Feature Request Hide Expand Controls For Items And Chat Messages Without Descriptions

Hey guys! Let's dive into a cool feature request that could really enhance our experience with Foundry VTT, especially when playing games like Daggerheart. We're talking about decluttering the user interface by hiding those expand controls when there's absolutely nothing to expand. This is super relevant for chat messages and items that lack descriptions. So, let's get into the nitty-gritty of why this matters and how it can make our virtual tabletop sessions smoother.

The Problem: Unnecessary Expand Controls

In many systems, and particularly in Daggerheart, a lot of items don't come with detailed descriptions. This is where the current UI can become a little clunky. Imagine clicking on an item or a chat message, expecting to see a description, only to find… nothing. It feels like the application didn't register your click, right? You might even think something’s wrong before you realize, “Oh yeah, there’s just no description here.”

This issue stems from the fact that the expand controls—those little hover expand and accordion controls—are always visible, regardless of whether there's any content to expand. For instance, in Daggerheart, you might have numerous items that lack descriptions, leading to a lot of unnecessary clicks and a slightly frustrating experience. You end up opening these items, expecting details, but you're met with emptiness. This not only wastes time but also creates a sense of UI clutter.

This problem isn't just limited to items. Sometimes, actions associated with items might also lack descriptions, even if the item itself has one. This can be particularly confusing. You might expect an action to have a detailed explanation, but find yourself staring at a blank space. This inconsistency in UI behavior can disrupt the flow of gameplay and detract from the overall user experience. The goal here is to make the UI smarter, so it adapts to the content being displayed. By hiding the expand controls when there's nothing to expand, we can create a cleaner, more intuitive interface that responds dynamically to the information available.

The Solution: Conditionally Hide Expand Controls

The core idea here is simple but powerful: let's hide the expand controls when there's nothing to expand. This means that if a chat message or an item doesn't have a description, the little arrow or plus sign that usually invites you to click for more details would simply disappear. This would instantly declutter the interface and make it much clearer which items or messages actually have additional information.

Imagine you're playing Daggerheart, and you're looking at a list of items. Currently, each item has an expand control, even if it doesn't have a description. This means you have to click on each one to check, which can be tedious. With the proposed change, only the items with descriptions would show the expand control. This visual cue would immediately tell you which items are worth clicking on, saving you time and frustration. This small tweak can significantly enhance the user experience by reducing unnecessary actions and providing a more streamlined interaction.

The same principle applies to chat messages. If a message is just a simple statement without any additional details, there's no need for an expand control. Hiding it makes the chat log cleaner and easier to read. This is especially important in fast-paced games where a lot of messages are flying by. A clean chat log helps players quickly find the information they need without getting bogged down in unnecessary UI elements.

Actions Without Descriptions

The issue of missing descriptions isn't limited to items and chat messages; it also extends to actions. Sometimes, actions associated with items might not have descriptions, even if the item itself does. This can create confusion and inconsistency in the UI. For instance, an item might have a detailed description, but when you look at the actions you can perform with that item, they might lack any explanation.

This is where the proposed feature becomes even more valuable. If actions don't default to the item description (which is a design choice that has its own pros and cons), then it's even more crucial for the UI to adapt. By hiding the expand controls for actions without descriptions, we can prevent players from clicking on them expecting more information and being disappointed. This ensures that the UI accurately reflects the available information and helps players make informed decisions.

One solution to this issue is to consider whether actions should default to the item description if they don't have their own. This would provide a baseline level of information for players. However, if the decision is to keep actions separate and not default to the item description, then hiding the expand controls becomes even more critical for maintaining a clean and intuitive interface. This approach ensures that players only see expand controls when there's actually something to expand, reducing frustration and improving the overall user experience.

Alternative for Chat Messages: Collapsed Descriptions

Now, let's explore an alternative approach specifically for chat messages. While the primary suggestion is to hide expand controls for messages without descriptions, there's another interesting option worth considering: collapsed descriptions. This is something that has been implemented in the Pathfinder 2nd Edition (PF2e) system, and it offers a different way to handle messages with additional details.

The idea behind collapsed descriptions is to initially hide the full text of a message, showing only a brief summary or the main point. If a player wants to see the full message, they can click a button or link to expand it. This approach is particularly useful for messages that contain a lot of information, such as detailed spell descriptions or lengthy character actions. Instead of cluttering the chat log with long messages, the collapsed description keeps things tidy while still providing access to the full information when needed.

In the PF2e system, this has been implemented to great effect. The chat log remains clean and easy to read, but players can quickly access the full details of any message with a simple click. This is a fantastic way to balance readability with access to information. However, it's a significantly different approach compared to simply hiding expand controls for messages without descriptions. The collapsed descriptions feature involves a more complex implementation, as it requires parsing the message content and deciding what to show as the initial summary.

Despite the complexity, this alternative offers some compelling benefits. It not only reduces clutter but also allows for a richer user experience. Imagine being able to see a brief summary of a spell effect directly in the chat log, and then expanding it to see the full details only if you need them. This can be a much more efficient way to process information compared to reading through long, unformatted messages. While it's a different direction from the original feature request, it's worth considering as a potential enhancement to the chat message system in Foundry VTT.

Visual Examples: Seeing the Difference

To really understand the impact of this feature, let's talk about visual examples. Imagine looking at a list of items in your Daggerheart character sheet. Currently, every item has an expand control, a little arrow inviting you to click and see more. But what if half those items don't have descriptions? You end up clicking, waiting for something to happen, and then realizing there's nothing there. It’s a small frustration, but it adds up over time.

Now, picture the same list with the proposed feature in place. Only the items with descriptions show the expand control. Suddenly, the list is cleaner, more focused. You immediately know which items have additional information, and you can quickly access it without unnecessary clicks. This is a subtle change, but it makes a big difference in usability. It’s all about making the UI more intuitive and responsive to the content it’s displaying.

The same principle applies to chat messages. Think about a busy chat log during a combat encounter. Messages are flying back and forth, and you're trying to keep track of what's happening. If every message has an expand control, even simple ones, it adds visual noise. With the new feature, only messages with extra details—like spell descriptions or complex actions—would show the control. This would make the chat log easier to scan and help you focus on the important information.

These visual cues are crucial for a smooth user experience. They guide your eye and help you interact with the interface more efficiently. By hiding unnecessary expand controls, we can create a more streamlined and intuitive environment for players. This is especially important in virtual tabletop games, where clear communication and efficient UI are key to a positive gaming experience.

Benefits of Hiding Expand Controls

Implementing this feature offers several key benefits that can significantly enhance the user experience within Foundry VTT, especially for systems like Daggerheart where many items and messages may lack detailed descriptions. Let's break down these benefits to understand why this is such a valuable improvement.

Reduced UI Clutter

The most immediate benefit is a reduction in UI clutter. By hiding expand controls when there's nothing to expand, the interface becomes cleaner and less visually noisy. This makes it easier for players to focus on the information that's actually important. A cleaner UI is less overwhelming, particularly for new users or in complex game scenarios where a lot of information is being displayed simultaneously. Less clutter means a more streamlined experience, allowing players to quickly find what they need without being distracted by unnecessary elements.

Improved Intuitive Interaction

By making the expand controls appear only when there's something to expand, the UI becomes more intuitive. Players quickly learn that if they see an expand control, there's additional information available. This creates a more responsive and user-friendly experience, reducing the cognitive load on the user. When UI elements behave consistently with user expectations, it minimizes confusion and frustration. This intuitive interaction makes the system feel more natural to use, allowing players to focus on the game rather than struggling with the interface.

Time-Saving Efficiency

Hiding expand controls can also save players a significant amount of time. In systems with numerous items and messages, clicking on every expand control to check for a description can be tedious and time-consuming. By visually indicating which items or messages have additional information, players can avoid unnecessary clicks and quickly access the details they need. This efficiency is especially valuable during fast-paced gameplay, where every second counts. Players can make decisions more quickly and keep the game flowing smoothly.

Enhanced Focus

A cleaner, more intuitive UI helps players stay focused on the game. When the interface is less cluttered and more responsive, players can concentrate on the narrative, strategy, and social interaction, rather than being distracted by the mechanics of the UI. This enhanced focus leads to a more immersive and enjoyable gaming experience. By removing unnecessary distractions, the UI becomes a transparent tool that supports gameplay rather than hindering it.

Adaptable UI

This feature makes the UI more adaptable to different game systems and content. Systems like Daggerheart, where many items might lack descriptions, benefit greatly from this change. The UI dynamically adjusts to the content, providing a tailored experience based on the information available. This adaptability is crucial for a versatile virtual tabletop platform like Foundry VTT, which supports a wide range of game systems and play styles. By making the UI more context-aware, we can create a more personalized and efficient experience for every user.

Conclusion: A Small Change, Big Impact

In conclusion, the feature request to hide expand controls when there are no descriptions for chat messages and items is a small change with the potential for a big impact. It addresses a common frustration, declutters the user interface, and makes the overall experience smoother and more intuitive, especially in systems like Daggerheart. By implementing this feature, we can enhance the usability of Foundry VTT and create a more enjoyable gaming experience for everyone. This improvement aligns with the core principles of good UI design: clarity, efficiency, and user-friendliness. A cleaner, more responsive interface allows players to focus on what truly matters—the game itself. So, let's hope this feature gets some love and makes its way into a future update! What do you guys think?