What should we rename "Utility item"

[Ngreth Thergn]

There seems to be some confusion with the wording "utility item" that I use in the item display, in the full recipe list...

KyrosKrane said it best...

For the purpose of the database, a utility item is one that has many subcombines not directly related to the main item being produced. Examples include celestial essence and leather padding -- if I want to look up how to make ceramic bands, I don't necessarily want to see all 40-odd ways to make CE.

I cannot post that by every item that fits that, so... I want a 1 or 2 word description for that.

Suggestions that have been made:
"common component"
"Excessive recipes"
"Excessive subcombines"
"Excessive options"
"Too many versions"
"Excessive recipes"
"Excessive subcombines"
"Excessive options"
"Too many versions"
"Subcombine Versions"

Common component so far sticks to me the best, but still does not quite ring true. Does anyone have any other suggestions?

[Sanna]

Something with the word 'excessive' and the idea of 'subcombines' I think is the best. I'm guessing 'utility item' isn't working b/c it makes people think the item is a tool like a filleting knife. Two words I think would be best, but maybe three if absolutely necessary...

"Excessive recipes hidden"
"Excessive subcombines hidden"
"Excessive options hidden"

-- Sanna

[KyrosKrane]

Also consider that vendor-bought items like bricks and blocks of ore may have many conversion recipes. These bricks and blocks could be candidates for the "utility item" tag, so the name has to be applicable to those as well.

Come to think of it, you already have an explanation just above: "If you see (Utility Item) you will need to click on the item to get its recipes."

Why not change that to read, "A utility item has many recipes not directly related to the main item you're looking up. If you see (Utility Item) you will need to click on the item to get its recipes."

Give the "(Utility item)" tag a color like you do the "(Restricted)" tag to make it clear, and that may be enough.

[Verdandi]

It's a bit longer, but what if we change "Utility Item" to "Click Item for Recipes" or somesuch. That skips the problem of giving that concept a name and gives people the information they need to find the recipes (in case they don't figure out that the items are also links). The note that Kyros mentions that explains what (Utility Item) means could then be changed to explain why some items don't have the other message and don't have expandable menus.

[Ngreth Thergn]

In the short term, I will use KyrosKrane's suggestion for the instruction text.

and maybe... "Excessive options hidden" is good. Maybe even just a "recipes hidden"

maybe...

"Sometimes an item has too many recipes or many recipes not directly related to the main item you're looking up. If you see (Recipes Hidden) you will need to click on the item to get its recipes."

[Tweedledea]

*cries* Ngreth didn't like my suggestions! /sniff

In case he missed them....

Many recipes
Multiple sources

[Verdandi]

...Maybe even just a "recipes hidden"

maybe...

"Sometimes an item has too many recipes or many recipes not directly related to the main item you're looking up. If you see (Recipes Hidden) you will need to click on the item to get its recipes."

I like this.

[Sanna]

/agree Verdandi.

What about "Subcombines hidden"? is a bit more specific that just 'Recipes hidden'... makes me think less that i'm missing something I might want.

-- Sanna

[Itek]

Hmm...

I was thinking more along the lines of "Generic Item" with the same functionality you are talking about.

+blah
+blah
-leather padding (Generic Item, click item for recipes)
-blah

[Dunthor Warsmith]

I like the "recipes hidden" - it speaks directly to the behavior. The other ideas have mostly been descriptions of the rational, and its up to the user to understand what it is that's being rationalized, and then they can agree or disagree as to whether it fits (as with "Utility item"). "Recipes Hidden" avoids all that mess, and simply describes what's going on, avoiding reasons for why.

[Cubwynn]

"there are a great number of recipes to create this item, therefore these are hidden to reduce clutter and increase database response time"

[Lilosh]

"there are a great number of recipes to create this item, therefore these are hidden to reduce clutter and increase database response time"

OMG , Cubby! You're still around?


-Noish

[Sanna]

*kicks at Noish's ankles for trying to derail an important thread* : P


I generally like the explaination line Cubwynn has. Except use 'large' instead of 'great' (sounds... too 1800s novel-y to me : P ).

"Generic item" is.... too generic. : P. 'generic' is one of those 'nice' words, when you get down to it, what have you really said? Generic is wide-spread, general, ordinary as opposed to specific. These /are/ specific things, so specific that Ngreth is having to tag them by hand... so... I think, not 'generic'.

I'm still raising my hand for 'Subcombines hidden', because to me it's the most specific (even tho 'subcombines' is a long word >_<). But that may be my crazy English major training coming through. Or maybe a result of learning another language and another half... you start paying attention to strange nuances when you have three words that kinda mean the same thing and are kinda different.

-- Sanna

[Cubwynn]

"subcombines hidden" would work, perhaps with a qualifier... like "large number of subcombines hidden".

OMG , Cubby! You're still around?


-Noish

Not much right now. Too much work IRL (new job!) at the moment, so I haven't played for a bit. Just started hitting the class/trader boards again to get back up to speed.

(still 199 points to go, darn it!)

[KyrosKrane]

Self-edit-before-posting: This sounds inane to me even as I'm writing it, so feel free to ignore me. Something in Sanna's post made me think, so ...

How about either "recipes not shown" or "subcombines not shown"? The word "hidden" could be taken the wrong way -- people are going to start thinking "Why are they hidden? Is it something secret?" (Yes, I know the explanation is posted right above, but how many people actually read that?) The term "not shown" doesn't make people think there's a conspiracy theory. Either that, or "Recipes hidden - click to view". Then people know there's an alternative.