# An idea for generic custom creation? **URL:** \ **Category:** The Drawing Board\ **Created:** [November 21, 2018, 1:30pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/an-idea-for-generic-custom-creation/17562 "2018-11-21T13:30:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1

**Author:** ![Melen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Melen](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/Melen)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2018, 1:30pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/an-idea-for-generic-custom-creation/17562/1 "2018-11-21T13:30:30Z")

I was thinking recently about an idea I had back when I first discovered this game and decided I’d just ask everyone on the feasibility of adding it and if it would have any support. What if during creation, there was perhaps a 4th option for point allocation, where you could select starting gear (from a generic list) to come out of the gates with the kit you chose yourself? I’m not talking loading up heavy power armor, the nastiest weapons out there & every CBM in existence, I mean more like maybe you like the lumberjack class but would rather start with a chainsaw instead of axe. Or default to survivor starting gear & can spend points/creation bucks/whatever to change or upgrade an item to something more of your choosing. I know it’s not a groundbreaking change, but a little customization could lead to more engagement/immersion from the get go. Thoughts? Comments? Critiques? ---

**Author:** ![AskaHope](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.cataclysmdda.org/askahope/32/6691_2.png) [@AskaHope](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/AskaHope)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2018, 5:01pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/an-idea-for-generic-custom-creation/17562/2 "2018-11-21T17:01:21Z")

The only thing I would want is a wrench. ---

**Author:** ![Erk](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.cataclysmdda.org/erk/32/3871_2.png) [@Erk](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/Erk)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2018, 5:08pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/an-idea-for-generic-custom-creation/17562/3 "2018-11-21T17:08:56Z")

For me it’s a welder. i can’t seem to ever find the damn things. My current mid-late game character has laser rifles, post-threshold mutations, and a host of bionics, but has only found a single welder this whole time. ---

**Author:** ![AskaHope](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.cataclysmdda.org/askahope/32/6691_2.png) [@AskaHope](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/AskaHope)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2018, 5:27pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/an-idea-for-generic-custom-creation/17562/4 "2018-11-21T17:27:05Z")

> [@Erk](#): > > For me it’s a welder. i can’t seem to ever find the damn things I usually craft the makeshift welder and put some car batteries in it. I always fill the nearest solar car w car batteries for my crafting needs. > [@Erk](#): > > but has only found a single welder this whole time. Once I looted an entire town and couldn’t find a single wrench. I had to craft EVERY tool I needed to forge a wrench myself. A few days later, found 2 toolboxes. ---

**Author:** ![Erk](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.cataclysmdda.org/erk/32/3871_2.png) [@Erk](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/Erk)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2018, 5:29pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/an-idea-for-generic-custom-creation/17562/5 "2018-11-21T17:29:03Z")

Reminds me of that let’s play fellow who spent five game sessions hunting a screwdriver ---

**Author:** ![kevin.granade](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.cataclysmdda.org/kevin.granade/32/1316_2.png) [@kevin.granade](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/kevin.granade)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2018, 12:01am UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/an-idea-for-generic-custom-creation/17562/6 "2018-11-22T00:01:19Z")

This has come up a number of times before (waaaay before, like 5 years ago), and the problem is it’s basically impossible to balance properly. Various items are either worthless or the most valuable thing _ever_ depending on what the players plans for them are. The compromise we struck was the professions system, it’s possible to balance a set of gear and a set of traits even though assigning costs to individual items is basically impossible. ---

**Author:** ![Melen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Melen](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/Melen)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2018, 12:23am UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/an-idea-for-generic-custom-creation/17562/7 "2018-11-22T00:23:20Z")

Fair enough. It was just an idea I had when I first found this game, as I said, and I thought I’d put it out there. By the way, huge kudos for all the blood, sweat and tears into this project. ---

**Author:** ![kevin.granade](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.cataclysmdda.org/kevin.granade/32/1316_2.png) [@kevin.granade](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/kevin.granade)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2018, 8:31pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/an-idea-for-generic-custom-creation/17562/8 "2018-11-22T20:31:11Z")

4 posts were split to a new topic: [Dynamic start scenario](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/dynamic-start-scenario/17589) ---

**Author:** ![Erk](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.cataclysmdda.org/erk/32/3871_2.png) [@Erk](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/Erk)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2018, 5:06pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/an-idea-for-generic-custom-creation/17562/9 "2018-11-22T17:06:39Z")

I agree that this is a system the game can likely do without… Professions mostly accomplishes it. That said, I think the way to balance it would be to have a very short list of starting level equipment available. Basically, if it can be looted from a zombie maybe you can get it at the start for 1 point. I’m thinking toolbox, welder, wood axe, glock 19, a few things like that. Still, while I can see how to balance it, I don’t really see why it is necessary