Template talk:Generic enchantment

Nice idea of creating a generic template like this, for people to use until we have the proper template for each new enchantment. Better than resorting to raw T:Popup. So many new effects in Feywild loot. I've created about 10~12 new templates since The Promise of Fire, but the item pages are always created in a faster rate. ⇒ MrLizard (Contribs • Message • Email) 11:59, November 16, 2020 (EST)

• Unfortunately Tech decided to destroy it. ⇒ Cru121 (Contribs • Message • Email) 10:48, November 17, 2020 (EST)
  • The previous usages are all broken now. This is something that had to be discussed prior to modifying the template. The old version had the advantage of categorizing the page in a dedicated category for usage of this template, so that it was easier to track down missing enchantment templates in my opinion. ⇒ MrLizard (Contribs • Message • Email) 12:00, November 17, 2020 (EST)
  • It's not broken. It works fine. Just SUBST: it and all will be well. Better off adding the effects to {{MiscEffects}} than what this is without substitution to be honest though.  👟 ShoeMaker (Contribs • Message • Email) 👟 12:23, November 17, 2020 (EST)
    • I believe this template was created for temporary use by editors that don't know how to create a new enchantment template (they are many, I even created a diagnostic page to track down mistakes made in Feywild loot). The same people are not able to add new effects to {{MiscEffects}}, and we cannot add the effects before knowing them. With SUBST, the editors will not know that this template exists because it will not appear in the places it was used. ⇒ MrLizard (Contribs • Message • Email) 12:45, November 17, 2020 (EST)
• I don't even understand what the rationale is behind the need to be substituted. Only that it would supposedly create a HUGE mess (which I can't see). ⇒ Faltout (Contribs • Message • Email) 16:54, November 17, 2020 (EST)
• Look, if this is to be SUBST now, then I am in favor of at least removing the enchantment categorization (this is what can potentially create an initial mess in my opinion, because the enchantment name can be typoed easily), and leave only the generic template categorization. Otherwise I would prefer to use {{Popup}} as generic, temporary template. Again, I would be very happy if discuss the change to SUBST before applying it. ⇒ MrLizard (Contribs • Message • Email) 17:11, November 18, 2020 (EST)
• With subst the template is dead. Cru121
  • Then are you making a motion to delete?  👟 ShoeMaker (Contribs • Message • Email) 👟 08:41, November 19, 2020 (EST)
    • No, he's making a motion to change it back to its useful form... in addition to expressing dissatisfaction that someone would break a template without reason ⇒ Faltout (Contribs • Message • Email) 09:31, November 19, 2020 (EST)
      • It has to be subst only if it's going to stay as an "easier replacement for T:popup". Otherwise it's just redundant of what T:MiscEffects already does and should be deleted as a redundant template.  👟 ShoeMaker (Contribs • Message • Email) 👟 09:59, November 19, 2020 (EST)
        • MiscEffects has nothing to do with what this template does. ⇒ Faltout (Contribs • Message • Email) 10:07, November 19, 2020 (EST)

Tech, if you took the time to read the Usage, you'd learn what the template does.

• Use this template for item enchantments if a more specialized template does not exist.

This means that if a user does not have the knowledge or time to create a specialized template, (or even does not know all existing templates), he or she can still apply this template and ensure that the item is properly categorized and the enchantment link links to the proper place.

• Basically just an improved popup template that allows categorizing and custom link.

This second sentence offers some behind-the-scenes context, potentially useful for an editor who already knows the popup template and its shortcomings.

• Can be used temporarily, before a permanent, dedicated template becomes available, or for extremely rare enchantments that do not warrant a stand-alone template.

This sentence describes how the template author intended to use this template.

Now to answer some of your concerns:

• This needs to be a SUBST only template or it'll create a HUGE mess later of effects that need templates

Well the good news is that this template has a built-in categorization that allows you to easily locate places where it is used. So arguably the author has already considered this risk and created the category to mitigate it.

• "easier replacement for T:popup"

No, this template intends to overcome the shortcomings of the popup template. It offers categorization. Correct enchantment category is important for general wiki populace looking for items. Meanwhile, senior wiki editors can easily identify enchantments that need a template by reviewing the category of items that use this template. Both of these benefits are unavailable when using T:popup.

• just redundant of what T:MiscEffects

I fear this is a gross misunderstanding of how this template works. I thought the documentation that I included was sufficient, but there's certainly always room for improvement.

I hope this explanation will help us to proceed to a solution that makes life easier for both casual wiki readers and senior editors. Thanks for your cooperation. --⇒ Cru121 (Contribs • Message • Email) 12:55, November 20, 2020 (EST)