# 7. RPG Editor Tooling Tips
Part of [[Stat-Driven RPG Systems]]. Requires Unity 6000.5+. Previous: [[6.Saving Stats and Character Sheet UI]]. General editor tooling is covered in [[Custom Inspectors and Editor Tooling]].
Balancing an RPG is mostly iteration, so tools that shorten the edit-and-check loop pay for themselves fast.
## 7.1 Level curve preview inspector
This custom inspector shows the XP table from the curve, so designers see real numbers while they drag keys. It uses UI Toolkit (`CreateInspectorGUI`), which is the default for custom inspectors in Unity 6.
```csharp
// Editor/LevelCurveEditor.cs
using UnityEditor;
using UnityEditor.UIElements;
using UnityEngine.UIElements;
[CustomEditor(typeof(LevelCurve))]
public class LevelCurveEditor : Editor
{
public override VisualElement CreateInspectorGUI()
{
var root = new VisualElement();
InspectorElement.FillDefaultInspector(root, serializedObject, this);
var table = new Label { style = { whiteSpace = WhiteSpace.Normal, marginTop = 8, unityFontStyleAndWeight = UnityEngine.FontStyle.Normal } };
root.Add(new Label("XP table preview") { style = { unityFontStyleAndWeight = UnityEngine.FontStyle.Bold, marginTop = 10 } });
root.Add(table);
void Refresh()
{
var c = (LevelCurve)target;
var sb = new System.Text.StringBuilder();
for (int lvl = 1; lvl <= c.maxLevel; lvl++)
{
long total = c.TotalXpForLevel(lvl);
long step = lvl > 1 ? total - c.TotalXpForLevel(lvl - 1) : 0;
sb.AppendLine(
quot;Lv {lvl,3}: total {total,10:N0} (+{step:N0})");
}
table.text = sb.ToString();
}
Refresh();
root.TrackSerializedObjectValue(serializedObject, _ => Refresh());
return root;
}
}
```
## 7.2 Validation menu
This menu item finds common data mistakes: derived-stat cycles, items without ids, duplicate item ids, and classes missing a primary stat.
```csharp
// Editor/RpgValidator.cs
using System.Collections.Generic;
using UnityEditor;
using UnityEngine;
public static class RpgValidator
{
[MenuItem("Tools/RPG/Validate Data")]
public static void Validate()
{
int problems = 0;
var items = Load<ItemDefinition>();
var seen = new Dictionary<string, ItemDefinition>();
foreach (var i in items)
{
if (string.IsNullOrEmpty(i.id)) { Debug.LogError(quot;Item without id: {i.name}", i); problems++; continue; }
if (seen.TryGetValue(i.id, out var other)) { Debug.LogError(quot;Duplicate item id '{i.id}': {i.name} and {other.name}", i); problems++; }
else seen[i.id] = i;
}
var formulas = Load<DerivedStatFormula>();
var graph = new Dictionary<StatDefinition, List<StatDefinition>>();
foreach (var f in formulas)
{
if (!f.output) continue;
graph[f.output] = new List<StatDefinition>();
foreach (var t in f.terms) if (t.input) graph[f.output].Add(t.input);
}
foreach (var start in graph.Keys)
if (HasCycle(start, graph, new HashSet<StatDefinition>()))
{ Debug.LogError(quot;Derived stat cycle involving {start.name}", start); problems++; }
var stats = Load<StatDefinition>();
foreach (var c in Load<CharacterClass>())
foreach (var s in stats)
if (!s.isDerived && !c.baseStats.Exists(b => b.stat == s))
{ Debug.LogWarning(quot;Class {c.name} has no base value for {s.name}", c); problems++; }
Debug.Log(problems == 0 ? "RPG data OK" : quot;RPG data: {problems} problem(s)");
}
static bool HasCycle(StatDefinition node, Dictionary<StatDefinition, List<StatDefinition>> g, HashSet<StatDefinition> path)
{
if (!path.Add(node)) return true;
if (g.TryGetValue(node, out var deps))
foreach (var d in deps) if (HasCycle(d, g, path)) return true;
path.Remove(node);
return false;
}
static List<T> Load<T>() where T : Object
{
var list = new List<T>();
foreach (var guid in AssetDatabase.FindAssets(quot;t:{typeof(T).Name}"))
{
var a = AssetDatabase.LoadAssetAtPath<T>(AssetDatabase.GUIDToAssetPath(guid));
if (a) list.Add(a);
}
return list;
}
}
```
## 7.3 More tips
- **Fill the RpgDatabase automatically.** Add a `[MenuItem("Tools/RPG/Rebuild Database")]` that runs `AssetDatabase.FindAssets` for each type and assigns the lists, so no one has to drag items in by hand.
- **Live stat debugger.** Put a `[ContextMenu("Dump Stats")]` on `CharacterStats` that logs each stat with its base, modifiers, and sources. It's quick to add and answers most "why is my damage 3?" questions.
- **Balance in a spreadsheet, import as assets.** For dozens of items, keep a CSV (`id,name,slot,minDmg,maxDmg,STR,DEX…`) and write an importer that creates or updates `ItemDefinition` assets. Use `AssetDatabase.CreateAsset` for new ones and `EditorUtility.SetDirty` plus `AssetDatabase.SaveAssets` for edits.
- **Simulate fights in Edit Mode.** Because `DamageCalculator` is pure, an editor window can run 10,000 simulated hits and show average time-to-kill for each level pairing.
- **Show expected DPS in item inspectors** using `DamageCalculator.ExpectedDamage`.
- **Don't edit ScriptableObjects at runtime** to "test a buff". Use the `BuffController` so you aren't left with dirty assets afterward.