Inspired or Derivative?

Well with my current Deck-Building Game (DBG), I am *borrowing* the mechanic from "Dominion". But this is like a core mechanic... Other games have done the same thing like "Eminent Domain"... So I think this mechanic is general enough that it can be used in very different games.

BUT in terms of emulation, I have *borrowed* the "Creature" concept from Magic: the Gathering. Not the whole game... Just the fact that a "Creature" has a couple stats. And I have transformed that to match my theme which is Space oriented. So my Starships have a "Resistance" and "Firepower" which is sorta like MtGs "Power" and "Toughness"... So I think it will be *familiar* with gamers.

AND then there was the mechanic of roles. I wanted players to be able to choose a role much like in San Juan and Puerto Rico. San Juan only allows one player to choose a role and then the others must choose a different one. I did not want to go that route, what I wanted was ROLES that gave in-game options which would vary according to the role chosen. Again, I don't think this a new mechanic - but I feel as if I have *borrowed* the mechanic from those games.

To answer your question, basically if the mechanics are general enough and you can use them in a different way, all the more power to you. I think by using or borrowing a mechanic, it adds familiarity to a game... So players who play the game will recognize elements and say: "This reminds me of X or Y..." And I think that is a positive type of feedback.

And an Idea/mechanic is FAR CRY from a finished product.

You may want to use a mechanic - but it may not work with your game. I think putting the pieces together is another aspect of game design. Don't be worried about *borrowing* mechanics or certain elements. My honest opinion is this: you'll probably start with an exact copy and then realize that it doesn't work for your game. You'll then have to re-invent it to suit your game - and that's where you make the concept yours!

Best of luck to you and your new game!