@Team_Fury_Games
You can start the game in Unity, allowing you to control the character, animates all the NPCs and objects and such.
You can still change variables while in play mode, but it won't be saved.
@Phantom_TheGame
sometimes I have to copy/paste an object or prefab it to get around this, or copy the component and paste it as values later.. it's not usually too destructive for me. Also you can tint your editor a color to help remind you that you're in playmode.