# Archipelago API
This document tries to explain some internals required to implement a game for
Archipelago's generation and server. Once a seed is generated, a client or mod is
required to send and receive items between the game and server.
Client implementation is out of scope of this document. Please refer to an
existing game that provides a similar API to yours.
Refer to the following documents as well:
* [network protocol.md](https://github.com/ArchipelagoMW/Archipelago/blob/main/docs/network%20protocol.md)
* [adding games.md](https://github.com/ArchipelagoMW/Archipelago/blob/main/docs/adding%20games.md)
Archipelago will be abbreviated as "AP" from now on.
## Language
AP worlds are written in python3.
Clients that connect to the server to sync items can be in any language that
allows using WebSockets.
## Coding style
AP follows all the PEPs. When in doubt use an IDE with coding style
linter, for example PyCharm Community Edition.
## Docstrings
Docstrings are strings attached to an object in Python that describe what the
object is supposed to be. Certain docstrings will be picked up and used by AP.
They are assigned by writing a string without any assignment right below a
definition. The string must be a triple-quoted string.
Example:
```python
from worlds.AutoWorld import World
class MyGameWorld(World):
"""This is the description of My Game that will be displayed on the AP
website."""
```
## Definitions
### World Class
A `World` class is the class with all the specifics of a certain game to be
included. It will be instantiated for each player that rolls a seed for that
game.
### MultiWorld Object
The `MultiWorld` object references the whole multiworld (all items and locations
for all players) and is accessible through `self.world` inside a `World` object.
### Player
The player is just an integer in AP and is accessible through `self.player`
inside a World object.
### Player Options
Players provide customized settings for their World in the form of yamls.
Those are accessible through `self.world.<option_name>[self.player]`. A dict
of valid options has to be provided in `self.options`. Options are automatically
added to the `World` object for easy access.
### World Options
Any AP installation can provide settings for a world, for example a ROM file,
accessible through `Utils.get_options()['<world>_options']['<option>']`.
Users can set those in their `host.yaml` file.
### Locations
Locations are places where items can be located in your game. This may be chests
or boss drops for RPG-like games but could also be progress in a research tree.
Each location has a `name` and an `id` (a.k.a. "code" or "address"), is placed
in a Region and has access rules.
The name needs to be unique in each game, the ID needs to be unique across all
games and is best in the same range as the item IDs.
Special locations with ID `None` can hold events.
### Items
Items are all things that can "drop" for your game. This may be RPG items like
weapons, could as well be technologies you normally research in a research tree.
Each item has a `name`, an `id` (can be known as "code"), and an `advancement`
flag. An advancement item is an item which a player may require to advance in
their world. Advancement items will be assigned to locations with higher
priority and moved around to meet defined rules and accomplish progression
balancing.
Special items with ID `None` can mark events (read below).
### Events
Events will mark some progress. You define an event location, an
event item, strap some rules to the location (i.e. hold certain
items) and manually place the event item at the event location.
Events can be used to either simplify the logic or to get better spoiler logs.
Events will show up in the spoiler playthrough but they do not represent actual
items or locations within the game.
There is one special case for events: Victory. To get the win condition to show
up in the spoiler log, you create an event item and place it at an event
location with the `access_rules` for game completion. Once that's done, the
world's win condition can be as simple as checking for that item.
By convention the victory event is called `"Victory"`. It can be placed at one
or more event locations based on player options.
### Regions
Regions are logical groups of locations that share some common access rules. If
location logic is written from scratch, using regions greatly simplifies the
definition and allow to somewhat easily implement things like entrance
randomizer in logic.
Regions have a list called `exits` which are `Entrance` objects representing
transitions to other regions.
There has to be one special region "Menu" from which the logic unfolds. AP
assumes that a player will always be able to return to the "Menu" region by
resetting the game ("Save and quit").
### Entrances
An `Entrance` connects to a region, is assigned to region's exits and has rules
to define if it and thus the connected region is accessible.
They can be static (regular logic) or be defined/connected during generation
(entrance randomizer).
### Access Rules
An access rule is a function that returns `True` or `False` for a `Location` or
`Entrance` based on the the current `state` (items that can be collected).
### Item Rules
An item rule is a function that returns `True` or `False` for a `Location` based
on a single item. It can be used to reject placement of an item there.
## Implementation
### Your World
All code for your world implementation should be placed in a python package in
the `/worlds` directory. The starting point for the package is `__init.py__`.
Conventionally, your world class is placed in that file.
World classes must inherit from the `World` class in `/worlds/AutoWorld.py`,
which can be imported as `..AutoWorld.World` from your package.
AP will pick up your world automatically due to the `AutoWorld` implementation.
### Requirements
If your world needs specific python packages, they can be listed in
`world/[world_name]/requirements.txt`.
See [pip documentation](https://pip.pypa.io/en/stable/cli/pip_install/#requirements-file-format)
### Relative Imports
AP will only import the `__init__.py`. Depending on code size it makes sense to
use multiple files and use relative imports to access them.
e.g. `from .Options import mygame_options` from your `__init__.py` will load
`world/[world_name]/Options.py` and make its `mygame_options` accesible.
When imported names pile up it may be easier to use `from . import Options`
and access the variable as `Options.mygame_options`.
### Your Item Type
Each world uses its own subclass of `BaseClasses.Item`. The constuctor can be
overridden to attach additional data to it, e.g. "price in shop".
Since the constructor is only ever called from your code, you can add whatever
arguments you like to the constructor.
In its simplest form we only set the game name and use the default constuctor
```python
from BaseClasses import Item
class MyGameItem(Item):
game: str = "My Game"
```
By convention this class definition will either be placed in your `__init__.py`
or your `Items.py`. For a more elaborate example see `worlds/oot/Items.py`.
### Your location type
The same we have done for items above, we will do for locations
```python
from BaseClasses import Location
class MyGameLocation(Location):
game: str = "My Game"
# override constructor to automatically mark event locations as such
def __init__(self, player: int, name = '', code = None, parent = None):
super(MyGameLocation, self).__init__(player, name, code, parent)
self.event = code is None
```
in your `__init__.py` or your `Locations.py`.
### Options
By convention options are defined in `Options.py` and will be used when parsing
the players' yaml files.
Each option has its own class, inherits from a base option type, has a docstring
to describe it and a `displayname` property for display on the website and in
spoiler logs.
The actual name as used in the yaml is defined in a `dict[str, Option]`, that is
assigned to the world under `self.options`.
Common option types are `Toggle`, `DefaultOnToggle`, `Choice`, `Range`.
For more see `Options.py` in AP's base directory.
#### Toggle, DefaultOnToggle
Those don't need any additional properties defined. After parsing the option,
its `value` will either be True or False.
#### Range
Define properties `range_start`, `range_end` and `default`. Ranges will be
displayed as sliders on the website and can be set to random in the yaml.
#### Choice
Choices are like toggles, but have more options than just True and False.
Define a property `option_<name> = <number>` per selectable value and
`default = <number>` to set the default selection. Aliases can be set by
defining a property `alias_<name> = <same number>`.
One special case where aliases are required is when option name is `yes`, `no`,
`on` or `off` because they parse to `True` or `False`:
```python
option_off = 0
option_on = 1
option_some = 2
alias_false = 0
alias_true = 1
default = 0
```
#### Sample
```python
# Options.py
from Options import Toggle, Range, Choice, Option
import typing
class Difficulty(Choice):
"""Sets overall game difficulty."""
displayname = "Difficulty"
option_easy = 0
option_normal = 1
option_hard = 2
alias_beginner = 0 # same as easy
alias_expert = 2 # same as hard
default = 1 # default to normal
class FinalBossHP(Range):
"""Sets the HP of the final boss"""
displayname = "Final Boss HP"
range_start = 100
range_end = 10000
default = 2000
class FixXYZGlitch(Toggle):
"""Fixes ABC when you do XYZ"""
displayname = "Fix XYZ Glitch"
# By convention we call the options dict variable `<world>_options`.
mygame_options: typing.Dict[str, type(Option)] = {
"difficulty": Difficulty,
"final_boss_hp": FinalBossHP,
"fix_xyz_glitch": FixXYZGlitch
}
```
```python
# __init__.py
from ..AutoWorld import World
from .Options import mygame_options # import the options dict
class MyGameWorld(World):
#...
options = mygame_options # assign the options dict to the world
#...
```
### Local or Remote
A world with `remote_items` set to `True` gets all items items from the server
and no item from the local game. So for an RPG opening a chest would not add
any item to your inventory, instead the server will send you what was in that
chest. The advantage is that a generic mod can be used that does not need to
know anything about the seed.
A world with `remote_items` set to `False` will locally reward its local items.
For console games this can remove delay and make script/animation/dialog flow
more natural. These games typically have been edited to 'bake in' the items.
### A World Class Skeleton
```python
# world/mygame/__init__.py
from .Options import mygame_options # the options we defined earlier
from .Items import mygame_items # data used below to add items to the World
from .Locations import mygame_locations # same as above
from ..AutoWorld import World
from BaseClasses import Region, Location, Entrance, Item
from Utils import get_options, output_path
class MyGameItem(Item): # or from Items import MyGameItem
game = "My Game" # name of the game/world this item is from
class MyGameLocation(Location): # or from Locations import MyGameLocation
game = "My Game" # name of the game/world this location is in
class MyGameWorld(World):
"""Insert description of the world/game here."""
game: str = "My Game" # name of the game/world
options = mygame_options # options the player can set
topology_present: bool = True # show path to required location checks in spoiler
remote_items: bool = False # True if all items come from the server
remote_start_inventory: bool = False # True if start inventory comes from the server
# data_version is used to signal that items, locations or their names
# changed. Set this to 0 during development so other games' clients do not
# cache any texts, then increase by 1 for each release that makes changes.
data_version = 0
# ID of first item and location, could be hard-coded but code may be easier
# to read with this as a propery.
base_id = 1234
# Instead of dynamic numbering, IDs could be part of data.
# The following two dicts are required for the generation to know which
# items exist. They could be generated from json or something else. They can
# include events, but don't have to since events will be placed manually.
item_name_to_id = {name: id for
id, name in enumerate(mygame_items, base_id)}
location_name_to_id = {name: id for
id, name in enumerate(mygame_locations, base_id)}
# Items can be grouped using their names to allow easy checking if any item
# from that group has been collected. Group names can also be used for !hint
item_name_groups = {
"weapons": {"sword", "lance"}
}
```
### Generation
The world has to provide the following things for generation
* the properties mentioned above
* additions to the item pool
* additions to the regions list: at least one called "Menu"
* locations placed inside those regions
* a `def create_item(self, item: str) -> MyGameItem` for plando/manual placing
* applying `self.world.precollected_items` for plando/start inventory
if not using a `remote_start_inventory`
* a `def generate_output(self, output_directory: str)` that creates the output
if there is output to be generated. If only items are randomized and
`remote_items = True` it is possible to have a generic mod and output
generation can be skipped. In all other cases this is required. When this is
called, `self.world.get_locations()` has all locations for all players, with
properties `item` pointing to the item and `player` identifying the player.
`self.world.get_filled_locations(self.player)` will filter for this world.
`item.player` can be used to see if it's a local item.
In addition the following methods can be implemented
* `def generate_early(self)`
called per player before any items or locations are created. You can set
properties on your world here. Already has access to player options and RNG.
* `def create_regions(self)`
called to place player's regions into the MultiWorld's regions list. If it's
hard to separate, this can be done during `generate_early` or `basic` as well.
* `def create_items(self)`
called to place player's items into the MultiWorld's itempool.
* `def set_rules(self)`
called to set access and item rules on locations and entrances.
* `def generate_basic(self)`
called after the previous steps. Some placement and player specific
randomizations can be done here. After this step all regions and items have
to be in the MultiWorld's regions and itempool.
* `pre_fill`, `fill_hook` and `post_fill` are called to modify item placement
before, during and after the regular fill process, before `generate_output`.
* `fill_slot_data` and `modify_multidata` can be used to modify the data that
will be used by the server to host the MultiWorld.
* `def get_required_client_version(self)`
can return a tuple of 3 ints to make sure the client is compatible to this
world (e.g. item IDs) when connecting.
#### generate_early
```python
def generate_early(self):
# read player settings to world instance
self.final_boss_hp = self.world.final_boss_hp[self.player].value
```
#### create_item
```python
# we need a way to know if an item provides progress in the game ("key item")
# this can be part of the items definition, or depend on recipe randomization
from .Items import is_progression # this is just a dummy
def create_item(self, item: str):
# This is called when AP wants to create an item by name (for plando) or
# when you call it from your own code.
return MyGameItem(item, is_progression(item), self.item_name_to_id[item],
self.player)
def create_event(self, event: str):
# while we are at it, we can also add a helper to create events
return MyGameItem(event, True, None, self.player)
```
#### create_items
```python
def create_items(self):
# Add items to the Multiworld.
# If there are two of the same item, the item has to be twice in the pool.
# Which items are added to the pool may depend on player settings,
# e.g. custom win condition like triforce hunt.
# Having an item in the start inventory won't remove it from the pool.
# If an item can't have duplicates it has to be excluded manually.
# List of items to exclude, as a copy since it will be destroyed below
exclude = [item for item in self.world.precollected_items[self.player]]
for item in map(self.create_item, mygame_items):
if item in exclude:
exclude.remove(item) # this is destructive. create unique list above
self.world.itempool.append(self.create_item('nothing'))
else:
self.world.itempool.append(item)
# itempool and number of locations should match up.
# If this is not the case we want to fill the itempool with junk.
junk = 0 # calculate this based on player settings
self.world.itempool += [self.create_item('nothing') for _ in range(junk)]
```
#### create_regions
```python
def create_regions(self):
# Add regions to the multiworld. "Menu" is the required starting point.
# Arguments to Region() are name, type, human_readable_name, player, world
r = Region("Menu", None, "Menu", self.player, self.world)
# Set Region.exits to a list of entrances that are reachable from region
r.exits = [Entrance(self.player, "New game", r)] # or use r.exits.append
# Append region to MultiWorld's regions
self.world.regions.append(r) # or use += [r...]
r = Region("Main Area", None, "Main Area", self.player, self.world)
# Add main area's locations to main area (all but final boss)
r.locations = [MyGameLocation(self.player, location.name,
self.location_name_to_id[location.name], r)]
r.exits = [Entrance(self.player, "Boss Door", r)]
self.world.regions.append(r)
r = Region("Boss Room", None, "Boss Room", self.player, self.world)
# add event to Boss Room
r.locations = [MyGameLocation(self.player, "Final Boss", None, r)]
self.world.regions.append(r)
# If entrances are not randomized, they should be connected here, otherwise
# they can also be connected at a later stage.
self.world.get_entrance("New Game", self.player)\
.connect(self.world.get_region("Main Area", self.player))
self.world.get_entrance("Boss Door", self.player)\
.connect(self.world.get_region("Boss Room", self.player))
# If setting location access rules from data is easier here, set_rules can
# possibly omitted.
```
#### generate_basic
```python
def generate_basic(self):
# place "Victory" at "Final Boss" and set collection as win condition
self.world.get_location("Final Boss", self.player)\
.place_locked_item(self.create_event("Victory"))
self.world.completion_condition[self.player] = \
lambda state: state.has("Victory", self.player)
# place item Herb into location Chest1 for some reason
item = self.create_item("Herb")
self.world.get_location("Chest1", self.player).place_locked_item(item)
# in most cases it's better to do this at the same time the itempool is
# filled to avoid accidental duplicates:
# manually placed and still in the itempool
```
### Setting Rules
```python
from ..generic.Rules import add_rule, set_rule, forbid_item
from Items import get_item_type
def set_rules(self):
# For some worlds this step can be omitted if either a Logic mixin
# (see below) is used, it's easier to apply the rules from data during
# location generation or everything is in generate_basic
# set a simple rule for an region
set_rule(self.world.get_entrance("Boss Door", self.player),
lambda state: state.has("Boss Key", self.player))
# combine rules to require two items
add_rule(self.world.get_location("Chest2", self.player),
lambda state: state.has("Sword", self.player))
add_rule(self.world.get_location("Chest2", self.player),
lambda state: state.has("Shield", self.player))
# or simply combine yourself
set_rule(self.world.get_location("Chest2", self.player),
lambda state: state.has("Sword", self.player) and
state.has("Shield", self.player))
# require two of an item
set_rule(self.world.get_location("Chest3", self.player),
lambda state: state.has("Key", self.player, 2))
# require one item from an item group
add_rule(self.world.get_location("Chest3", self.player),
lambda state: state.has_group("weapons", self.player))
# state also has .item_count() for items, .has_any() and.has_all() for sets
# and .count_group() for groups
# set_rule is likely to be a bit faster than add_rule
# disallow placing a specific local item at a specific location
forbid_item(self.world.get_location("Chest4", self.player), "Sword")
# disallow placing items with a specific property
add_item_rule(self.world.get_location("Chest5", self.player),
lambda item: get_item_type(item) == "weapon")
# get_item_type needs to take player/world into account
# if MyGameItem has a type property, a more direct implementation would be
add_item_rule(self.world.get_location("Chest5", self.player),
lambda item: item.player != self.player or\
item.my_type == "weapon")
# location.item_rule = ... is likely to be a bit faster
```
### Logic Mixin
While lambdas and events could do pretty much anything, by convention we
implement more complex logic in logic mixins, even if there is no need to add
properties to the `BaseClasses.CollectionState` state object.
When importing a file that defines a class that inherits from
`..AutoWorld.LogicMixin` the state object's class is automatically extended by
the mixin's members. These members should be prefixed with underscore following
the name of the implementing world. This is due to sharing a namespace with all
other logic mixins.
Typical uses are defining methods that are used instead of `state.has`
in lambdas, e.g.`state._mygame_has(custom, world, player)` or recurring checks
like `state._mygame_can_do_something(world, player)` to simplify lambdas.
More advanced uses could be to add additional variables to the state object,
override `World.collect(self, state, item)` and `remove(self, state, item)`
to update the state object, and check those added variables in added methods.
Please do this with caution and only when neccessary.
#### Sample
```python
# Logic.py
from ..AutoWorld import LogicMixin
class MyGameLogic(LogicMixin):
def _mygame_has_key(self, world: MultiWorld, player: int):
# Arguments above are free to choose
# it may make sense to use World as argument instead of MultiWorld
return self.has('key', player) # or whatever
```
```python
# __init__.py
from ..generic.Rules import set_rule
import .Logic # apply the mixin by importing its file
class MyGameWorld(World):
# ...
def set_rules(self):
set_rule(self.world.get_location("A Door", self.player),
lamda state: state._myworld_has_key(self.world, self.player))
```
### Generate Output
```python
from .Mod import generate_mod
def generate_output(self, output_directory: str):
# How to generate the mod or ROM highly depends on the game
# if the mod is written in Lua, Jinja can be used to fill a template
# if the mod reads a json file, `json.dump()` can be used to generate that
# code below is a dummy
data = {
"seed": self.world.seed_name, # to verify the server's multiworld
"slot": self.world.player_name[self.player], # to connect to server
"items": {location.name: location.item.name
if location.item.player == self.player else "Remote"
for location in self.world.get_filled_locations(self.player)},
# store start_inventory from player's .yaml
"starter_items": [item.name for item
in self.world.precollected_items[self.player]],
"final_boss_hp": self.final_boss_hp,
# store option name "easy", "normal" or "hard" for difficuly
"difficulty": self.world.difficulty[self.player].current_key,
# store option value True or False for fixing a glitch
"fix_xyz_glitch": self.world.fix_xyz_glitch[self.player].value
}
# point to a ROM specified by the installation
src = Utils.get_options()["mygame_options"]["rom_file"]
# or point to worlds/mygame/data/mod_template
src = os.path.join(os.path.dirname(__file__), "data", "mod_template")
# generate output path
mod_name = f"AP-{self.world.seed_name}-P{self.player}-{self.world.player_name[self.player]}"
out_file = os.path.join(output_directory, mod_name + ".zip")
# generate the file
generate_mod(src, out_file, data)
```