Learning Lua to Build a Simple Text-Based RPG

I’ve always been interested in game development, and recently, I decided to take the plunge into learning Lua. My goal? To create a basic text-based RPG!

Lua is a lightweight and beginner-friendly scripting language, often used in game development. It’s known for being easy to pick up while still offering a lot of flexibility. Many popular games, including Roblox, Garry’s Mod, and World of Warcraft, use Lua for scripting. Since I want to start with something simple yet fun, a text-based RPG feels like the perfect project.

Why a Text-Based RPG?

A text-based RPG is a great starting point because it focuses on storytelling and game mechanics rather than graphics. This means I can put more effort into learning Lua’s logic, handling user input, and structuring the game without worrying about art assets. Plus, I’ve always loved classic adventure games and interactive fiction, so it’s exciting to try my hand at making one myself.

My Plan

To keep things manageable, I’m planning to start with:

• A simple world: A few locations the player can explore.
• Basic gameplay mechanics: Movement, inventory, and simple combat.
• A small story: A short quest or mission to complete.

Once I have the basics working, I can expand on them with more depth, like NPC interactions, puzzles, or more complex combat mechanics.

Learning Lua

Since I’m new to Lua, I’ll be working through tutorials and experimenting with small scripts before jumping into the full game. I’ll probably start by learning:

• Variables and data types
• Conditionals and loops
• Functions and tables
• Handling user input

If anyone has recommendations for good Lua resources, feel free to share! This will be a fun learning experience, and I’ll post updates as I go.

Have you ever made a text-based game or used Lua for scripting? Let’s talk about it!