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Gray Is Useless

 Gray Is Useless
type
FeatureClass
 Gray Is Useless
label
Gray Is Useless
 Gray Is Useless
page
GrayIsUseless
 Gray Is Useless
comment
Gray is a rather dull color. So, if it is used for normally brightly colored buttons or even people, that's probably a bad sign. As far as the most common use is concerned, it means that button cannot be used, or that person is dead or can't help for some other reason.
Commonly used in Video Games for both gameplay and storytelling, especially for menus indicating incapacitated members. In most examples of Subsystem Damage, the system that is lost, disabled, and/or destroyed is often grayed out on the diagram if red isn't used instead (or red is reserved for when a system is destroyed versus gray when it's merely disabled).
A Sub-Trope of Color-Coded for Your Convenience. Super trope to Death Is Gray and No Power, No Color.
Contrast Power-Up Full Color Change. See Color Failure for when the change to a singular color scheme is the result of a state of shock.
 Gray Is Useless
fetched
2024-03-02T02:00:59Z
 Gray Is Useless
parsed
2024-03-02T02:00:59Z
 Gray Is Useless
processingComment
Dropped link to PlayedWith: Not an Item - FEATURE
 Gray Is Useless
processingComment
Dropped link to WarcraftIII: Not an Item - UNKNOWN
 Gray Is Useless
processingUnknown
WarcraftIII
 Gray Is Useless
isPartOf
DBTropes
 Gray Is Useless / int_1bfb9fe0
type
Gray Is Useless
 Gray Is Useless / int_1bfb9fe0
comment
Endless Sky:
Ships disabled by excessive damage are grayed out on the minimap and can't act until repaired back to normal. Ships only temporarily disabled are marked blinking between gray and the usual color instead, to signify this state won't last.
Uninhabited planets and systems are color-coded gray, as there are no services available there.
In the dialog box, unavailable options are grayed out.
 Gray Is Useless / int_1bfb9fe0
featureApplicability
1.0
 Gray Is Useless / int_1bfb9fe0
featureConfidence
1.0
 Endless Sky (Video Game)
hasFeature
Gray Is Useless / int_1bfb9fe0
 Gray Is Useless / int_200dddee
type
Gray Is Useless
 Gray Is Useless / int_200dddee
comment
TinkerQuarry: While the toys cannot die, they can be "Impaired", which traps them in a death-like state. When a toy is either Impaired or close to being Impaired, they lose all their color and go grayscale.
 Gray Is Useless / int_200dddee
featureApplicability
1.0
 Gray Is Useless / int_200dddee
featureConfidence
1.0
 TinkerQuarry (Video Game)
hasFeature
Gray Is Useless / int_200dddee
 Gray Is Useless / int_23ff591
type
Gray Is Useless
 Gray Is Useless / int_23ff591
comment
In some games, unpowered structures turn very dark gray, sometimes with a lightning symbol above them. Starting with Command & Conquer 3: Tiberium Wars, exceeding the power supply to your base slows production and disables base defenses and superweapons, which turn almost pitch-black. The same thing happens if any building is voluntarily powered down, along with an icon to denote it. Vehicles under the effect of an EMP also darken.
 Gray Is Useless / int_23ff591
featureApplicability
1.0
 Gray Is Useless / int_23ff591
featureConfidence
1.0
 Command & Conquer 3: Tiberium Wars (Video Game)
hasFeature
Gray Is Useless / int_23ff591
 Gray Is Useless / int_2a0952c3
type
Gray Is Useless
 Gray Is Useless / int_2a0952c3
comment
Space Station 13: Assistants are known for their signature gray uniforms and a lack of assigned job, and typically are useless at best and generally disruptive at worst, not to mention being frequently dismissed as noobs or just plain old griefers.
 Gray Is Useless / int_2a0952c3
featureApplicability
1.0
 Gray Is Useless / int_2a0952c3
featureConfidence
1.0
 Space Station 13 (Video Game)
hasFeature
Gray Is Useless / int_2a0952c3
 Gray Is Useless / int_3c1f955d
type
Gray Is Useless
 Gray Is Useless / int_3c1f955d
comment
Yandere Simulator: Unavailable chat options when talking to people have the buttons grayed out.
 Gray Is Useless / int_3c1f955d
featureApplicability
1.0
 Gray Is Useless / int_3c1f955d
featureConfidence
1.0
 Yandere Simulator (Video Game)
hasFeature
Gray Is Useless / int_3c1f955d
 Gray Is Useless / int_49ad83ee
type
Gray Is Useless
 Gray Is Useless / int_49ad83ee
comment
In World of Warcraft, poor-quality items, which are usually Shop Fodder, have their names in gray text.
 Gray Is Useless / int_49ad83ee
featureApplicability
1.0
 Gray Is Useless / int_49ad83ee
featureConfidence
1.0
 World of Warcraft (Video Game)
hasFeature
Gray Is Useless / int_49ad83ee
 Gray Is Useless / int_5291b444
type
Gray Is Useless
 Gray Is Useless / int_5291b444
comment
Murder by Numbers (2020):
If all of the Investigate options have been used, then the option is darkened and unusable.
If a Question dialogue option has been seen already, it's written in grey, but can be selected to hear it again.
 Gray Is Useless / int_5291b444
featureApplicability
1.0
 Gray Is Useless / int_5291b444
featureConfidence
1.0
 Murder by Numbers (2020) (Visual Novel)
hasFeature
Gray Is Useless / int_5291b444
 Gray Is Useless / int_56fb2dc5
type
Gray Is Useless
 Gray Is Useless / int_56fb2dc5
comment
Dead of Winter: "Helpless survivors" are represented as grey silhouette tokens and don't do any work for the Colony, whereas the player characters have names and full-colour portraits.
 Gray Is Useless / int_56fb2dc5
featureApplicability
1.0
 Gray Is Useless / int_56fb2dc5
featureConfidence
1.0
 Dead of Winter (Tabletop Game)
hasFeature
Gray Is Useless / int_56fb2dc5
 Gray Is Useless / int_5d321bc8
type
Gray Is Useless
 Gray Is Useless / int_5d321bc8
comment
Factorio allows the player to construct devices, even when there isn't sufficient fuel or power to operate them. One could build a nuclear reactor if one has the materials, but it will sit there, grey and useless, until sufficient uranium is obtained to energize it. At that point, the reactor will glow neon green (running normally) or golden yellow (overheating pending explosion).
 Gray Is Useless / int_5d321bc8
featureApplicability
1.0
 Gray Is Useless / int_5d321bc8
featureConfidence
1.0
 Factorio (Video Game)
hasFeature
Gray Is Useless / int_5d321bc8
 Gray Is Useless / int_645d2bd1
type
Gray Is Useless
 Gray Is Useless / int_645d2bd1
comment
Warbreaker: The Awakening magic system uses color as fuel: when you Awaken something you need to be touching something colorful, which fades to grey as part of the Awakening. This also means that items that are already grey can't be used to fuel Awakenings.
 Gray Is Useless / int_645d2bd1
featureApplicability
1.0
 Gray Is Useless / int_645d2bd1
featureConfidence
1.0
 Warbreaker
hasFeature
Gray Is Useless / int_645d2bd1
 Gray Is Useless / int_69daf29
type
Gray Is Useless
 Gray Is Useless / int_69daf29
comment
Grrl Power: In "#499 ? Inopportunity", Syndey notices that a new function has been activated:
 Gray Is Useless / int_69daf29
featureApplicability
1.0
 Gray Is Useless / int_69daf29
featureConfidence
1.0
 Grrl Power (Webcomic)
hasFeature
Gray Is Useless / int_69daf29
 Gray Is Useless / int_6c1234ed
type
Gray Is Useless
 Gray Is Useless / int_6c1234ed
comment
In the health screen, Dwarf Fortress grays out one's missing body parts.
 Gray Is Useless / int_6c1234ed
featureApplicability
1.0
 Gray Is Useless / int_6c1234ed
featureConfidence
1.0
 Dwarf Fortress (Video Game)
hasFeature
Gray Is Useless / int_6c1234ed
 Gray Is Useless / int_6cb2d709
type
Gray Is Useless
 Gray Is Useless / int_6cb2d709
comment
The Harry Potter fanfiction Core Threads represents each person's magical core as a ball of colorful threads. Muggles, who are incapable of doing magic, have gray threads.
 Gray Is Useless / int_6cb2d709
featureApplicability
1.0
 Gray Is Useless / int_6cb2d709
featureConfidence
1.0
 Harry Potter (Franchise)
hasFeature
Gray Is Useless / int_6cb2d709
 Gray Is Useless / int_6db5698
type
Gray Is Useless
 Gray Is Useless / int_6db5698
comment
Transistor: Locked slots for function configuration are noted by a grey plate of (presumed) metal with a padlock icon on it.
 Gray Is Useless / int_6db5698
featureApplicability
1.0
 Gray Is Useless / int_6db5698
featureConfidence
1.0
 Transistor (Video Game)
hasFeature
Gray Is Useless / int_6db5698
 Gray Is Useless / int_6fe3e8a7
type
Gray Is Useless
 Gray Is Useless / int_6fe3e8a7
comment
On Neopets, Grey Faeries are Faeries who have lost their magic and wings, and are rendered sad and unable to do much.
 Gray Is Useless / int_6fe3e8a7
featureApplicability
1.0
 Gray Is Useless / int_6fe3e8a7
featureConfidence
1.0
 Neopets (Website)
hasFeature
Gray Is Useless / int_6fe3e8a7
 Gray Is Useless / int_7f87dafc
type
Gray Is Useless
 Gray Is Useless / int_7f87dafc
comment
Mobile Suit Gundam SEED and Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Destiny: Mobile Suits with Phase Shift Armor depend on the color of their activated armor to determine its strength and power consumption. If the armor is deactivated from the suit being on standby in a hangar or the battery running low on power, the only color the armor will have is gray and the machine will be left vulnerable.
 Gray Is Useless / int_7f87dafc
featureApplicability
1.0
 Gray Is Useless / int_7f87dafc
featureConfidence
1.0
 Mobile Suit Gundam SEED
hasFeature
Gray Is Useless / int_7f87dafc
 Gray Is Useless / int_85b79d17
type
Gray Is Useless
 Gray Is Useless / int_85b79d17
comment
Black Mirror: In "Nosedive", as part of the deconstruction of Good Colours, Evil Colours, Ryan, who is portrayed as lazy, and Susan, who is a 1.4, both wear gray, contrasting with the bright pastel colors of the setting and the clothes worn by most characters.
 Gray Is Useless / int_85b79d17
featureApplicability
1.0
 Gray Is Useless / int_85b79d17
featureConfidence
1.0
 Black Mirror
hasFeature
Gray Is Useless / int_85b79d17
 Gray Is Useless / int_8b81d307
type
Gray Is Useless
 Gray Is Useless / int_8b81d307
comment
Among Us: Players have buttons on the bottom right of their screen to perform necessary functions. If they are not allowed to use said functions (i.e. an Impostor's "Kill" function is on cooldown), the buttons will be grayed out.
 Gray Is Useless / int_8b81d307
featureApplicability
1.0
 Gray Is Useless / int_8b81d307
featureConfidence
1.0
 Among Us (Video Game)
hasFeature
Gray Is Useless / int_8b81d307
 Gray Is Useless / int_931fc665
type
Gray Is Useless
 Gray Is Useless / int_931fc665
comment
In Metal Warriors, undamaged mech suits are brightly colored, but when they get more and more damaged, their color fades. Empty mech suits are gray, and change color depending on which player enters one (players are either red or blue in multiplayer, and AI enemies in single-player mode are purple).
 Gray Is Useless / int_931fc665
featureApplicability
1.0
 Gray Is Useless / int_931fc665
featureConfidence
1.0
 Metal Warriors (Video Game)
hasFeature
Gray Is Useless / int_931fc665
 Gray Is Useless / int_93a15df3
type
Gray Is Useless
 Gray Is Useless / int_93a15df3
comment
Them's Fightin' Herds: No power in each character's magic meter slots is represented by empty gray bars.
 Gray Is Useless / int_93a15df3
featureApplicability
1.0
 Gray Is Useless / int_93a15df3
featureConfidence
1.0
 Them's Fightin' Herds (Video Game)
hasFeature
Gray Is Useless / int_93a15df3
 Gray Is Useless / int_9a8bf274
type
Gray Is Useless
 Gray Is Useless / int_9a8bf274
comment
Command & Conquer:
In some games, unpowered structures turn very dark gray, sometimes with a lightning symbol above them. Starting with Command & Conquer 3: Tiberium Wars, exceeding the power supply to your base slows production and disables base defenses and superweapons, which turn almost pitch-black. The same thing happens if any building is voluntarily powered down, along with an icon to denote it. Vehicles under the effect of an EMP also darken.
The Global Conquest mode in the PC version of Kane's Wrath uses this for cities to denote that the population is outright decimated by the Scrin rather than the cold-to-hot colors indicating the level of panic and unrest.
 Gray Is Useless / int_9a8bf274
featureApplicability
1.0
 Gray Is Useless / int_9a8bf274
featureConfidence
1.0
 Command & Conquer (Video Game)
hasFeature
Gray Is Useless / int_9a8bf274
 Gray Is Useless / int_afbc40fb
type
Gray Is Useless
 Gray Is Useless / int_afbc40fb
comment
Prayer of the Faithless: Scrolling onto characters not in the main party, when checking party members' abilities, or statuses, has the non-mains be in greys instead of the colored version like the active party.
 Gray Is Useless / int_afbc40fb
featureApplicability
1.0
 Gray Is Useless / int_afbc40fb
featureConfidence
1.0
 Prayer of the Faithless (Video Game)
hasFeature
Gray Is Useless / int_afbc40fb
 Gray Is Useless / int_bdf6d43e
type
Gray Is Useless
 Gray Is Useless / int_bdf6d43e
comment
Project × Zone: If a playable unit falls in battle, its sprite in the map takes on a dark grey coloration.
 Gray Is Useless / int_bdf6d43e
featureApplicability
1.0
 Gray Is Useless / int_bdf6d43e
featureConfidence
1.0
 Project × Zone (Video Game)
hasFeature
Gray Is Useless / int_bdf6d43e
 Gray Is Useless / int_c1f68d22
type
Gray Is Useless
 Gray Is Useless / int_c1f68d22
comment
Open Sorcery: Options that are impossible are in grey text instead of the orange of usable ones.
 Gray Is Useless / int_c1f68d22
featureApplicability
1.0
 Gray Is Useless / int_c1f68d22
featureConfidence
1.0
 Open Sorcery (Video Game)
hasFeature
Gray Is Useless / int_c1f68d22
 Gray Is Useless / int_c708dd91
type
Gray Is Useless
 Gray Is Useless / int_c708dd91
comment
In de Blob, Raydians who have their color drained by INKT are turned into constantly-depressed Graydians. Thankfully, Blob can restore their color and happiness by rolling over them.
 Gray Is Useless / int_c708dd91
featureApplicability
1.0
 Gray Is Useless / int_c708dd91
featureConfidence
1.0
 de Blob (Video Game)
hasFeature
Gray Is Useless / int_c708dd91
 Gray Is Useless / int_cab3141e
type
Gray Is Useless
 Gray Is Useless / int_cab3141e
comment
Shantae and the Seven Sirens: Sold out items in the Item Shops have their names turn from white to gray.
 Gray Is Useless / int_cab3141e
featureApplicability
1.0
 Gray Is Useless / int_cab3141e
featureConfidence
1.0
 Shantae and the Seven Sirens (Video Game)
hasFeature
Gray Is Useless / int_cab3141e
 Gray Is Useless / int_cc8db4fb
type
Gray Is Useless
 Gray Is Useless / int_cc8db4fb
comment
In Merge Dragons, dead land is grayed out, and you have to match and activate Life Essence in order to heal it. Matching items with those on dead land can also heal it, and this is the only way to heal the darkest corners of the earth.
 Gray Is Useless / int_cc8db4fb
featureApplicability
1.0
 Gray Is Useless / int_cc8db4fb
featureConfidence
1.0
 Merge Dragons (Video Game)
hasFeature
Gray Is Useless / int_cc8db4fb
 Gray Is Useless / int_ce615615
type
Gray Is Useless
 Gray Is Useless / int_ce615615
comment
The Fossil Fighters series grays out combat actions that can't be used due to insufficient FP.
 Gray Is Useless / int_ce615615
featureApplicability
1.0
 Gray Is Useless / int_ce615615
featureConfidence
1.0
 Fossil Fighters (Video Game)
hasFeature
Gray Is Useless / int_ce615615
 Gray Is Useless / int_d57d722e
type
Gray Is Useless
 Gray Is Useless / int_d57d722e
comment
Ōkami: If the player counters certain attacks with specific Brush Techniques, the enemy will be stunned momentarily, which is represented by them turning grey and gaining a pair of Circling Birdies above their head.
 Gray Is Useless / int_d57d722e
featureApplicability
1.0
 Gray Is Useless / int_d57d722e
featureConfidence
1.0
 Ōkami (Video Game)
hasFeature
Gray Is Useless / int_d57d722e
 Gray Is Useless / int_e5d5d23c
type
Gray Is Useless
 Gray Is Useless / int_e5d5d23c
comment
Doom has the numbers 2 through 7 on the status bar that represent the various weapons Doomguy can use. Doomguy always starts a level with the pistol, #2, but must collect better weapons in his travels. These corresponding numbers will be in dull grey until Doomguy obtains that weapon, although he can collect the ammunition for it beforehand.
 Gray Is Useless / int_e5d5d23c
featureApplicability
1.0
 Gray Is Useless / int_e5d5d23c
featureConfidence
1.0
 Doom (Video Game)
hasFeature
Gray Is Useless / int_e5d5d23c
 Gray Is Useless / int_e5d73aa6
type
Gray Is Useless
 Gray Is Useless / int_e5d73aa6
comment
In Grow Island, if the Onky man is rejected by the woman, he'll fall on the ground, turn gray, and will stop moving until the game is over. His inactivity hinders the game's progression.
 Gray Is Useless / int_e5d73aa6
featureApplicability
1.0
 Gray Is Useless / int_e5d73aa6
featureConfidence
1.0
 Grow (Video Game)
hasFeature
Gray Is Useless / int_e5d73aa6
 Gray Is Useless / int_e8178fd6
type
Gray Is Useless
 Gray Is Useless / int_e8178fd6
comment
In Wordle, letters that are not in the word will turn grey after the player attempts to use them.
 Gray Is Useless / int_e8178fd6
featureApplicability
1.0
 Gray Is Useless / int_e8178fd6
featureConfidence
1.0
 Wordle (Video Game)
hasFeature
Gray Is Useless / int_e8178fd6
 Gray Is Useless / int_f2b34d5e
type
Gray Is Useless
 Gray Is Useless / int_f2b34d5e
comment
In the Burger Shop series, already completed orders will be grayed out, to prevent filling out the same thing twice.
 Gray Is Useless / int_f2b34d5e
featureApplicability
1.0
 Gray Is Useless / int_f2b34d5e
featureConfidence
1.0
 Burger Shop (Video Game)
hasFeature
Gray Is Useless / int_f2b34d5e
 Gray Is Useless / int_f724b70d
type
Gray Is Useless
 Gray Is Useless / int_f724b70d
comment
Code Lyoko: In "Sabotage", Ulrich's virtual avatar is affected by a glitch that turns him black and white. While in this state, he is unable to fight, as all his attacks pass through enemies harmlessly.
 Gray Is Useless / int_f724b70d
featureApplicability
1.0
 Gray Is Useless / int_f724b70d
featureConfidence
1.0
 Code Lyoko
hasFeature
Gray Is Useless / int_f724b70d

The following is a list of statements referring to the current page from other pages.

 Gray Is Useless
processingCategory2
Gray Tropes
 Mobile Suit Gundam SEED / int_96e6522e
type
Gray Is Useless
 Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Destiny / int_96e6522e
type
Gray Is Useless
 Loud Visions (Fanfic) / int_96e6522e
type
Gray Is Useless
 Dead of Winter (Tabletop Game) / int_96e6522e
type
Gray Is Useless
 Among Us (Video Game) / int_96e6522e
type
Gray Is Useless
 Burger Shop (Video Game) / int_96e6522e
type
Gray Is Useless
 Doom (Video Game) / int_96e6522e
type
Gray Is Useless
 Factorio (Video Game) / int_96e6522e
type
Gray Is Useless
 Fossil Fighters (Video Game) / int_96e6522e
type
Gray Is Useless
 Freedom Wars (Video Game) / int_96e6522e
type
Gray Is Useless
 Fuck You (Video Game) / int_96e6522e
type
Gray Is Useless
 Grow (Video Game) / int_96e6522e
type
Gray Is Useless
 Ōkami (Video Game) / int_96e6522e
type
Gray Is Useless
 Open Sorcery (Video Game) / int_96e6522e
type
Gray Is Useless
 Project × Zone (Video Game) / int_96e6522e
type
Gray Is Useless
 Roadwarden (Video Game) / int_96e6522e
type
Gray Is Useless
 RollerCoaster Tycoon (Video Game) / int_96e6522e
type
Gray Is Useless
 The First Olympic Tidy Up (Video Game) / int_96e6522e
type
Gray Is Useless
 Them's Fightin' Herds (Video Game) / int_96e6522e
type
Gray Is Useless
 Transistor (Video Game) / int_96e6522e
type
Gray Is Useless
 Yandere Simulator (Video Game) / int_96e6522e
type
Gray Is Useless
 Grrl Power (Webcomic) / int_96e6522e
type
Gray Is Useless
 Code Lyoko / int_96e6522e
type
Gray Is Useless