It's common for people to see a mechanic in a game and think that it would make a good addition to their game. For me, I love the original Deus Ex's mechanics of augment slots that you could choose how to fill depending on your playing style.
The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun. - Ecclesiastes 1:9
But we need to be careful not to just steal an idea. RPG Maker blog has a post on this topic:
http://blog.rpgmakerweb.com/tutorials/on-the-shoulders-of-giants/
Don’t rip things off. Examine, adapt, create, and make it your own. Your mechanic should play and feel different. And never, ever forget the giants whose shoulders you are standing on.
It reminds me of the article about Game Choices a couple of weeks ago actually.
Anyway, back to Deus Ex. My game world (simple fantasy RPG) can't exactly use augments, but instead I am hoping to capture the feel by giving each playable character a skill that you can level up with experience points based on how you like to play. Quick, light attacks? Strong, slower attacks? Status effects? Your choice!
What game has a mechanic that you personally love and would use in your own game (if you are making one)? How are you changing it to match your game world?
