Structural question

[Mr D]

So, I'm creating a small text-adventure game to sharpen my skills and get me out of my comfort zone, but I'm stuck on how to accomplish something. The way I have it setup so far is there will be multiple 10x10 maps represents areas such as a forest, house, etc. with each index being a map_tile with exits, descriptions, items, etc. How could I get the player to move from for example, exit one map object at map[1][3] and enter the castle map[3][9]? I don't need code ( it might be helpful though ) just ideas!

#ifndef MAP_TILE_H
#define MAP_TILE_H
#include <iostream>
using std::string;


class Map_Tile
{
    public:
        Map_Tile();
        bool can_north();
        bool can_east();
        bool can_south();
        bool can_west();

        string get_north_description();
        string get_east_description();
        string get_south_description();
        string get_west_description();

        void set_exits(bool& N, bool& E, bool& S, bool& W);
        void set_exit_descriptions(string& N, string& E, string& S, string& W);
        void set_area_description(string& setDescription);

    private:
        bool northExit, eastExit, southExit, westExit;
        string entryDescription, northDescription, eastDescription, southDescription, westDescription;
};

#ifndef MAP_SEGMENT_H
#define MAP_SEGMENT_H
#include "Map_Tile.h"
#include <iostream>
using std::string;


class Map_Segment
{
    public:
        const static int MAP_SIZE = 10;

        Map_Segment(const string areaName);

    private:
        Map_Tile game_board[MAP_SIZE][MAP_SIZE];

        void get_valid_exits(const string& areaName);
        void get_exit_descriptions(const string& areaName);
        void get_area_description(const string& areaName);
};

#endif 

[Mr D]

Would this be a bad way to do it? These are two different classes, but the actor class is dependent on the information of the map. Would this be considered bad programming practice?

#ifndef ACTOR_H
#define ACTOR_H
#include "Map_Segment.h" // So we can hold the current map we are on
#include <iostream>

class Actor
{
    public:
        Actor();

        void set_coordinates(const int x, const int y);

        int get_x();
        int get_y();
        
        void move_north();
        void move_east();
        void move_south();
        void move_west();

    private:
        int xCoord, yCoord;
        Map_Segment *currentMap; // pointer to the current map we are dealing with
        
};

#endif 

[Mr D]

Bump

[coder777]

Would this be considered bad programming practice?

Not necessarily, it depends always on how you use it.

Instead of a pointer you may consider an index. With this index you might the also access the descriptions/exits/etc.

struct gate
{
  int map_idx;
  std::string name;
...
  int to_map_idx;
  int to_gate_idx;
};

const map intial_maps[] = { ... };
const gate gates[] = { ... };

[xenovia12]

Do you mean when the character is in the map [3][9] the map will change into inside-castle?
If yes,

If the character is already in the position of castle that's it. You may clear the screen and start executing the code of castle

[Mr D]

That was just an example, at certain places in the map, you will go from one area to another. For instance if there was a castle door at forest[0][0], and the user goes inside castle, the map will change castle[5][4], so of course I will change the coordinates. I do like your suggestion coder777. I might try to wrap my head around that and implement it.

[Mr D]

Where would I hold the struct gate? In the Map_Tile class I presume?

[Mr D]

Or main?

[coder777]

I suggest that you put all information regarding the gate in this struct that does not change throughout the whole program processing. Then make a global accessible const array [put it in a header]. There is no problem accessing constants from everywhere.

By the way: You certainly need more startup info for your game. Make them all const and global accessible. Accessing a constant object is always ok.

[Mr D]

Thank you i will come up with something and post it up here for criticism! You gave me some great ideas to use.