What do you look for in an index for an RPG?

Quote from: Silverlion;365595What do you look for in an index for an RPG?

Keywords.

More seriously, I should be able to find any technical term used in the book and the major locations dealing with that term.

Quote from: Silverlion;365595What do you look for in an index for an RPG?

-Alphabetical. (I've seen indexes that were NOT alphabetical but rather "thematically" grouped. Yes, it was very annoying and cumbersome to use.)
- It must contain a glossary of important key term lingo or at least all the key terms used.
- Must refer to correct page numbers. (I've seen wrong references happen so often. Honestly, it sucks to have an index that's giving wrong page numbers.)
- Apropriate length (Examples for real BAD Indexes: The ones in the Saga books. Shoddily done, way too short and lacking important key terms. Fans had to do them themselves!)

What the others have said. And something to avoid is an index that is simply made up of the subject headings found in the book, arranged in alphabetical order. I've seen this done a couple of times and it's horrible.

Good syndetic would be a plus if you're using a lot of new terminology.  For instance, if you call your attributes "stats," note it in the index

Attributes -- see "Stats" p. 181

I either want either a detailed ToC or a detailed Index.  Not a half-assed version of both which is too common.  

Alphabetical with bold / CAPS for major keywords that have corresponding sub-index listings.

Quote from: Spinachcat;368180Alphabetical with bold / CAPS for major keywords that have corresponding sub-index listings.

Hrms. I'm doing Alphabetical but usually its something like

Item 13,15, 19
then if something comes up that refers to item, it be

Object (Item) 15, 19

Example: I give the page number for Plant and Herb Lore section, THEN I give specific plants and herbs through the text with their exact page numbers, but with the reference tag (Plants & Herbs) so it can be found either way without saying "See Plant and Herb Lore" a billion times, and if you're looking for the specific entry find it faster by looking IT up rather than the section.

The reason for this is example is of course its a major section because healing in my FRPG is mostly left to herbwomen and chirurgeons, plants make a big part of that healing. Magic healing is possible but rare (Miracle, or Sorcery) So the section needs a way for a player to say "I've Fennel written down what can I use that for.." and for "I'm playing a Herbalist, what can I get to do X, Y or Z?

If this makes any sense at all.

Make sure to playtest your index.   If a noob can find his way around the book, then your index rocks.