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byte_world_ai

byte_world_ai is a text-first, command-driven fantasy RPG with tactical turn-based combat, guided progression, and terminal-friendly readability features.

You can play it:

in a local Python terminal (CLI mode), or
in a browser on GitHub Pages (web terminal mode).

Play Online

Live site: https://jordanbailey00.github.io/byte_world_ai/

What Kind of Game Is This?

byte_world_ai is designed around readable terminal gameplay:

every prompt shows all currently valid actions,
combat prompts only show combat-relevant actions,
interactable entities are color-coded,
maps and quest hints are always accessible by command.

Main goals:

defeat the major story bosses,
rescue and cleanse Elle,
complete the main questline,
optionally continue exploring and farming afterward.

Quick Start

Option 1: Play in browser (recommended)

Open:

https://joey1399.github.io/byte_world_ai/

Notes:

this version is static-hosted on GitHub Pages,
Python runs in-browser via Pyodide,
page refresh starts a fresh run (no persistent save yet).

Option 2: Play local CLI

Requirements:

Python 3.10+ (3.12+ recommended)

Run:

python main.py

Option 3: Preview the web build locally

python -m http.server 8000

Then open:

http://localhost:8000

Core Loop

Read the action hints shown at the prompt.
Enter one command.
Review the result block.
Repeat until quest progression, victory, or quit.

General flow:

talk to the Wise Old Man,
clear swamp -> mountain -> castle route,
handle goblin road encounter,
defeat Makor, then the Onyx Witch,
free and cleanse Elle.

Command Reference

All commands are case-insensitive. Partial item/NPC matching is supported when practical.

Movement and navigation

Command	Description
`move north` / `move south` / `move east` / `move west` / `move up` / `move down`	Travel if exit is unlocked and no active encounter.
`map`	Shows a directional ASCII map from current location with lock/recommendation labels.
`look`	Re-describes location, exits, and visible NPCs.
`sense`	Gives contextual environmental hints.

Information

Command	Description
`status`	Shows level, HP, effective stats, XP, skill points, gold, titles, and equipped gear.
`quest`	Shows current quest stage, description, and hint.
`inventory`	Lists all owned items and types.
`help`	Full in-game command menu.
`quit`	Ends current session.

Social

Command	Description
`talk wise old man`	Starts progression and grants core skills the first time.
`talk elle`	Available at Witch's Terrace after relevant story events.

Gear and item use

Command	Description
`equip <item>`	Equip one item by name/query.
`equip all`	Auto-equip best-in-slot across weapon/armor/shield/accessory/aura.
`use <item>`	Use consumables or context-sensitive quest/key items.
`read <item>`	Reads special items such as Goblin Riddle.

Progression

Command	Description
`train attack <n>`	Spend skill points for base ATK.
`train defense <n>`	Spend skill points for base DEF.
`train health <n>`	Spend skill points for base max HP (`+3` max HP per point).
`train all`	Splits available points equally among attack/defense/health.
`train a,b,c`	Exact allocation: `attack,defense,health` (example: `train 3,4,3`).

Combat

Command	Description
`fight`	Basic attack.
`defend`	Reduces next incoming enemy hit based on intent multipliers.
`skill focus strike`	Heavy hit (~1.8x attack), 2-turn cooldown.
`skill guard stance`	Defend + heal 6 HP, 3-turn cooldown.
`skill second wind`	Heal 16 HP, 4-turn cooldown.
`run`	Escape attempt (chance depends on enemy category).
`joke`	Goblin Army negotiation-only option.
`bribe`	Goblin Army negotiation-only option (cost: all current gold).

Command aliases

Alias	Expands to
`n s e w u d`	`move north/south/east/west/up/down`
`north south east west up down`	`move <dir>`
`m`	`map`
`i`, `inv`	`inventory`
`q`, `exit`	`quit`
`attack`, `atk`	`fight`

UI and Readability Features

Dynamic action hints

At every input prompt, the game prints all valid actions with short descriptions based on your exact state.

Behavior:

out of combat: all relevant world/inventory/progression actions,
in combat: only combat-relevant actions for the active encounter.

Color legend

Color	Meaning
Blue	Talkable NPC
Yellow	Fightable creature
Orange	Boss
Red	End-boss (King Makor, Onyx Witch)
Green	Item/equipment
Purple	Rare/quest/important reward item
Pink	Skill/stat terms (`attack`, `defense`, `health`, skill names)

Combat health bars

During combat, ASCII health bars are shown after attacks:

green segment = current HP,
red segment = missing HP.

Both player and enemy bars are displayed.

Terminal clearing

The CLI clears the previous screen output each turn (to reduce clutter).

Env toggles:

BYTE_WORLD_AI_NO_CLEAR=1 disables clear behavior,
BYTE_WORLD_AI_FORCE_CLEAR=1 forces clear behavior when terminal checks fail.

Combat System

Turn structure

Player chooses an action.
If action consumes a turn and enemy survives, enemy acts.
Cooldowns tick after enemy turn.

Key rules

defend applies to next enemy hit only.
some actions do not consume a turn (context-dependent item uses).
movement/talking/training are blocked while encounter is active.

Escape chances

Normal enemies: ~65%
Bosses: ~28%
Goblin Army: ~22%

Failed escape triggers enemy turn.

Encounter-specific mechanics

Goblin Army: starts in negotiation phase with joke, bribe, or fight.
Onyx Witch: starts with barrier active; normal attacks are blocked until Goblin Riddle is read/used.
Onyx Witch curse: while barrier is active, enemy turns apply extra 4 HP drain.
King Makor: if Mysterious Ring is in inventory, ring surge auto-activates at encounter start (+4 ATK, +2 DEF temporary bonus).

Defeat behavior

On defeat:

encounter ends,
you respawn at Old Shack,
HP is restored to 50% of effective max HP.

Extra penalty:

versus Goblin Army, there is a 50% chance of permanent -1 to one base stat (attack/defense/health).

Progression and Stats

Starting character

Name: Wanderer
Base max HP: 50
Base attack: 8
Base defense: 5
Starting gold: 20
Starting inventory: Rusted Blade, Patched Coat, Minor Potion x2, Sturdy Bandage x1

Effective stats

Effective combat stats are:

base stats
plus equipped gear bonuses
plus temporary bonuses (for example ring surge)

Leveling

XP required to next level:

40 + (level - 1) * 30

On level up:

+6 base max HP
+1 base attack
+1 base defense
full heal to effective max HP

Skill points

Skill points come from:

boss rewards,
normal enemy area bonuses (skill_points_per_kill),
rare boon drops (Skill Cache items).

Items, Gear, and Training

Equipment slots

weapon
armor
shield
accessory
aura

Best-in-slot auto-equip

equip all compares all owned equippable items and equips the strongest option per slot.

Scoring basis:

attack bonus,
defense bonus,
max HP bonus (normalized),
item value as tie-break support.

Consumables

Item	Effect
`Minor Potion`	Heal 18 HP
`Sturdy Bandage`	Heal 12 HP

Important quest/context items

Item	Core purpose
`Crusty Key`	Frees Elle at Witch's Terrace after Witch defeat
`Goblin Riddle`	Breaks Onyx Witch barrier
`Vial of Tears`	Cleanses Elle and completes story
`Hoard of Treasure`	Turn in at Old Shack for 180 gold via `use hoard`
`Mysterious Ring`	Temporary combat surge (`+4 ATK`, `+2 DEF`)

Loot drop rules

Rule	Value
Guaranteed boss drops	Always drop
Extra loot-table roll (normal enemies)	45%
Extra loot-table roll (bosses)	70%
Rare boon roll (normal enemies)	4%
Rare boon pool	`Moonbite Dagger`, `Echo Plate`, `Warding Totem`, `Skill Cache (+10/+20/+30)`

Training conversions

train attack 1 -> +1 base ATK
train defense 1 -> +1 base DEF
train health 1 -> +3 base max HP

train all behavior:

spends points in equal split,
leftover points remain unspent.

World and Area Guide

This map is mostly linear with optional side farming and one optional boss cave.

Location stats

Location	Encounter chance	Creature variants	Skill points per normal kill	Notes
Old Shack	0.28	20	1	Start area, Wise Old Man
Forest	0.48	20	2	Gate to swamp/mountain
Swamp	0.00	0	0	Giant Frog boss zone
Underground Tunnel	0.52	20	3	Farm branch off Forest
Dragon Mountain Base	0.56	20	4	Hub to peak/mine/road
Abandoned Mine	0.62	20	5	High-yield farm branch
Dragon Mountain Peak	0.00	0	0	Ash Dragon boss zone
Dragon Mountain Cave	0.00	0	0	Optional Hoard Ogre boss
Desolate Road	0.52	20	6	Goblin Army event route
Royal Yard	0.60	20	7	Last farm zone before castle interior
Black Hall	0.00	0	0	Cutscene transition to Dungeon
Dungeon	0.00	0	0	King Makor boss zone
Witch's Terrace	0.00	0	0	Onyx Witch + Elle

Each farmable non-boss location has 20 creature variants (1 base + 19 generated variants).

Route locks

Forest -> Mountain Base (north) requires frog_defeated.
Mountain Base -> Desolate Road (west) requires dragon_defeated.
Mountain Peak -> Mountain Cave (east) requires dragon_defeated.
Royal Yard -> Black Hall (north) requires Goblin route resolved (goblin_army_defeated or goblin_pass_granted).
Black Hall -> Witch's Terrace (north) requires makor_defeated.

Quest Route and Boss Guide

Main quest stages

Awakening
The Swamp Secret
Ash on the Peak
Road of Knives
King in Rot
Break the Curse
Rescue Elle
Homecoming

Boss summary

Boss	HP	Special mechanic	Guaranteed drops
Giant Frog, Prince of the Swamp	85	Standard boss intents	Crusty Key, Crusty Sword, Froghide Armor
Ash Dragon	130	Standard boss intents	Mysterious Ring, Dragon Armor, Obsidian Amulet, Obsidian Scimitar
Hoard Ogre (optional)	150	Optional cave boss	Hoard of Treasure, Dragon Ring, Dragon Shield
Army of Goblins	165	Negotiation phase (`joke`, `bribe`, `fight`)	Goblin Riddle
King Makor the Rot	190	Ring surge synergy if ring owned	Makor's Soul
The Onyx Witch	230	Barrier blocks attacks until riddle; curse drain while active	Vial of Tears

Titles from boss kills

Giant Frog -> Swampbreaker
Ash Dragon -> Peakslayer
Hoard Ogre -> Hoardbreaker
Army of Goblins -> Road Reaper
King Makor -> Rotbane
Onyx Witch -> Witchfall Champion

Story completion condition

Main storyline completes when:

Onyx Witch is defeated,
Elle is freed,
Vial of Tears is used at Witch's Terrace to cleanse Elle.

After completion, you can keep playing or quit.

Tips for New Players

Talk to the Wise Old Man immediately to unlock your core skill set.
Farm Forest/Tunnel if first bosses feel too strong.
Use map frequently to follow recommended route markers.
Use equip all after major loot drops.
Save healing items for bosses or failed escape outcomes.
Against Onyx Witch, prioritize breaking barrier with read goblin riddle or use goblin riddle.
If Goblin Army negotiation starts early, joke or bribe can bypass direct combat.

FAQ

Why can’t I move/talk/train right now?

You are likely in an active encounter. Resolve it with combat actions or run.

Why am I not damaging the Onyx Witch?

Her barrier is active. Use/read Goblin Riddle in combat to break it first.

Why did I wake up in Old Shack?

You were defeated in combat. Defeat causes respawn at Old Shack with partial HP.

Can I continue after winning?

Yes. Main quest victory does not force quit.

Is there save/load?

Not yet. Runs are session-based.

Technical and Deployment Notes

GitHub Pages

This repository deploys via:

.github/workflows/pages.yml

Pages is configured with GitHub Actions as the build source.

Local static web runtime details

index.html + static/app.js host a terminal-like UI.
The Python game engine is loaded in-browser via Pyodide CDN.
No backend server is required for the web build.

Optional environment toggles (CLI)

BYTE_WORLD_AI_NO_CLEAR=1
BYTE_WORLD_AI_FORCE_CLEAR=1
BYTE_WORLD_AI_FORCE_COLOR=1
NO_COLOR=1 (disables color)

Projects

byte_world_ai

byte_world_ai

fight-caves-rsps

fight-caves-rsps

asteroid-prospector-rl

asteroid-prospector-rl