Creating Custom Inspectors for Balancing

In this lesson, you will learn how to build custom editor scripts that replace default inspectors with intuitive sliders and toggles to make balancing your game data faster and more visual.

Why Customize the Inspector?

When working with ScriptableObjects, the default Inspector often shows raw numerical fields. For balancing gameplay—like adjusting an enemy's health or attack speed—typing numbers is tedious and prone to error. By creating a custom inspector, you can force developers to use Slider controls with pre-defined min/max ranges, or add colorful toggles for status effects, keeping your balancing process within safe, design-approved limits.

Creating the Custom Editor

To create a custom inspector, you need an Editor script located inside a folder named Editor. You use the [CustomEditor] attribute to target your specific data class.

Here is how you would create a slider for an enemy’s health value:

using UnityEditor;
using UnityEngine;

[CustomEditor(typeof(EnemyData))]
public class EnemyDataEditor : Editor
{
    public override void OnInspectorGUI()
    {
        EnemyData data = (EnemyData)target;

        // Draw a slider instead of a raw number field
        data.health = EditorGUILayout.Slider("Base Health", data.health, 0f, 1000f);
        
        // Add a toggle for special modifiers
        data.isElite = EditorGUILayout.Toggle("Is Elite Enemy", data.isElite);

        // Save changes so they persist in the asset
        if (GUI.changed)
        {
            EditorUtility.SetDirty(data);
        }
    }
}

Making Data Intuitive

By using EditorGUILayout methods, you turn abstract data into a polished interface. Instead of remembering that an enemy’s "Speed" should be between 1 and 10, the slider enforces that boundary visually. This prevents "magic numbers" from breaking your game balance and allows designers to tweak values while observing the game's behavior, without having to dive into the raw code or asset files.

Key Takeaway: Custom Inspectors transform your ScriptableObject data into a specialized balancing tool, replacing error-prone manual input with safe, intuitive UI elements that keep your game mechanics finely tuned.