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[tergem]

First, what I mean by Non-Aesthetic player game object customization is when a player customizes something in a fashion that actually has an effect on gameplay/game mechanics.

This could be as simple as letting choosing branching level-ups (BoDVII, Fallout), or as complex as letting them design their own machinery and mechanics (Dwarf Fortress, Minecraft). However I am more concerned about complete creation of things (such as designing a new sword, ranging from controlling its length to its metal construction: _{I am not planning something like this, I am curious what ideas get made by the TIGS hivemind}), but these questions apply to all types of customization.

1.) What are the Pros/Cons for allowing a player to forge their own path?
2.) Does non-aesthetic customization have any value for gameplay over just having a more varied selection?

[rivon]

Pros:
- cool

Cons:
- hard to execute it right, maybe even execute it at all (depends on the type of upgrades/customizations)
- balancing issues

[ஒழுக்கின்மை (Paul Eres)]

i liked how you could customize units in sid meier's alpha centauri, was the best part of that game

i don't think balance is *that* much of a problem if you make each aspect of a customizable object have a type of "cost" or other limits

for instance, the classes in final fantasy tactics are customizable in that you can equip them with skills and abilities they learned while playing other classes, but only a couple of them, not all of them (ff5 and ffx-2 did variations of this)

[zovirl]

You asked whether customization / creation can add value. I think games like x-plane derive their primary value from this.

[Moczan]

I always loved games with a lot of customization. From simple thing like class system in RPGs to robot building in Armored Core. I'm a big fan of customization, so if your game has a lot of stuff and stats to play with, it can even have a lot of grind and it won't bore me at all.

[LiquidAsh]

One game I think does a great job with this is Shadowrun one the XBOX360.  The different magic and tech abilities can be combined in different ways to facilitate many different play styles/strategies.  One of the hard things about designing a game like this (which shadowrun did particularly well) is designing levels that provide many opportunities for each of the likely strategies a player might employ.

[ஒழுக்கின்மை (Paul Eres)]

there's a shadowrun game for the xbox? i must be missing a lot. the only ones i knew about were the ones for snes and genesis

[LiquidAsh]

It's very different from the old RPGs; it's a team based FPS.  But still very good IMO!