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Original post by Jiia Is this too much? I could just as easily have them click on the slot and auto-search their inventory for the correct item. I could go into many situations where one route will add depth while the other is more user-friendly.

In my opinion it does not add more depth, it adds more annoyance. No one wants to click through two or three menus and then another item for simple actions.

Now, suppose it's some mystery item that you need to use on some mystery object. This is an even bigger problem. You have to go through the two or three menus, then click every item in your inventory, as well as one or two ok boxes ("are you sure?" / "can't be used").

Keep this in mind when designing it.

Sorry to revive this thread from 70 feet under the Arda.

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Original post by Raloth In my opinion it does not add more depth, it adds more annoyance. No one wants to click through two or three menus and then another item for simple actions.

Most of the time, it would be: Press U (for use), hover over the inventory icon (inventory auto-expands), click a key, click the door. That's it. But this simple example is still questionable as to whether I want to make it automatic or not. Most things are not as obvious as keys with doors.

To many others:
How many doors in the real world use the same key? I'm going for more realism than Doom. Nope, no colored keys, please.

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Original post by Oluseyi Make it automatic. Seriously. Hunting around in my inventory for the appropriate key or trial and error is tedious in the extreme. Don't put locks on doors that don't matter. If it's a simple locked door, like to a storage area, allow me to pick the lock in some way - and place a bonus behind that door for doing so. If it's a major door, maybe put a keycode lock on it. Hunting for color-coded keycards is sooo Doom. It was annoying then (albeit made bearable by the fact that once you had the keycard, the door opened automatically once you approached it), it's annoying now. My time is precious; make every moment that I spend playing your game count, or it might be the last.

LOL - I'm suprised you even play games, Oluseyi. If I make everything automatic, it's a movie. I'm not asking about keys, I'm just wondering where most players would rather the line be drawn between automatic / player handled.