I am trying to build a simple turn based text game to practice (classes, if statement, modifying dictionaries/lists, etc.). I will copy two snippets from my code, so you can understand my problem better. (If you want an abridged tldr, go to the bottom with the bold texts.) First, I have two characters, that you can choose from as an if-elif-else statement. I used the same "player_xy" (xy being like health, damage etc) for the two characters, but assigning different values to them based on the player's choice. (My reasoning being is so I only have to reference the same variable in the code later in the battle system, making my job easier.) (The variables fighter_max_hp.. etc are defined earlier, but it doesn't matter (tried moving it to before/inside the if statements.) while select_repeat == True: print("Type 'f' for fighter , 'm' for mage, or 'q' to quit!") character = input("TYPE: ") #player chooses fighter if character == 'f': player_max_hp = fighter_max_hp player_max_mana = fighter_max_mana #this goes on for a while, setting up all the stats #player chooses mage elif character == 'm': player_max_hp = mage_max_hp player_max_mana = mage_max_mana #this goes on for a while, setting up all the stats #player chooses to quit elif character == 'q': select_repeat = False #invalid input else: print("\nPlease choose a valid option!") Later in the code, I have a part where a randomizer sets up enemies to fight. I used the same "enemy_xy" (xy being like health, damage etc) for the enemies. (My reasoning was the same here as for the characters.) (Same, as with the player variables (tried moving it to before/inside the if statements.) while enemy_select == True: #game chooses an enemy to fight! min = 1 max = 3 enemy_chooser = int(random.randint(min, max)) if enemy_chooser == 1: #choose werewolf enemy_hp = werewolf_hp enemy_dice = werewolf_dice #this goes on for a while, setting up all the stats if enemy_chooser == 2: #choose lesser mimic enemy_hp = int(player_max_hp / 2) enemy_dice = player_dice elif enemy_chooser == 3: #choose zombie enemy_hp = zombie_hp enemy_dice = zombie_dice #this goes on for a while, setting up all the stats Keep in mind, all of these enemies use the same "enemy_hp", "enemy_dice" etc. variables, within the same battle system, just assigned as "enemy_hp = werewolf_hp" or "enemy_hp = "zombie_hp". The fight happens, and: If your enemy is the werewolf: you deal damage to it you receive damage from it you can kill it you can get killed by it If your enemy is the lesser mimic: you deal damage to it you can ONLY receive damage from it if you are a fighter (mage's hp doesn't decrease) you can kill it you can ONLY get killed by it if you are a fighter (obviously, since it doesn't deal damage to mage hp) If your enemy is the zombie: you deal damage to it you CAN NOT receive damage from it (not the fighter, or the mage) you can kill it you can not get killed by it (obviously, since no damage) Otherwise, it prints out the different variable values as assigned (different stats for each monster) as expected, and it uses correct calculations to deal damage.. it just can't in the two cases mentioned above. Now comes the main part of my question... If I change the variables like this: elif enemy_chooser == 2: #choose zombie enemy_hp = werewolf_hp ##CHANGE enemy_dice = werewolf_dice ##CHANGE #this goes on for a while, setting up all the stats Then the zombie can finally deal damage to the player (with the werewolf's stats). It's as if because the lines enemy_hp = werewolf_hp enemy_dice = werewolf_dice #etc are written earlier than: enemy_hp = zombie_hp enemy_dice = zombie_dice #etc it somehow effects the variable (regardless or not if the "if" statement is true). because werewolf_xy was defined earlier than zombie_xy #enemy werewolf defined first in the code werewolf_hp = 20 werewolf_dice = 2 #etc #enemy zombie defined right after zombie_hp = 35 zombie_dice = 1 #etc Same happens with the fighter and mage selection. Somehow the player_hp = xy_hp only works if xy = fighter, because the fighters variables are defined earlier in the code, and thus making the "lesser mimic" deal damage only to the fighter. My question is "simply".. why? I tried everything in my power, to no avail. As you have seen, I could identify what causes the problem (and thus I >could< potentially work around it), but I still don't know why Python does what it does, and that bothers me. Continue reading...
