The support is already there, it's just waiting for Valve to make changes to the API so we can get the data. Until that time, there is nothing we can do.

If the support isn't there, then what method is dota-trade.com using for their item rarity information? Am I to assume they just manually entered all the information?

Originally posted by Spacebear:

If the support isn't there, then what method is dota-trade.com using for their item rarity information? Am I to assume they just manually entered all the information?

They're either using manual entry, or they're parsing the items_game file. In either case, it's a pain in the ass. Since they'll be having to manually enter data each update, or wasting an API call just to get a link to another file which then has to be parsed with bespoke code.

I just joined to say the same thing aswell. This function would be widely appreciated.

Not to beat a dead horse, but yes, this would be an awesome functionality. I recommend TF2b to all my TF2 friends (and new traders), and would love to do the same thing for Dota as well.

On that note, is there an alternative Dota bp viewer that does show rarity (aside from the one on steamcommunity)?

True. Item rarity indicator is a must have feature! :)

Believe me guys, the moment I can add it I will - but it all depends on Valve adding the data to the API.

Item API stuff will probably be on the backburner for them however due to the recent stats drama.

The stats drama is a bit of a joke. Some people worked really hard to reverse engineer some data (read make something do something it wasn't designed to do). While I applaud that - I love sites like Lifehacker, etc - they are simply upset that its a bit harder for them to get the data they want.

Regarding the item rarity - it seems that another site is on top of it: http://bazaar.tf/backpack/76561197996894913

If I'm not mistaken, there are not common, uncommon, and rare versions of the same item. For example, all Heavy Steel Axes are uncommon. All Ice Burst Bracers are common. Could someone correct me if I'm wrong on this? If that's the case, could TF2B simply program in the rarity level for each item?

BTW, thanks for all your hard work! TF2B is still the fastest, best place to go for TF2 BPs!

They're upset they can't sell DBR, and without DBR - they cannot create a monopoly environment, it's as simple as that. Add on their childish reaction - and then backpedaling on their actions. (And believe me, the whole spiel about it being "harder" is bullshit, and I say that as the guy that threw together the match viewer page Cyborgmatt linked)

I don't want to make this a repeat of various threads elsewhere, so I'll wrap it up by saying there was already precedence for Valve's actions in regards client spoofing, and the guy that did so is now a Valve employee. He wasn't a company, just a single dude - and yet he didn't try and spawn a witchhunt. I think this speaks volumes about the character of the people behind Dotabuff.

On topic: This sort of action has been suggested before, and my response has always been the same. It is simply not worth the effort for me to go through every single item and tag them with the relevant rarity. Parsing items_game.txt would be a serious regression in terms of automating TF2B's update process, and removes the entire point of having the API in the first place.

It's in everyone's best interests to push for improvements to the APIs, that way everyone can benefit from the data - rather than specific sites.

I understand and respect that. Thanks for the response, Athernar.

No problem. Hopefully it won't be too much longer until I can add rarity display to TF2B, the message has been passed on to Valve.

In the meantime though, I would love to hear any suggestions as to how I should implement said rarity when it's added.

The simplest method would probably be to just duplicate the TF2 system of having item icon borders be colored depending on rarity, and then also having item rarity listed on the mouse-over details at the bottom.

Assuming that's what you mean by implementation.

It would have to be a different set of colors, as both Strange Orange and Genuine Green are already duplicated in Dota. Bazar.tf's system of greys/blues seems to work pretty well.

Strange Orange and Genuine Green (and Unusual Purple) are used for strange and genuine (and unusual) Dota 2 items, respectively. None of the item rarity colors overlap any of those colors. The only ones that're close are the colors for Immortal and Mythical, which are similar to strange and unusual respectively, but when placed next to each other it's relatively easy to tell them apart.

Perhaps it'd be a better idea to have strange/unusual/genuine items have a separate inner border next to the outer rarity border to prevent confusion.

My first idea was essentially to colour one side of the border with the rarity colour, and retain the other 3 as quality. I did test this method out and found it to be rather ugly.

One thought I did have recently was to put the initial of the relevant rarity in the bottom left corner of each cell, and colour it with the rarity colour, but I'm not sure if that'd be a particularly elegant or discoverable implementation.