3-B: Monster Project

Monster Battle Game - Project Assignment

Overview

Enhance your game by implementing monster special abilities and customizing the 4th action button. Make your game feel complete and polished!

Part 1: Monster Special Abilities (Required)

Goal: When monsters attack, check if they have special abilities and trigger unique effects.

Where to work: In the monsterAttack() method, after damage is dealt.

Steps:

1. Check each attacking monster's special() ability (it returns a String)

2. If the ability is not empty, add custom behavior based on the ability name

3. Display appropriate messages for each special ability

Example Pattern:

// After monster deals damage...
if (!monster.special().isEmpty()) {
    if (monster.special().equals("Vampire")) {
        // TODO: Monster heals itself for some of the damage dealt
        // Hint: Use a variable to track damage before dealing it
    }
    else if (monster.special().equals("Poison")) {
        // TODO: Add poison effect that damages over time
    }
    // Add more special abilities!
}

Possible Special Abilities to Implement:

• Vampire: Heals for 50% of damage dealt

• Poison: Deals 5 extra damage for the next 2 turns

• Rage: Increases damage by 25% when below 50% health

• Thorns: Player takes 10 damage back when attacking this monster

• Regeneration: Heals 10 HP at the end of each turn

• Stun: Player misses their next turn (skip next action)

Tips:

• You may need instance variables to track ongoing effects (like poison duration)

• Update the setupGame() to create monsters with different special abilities

• Test each ability one at a time

Part 2: Customize the 4th Button (Choose One)

Option A: Implement Use Item System

Make the 4th button use consumable items from your inventory.

Tasks:

1. Create health potions in setupGame() (see GameDemo.java for examples)

2. The useItem() method already works - just add items!

3. Create 2-3 different item types:

   • Health Potion: Heals 30 HP

   • Bomb: Damages all monsters for 20 HP

   • Shield Potion: Adds temporary shield

   • Your own creative item!

Option B: Implement Player Special Abilities

Replace "Use Item" with a unique special ability for each character class.

Tasks:

1. Change button label in setupGame() to "Special"

2. Add a useSpecial() method with unique abilities per class:

   • Fighter: Berserker Rage - Double damage for 2 turns

   • Tank: Iron Wall - Block all damage next turn

   • Healer: Group Heal - Heal 50 HP (cooldown: 3 turns)

   • Ninja: Shadow Strike - Attack all monsters for half damage

3. Track cooldowns to prevent spam (add instance variable)

4. Update handlePlayerAction(3) to call your new method

Cooldown Pattern:

private int specialCooldown = 0;  // Instance variable

private void useSpecial() {
    if (specialCooldown > 0) {
        gui.displayMessage("Special ability on cooldown! (" + specialCooldown + " turns)");
        return;
    }
    
    // Do special ability...
    specialCooldown = 3;  // Set cooldown
}

// In gameLoop(), reduce cooldown each turn:
if (specialCooldown > 0) specialCooldown--;

Part 3: Polish Your Game (Required)

Make your game feel professional and complete!

Required Improvements:

1. Victory Conditions: Display final stats when game ends (turns survived, damage dealt, etc.)

2. Better Targeting: Let player choose which monster to attack (hint: show monster numbers in message)

3. Status Display: Show active effects in messages (poison status, shield amount, cooldowns)

4. Balance Testing: Adjust character stats so all classes are viable

5. Bug Fixes: Ensure health can't go above max, shield doesn't go negative, etc.

Optional Enhancements:

• Add more monster types with different stat ranges

• Create boss monsters with multiple special abilities

• Add difficulty scaling (monsters get stronger each wave)

• Implement combo attacks (bonus damage for consecutive attacks)

• Add critical hit chances

• Create a scoring system

• Add sound descriptions in messages ("💥 CRASH!", "✨ SPARKLE!")

Submission Checklist

• At least 3 different monster special abilities working

• 4th button fully functional (items OR player specials)

• Game is balanced (winnable but challenging)

• No major bugs (crashes, negative health, etc.)

• Clear messages tell player what's happening

• Code is commented and organized

• Game has been playtested multiple times

Tips for Success

1. Test frequently: Run your game after each small change

2. Start simple: Get one special ability working perfectly before adding more

3. Use print statements: Add System.out.println() to debug issues

4. Study GameDemo.java: It shows many useful patterns

5. Ask for help: If stuck for 10+ minutes, ask a classmate or teacher

6. Be creative: Add your own unique abilities and features!

Example Monster Creation with Specials

// In setupGame(), create diverse monsters:
monsters.add(new Monster("Vampire"));
monsters.add(new Monster("Poison"));
monsters.add(new Monster("Rage"));
monsters.add(new Monster());  // Normal monster
monsters.add(new Monster());  // Normal monster