Get started with Creator Kit: Beginner Code

Get started with code in Unity

Introduction to variables

Write your own instruction

Introduction to functions

Write your own spawn function 

Introduction to classes

 Write your own spawner class

Introduction to the public keyword and inheritance

Customize the health potions

Customize your game

Homework Submissions

WebGL Submissions - Create your first Action-RPG with C#

Live Session - Create your first Action-RPG Game with C#

Creator Kit: Beginner Code

In this activity, students customize their own 3D role-play video games using Unity technology and C# computer coding. All activity assets and step-by-step tutorials are included, helping learners to get started quickly. By the end of the project, students will have customized their own playable 3D games and have gained a better understanding of scripting, variables, functions, and classes. 

Participating in the global Hour of Code? Visit our Hour of Code Edition of this Creator Kit.

No coding experience? No problem! In this beginner project, you’ll explore the basics of C# code for Unity in the context of an action RPG. 

To get the most out of this project, you’ll have completed one of the three introductory Creator Kits (Puzzle, FPS, RPG), so you can apply your knowledge of the Unity Editor and focus on customizing the game with scripts.

Important: This learning content requires at least Unity 2019.2, and will not work correctly on older versions.

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Customizing the game

Create a Usable Item

Write a Usage Effect script

Apply the Usage Effect script to the Usable Item

Create an Equipment Item

Write an Equipped Effect script

Apply the Equipped Effect script to an Equipment Item

 Create a Weapon

Write a Weapon Attack Effect script

Apply the Weapon Attack Effect script to a Weapon

Creator Kit Mod: Play as the Cactus! (Tutorial)

This tutorial is a reference guide for further customization of the Creator Kit: Beginner Code game.

It provides guidance to help you use script templates to create:

Usable items with Usage Effects (like the health potion in the final tutorial)

Games

Hour of Code - Creator Kit: Beginner Coding

It provides guidance on script templates which will help you create:

Usable Items with Usage Effects (like the health potion in the final tutorial)


This guide is a tool to help you consolidate your understanding  and experiment with the game, rather than a step-by-step guide. It might also be a useful environment to apply what you have learnt in other Unity tutorials!

This guide has the following structure:


1.  How to create an item type in Unity Editor

2.  How to create the custom effect script for that item, and basic guidance on using it

You’ve finished the Creator Kit: Beginner Code tutorials, but you’re not alone on your learning journey. If you have a question, or want to find out what other learners are doing with the game, why not join the official thread in the Unity forum?

A Usable Item is an item that the player can use by double-clicking on it in their inventory (for example, a health potion). 

How do I create a Usable Item in Unity Editor?

1.  In the Project window, go to Assets/Creator Kit - Beginner Code/Prefabs/InGameItem. 


2.  Right-click in the Project window and select Create > Beginner Code > Usable Item from the contextual menu. Alternatively, you can access this menu from Assets in the main menu.


This creates a new Asset for the Usable Item.


3.  In the Project window, right-click the new Usable Item and select Rename. Give your item a memorable name.


4.  Make sure that your Usable Item is still selected. In the Inspector, you will see the following fields (exposed variables):

Item Sprite: The Sprite that will be used in the inventory for the item. It will also be used to display the object in the world if no World Object Prefab is set (see below).


Item Name: The name of the item that will appear above it in the game, and in the tooltip in the player’s inventory.


Description: The description of the item that will be displayed in the tooltip in the player’s inventory.


World Object Prefab: The 3D GameObject that will be created to show the Usable Item in the game world when it is spawned. If this is left empty (null), the item Sprite will be used instead.


Add New Effect: A drop-down menu listing the Usage Effects you have written. When you write a new effect, it will appear here. Select a Usage Effect to add it to your Usable Item. 




In the next step, you’ll learn how to write a Usage Effect script and apply it to your Usable Item.

A Usage Effect script specifies what happens when a Usable Item is double-clicked in the player’s inventory. It is added to a Usable Item Asset in the Editor.


How do I create a new Usage Effect script?

To create a new Usage Effect script from the Creator Kit: Beginner Code template:

1.  In the top menu, go to Beginner Code > Create Item Effect.

2.  In the NameWindow dialog box that opens, give the Usage Effect script a name and select Create. 

This creates the script in Assets/Scripts/ItemEffect and selects it in the Editor.


3. In the Project window, double-click the script to open it in your code editor. 

We’ve provided a template script to help you write a Usage Effect for items:

using System.Collections;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using UnityEngine;
using SceneKitCode;

public class EFFECTNAME : UsableItem.UsageEffect
{
    public override bool Use(CharacterData user)
    {
        return false;
    }
}

EFFECTNAME is a placeholder for your Usage Effect script name.

To customize the Usage Effect, you need to add instructions to the Use function: 


  public override bool Use(CharacterData user)
    {
        return false;
    }

The user parameter contains the CharacterData of the character that used the item. In this game, there is only one character which can use items (the moose). You can use this parameter to access stats, inventory and equipment items to modify them. 


How do I find out more about the custom CharacterData class?

To find out more about the CharacterData class:

1.  In Unity Editor, go to Beginner Code > Open Documentation in the main menu.


2.  In the top menu bar of the local documentation guide, select API Documentation.


3.  In the filter bar, search for “CharacterData”.


4.  Select the link in the left-hand menu.


How do I set the return value for the Usable Item?

The Use function returns a Boolean value (true or false). Set it to:

True if the object is used and removed from the player’s inventory (if it's a stack of objects, the count will be reduced by one).


False if the object can’t be used (for example, you can test if health is already at maximum before adding health, and return false if it is so that a health potion won’t be wasted).

When you’ve modified your Usage Effect script, you can add it to the Usable Item in the Editor:

1.  In the Project window, select the Usable Item you have created (filepath: Assets/Creator Kit - Beginner Code/Prefabs/InGameItem).


2.  In the Inspector, find the Add New Effect field. Select your Usage Effect from the drop-down menu.


3.  Add a Description for the Usage Effect.


4.  Press Ctrl + S (Windows) or Cmd + S (macOS) to save your changes.


TIP: If you want to remove the Usage Effect, select the minus button (-) to the right of the Script field in the Inspector.

An Equipment Item is an item that gives the player character particular attributes when equipped. (Weapons are a special kind of Equipment Item with additional functionality; this is explored separately later in this guide.)

You can give an Equipment Item:


A minimum stat requirement, which stops it from being equipped until the player achieves the minimum (for example, an item which can only be equipped when the player has over 5 HP).


An Equipped Effect, which adds an effect to the player character whilst the item is equipped (for example, raising their stats).

How do I create an Equipment Item in Unity Editor?

To create an Equipment Item in the Editor:

1.  In the Project window, go to Assets/Creator Kit - Beginner Code/Prefabs/InGameItem. 

2.  Right-click in the Project window and select Create > Beginner Code > Equipment Item from the contextual menu. Alternatively, you can access this menu from Assets in the top menu.

This creates a new Asset for the Equipment Item.


3.  In the Project window, right-click the new Equipment Item and select Rename. Give your item a memorable name.


4.  Make sure that your Equipment Item is still selected. In the Inspector, you will see the following fields (exposed variables):

Slot: The Equipment Slot on which the Equipment Item can be worn (for example, Head).


Minimum Stats: The minimum Strength, Agility, and Defense status values required to equip the item. If the player doesn’t meet the minimum values for these stats, double-clicking the item in their inventory won’t do anything.


Add New Effect: A drop-down menu listing the Equipped Effects you have written. When you write a new effect, it will appear here. Select an Equipped Effect to add it to your Equipment Item. 



In the next step, you’ll learn how to write an Equipped Effect script and apply it to your Equipment Item.

An Equipped Effect script enables a custom effect when the player equips an item. It is added to an Equipment Item or Weapon in the Editor.


How do I create a new Equipped Effect script?

To create a new Equipped Effect script from the Creator Kit: Beginner Code template:

1.  In the top menu, go to Beginner Code > Create Equipped Effect. 

2.  In the NameWindow dialog box that opens, give the Equipped Effect script a name and select Create. This creates the script in Assets/Scripts/EquippedEffect and selects it in the Editor.


3. In the Project window, double-click the script to open it in your code editor.

We’ve provided a template script to help you write an Equipped Effect:

public class EFFECTNAME : EquipmentItem.EquippedEffect
{
     public override void Equipped(CharacterData user)
     {
     
     }
     
     public override void Removed(CharacterData user)
     {
     
     }
}

EFFECTNAME is a placeholder for your Equipped Effect script name.

There are two functions you can customize in the Equipped Effect script:


1.  void Equipped(CharacterData user)

This function is called when the player (user) equips the item. Use the function to add the effect — for example, to give the character a +1 Strength stat modifier.  

TIP: You can use a private variable to store your chosen modifier.



This function is called when the player (user) removes the item. Use this function to remove the effect on the player character.

When you’ve modified your Equipped Effect script, you can add it to the Equipment Item in the Editor:

1.  In the Project window, select the Equipment Item you have created (filepath: Assets/Creator Kit - Beginner Code/Prefabs/InGameItem).


2.  In the Inspector, find the Add new Effect field. Select your Equipped Effect from the drop-down menu.


3.  Add a Description for the Equipped Effect.


5.  Test your Equipment Item in Play Mode.


TIP: If you want to remove the Equipped Effect, select the minus button (-) to the right of the Script field in the Inspector.

A Weapon is a special Equipment Item that you can equip on the character Weapon Slot. 

In addition to the features of an ordinary Equipment Item, you can also give a Weapon:

Stats relating to attack actions: Reach, Speed, Minimum Damage and Maximum Damage.


A Weapon Attack Effect, which enables you to customize what happens when the weapon damages an enemy character.

How do I create a Weapon in Unity Editor?


2.  Right-click in the Project window and select Create > Beginner Code > Weapon from the contextual menu. Alternatively, you can access this menu from Assets in the top menu.


3.  In the Project window, right-click the new Weapon and select Rename. Give it a memorable name.


4.  Make sure that the Weapon is still selected. In the Inspector, you will see the following fields (exposed variables) in addition to those available for all Equipped Items.

Speed: How fast the Weapon attacks. This is the cooldown time between two attacks — the lower the value, the faster the next attack. If the value is 0, the next attack will be performed as soon as the first animation is finished.


Minimum Damage: The minimum amount of damage the Weapon can do, before adding any character modifiers. Damage Done is a random value between the Minimum and Maximum Damage.


Maximum Damage: The maximum amount of damage the Weapon can do, before adding any character modifiers. Damage Done is a random value between the Minimum and Maximum Damage.


Range: The distance at which the Weapon can damage an enemy character. If the target character is past the Range when the attack should connect, it won't do any damage.


Add New Weapon Attack Effect: A drop-down menu listing the Weapon Attack Effects you have written. When you write a new effect, it will appear here. Select a Weapon Attack Effect to add it to your Weapon. 

In the next step, you’ll learn how to write a Weapon Attack Effect script and apply it to your Weapon.

A Weapon Attack Effect script enables a customized effect when the Weapon hits a target. It is added to a Weapon.

How do I create a new Weapon Attack Effect script?

To create a new Weapon Attack Effect script from the Creator Kit: Beginner Code template:


1.  In the top menu, go to Beginner Code > Create Weapon Attack Effect.


2.  In the NameWindow dialog box that opens, give the Weapon Effect script a name and select Create. This creates the script in Assets/Scripts/WeaponEffect and selects it in the Editor.


3. In the Project window, double-click the script to open it in your code editor. 

We’ve provided a template script to help you write a Weapon Attack Effect for items:

public class EFFECTNAME : Weapon.WeaponAttackEffect
{
    public override void OnAttack(CharacterData target, CharacterData user, ref Weapon.AttackData attackData)
    {
        
    }
    
    public override void OnPostAttack(CharacterData target, CharacterData user, Weapon.AttackData data)
    {
        
    }
}


EFFECTNAME is a placeholder for your Weapon Attack Effect script name.

How do I customize the Weapon Attack Effect?

There are two functions you can customize in the Weapon Attack Effect script:


1.  OnAttack(CharacterData target, CharacterData user, ref Weapon.AttackData attackData)

This function is for instructions which control what happens when the Weapon hits an enemy.  You can add damage or apply elemental effects to the target using the AddDamage function in attackData. 



2.  void OnPostAttack(CharacterData target, CharacterData user, Weapon.AttackData data)

This function is called after all the OnAttack function instructions are executed. This enables you to customize things that happen in reaction to the total amount of damage the target receives after all OnAttack effects are applied. 

For example, you could use this function to convert a percentage of damage to the enemy back into health for the player character. 



How do I find out more about the custom Weapon.AttackData class?


The custom Weapon.AttackData class enables you to query the amount of damage an enemy has received. To find out more about the Weapon.AttackData class:


1.  In Unity Editor, go to Beginner Code > Open Documentation in the top menu.


2.  In the top menu bar, select API Documentation.


3.  In the filter bar, search for “Weapon.AttackData”.


4.  Select the link in the left-hand menu.

When you’ve modified your Weapon Attack Effect script, you can add it to the Weapon in the Editor:

1.  In the Project window, select the Weapon you have created (filepath: Assets/Creator Kit - Beginner Code/Prefabs/InGameItem).


2.  In the Inspector, find the Add New Effect field. Select your Weapon Attack Effect from the drop-down menu.


3.  Add a Description for the Weapon Attack Effect.


5.  Test your Equipment Item in Play Mode.


TIP: If you want to remove the Weapon Attack Effect, select the minus button (-) to the right of the Script field in the Inspector.

Customize your game

1. Customizing the game

2. Create a Usable Item

3. Write a Usage Effect script

4. Apply the Usage Effect script to the Usable Item

5. Create an Equipment Item

6. Write an Equipped Effect script

7. Apply the Equipped Effect script to an Equipment Item

8. Create a Weapon

9. Write a Weapon Attack Effect script

10. Apply the Weapon Attack Effect script to a Weapon

Complete this tutorial