best example to showcase the usage of the Oxford Comma can be seen in the image below, where it explains a sentence with and without the Oxford Comma:
Credit: KnowYourMeme
#3: Avoid repetitively repeating the same word
While it may not seem obvious at first, there could be instances where you unknowingly repeat the same words over and over without picking up on it. This point ties into the earlier paragraph, emphasizing proofreading previously written sections, as it will help you adapt your writing style as you progress through writing the guide. Instead of using the word "like" often, you can also use terms such as "similar" or "identical". In the long term, this will greatly improve your writing ability and expand your grammar as you write.
The Dangers of "Me", "Myself, and "I"
Another rule of thumb when writing a guide is to ALWAYS avoid talking in the first person perspective, also known as "Me", "Myself", and "I". Although the guide writer is writing down their own words to explain certain steps and precautions, the choice of wording makes a massive difference. When writing in First Person POV (Point of View), it makes your guide sound unprofessional and sound as if the player would be unable to replicate the steps.
For Example: A guide is explaining where they can find the character Katsuki Bakugo and the specific option to choose to earn the in-game trophy.
First Person POV Writing
The writer talks about their personal experience and what happened to work for them, rather than what's factually correct in the game. As a result, the text above makes it sound highly unsure and doesn't narratively provide a confident context of how to find Katsuki Bakugo
Proper POV Writing
The writer describes the location of direct explanation of where to find Katsuki Bakugo. Similar to the First Person POV Writing, they explain how this can be completed in Single-Player and which options to avoid to obtain the in-game trophy. However, the writing doesn't leave any room for doubt from the reader's perspective, as the tone and grammar it's written in provides full contextual confidence.
There are ONLY two different occasions where using the words "Me", "Myself", and "I" would be acceptable. The first instance is if you are directly quoting a statement, option, or dialogue within its media. The second instance is if you are giving your own personal recommendations for specific steps or gear. An example of how it can be applied is the following:
"As the Guide Author, I personally recommend to use 'A' and 'B' in order to beat the boss in the Fire Temple."
For all other instances of guide writing, make certain to write in Second-Person POV or Third Person POV; these are the main writing styles that can be used when describing elements in your guide.
Writing a Trophy/Achievement Description
NOTE: This specific section will be discussing elements found in Trophy/Achievement Guides, as they have separate descriptions for each trophy.
The most common form of gaming-related guides is easily a Trophy Guide (Depending on platform, this can also be referred to as an Achievement Guide). A Trophy Guide is a gaming-related guide that explains in detail how to obtain every single trophy within a specific game. There are numerous published Trophy Guides that can be found on The Hunter's Cabin with a handful of them being written by the Guide Masters, as shown below:
As discussed earlier in the How to Write a Guide 101, writing a guide will involve writing the Guide Basics, ordering the Sections to act as a Roadmap, and providing accurate grammar when describing your guide. After reading about those elements of Guide Writing, it's time to combine everything learned thus far and combine them to create the ideal Trophy Description. Trophy descriptions are meant to provide the EXACT steps players should take to obtain the trophy. The length of a trophy description will heavily depend on both the game it relates to and the depth of the trophy. While some trophies can be very easily unlocked by completing a tutorial, other trophies may require far more effort and will need to be thoroughly explained by the writer to assist the reader as best as possible. There's a lot that goes into writing a trophy description, but this guide will help every step of the way to give future writers the confidence to publish a guide of their very own! Simply follow the steps provided below to comprehend what makes an excellent trophy description.
All in the Details
Although trophies will have a standalone description beneath the trophy name, it may not provide nearly enough context as to how players actually earn the trophy. Some trophies have a vague description and don't provide a clear answer on how to unlock them. For example, in the game "Platform8", there is a trophy called
Kukudo. While the other trophies are very direct about how to earn them, this particular trophy has a lack of explanation.
These kinds of trophies will easily require a better description of what they mean, but how accurately the information is described by the writer is a different story. There is an incorrect way and a correct way to go about writing a description. The wrong way to write a description would be simply repeating the exact trophy description or providing very little information. The photo below provides a better description than the original trophy description, but it is too straightforward, leaving the reader with many questions.
Incorrect Written Description
"What happens during the Fog Anomaly?", "Where do I exit the Car from?", "Where are the Train Tracks located?", and "How long should I be walking on the Train Tracks for?" are just some of the questions that readers will ask if the description lacks full context. While the explanation the writer provided is technically correct, there is simply not enough information stated in the description of specific details. In games that contain missable trophies, such as this very trophy, it may take several hours to return to this point in the game for another chance to earn the trophy. In the worst-case scenario, players may have to restart their entire game to obtain the trophy due to your trophy description. The correct way to write a trophy description includes a precise step-by-step explanation of the requirements for players to earn the trophy in question. The photo below provides an excellent description that should be used for future reference when writing trophy descriptions.
Correct Written Description
All of the questions that the reader would have in the Incorrect Written Description have been answered within the Correct Written Description, dispelling any doubt the reader may have had. "What happens during the Fog Anomaly?", the side doors on the car open. "Where do I exit the Car from?", through the now open side door. "Where are the Train Tracks located?", directly down the stairs to the player's right. "How long should I be walking on the Train Tracks for?", roughly a minute or until the player walks past the station three times. On the bottom of the trophy description, it provides a clearer explanation about what happens when exiting the car, instead of a very short, blunt response seen in the Incorrect Written Description. Details matter and drastically impact a trophy description!!When writing any form of instructions, through a trophy description or any guide in general, you MUST write as if speaking to a new player or someone completely unfamiliar with the contents, but willing to learn about it. Any potential misunderstandings or often overlooked elements to earn a trophy should be clarified in the description, especially for missable trophies. You want a trophy guide that any reader can use and be able to easily follow through every step of the way, which can be accomplished through making detailed descriptions.
Lazy Writing Terminology
As seen in the prior section with "Platform8", the trophy called
Kukudo had a very odd description requiring further explanation. However, some trophies will have a very simplistic requirement within their description and may appear to be difficult to further elaborate on. Although it might seem as if you can just reiterate what the original trophy description says, you do NOT want to just repeat the original description verbatim. There are quite a few types of writing that should be avoided when describing trophies, which will be fully explained within this section.
Tip #1: Avoid Poor Wording
Certain words/phrases can really bring down the quality of a guide, and may lead to little information for the reader to comprehend. The best method to represent how this poor wording can affect a trophy description is by directly showing the original trophy description and a fake guide writer's trophy description that will showcase a lot of these poor wording habits. The specific trophy used for this example will be from the game, "Call of Duty®: Black Ops7", relating to its Multiplayer Mode with a trophy requiring a set number of online wins.
Original Trophy Description
Guide_Noob80's Trophy Description
At a glance, it may look like Guide_Noob80's trophy description doesn't appear to have many issues; however, there are actually numerous problems within their trophy description that would prevent their guide from being published. Three massive problems stick out from their trophy description that the Guide Masters would easily be able to find. These are the problems: Repeating Description, "Easy" Claim, and "Hard to Miss" Claim.
Repeating Trophy Descriptions: The trophy descriptions will often directly tell the reader how to unlock the trophy. Restating the original trophy description that was already listed again in the guide's description is irrelevant and doesn't help the reader in any way.
Solution: Instead of repeating the description, explain what constitutes a "Multiplayer Match" and what other game modes may count as "Multiplayer" towards the trophy.
"Very Easy" Claim: Stating something is "easy" without any elaboration as to what makes it simple gives off the same energy as "trust me bro". It's best to avoid describing trophies with basic requirements as "easy" altogether, and describe the process of how it is easy for the average reader to perform.
Solution: Instead of saying it's "easy", provide tips or strategies that can make earning the trophy a very simple process. There could even be boosting options with multiple team members that could speed through the trophy requirements. By explaining this knowledge to the reader, they will be able to comprehend how it is easy, without directly emphasizing the simplicity.
"Hard to Miss" Claim: Describing something as "hard to miss" has the same problem as the "Very Easy" Claim, which is that the description doesn't explain why it's hard to miss. The guide writer just saying it's hard to miss doesn't guarantee the player will always find what the writer is referring to.
Solution: Instead of saying it's "hard to miss", explain how the reader can locate the "Multiplayer" Option from the Menu.
Guide_Pro80's Trophy Description
This trophy description, written by Guide_Pro80, is a fantastic description, as it fixes all of the problems from the prior description and adds a lot of substance to assist the reader. There are inclusions of what counts as a "Multiplayer Match", the best game mode to help with wins, and possible boosting strategies players could use to increase the likelihood of winning more matches. Despite the original trophy description having a straightforward description, the new trophy description written by Guide_Pro80 massively improves on this description by providing insightful knowledge.
Although this particular section was very lengthy compared to prior sections, it goes to show just how much is involved in writing a solid trophy description. The examples provided above accurately describe a good description from a bad description, alongside some notes that writers should keep in mind to prevent any bad habits from their descriptions. With these in mind, this will provide writers with the context to make their trophy descriptions exceed the base trophy description.
Mentioning Other Trophies
Depending on the kind of trophy you plan on discussing, there may be correlations to other trophies that may also be earned or trophies that players should be aware of. When including another trophy within a separate trophy description, there is a specific way you must implement it. The first step is to clarify the rarity of the trophy and insert the rarity within the Editor.
Here are the available trophy rarities for PlayStation:
= Bronze Trophy
= Silver Trophy
= Gold Trophy
= Platinum Trophy
Once you have attached the appropriate trophy rarity, you must write out the exact name of the base trophy name. After writing out the trophy name, proceed to highlight the entire text (not including the trophy image) and italicize the text. By italicizing the text, it makes the text stand out and draws emphasis to the trophy for the reader. If done correctly, it should look like the following:
Perfect Trophy Name. For more references on how to mention trophies, please refer to the "Stack" Tag description under the How to attach Trophy Tags section.
How to attach Trophy Tags
NOTE: This specific section will be discussing elements found in Trophy/Achievement Guides, as it is directly tied to features only accessible for those guide formats.
The "trophy" aspect of a trophy guide has two areas that can be directly edited under the trophy: The Description (discussed in the prior section) and Trophy Tags (the topic of this section). Trophy Tags are tags that can be attached to a trophy to classify it under a set description. These tags serve as an easy indicator of what readers need to know about the trophy before moving on to read the description. Below is a full list of every available tag and how they apply directly to a trophy. Please use this list as a reference whenever deciding which tags are applicable to certain trophies.
Unobtainable
This tag is meant to be applied to trophies where they can NOT be earned. While this trophy may have been available at one point, it became impossible to earn due to server closure or a time-limited mode only available during the game's lifespan.
Missable
This tag applies to trophies that can EASILY be missed while playing. If the player had missed this trophy on their initial playthrough, they will need to restart the game, creating another save file in order to have another chance to earn the trophy.
NOTE: This tag does NOT apply to trophies, with the ability to go back into prior levels to earn the trophy via "Chapter Select" or any means to return to that point in the game without requiring a new save.
Grindy
As the name of this tag entails, this type of tag is used for trophies with a heavy GRIND. Specifically, this refers to trophies that will require a lot of time before the player earns the trophy, ranging from a couple of hours to hundreds of hours. This includes examples such as 10,000 Total Kills, Reach Max Prestige, Play 100 Matches, etc.
Story
This tag applies to trophies that are directly tied to the Story Mode in a game. These trophies are earned after completing specific chapters/missions in the story, which can be seen in games like Call of Duty®, with their Campaign containing numerous Story-Related Trophies.
NOTE: This tag ONLY applies to Chapter/Mission Completion trophies. Additional side trophies that are optional to earn during the story do NOT count as a "Story-tag" trophy.
Difficulty Related
This tag is meant to be used with trophies that can only be obtained by playing on a specific difficulty. This includes examples such as "Complete all acts on Isane Difficulty" in Gears of War: Reloaded and "Sky dive to safety on Veteran difficulty" in Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare. This tag does not just apply to games with a "hard" difficulty, but any difficulty directly attached to a trophy description in order to earn the trophy.
Collectible
This tag applies to trophies that require the player to collect a set number of items/characters/intel found within the game. These types of trophies are known for either relating to a collectibles from single part of a game, or covers the entirety of the game. This includes examples such as "Find all Ducks" in Son and Bone and "Collect all Red Bricks" in Lego® Batman: Legacy of The Dark Knight.
Multiplayer
This tag should be used when referring to trophies that can only be done
NOTE: Make sure to clarify in the trophy description whether the co-op can be completed Online or Offline.
Co-Op
This tag is meant to be used for trophies that require another player to help fulfill the trophy requirements. Depending on the kind of game, the "Co-Op" aspect could require players to be connected to an online Server or could be done offline.
NOTE: Make sure to clarify in the trophy description whether the co-op can be completed Online or Offline.
RNG
This tag applies to trophies that are not tied to skill, but complete random luck, also referred to as RNG (Random Number Generator). This relates to trophies which are tied to random in-game events, items obtained only through random drops, or random occurrences outside of the player's control.
NOTE: This tag should NOT be used if the trophy could be earned from natural progression, and is only applicable for trophies SOLELY dependent on RNG.
Internet Required
This tag is meant to be used for trophies in which an internet connection is required to earn the trophy. Tags of this nature are often used for games that consist of singleplayer titles, that have any trophies that require an active internet connection. An example of these Internet Required trophies can relate to Public Leaderboards seen in "Lollipop Chainsaw" or a Newsletter Mailbox seen in "Skylanders: Swap Force", which requires the player to have their score tracked via internet connection.
NOTE: This tag should NOT be used if it directly ties into a Multiplayer Mode.
2 Controllers, 3 Controllers, and 4 Controllers
These specific tags can be classified as the Controller Category, since these tags relate to different sub-sections of Controllers.2 Controllers: This tag applies to trophies that require a minimum of 2 Controllers.3 Controllers: This tag applies to trophies that require a minimum of 3 Controllers.4 Controllers: This tag applies to trophies that require a minimum of 4 Controllers.
Stack
This tag specifically refers to the trophy that will be automatically earned upon completing a separate trophy. This correlates to games with multiple difficulty-related trophies, which can all be earned at once by completing the hardest difficulty of the game. The best example can be seen under the Gears of War: Reloaded - Trophy Guide, with a photo of its application below:
If the player first earns
Commando (Complete all acts on Insane Difficulty), then the other trophies seen above
Mercenary,
Classic Mercenary, and
Soldier will ALL UNLOCK SIMULTANEOUSLY.
NOTE: Regarding Stack tag trophy descriptions, it is normal for the contents of the descriptions to be identical to each other. The full description of the difficulties and recommendations for obtaining all four difficulty-tied trophies is found under the
Commando description. Stack Tags commonly follow this pattern, UNLESS the different difficulties have a whole diverse enemy variety or stages only found in specific difficulties.
Time-Sensitive
This tag applies to trophies that can ONLY be obtained within a certain time-frame. These trophies may have requirements such as: Defeat the Dragon in 12 Minutes or Escape the Cell with 1:15 left on the Timer. These types of tags on most occasions will be instantly distinguishable just by their original trophy description.
NOTE: If the original trophy description does not directly state any time requirements, the writer MUST explain within the description what makes the trophy Time-Sensitive.
Adding Images and Videos
Outside of manually writing out descriptions within your guide, there's another aspect of guide writing that MASSIVELY improves the quality of a guide, which are Images and Videos. While explanations alone can provide needed context, the addition of media to your guide contributes far more than it seems, as it will act as a visual aid to guide the reader. This section will explain the types of media that can be included within your guide and how to properly implement them.
Images/Screenshots
A common element writers should include in their guide are "Images", which can be a screenshot from your console, a direct PNG/JPG asset from the game, or a custom image meant to provide additional assistance with specific sections (examples of which will be provided below). Images can be added through the editor labeled under "Image", directly between the "Emoji" and "Size" option. These image variations have different steps that need to be taken to obtain each type and may depend on your hardware.
SCREENSHOT: A raw captured image of a game. This image type can easily be obtained through a built-in screen capture that's an added feature on your PS4-5/Xbox or PC. For PlayStation and Xbox, screen captures can be made by pressing the "Share" button on the controller. Those screenshots can be ported to your computer and added to the guide.PNG ASSET: An image directly pulled from the source via game, official website, etc. The example image provided in this category is directly from the game "My Hero Academia: All's Justice", with the specific picture that was used is of Izuku Midoriya (One for All). These image types are mainly used when listing characters, items, collectibles, or icons that can help the readers in finding certain elements and provide more context.CUSTOM IMAGE: A custom design made by the guide writer, can add further information within a guide with an easier visual appearance. This image type depends on the writer's creativity, as it can also serve as artwork that acts as additional decor to the guide, seen with the custom header text in the How to attack Trophy Tags Section. In the example above, the Custom Image provided showcases a specific fight that will occur in the Story Mode. The character assets were placed within a custom VS Template, applying to the 3v3 aspect of the game.
IMPORTANT: The maximum size of the photo should be around 898px by 468px
YouTube Videos
While a photo is said to be worth a thousand words, imagine how many words a video could have with each frame; that's the impact of a video within a guide. To elevate a guide beyond providing images, there's the route of adding a YouTube video directly inside your guide. Depending on the content, these videos could consist of a game walkthrough, a tutorial for how to earn a certain trophy, or a video showcasing every collectible. Videos can be added through the editor labeled under "YouTube", directly between the "Redo" and "Bold" options. Upon pressing, insert the link of the YouTube video you want to include, and it will be added to the guide.
Credit: Avexys
Credit where Credit is Due
After learning about how to add images and videos within guides, an absolute mandatory requirement is to give proper Credit. When using media that belongs to a different creator, you must provide the name of the creator and a link to where they posted the photo or a link to their YouTube channel where they uploaded the video. It is always encouraged for authors to provide their own footage through videos or photos they captured to add substance to their guide. However, there are a couple of important guidelines that should be used when including media.
Personal Media Questions
"If the video has the same name as my username on The Hunter's Cabin, do I need to give credit?"
No, if the author of the video included in the guide has the SAME username as seen in The Hunter's Cabin and shows a matching gamertag as shown in the video, then providing credit is not needed. In the event the username/photo are clearly different, you MUST clarify in a note within that specific section that the footage does belong to you.
"A friend took a screenshot from their POV to include in my guide; do I need to give them credit?"
Yes, you must credit the friend who took the screenshot underneath the photo. If they do not have a platform where they publicly posted the photo, then putting their User ID as the credit is more than enough.
"My guide has a mix of my own photos and other players' photos; do I need to credit myself and the other players?"
No and Yes, it's not necessary to directly credit yourself in the photos. However, it is required to include the credit of images that do NOT belong to the guide writer. Similar to Question #1, it is only necessary to credit yourself if it's very difficult for the average reader and the Guide Masters to distinguish them as the same author.
IMPORTANT: If it is discovered that another person's footage has been used, then the guide will remain unpublished until the mistake has been corrected.
How to Color Code
ColorCoding may be one of the most creative aspects of guide writing outside of images/videos. By implementing a color code over select words, it makes them stick out to the reader so they focus on specific areas in the guide. To add a color to a word, head to the top of the editor, where you will find a painter's palette icon with a hex color code alongside it. From there, there's the option of the Hex Code or Color Wheel.
Color Wheel
If you want to implement basic colors in your guide with variations, it's recommended to use the base colors from the Color Wheel. There's also the option to adjust the brightness of the selected color directly on the wheel or from the base options beneath it. There is also the option to move the cursor in the color wheel to achieve certain colors.
Hex Color Code
If you wanted to add specific colors and include color variations that may be difficult to find from the color wheel alone, then it's highly recommended to use the Hex Color Code. Within the color menu, you can type the precise 6-digit color code, but you must include "#" at the start of the code to register the color. The hex code is especially useful for guides that follow a specific color palette and can add a thematic element to the content.
Image of Color Wheel inside Editor
The most common implementation of color codes within a guide is for a Color Key. While color coding refers to coloring a specific word or sentence, a Color Key is used to distinguish certain types of elements, where readers will instinctively know its relevance by the color alone. They are included within the General Information section of a guide and will act as a reference for future sections. Although it might seem as if it may not provide much substance to a guide, the following passage will showcase a clear difference and massive improvement over the original text.
Guide with no Color Key
The context of this example will be from a trophy found in the Highguard - Trophy Guide, specifically
Breaking and Entering.In Raid Mode, Raids can only occur in two different scenarios: The game enters "Overtime" and the team that survives wins priority, or you grab the Shieldbreaker and make a dash to the enemy base. In each match, the Shieldbreaker will begin to form around the middle of the map and will be used to initiate a Raid. Once the Shieldbreaker has formed, any player can grab the sword, but it will permanently reveal their location, indicated by a giant pillar of light and a red or blue sword icon on the map HUD. Upon picking up the sword, begin dashing to the Enemy's Base with your teammates. Since the location of the player is consistently revealed, you will need some assistance from other players to ensure that you don't die from enemy Wardens. After arriving at the Enemy base, you will see the option to Plant Shieldbreaker (Square Button), and once interacted with, the Siege Tower will spawn to begin a Raid on their base.
Problem: The context of the trophy description is fairly detailed, but there's also a lot of information for the reader to digest. Without having any distinct colors to point out important elements of the game, it could potentially lose the reader or confuse them.
Color Key
Raid Mode + Raids (in general)
Orange
Overtime
Yellow
Shieldbreaker
Light Brown
Guide with a Color Key
In Raid Mode, Raids can only occur in two different scenarios: The game enters Overtime and the team that survives wins priority, or you grab the Shieldbreaker and make a dash to the enemy base. In each match, the Shieldbreaker will begin to form around the middle of the map and will be used to initiate a Raid. Once the Shieldbreaker has formed, any player can grab the sword, but it will permanently reveal their location, indicated by a giant pillar of light and a red or blue sword icon on the map HUD. Upon picking up the sword, begin dashing to the Enemy's Base with your teammates. Since the location of the player is consistently revealed, you will need some assistance from other players to ensure that you don't die from enemy Wardens. After arriving at the Enemy base, you will see the option to Plant Shieldbreaker (Square Button), and once interacted with, the Siege Tower will spawn to begin a Raid on their base.
Breakdown: Just by adding the color key, the readers can easily distinguish the type of mode, the specific occurrence, and the item required for the trophy through their color key. Additionally, it helps point out the important details of the description without it becoming lost in a sea of text. It's important to provide as much information as the writer can provide, but it must be digestible for the reader without feeling overwhelming to read.
How to Utilize Tables
Guides are designed to be informative step-by-step instructions that the reader can easily navigate through. There may be instances when writing where there is so much information that it becomes difficult to manage within a guide, with color codes alone not being enough to help. However, the best solution to manage information inside your guide is through the usage of Tables. Throughout the earlier sections of this guide, there were multiple occasions where tables were used to explain those sections in a cleaner format, such as a "Color Key", or to help minimize the width of Videos.To add a table to your guide, look for the "Table" Icon, which is directly in between the "Quote Block" and "Headings" options. Upon pressing it, it will provide a table with two columns and two rows, both of which can be adjusted to the author's liking.
Adding Columns and Rows
Columns
Rows
Columns can be increased or decreased with the highlighted zone in the picture provided above. The (tr) and (/tr) act as the boundary zone when deciding how many columns you want to include in the table. In the photo, there are only two columns within the redoutline. The first line of code represents one column, seen in "Header 1", with the start of the column being indicated by (th), and the end of the line being represented by the (/th). Since this table has two columns, there is a second column line code seen in "Header 2", following the same code logic.If you wanted to have more than two columns, then copy the code seen within the redoutlined box and paste it directly beneath it, which will turn the two-columned table into a four-columned table.
NOTE: The maximum number of columns allowed within a table is 10, any more tables added past that make the table very difficult to read.
Similar to columns, rows can be increased and decreased, shown within the highlighted zone. Unlike columns, the start of the row is determined with (tr) and the closure of a row is indicated by (/tr). The contents within these boundaries act as a single row.If you wanted to add more rows, you would need to copy the entire code within the red outline and paste it directly beneath the code. Pasting the code will create a brand new row, which can be repeated as many times as the author likes. One important factor when adding rows is not to make them overwhelming with information, especially when accounting for tables with multiple columns. If there are more than 5 tables, depending on the type of information, it can congest the rows with too much information within a constricted table.When adding rows, be mindful of how it looks and how the information is presented. By keeping these elements in the back of the mind, your table will look exceptionally detailed and organized.
Guide Writing Standards/Rules
Originality and Voice
We value your unique perspective and experience! Because of this, plagiarism is strictly prohibited.Every sentence should be your own. Please do not copy from other guides, even if you are just "rewording" them. If you do what to use information from another guide, you can cite it and give credit to the original author.Note on A.I.: To ensure all advice is based on real gameplay experience, we do not allow the use of AI tools to generate content or research details. We want to hear from you, the player, not an algorithm. You can, however, use AI to grammar/ spell check or structure your work. Grammarly is a recommended tool to help with overall grammar corrections, but do not use it to completely rewrite your sentence through their AI-centered features (More detials of this can be read under The Importance of Proper Grammar).
Optimize Your Workspace (Desktop Recommended)
For the best results, it's HIGHLY recommended to write your guides specifically for a desktop or laptop. Mobile browsers (phones/tablets) can struggle with the editor, with a majority of the formatting tools like fine-tuning tables or hovering over elements to adjust settings, requiring a mouse.Writing on a desktop/computer ensures your guide looks as professional as possible before you hit "Submit."
Depth is Key: The "Who, What, Where, and How"
A great guide doesn't just list the trophy; it explains the journey. When writing for a specific trophy, try to cover the following elements:The Specifics: Provide clear locations, enemy types/variations, or exact item names.The Strategy: What is the most efficient way to get this? Why is this method provided better than other ways to earn this?Accessibility: Assume the reader is playing for the first time with no prior context. Clear, step-by-step instructions are a must, as simply saying "just play the game" does not provide the reader with any knowledge of how to go about it. Perspective: Ensure the guide can be read from a third (The Player) or second-person (You and Your) POV. Do not use first-person POV (I, My, Myself), as it makes it sound as though only their experience allowed them to complete it, and it would be complicated for other players to replicate.
Utilize the Spolier Tag ()
One factor that could completely ruin the experience of playing a game while using a dedicated guide, is getting spoiled about a key part in the story due to the lack of a spoiler highlight covering the information. Make sure to include Spoiler Text for important factors or characters included in your guide. Here are the different means they can be utilized:Character Spoilers: If a certain character/enemy appears that the player should not be aware of until it's explained later on in the game, putting a spoiler highlight over their name is highly recommended.
For Example: "As Percy begins to walk through the corridor, you will see in the background, and must interact with them, as this is the last you will see of them for the rest of the game."
Plot Spoilers: If a specific event happens in game that does not occur until much later in the game, or it's a pivotal story moment that should not be revealed early on, make sure to use the spoiler highlight here as well.
For Example: "During the second phase of the boss fight, it's revealed that the dragon was who was mutated into a dragon by."
Quality Over Quantity (One at a Time)
When writing a Trophy Guide, to give each game the attention it deserves, it's recommended and suggested to focus on one guide at a time. This is especially helpful for new writers, who are learning and adapting to make a detailed guide. If new writers were to juggle multiple guides at once, it would be extremely challenging to ensure all guides have equal care and attention, which also applies to experienced Guide Writers.By focusing your energy on a single project, writers will find it far easier to catch small errors and provide the level of detail our readers love!
Managing Your Portfolio
You can easily track your progress, view your drafts, edit your guides, and see your published work by heading to your contributor dashboard at: https://hunterscabin.com/guidesYou will also have the option to "Delete" a guide, which can be found once selecting a guide the Main Author has written directly below the "Edit" button. However, the writer must be absolutely certain they want the guide to be removed, as it will be permanently removed with no means of recovery.
Keeping the Guide "Live"
When making a guide, it's bound to have some elements change with server updates or information that's no longer relevant. Despite these games changing over time, these guides need to stay relevant! It's recommended to keep the game installed for a short while after your guide is published.Updates & Patches: If a developer changes a trophy requirement or fixes a glitch, a quick update from you keeps the guide helpful for future players. You do not want players to find the guide unhelpful and have to research the solution for themselves.DLC: If the game adds new trophies later, you’ll be in the best position to expand your guide with those newer trophies. You can also make a standalone DLC Guide in the event that the original trophy guide only covers the base game trophies.
How Guides are Graded
Technical & Integrity Check
[ ✅ / ❌ ] Desktop/ Mobile Formatting: Does the guide look clean? (No broken HTML or weird spacing issues often caused by mobile editing).[ ✅ / ❌ ] Platform Specifications: Does the guide clarify platform tags? Are auto-pop/cross-save features mentioned if applicable?[ ✅ / ❌ ] Plagiarism Check: Run a spot-check on 2–3 unique trophy descriptions. Do they match other major guide sites? (Must be 100% original).[ ✅ / ❌ ] AI Audit: Does the text feel "human" and specific? (Watch for generic phrasing like "This trophy is a testament to your skills" or vague strategies that don't mention specific game buttons/mechanics).[ ✅ / ❌ ] Author Ownership: Does the author have the game's trophies on their profile? (Verify they have actually played what they are writing about).
Roadmap Accuracy
[ ✅ / ❌ ] Vital Stats: Are the Difficulty, Time, and Playthrough count present and realistic?[ ✅ / ❌ ] Missable Warning: Are missable trophies clearly flagged so the reader doesn't have to restart the game?[ ✅ / ❌ ] Broken/Glitched: Does the roadmap mention any currently broken trophies? Using the Unattainable tag.[ ✅ / ❌ ] Online/Offline Clarity: Are online-only trophies clearly marked? Does the roadmap specify if PlayStation Plus, Xbox Live is required for the Platinum/Completion?
Content Depth (The "How-To" Test)
[ ✅ / ❌ ] Actionable Info: Does each trophy explain how to get it, rather than just restating the trophy description?[ ✅ / ❌ ] Visual Aids: Are there screenshots or video links for complex puzzles or collectible locations?[ ✅ / ❌ ] Terminology: Does the writer use correct in game names for items, enemies, and locations?[ ✅ / ❌ ] Controls: Are button prompts (e.g., L2, Cross, Options) mentioned where necessary?[ ✅ / ❌ ] Perspective: Does the guide read from a third person POV?[ ✅ / ❌ ] Media Permalinks: Do all video and image links work? If external video guides are used, are they properly credited/embedded, or did the author imply it was their own footage?
Formatting & Readability
[ ✅ / ❌ ] Scannability: Are bullet points and bold text used to highlight key items?[ ✅ / ❌ ] Sizing: Are all images and videos of reasonable size? [ ✅ / ❌ ] Clear Triggers: Does the guide explicitly state the exact "Point of No Return" (e.g., specific quest names or dialogue choices) *before* the spoiler tag or text?[ ✅ / ❌ ] Spoiler Tags: Are major plot points properly hidden or warned about?[ ✅ / ❌ ] Structure: Does the guide follow the Step 1 (Story), Step 2 (Clean-up) logical flow?
Final Verdict
[ ✅ ] APPROVED: Guide meets all standards and is ready for the front page.[ 📝 ] REVISION REQUIRED:: Return to author with specific notes on what is missing (e.g., "Needs more detail on Boss X" or "Fix broken formatting in Step 2").[ ❌ ] REJECTED:: Evidence of plagiarism, AI usage, or severe lack of effort.
How to Publish a Guide
Once you have read through the Guide Writing Standards/Rules and How Guides are Graded, it's time for your guide to finally be sent in for review! You can send in guides to be reviewed by selecting "Save Changes" at the bottom of the page, which will insert your guide in a queue for the Guide Staff to review. The review process of a guide depends on how much content is within the guide, as a heavily explained gameplay walkthrough has more information than a traditional trophy guide, meaning more areas to look through.
Guide Rejection / Approval
Rejection: A guide can be rejected if the Guide Staff find numerous errors with spelling/grammar, formatting, and/or missing crucial information. The guide will be sent back to the author, unpublished, where there will be notes provided from the Guide Team on why the guide was rejected and what improvements should be made to guarantee the guide gets approved.Approved: If your guide properly meets all requirements, then your guide will be officially published! However, once this guide is published, it is the author's job to maintain and update the guide for any new changes/developments to the guide. Oftentimes, Trophy Guides will be consistently updated as some trophies may become unobtainable or the method to earn specific trophies has changed following a recent update.
General Questions
How long does it take for a guide to be reviewed?
The time it takes for guide review depends on two aspects: the current queue and the length of the guide. Once a guide is sent to be reviewed, it is placed in a queue with other guides, which can vary depending on the number of current guides in the queue. The contents of the guide may cause the review process to take longer, specifically seen in Game Walkthrough Guides with content exceeding that of a normal Guide. The average time for review will take around 1 - 2 Weeks.
How many guides can exist for the same Game/Title?
A maximum of 2 of the same Guide Types are allowed. Numerous guides are allowed for the same game, since it accounts for different variations of Guides, such as Recipe, DLC, or Game Walkthrough guides. However, the same type of guide can not have more than 2 publications. Any guide that's sent for review with two of the same guide types already published, the guide will be rejected unless it meets the Guide Etiquette Exception. For Example: Call of Duty®: Black Ops 7 can only have a maximum of 2 Trophy Guides.
What is the Guide Ettiquette Exception?
As explained in the prior question, only two guides of the same type can exist. However, there is a means for a new guide of the same title to be published, despite two prior publications. If one of the two guide authors fails to maintain their guide, with numerous users commenting on their guide containing out-of-date information or a lack of information, the guide will be replaced with a new, up-to-date guide created by another guide writer.
List of Known Bugs and Solutions
Bugs and How to Fix Them
Color Code not Working
If you encounter a problem with color coding, the order of which the input other changes in text like "Bold" does matter. In the image provided below, the author had applied the color to the words "The Color Code" first, then applied the bold effect afterwards. As a result, it causes the text to look like this: "The Color Code", instead of the actual color they wanted to use.Solution: The Fix for this problem is quite simple, as you just need to apply the text effects in the opposite order. The first step is to apply the "Bold" effect on the text, then highlight the words again to apply the hex color code. As a result, it will cause the text to read as: "The Color Code", now with the "Bold" effect and with a color attached as well.