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Strategy games

Introduction

Strategy game tools are provided by the lionengine-game-strategy module, giving an oriented strategy game type development with specific classes and architecture.

In this section we will see how to use these main tools, and the way of we should use them.

Game cursor

The game cursor in an strategy game is the only one object that allow to control both the game panel and the map interaction, such as unit clicking. It is relative to the camera view and position.

It is highly recommended to understand first how is working the map system !

Create the minimal environment for this game type:
Theses are the minimal required class to setup the map tile. Will be completed in next examples.
Define a scene that will handle the cursor interaction: code

As you can see, we can simply retrieve a tile from the map by using the current cursor location relative to the camera position, and then display what we want.
Program test: code

You can now see how is working the cursor, and the way of retrieving tile data from the map.
- Complete example
- And its resources
Output:

Control panel

The control panel will allow us to change the entities states by clicking on them and assigning orders. The handler will apply the updates by listening to the control panel.

Create the minimal map environment:
- TileCollision
- ResourceType
- Tile
- Map
Theses are the minimal required class to setup the map tile. Will be completed in next examples.
Implement a default control panel: code
Create the object factory environment:
This will allow us to create some entity for the example.
Implement the handler entity that will perform the link between the control panel and the handled entities: code

The handler will listen to the control panel in order to know what is selected. Entity states will be updated here.
Define a scene that will handle the control panel: code
Program test: code

You can now see the full process for entity selection and global control.
- Complete example
- And its resources
Output:

Ability system

The ability represents what an entity can do. It could be moving, attacking, producing, and even more. They can be combined in any way.

Create the map environment:
- ResourceType
- Map package
Create the weapon environment:
Weapons are using a special class called WeaponModel, as it add a dedicated routine for attack handling. A weapon can be a simple damage representation, or a projectile launcher, and even more.
Implement a default control panel: code
Implement the entity environment: Entity package
In this package you will find the classic factory & handler system, and also the ability implementation by the different entity types.
Define a scene that will show the different ability in action: code
Program test: code

You can now see the different abilities in action. It is possible to combine any of them, as it is working by interface & delegation.
- Complete example
- And its resources
Output:

Skill system

Skill represents entity action, triggered by the player from the control panel. There is a strong link between skills and ability.

Create the map environment:
- ResourceType
- Map package
Create the skill environment: Skill package
If you look at the concreted skill implementation, we only focus on the action function, which is called when the skill is triggered from the control panel.
Implement the cursor:
- CursorType
- Cursor
This will allow us to change the cursor image, depending of what we are doing on the control panel.
Create the entity environment with their skills:
- Entity package
- Entity
Skills are now simply added with an add function.
Define a scene that will handle the skills: code
Program test: code

You can see the skill system in action, and how it is working with the control panel.
- Complete example
- And its resources
Output:

Fog of war

The fog of war may not be the most important part of a game, but it may add much more challenge to the way of playing it. It still a very important gameplay part of any game development.

Create the minimal map environment:
- TileCollision
- ResourceType
- Tile
- Map
Create the entity environment:
Implement the fog of war: code

Yes, this is as simple as this.
Define a scene that will show the fog of war in action: code
Program test: code

And here we go with the last example, and maybe the simplest one ! You can now see the fog of war in action, depending of the entity location and map discovering state.
- Complete example
- And its resources
Output: