Line #18 Main/RandomlyGeneratedLoot


1	This trope covers equipment which is [[ProceduralGeneration generated by the game engine]] [[GameplayRandomization using random numbers]] rather than being hard-coded into the game. Obviously the algorithms used for this vary, but usually involve some combination of:
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3	* A list of "basic" templates from which the unique weapons are derived.
4	* Ranges for calculating the stats (this might entail a maximum and/or minimum number[[note]]e.g. No matter what number the RNG produces, attack will be rounded up to X or capped at Y if it falls outside that range.[[/note]] or using a specific modifier[[note]]e.g. After the RNG returns a base value, the attack modifier for this weapon is +X or multiplied by Y.X[[/note]]).
5	* Various traits or special effects which have a random chance of being added ([[FlamingSword Elemental damage]] is a popular one).
6	* Some sort of system for generating a name for each unique variant (e.g. a Plothook might be called the Plothook of Troping if it has a bonus to Troping, a Plothook of Flaming if it deals fire damage, or a Swift Plothook if the "attack speed" stat rolls higher than average). Compare TieredByName, which tends to use a similar naming convention for enemies.
7	* "Rare" variants, which are weighted to have higher stats and more special effects than other Random Loot of the same level (often with multiple tiers and ColourCodedForYourConvenience).
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9	Some games make this one of (if not the) central mechanics (particularly the {{Roguelike}} subgenre, the earliest of which are the UrExample of this trope), with the main draw for playing the game being to find better and better loot (often with an ExcusePlot). In other games, it's less important, but prevents the player being bored when all they can get from RandomDrops is the same piece of loot (once you've got the +5 Plothook of Troping there's no need to keep fighting those GoddamnBats or DemonicSpiders unless you're forced to and there's no real thrill from finding it again). Essentially, "find new loot" gives the player a short term objective to be rewarded with while they pursue the game's longer term goals.
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11	The downside, of course, is that randomness is the enemy of skill development. To get good at something--a FightingGame, a Roguelike, TabletopGame/{{chess}}--you need to do it over and over, learning as you do about patterns and behaviors. Eventually, you reach a point where you can guess what's going to happen next, and what to do under those circumstances. Randomly generated loot can slow down this process because one of the things you need to know about are your own character's capabilities--and when those are constantly changing because you're constantly swapping out new equipment, you can't establish a baseline and will have trouble learning to play or fight to the best of your abilities. (This is a big reason why games like ''VideoGame/TeamFortress2'' have random elements, like {{Critical Hit}}s, turned off during high-level TournamentPlay.)
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13	This trope has the odd side effect of invoking VideoGameCaringPotential: the loot that emerges from the RandomNumberGod can have a lot of personality, and it's not unusual for players to get attached to their various pieces of gear. Of course, no matter how great your gun is ({{S\|hockAndAwe}}parking [[VideoGame/DeadSpace3 Shootbanger]] of [[LuckilyMyShieldWillProtectMe +5 Fortitude]], [[HyperspaceArsenal +6 Grenade capacity]], +3 Socks), there's always something greater awaiting you in the next dungeon, and to exploit it you'll need to discard [[ICallItVera Vera]] or whatever without a second thought. Remember, If every piece of gear in the game is awesome, then every piece is BetterOffSold.
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15	When this is done with levels, see RandomlyGeneratedLevels. Compare and contrast DesignItYourselfEquipment (when the player can control the stats themselves), SocketedEquipment (where the player can determine bonuses themselves) and the SwordOfPlotAdvancement (which is usually fixed). Subtrope of RandomDrop.
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17	!!Examples:
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19	[[foldercontrol]]
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21	[[folder:Action-Adventure]]
22	* ''VideoGame/ANNOMutationem'': In the Mysterious Console DLC, which occurs in a {{roguelike}} dungeon, entering certain rooms or [[KillEnemiesToOpen defeating all enemies]] will cause an item chest to fall from above and give out a random reward of either being a new weapon to utilize or health / ammo for current weapons.
23	[[/folder]]
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25	[[folder:Fighting]]
26	* ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBrosForNintendo3DSAndWiiU'' has equipment, which a fighter can equip three of, each of which increases one stat, and decreases another, and sometimes giving another advantage or penalty. Anyone can equip badges, but there are other types that only a few fighters (or just one) can use.
27	[[/folder]]
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29	[[folder:First Person Shooter]]
30	* The ''VideoGame/{{Borderlands}}'' franchise uses a system where its equipment (guns, class mods, shields, grenade mods and, in the sequel, artifacts) is built up from randomly chosen parts which have different traits (although the player can only see this in the stats and the [[GunPorn unique model]] this produces). It also has several manufacturers, who all have their own unique gun parts and special effects (as opposed to simply being slightly different colours and having a few stat differences). (even more so in the sequel). Naturally, there are also more potential combinations/parts.
31	* ''VideoGame/ShadowWarrior2'' has randomized upgrade gems and medallions that alter weapon/player stats and add special effects to spells and weapons, the latter of which remain fixed and consistent throughout the game apart from directly (and permanently) upgrading their base stats with Masamune Orbs.
32	[[/folder]]
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34	[[folder:MMORPG]]
35	* ''VideoGame/PerfectWorld'': When a player [[ItemCrafting crafts an item]], it uses a template with randomly generated stats.
36	* ''VideoGame/TricksterOnline'' uses this trope for [[RareRandomDrop Boss Unique drops]], [[RandomDrop Master Equipment from non upgraded bosses]], equipment from the towers (both from hunting and drilling) and the common variants in the maps...
37	* ''VideoGame/WorldOfDungeons'': Most of the items are like this, and some players categorize them into 'families'.
38	* In ''VideoGame/StarTrekOnline'' items of rarity higher than "common" have a list of modifiers that can be added (uncommon gets one, rare gets two, very rare gets three). Some can be bought in particular configurations from vendors, but RandomDrops are procedurally generated. As of Season 9.5, equipment created through ItemCrafting also gets randomly-generated mods, a source of much frustration for players seeking "perfect" gear.
39	* The Sword of Procedural Generation you can get from Jick's Jar of Psychoses in ''VideoGame/KingdomOfLoathing'' is a parody of this. It has five special abilities, all of which are randomly chosen when you receive it. Oh, and only one to a player. Sadly, this led to a ''lot'' of special-snowflake whining from the StopHavingFunGuys.
40	[[/folder]]
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42	[[folder:Puzzle Game]]
43	* In ''VideoGame/LoveAndPies'', item generators can be upgraded to spawn more than one kind of item, and sometimes, it's the only way to get certain items.
44	[[/folder]]
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46	[[folder:Role Playing Game]]
47	* The ''VideoGame/MightAndMagic'' series is the TropeCodifier (starting with the third game). It featured individual pieces of equipment with random variations in stats, but special effects were mostly fixed to specific item types.
48	* ''VideoGame/{{Diablo}}'' uses a comparable system to Might and Magic, albeit ''six years later''.
49	* The ''VideoGame/{{Torchlight}}'' series uses a similar system to Might and Magic, with individual stat variations and SocketedEquipment.
50	* While not standard, this is possible when creating a module in ''VideoGame/NeverwinterNights'' 1 and 2 through using its scripting language. It is actually done in the "Diablo - The Dark Wanderer" multiplayer module (running on the Viking Northeast server) to imitate the way the Diablo game generates its loot.
51	** The ''Infinite Dungeons'' premium module has this kind of randomly generated loot drops.
52	* ''VideoGame/PathOfExile'' follows the ''Might and Magic'' model of basic templates with numerous prefixes and suffixes denoting special enchantments, plus multiple tiers of rarity/power.
53	** Some unique items have an extremely wide range of mods or mod values it can roll. For example, [[https://www.poewiki.net/wiki/Ventor%27s_Gamble Ventor's Gamble]] can roll life, item quantity/rarity, and resistance values as high as the best-rolled rare rings or put them in the negatives, and [[https://www.poewiki.net/wiki/Watcher%27s_Eye Watcher's Eye]] comes with 2 or 3 mods out of the 90 it can spawn with. While you can reroll number values using a Divine Orb, most items with random mods are stuck with whatever they get.
54	* ''VideoGame/DragonAgeII'' features this, resulting in regular random weapon drops routinely out-performing [[NominalImportance unique named weaponry]] that you have to gain through arduous side quests. This is stark contrast to ''VideoGame/DragonAgeOrigins'', where only the most basic loot was randomized and all the high-level equipment was predefined and obtained under specific circumstances.
55	* In the ''VideoGame/{{Fallout}}'' series, container loot is randomly generated upon entering a building or cell. Loot outside containers is static except for certain [[LevelLockedLoot level-based spawns]]. In ''VideoGame/{{Fallout 4}}'', Legendary enemies carry "rare" weapons or armor pieces with randomly chosen stat boosts or special effects.
56	* ''Franchise/TheElderScrolls'':
57	** Subverted throughout most of the series with non-unique enchanted items. For example, non-unique enchanted weapons follow the "X weapon of Y" naming format, IE [craftsmanship] weapon of [adjective corresponding to a power level] [enchantment effect] (or, for a specific example, Steel Sword of Greater [[AnIcePerson Frost]]). Depending on the specific game in question, these items can be [[RandomDrops dropped by NPC enemies]], found randomly in the world as loot, or found in the inventory of shops. In the games with strict LevelScaling, they will usually be scaled to the player's level.
58	** ''[[Videogame/TheElderScrollsIIIMorrowind Morrowind]]'' averts it with loot outside of containers, which is hand placed and never changes. Savvy veteran players can find [[DiscOneNuke extremely high level loot well before it will start being randomly generated]] in containers. Containers are instead filled from "leveled lists" of items, giving players a better chance of finding good loot at higher levels, with the [[LuckStat Luck Attribute]] also playing a role in what appears.
59	* In ''VideoGame/NiNoKuniIIRevenantKingdom'', every piece of equipment has 1 to 2 random auto-abilities.
60	* In ''VideoGame/Persona3'', certain pieces of equipment come with a random effect which range from increasing a character's stat to doing increased damage to certain enemies.
61	[[/folder]]
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63	[[folder:Roguelike]]
64	* ''VideoGame/{{Angband}}'' and its variants have ego items and random artifacts. One starts with a basic item, like a Hard Studded Leather [7,+0]. With a numeric bonus, that might be a Hard Studded Leather [7,+3]. If it gets an ego, it might be an Elven Hard Studded Leather (increases stealth, detects orcs), a Hard Studded Leather of Resist Fire (reduces fire damage), or with two egos, an Elven Hard Studded Leather of Resist Fire! If it becomes a random artifact (or randart), it receives a unique name, like ''the'' Elven Hard Studded Leather of Felorith, and some random powers. Because this is ''Angband'', most ego items and randarts look like average junk until the player identifies the items or pseudo-identifies their greatness by GutFeeling.
65	* ''Moria'', the ancestor of ''Angband'', has ego items but no artifacts.
66	* ''VideoGame/DungeonCrawl'' has ego items and random artifacts, like ''Angband''.
67	* ''VideoGame/{{Elona}}'' follows a system similar to ''Angband'', with regular items, like ''a steel helm'', magical items (''a conspicious steel helm'') which get 1-3 random modifiers, and randarts (''the historic helm <White Wrath>'') that have even more modifiers as well as higher stats than a base item of that type. Randarts generated cursed will usually get negative modifiers.
68	* ''VideoGame/NetHack'' makes only a few random tweaks. Some items get blessed or cursed, a few items get fireproof or rustproof, and a few items get a numeric bonus, like a stack of +1 darts.
69	* In ''VideoGame/{{Ragnarok\|Roguelike}}'', the only consistent loot in the game is that the village shop will always have a grappling hook and a pick axe, and Odin's tower (located just before the FinalBattle) has one of every item in the game. While powerful items are more likely to spawn on harder levels, it's possible to find items such as the wand of wishing on the very first level.
70	* In ''VideoGame/DwarfFortress'', everything about artifacts is random; who will have the mood, what kind, what they'll make, and every meticulous detail about it's styling. Items of lesser value brought by traders, or found/dropped in Adventurer mode, will be randomly generated within the local society's parameters, sometimes similarly detailed.
71	* ''VideoGame/FuryUnleashed'' is more gameplay focused, with random elemental effects, damage, attack speed, and mag size on your guns as gravy, but it's possible for the game to cough up a rocket launcher that walks like an assault rifle. Armor is all pre-baked though.
72	[[/folder]]
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74	[[folder:Sports Games]]
75	* In ''VideoGame/MaddenNFL'', the in-game [[DraftingMechanic draft classes]] are made up of randomly generated players to add to your team. Everything from their names to their height/weight to their attributes are randomly created. They qualify as "loot" in the sense that they are valuable resources to add to your team.
76	* In ''VideoGame/NCAAFootball'', like it's ''Madden'' sister series, has recruiting classes made up of randomly generated players to recruit to your team.
77	[[/folder]]
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79	[[folder:Strategy]]
80	* Creator/NipponIchi games usually make use of this trope;
81	** ''Franchise/{{Disgaea}}'': All the items you get have different stats, Even if they're the same items. (Example: One [[InfinityPlusOneSword Yoshitsuna]] has 3 more INT points then another Yoshitsuna, but 5 less STR points) You can make the items stronger with specialists and LevelGrinding in the Item World.
82	** ''VideoGame/PhantomBrave'' does the same thing as Disgaea, but has a different system for leveling (You have to go into randomly generated dungeons to level up the titles [adjectives you can equip to an item or character] and fuse two items to increase the level cap).
83	[[/folder]]
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85	[[folder:Third Person Shooter]]
86	* The weapons in ''VideoGame/KidIcarusUprising'' will have randomly generated abilities and stats when you obtain them. The strength of the weapon depends on what difficulty level you play at; you'll find better loot on harder difficulties.
87	* Clothing in the ''Franchise/{{Splatoon}}'' series has randomly generated sub-abilities. Each piece of clothing can get up to four sub-abilities, which can be earned by getting experience points in battle.
88	* ''VideoGame/{{Warframe}}'' features riven mods. Awarded occasionally for completing sorties, these mods come with a randomised challenge which, once completed with a particular riven mod equipped, will reveal to you a mod granting randomised bonuses and penalties to a specific weapon, the strength of which depends on the weapon's disposition, which is determined by its popularity among the players (the more popular it is, the less disposition it has).
89	[[/folder]]
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91	[[folder:Tabletop Games]]
92	* ''TabletopGame/BurgleBros'' features random Loot cards (and Tool cards) drawn from a shuffled deck as needed.
93	* Magical weapons and armor in ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons'', when rolled for instead of picked by the GameMaster, are wholly randomly generated starting from weapon or armor type to the nature of the enchantments upon them. Well, random except anything magical always has at least a +1 bonus before any other properties. The strength of the item (minor, medium, or major) sets upper and lower bounds on the power level that can be rolled. It's generally easier to get an extra plus on something rather a special property.
94	[[/folder]]

Context Main / RandomlyGeneratedLoot