Alternative Build Paths
What if some items had different paths you could build into it? You choose one OR the other but still end up with the same item at the end.
Ex. let's say you're building Morello. You build the codex always, but get a choice of building the cooldown, mana or more AP part right away
Whichever one you build, you get locked out of the others and just go on to finish the item with the recipe cost
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CD/AP
CD/Mana xD Its not into 3 pieces like you're saying, but the clarity is still there.