Roguelike Tutorial, using python3+tdl

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The tutorial uses tdl version 1.5.3 and Python 3.5


This article is the first part of a series closely based on by Jotaf's excellent "Complete roguelike tutorial using python + libtcod". ("Closely based on" meaning copy-pasted). This version is for people who would like to follow the same steps, but use python 3 along with the tdl module, rather than libtcod.

Lots of the tdl code come from a script on the tdl maintainers' github page which shows the completed code for the tutorial up to part 6.

It is hoped that the tutorial will be useful for beginners and people who want to learn how to use to create a simple roguelike video game. It covers both Linux and Windows operating systems.

Introduction

Why Python?

Most people familiar with this language will tell you it's fun! Python aims to be simple but powerful, and very accessible to beginners. This tutorial would probably be much harder without it. We recommend that you install Python 3.5 is fixed) and go through at least the first parts of the Python Tutorial. This tutorial will be much easier if you've experimented with the language first. Remember that the Python Library Reference is your friend -- the standard library has everything you might need and when programming you should be ready to search it for help on any unknown function you might encounter.

This tutorial is for Python 2 only, and it is strongly recommended you use the latest Python 2.7 release.

If you choose to use earlier versions of Python 2, you may encounter problems you need to overcome.
If you choose to use Python 3, be aware this tutorial is not compatible with it and you are on your own.


If you feel strongly about using Python 3, then please feel free to make a Python 3 version of the libtcodpy module, and consider contributing it and maintaining it for the libtcod project. Also feel free to make a separate set of pages here, and translate an alternate version of the tutorial with it's code written in the Python 3 dialect. At this stage, no one has felt strongly enough to want to do this, and the people who work on libtcod have other interests and demands on their time.

Why libtcod?

If you haven't seen it in action yet, check out the features and some projects where it was used successfully. It's extremely easy to use and has tons of useful functions specific to RLs.

If you're using Windows, download either the Win32 or x64 build from bitbucket. Various samples are prebuilt and included, and can be used to both experiment with the various features and see what is possible.

For other platforms, you're going to have to compile them yourself. Maybe someone who owns a MacOS machine might compile builds for the libtcod project?

Other languages

There are no known versions of this tutorial for other programming languages than Python, for libtcod 1.6.0. However, you can hop back to the tutorial for 1.5.1 and find some option there to work from.

Start the tutorial

Follow the first link to get started!


  • Part 1: Graphics
    Start your game right away by setting up the screen, printing the stereotypical @ character and moving it around with the arrow keys.


  • Part 2: The object and the map
    This introduces two new concepts: the generic object system that will be the basis for the whole game, and a general map object that you'll use to hold your dungeon.




  • Part 5: Preparing for combat
    Place some orcs and trolls around the dungeon (they won't stay there for long!). Also, deal with blocking objects and game states, which are important before coding the next part.



  • Part 7: The GUI
    A juicy Graphical User Interface with status bars and a colored message log for maximum eye-candy. Also, the infamous "look" command, with a twist: you can use the mouse.


  • Part 8: Items and Inventory
    The player gets to collect ("borrow") items from the dungeon and use them, with a neat inventory screen. More items added in the next part.


  • Part 9: Spells and ranged combat
    The player's strategic choices increase exponentially as we add a few magic scrolls to the mix. Covers damage and mind spells, as well as ranged combat.





  • Part 13: Adventure gear
    Swords, shields and other equipment can now help the player by granting hefty bonuses. The bonus system can also be used for all kinds of magics and buffs!


Extras

Some stuff that is entirely optional and didn't make it in; check this out if you finished the tutorial and are looking for some modifications and improvements to your game -- some are easy, others are more advanced.


  • Real-time combat
    A speed system to change the tutorial's turn-based combat to real-time!
  • Scrolling maps
    Placeholder page for the scrolling map code. Tutorial text will be written soon.

Credits

Code and tutorial written by João F. Henriques (a.k.a. Jotaf). Thanks go out to George Oliver for helping with the layout, sections rearrangement, and syntax highlighting; Teddy Leach for his text reviews; and all the folks in the libtcod forums for their valuable feedback!

The most active place to discuss this tutorial, or libtcod in general, is the roguelikedev subreddit. Post if you're stuck, to show your own project, or just to say hi. It's always cool to get some feedback on the tutorial, and hear about other roguelikes in development. Also, past discussions can either be found in the old libtcod/Python forum or the old forum on this tutorial.