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Asked: 2026-05-11T19:11:05+00:00

How do you code special cases for objects? For example, let’s say I’m coding

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How do you code special cases for objects?

For example, let’s say I’m coding an rpg – there are N = 5 classes. There are N^2 relationships in a matrix that would determine if character A could attack (or use ability M on) character B (ignoring other factors for now).

How would I code this up in OOP without putting special cases all over the place?

Another way to put it is, I have something maybe

ClassA CharacterA;
ClassB CharacterB;

if ( CharacterA can do things to CharacterB )

I’m not sure what goes inside that if statement, rather it be

if ( CharacterA.CanDo( CharacterB ) )

or a metaclass

if ( Board.CanDo( CharacterA, CharacterB ) )

when the CanDo function should depend on ClassA and ClassB, or attributes/modifiers with ClassA/ClassB?

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1 Answer

  1. Editorial Team

    Steve Yegge has an awesome blog post about the Properties pattern that you could use handle this. In fact, he wrote an RPG using it!

    http://steve-yegge.blogspot.com/2008/10/universal-design-pattern.html

    You might say player1 is a type1 and type1s can attack type2s and player2 is a type2, so unless there is some “override” on the specific player1, player1 can attack player2.

    This enables very robust and extensible behavior.

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