Game Mindset: Gear has level requirements

In games

In games, the best gear has level requirements.

A level 10 weapon? A level 1 player can’t even pick it up. The system locks it out, and all you can do is stare at it and drool.

This design is brilliant. It forces you to grind levels first, getting stronger with whatever gear you can equip at your current level. It also gives you a short-term goal: you keep thinking about hitting level 10 so you can finally wield that weapon you’ve had your eye on. When you finally get there and put on the new gear, your power skyrockets. Grinding efficiency doubles. Areas that had you stuck for ages are now a breeze.

That rush feels incredible because you know you earned it, one level at a time.

And each stage’s gear fits just right. A level 1 wooden sword handles level 1 monsters perfectly fine. A level 10 iron sword handles level 10 monsters just the same. You don’t need endgame gear to start fighting.

Gear upgrades are one of the best rewards for leveling up. Hit level 20, unlock a new weapon. Hit level 40, unlock a new armor set. Every gear swap is a milestone that reminds you: you’ve gotten stronger.

Gear is the reward for leveling up, not the prerequisite.

In reality

Real life has no level requirements. If you have the money, a level 1 player can buy endgame gear.

Want to start a YouTube channel? Buy the best camera, microphone, and lighting first. Want to learn guitar? Buy a high-end one first. Want to get fit? Buy all the gear and the most expensive gym membership. Want to write? Buy the best keyboard, monitor, and knowledge management software (or an expensive fountain pen and notebook).

And after buying all that?

Still can’t shoot. Still can’t play. Still can’t train. Still can’t write.

Because gear doesn’t solve a level problem.

Worse, buying endgame gear adds a layer of pressure. “I have all the gear now, so why am I still bad?” “Why are other people doing better without fancy gear?” Before, you could blame your equipment. Now you don’t even have that excuse.

There’s also a hidden problem: at level 1 with endgame gear, you don’t even know what you need.

Someone who’s never shot a video doesn’t know what kind of microphone they need. Someone who’s never run doesn’t know what kind of shoes they need. You have to start doing it first. Then you’ll discover where you’re stuck and what gear would actually help.

For level 1 monsters, a wooden sword is enough. A phone can shoot video. Free software can edit. A cheap guitar can teach you chords.

Start grinding with the most basic gear. Once you’ve leveled up enough to know what you actually need, go buy it. That’s when the gear will truly make a difference, and it doubles as a reward for leveling up.

Don’t let “I don’t have the right gear yet” become an excuse not to start.

Level up first, then upgrade.

Gear has level requirements.

Player notes

I’m a textbook gear junkie.

Wanted to try rock climbing, so I bought the best climbing shoes first. Before I even started running, I was already researching sports watches and running shoes. Wanted to start a YouTube channel, so I bought the best camera, microphone, and lights.

Then what? Went climbing a few times and stopped. Ran for two weeks and quit. The YouTube equipment has been collecting dust in the corner for years.

Buying gear is the most fun part. Unboxing, setting up, researching features. That feeling of “I’m geared up and stronger now” is amazing. But it’s an illusion. I hadn’t actually started anything.

Later, I forced myself to shoot a few videos. That’s when I discovered an uncomfortable truth: gear was never the problem. My problems were not knowing how to talk to a camera, not knowing how to structure content, not knowing how to edit. No amount of gear fixes that.

And because I bought the best gear from the start, by the time I actually began improving, there was nothing left to upgrade to. I missed out on that feeling of “hit level 20, finally get to unlock a new weapon.”

Now I think the better approach is to set level requirements for your gear.

Shoot 3 videos on your phone to prove you actually want to do this before buying a camera. Edit 5 videos with free software before buying a paid editor. Run 50 kilometers in cheap shoes before buying good ones.

This has three benefits. First, it saves money. Often you’ll realize you don’t need gear that good, or you don’t even want to keep doing the thing. Second, by the time you reach that level, you know exactly what you need, so your purchases are more precise. Third, upgrading gear becomes a reward that motivates you to keep grinding.

You don’t need endgame gear to fight level 1 monsters. “My gear isn’t good enough” is just an excuse.

Leveling tips

□ Before buying gear, ask yourself: what level am I? What level do I need to be for this gear to matter?
□ Set level requirements for yourself: “Complete X things before buying Y gear.”
□ Start with whatever you have on hand. A phone, free software, a cheap starter kit. All better than “I haven’t got everything yet.”
□ Treat gear upgrades as rewards for grinding, not prerequisites for starting.
□ List the “endgame gear” you bought but never use. Ask yourself: was gear really the problem?

Alex Hsu

Indie developer, AI music miner, and aspiring writer.
Documenting my journey of personal growth and the pursuit of simplicity.