Mahabharata CLI RPG

A lightweight, single-file Java console RPG inspired by the epic Mahabharata. You travel abstract zones, battle spirits and shades of past warriors, gain power, and ultimately confront the Vengeful Spirit of Duryodhana.

Why I Made This

I wanted a small, contained project where I could actively use my Java knowledge in a fun way instead of only reading or practicing isolated snippets. This game let me:

• Practice basic Java syntax and control flow in a real loop-driven program.
• Apply abstraction with a Player base class and concrete hero subclasses.
• Use inheritance / polymorphism for enemies, bosses, and the final boss.
• Experiment with randomness, scaling, and simple balance adjustments.
• Work with serialization (saving/loading state) and file I/O logging.
• Turn simple mechanics (attacks, events, progression) into something playable.

So I built a lightweight text RPG—simple enough to finish, but big enough to reinforce core Java concepts while keeping it fun.

Features

• Three playable heroes with distinct stat profiles and growth rates:
  • Arjuna: High dexterity, crit-focused, fast leveling.
  • Bhima: Durable powerhouse with strong single-target hits.
  • Yudhishthira: Tactical, wisdom-focused, fastest leveling & supportive scaling.
• Progressive zones with evolving descriptions and enemy pools.
• Random encounters: battles, item finds, peaceful rests, minor mixed (trap/boon) events.
• Mid-game dynamic mini-bosses and a final boss triggered at level 7.
• Permanent stat find items (HP, Strength, Dexterity, Wisdom) plus temporary crit buffs.
• Temporary critical bonuses that reset after each combat for clearer pacing.
• Scaled enemy generation with smooth difficulty curve.
• Save/Load system (savegame.dat) + session log (mahabharata_log.txt).

Requirements

• Java 8+ (any modern JDK should work)

How to Compile & Run

# From the CLIRPG folder
javac MahabharataRPG.java
java MahabharataRPG

If you see a prompt about an existing save, choose 1 to resume or 2 to start fresh.

Gameplay Loop

1. Choose your hero.
2. Move across abstract map coordinates (N/S/E/W).
3. Random events trigger after each move:
   • Battle (common)
   • Item discovery (boosts or heals)
   • Minor event (trap/heal/temporary buff)
   • Peaceful event (rest, blessing, or lore XP)
4. Gain XP, level up, and improve stats until you reach Level 7 to trigger the final confrontation.
5. Defeat the final boss to win (the save file is deleted on victory or death).

Battle Commands

During combat you choose:

1. Light Attack: Single target, accurate.
2. Heavy Attack: Area-of-effect, lower accuracy per target.
3. Heal: Scales with wisdom & level.
4. Escape: 50% + Dexterity chance (disabled vs bosses).

Temporary crit bonuses from events only last for the current/next battle and are auto-cleared afterward.

Difficulty & Progression

• XP curve now ramps smoothly: quicker early levels, steadier mid-game, modest late growth.
• Enemy stats scale with your level and zone multiplier with light randomness for variation.
• Permanent stat items provide incremental power so runs feel distinct.

Saving & Loading

The game auto-saves only when you choose option 5 (Save and Quit). Files created:

• savegame.dat – serialized player & world state
• mahabharata_log.txt – chronological log of your journey Delete savegame.dat manually if you want to force a new run.

Tips

• Arjuna snowballs with crit buffs; stack dexterity finds.
• Bhima benefits most from permanent HP and strength gains for boss stability.
• Yudhishthira levels fastest—use the extra levels to heal efficiently and scale stats.
• Use heavy attacks when facing multiple low-HP enemies to reduce incoming damage.
• Consider retreating from rough random packs (non-boss) if HP is dangerously low.

Enjoy your journey, warrior.