Help with classes!

[jamiekrux]

Hi, I am currently learning C++ and thought it would be a good idea to join a forum as you guys can probably explain things a lot better than a book can!

So straight to the point, I decided to make a simple linear text based game to practice all of the basic features I'm learning but cant seem to find a way around one mechanic.

My game involves simply rolling a random number, and that number relates to a certain game event/location, for example "you have been ambushed and lose 2 hp", some may give hp, but you continue to roll until you are dead.

I figured the best way to manage locations would be with a class for them, So i could give them a description and show if they had been visited already with simple code

class location
{
      public:
      bool searched;
      string description;
      };
      
int main()
{
    location hospital;
    hospital.searched = false;
    hospital.description = (" a run down hospital \n");
}

Now the problem arises when I try to refer to a location randomly, I have tried creating a string called "currentlocation" and giving it the value "hospital" when its random number is called, but if i write

cout << currentlocation.description;

it will not work, it does not use the value of the string "hospital" as an identifier.

Is there any way to get around this?

PS. I apologise if I am missing something obvious but I have only been learning for a few months! thanks!

[TwilightSpectre]

There easiest way I can think of for you (considering you have only been learning for a few months) is to use some kind of enumerator to keep track of what location you are in. Here is a quick example:

enum ELocations {
    HOSPITAL,     // = 0
    BACK_STREET,  // = 1
    // etc...
};

// ...

int main() {
    srand(time(0));   // Assuming you are using cstdlib for your random numbers
    bool finished = false;

    ELocations locationType;  // To remember where you are

    location hospital;
    hospital.searched = false;
    hospital.description = ("A run down hospital.\n");

    location backStreet;
    backStreet.searched = false;
    backStreet.description = ("A street behind the hospital.\n");

    while (!finished) {      // Main game loop
        switch (rand() % 6) {   // 6 possible locations
            case HOSPITAL: {
                cout << hospital.description;
                locationType = HOSPITAL;
                // Do stuff for a hospital
            } break;

            case BACK_STREET: {
                 cout << backStreet.description;
                 locationType = BACKSTREET;
                 // Do stuff for a back street
            } break;

            // etc.
        }

        // Keep going
    }

    return 0;
}

This works, though there are better ways, though you probably haven't learned them yet.

[jamiekrux]

Thanks for the help, this way suits my level just fine!