I put color in the description of the object. This works well for the object list in the room and for the inventory but not for Get's (and maybe others) default message.
shovel : object "a plastic <shovel<5>>" start_at = "inside_cave" ;
torch : object "a <torch<5>>" start_at = "inside_cave" ;
you see:
a plastic shovel
a torch
>GET TORCH
You take the (torch(5)) ** bug? **
You are carrying:
a torch