I’m building a text based, online TUI-RPG in Rust

This content originally appeared on DEV Community and was authored by larinius

For the past while, I’ve been diving deep into a passion project: a classic, client-server, text-based RPG that runs entirely in the terminal (a TUI). It’s built in Rust, using QUIC for fast and secure networking.

We’ve just finished implementing a bunch of core features that are really starting to make it feel like a living game, and I wanted to share a recap of what’s under the hood!

Here’s a quick rundown of the features:

• Fully Data-Driven World: Every single thing—items, NPCs, skills, quests, and even branching conversations—is loaded from simple JSON files. This makes creating new content incredibly fast and opens the door for future modding.

• Robust FSM-based Dialog System: Conversations aren’t just linear text. The system is a true finite state machine where player choices can trigger:

  • Skill & Attribute Checks: (e.g., [Strength Check: 15] Intimidate the guard.)
  • Transactions: Pay an NPC, bribe a guard, or buy an item directly in dialogue.
  • Branching Narratives: The conversation flows based on the success or failure of your actions.

• Centralized “Effect Applicator” & System Narrator: This is the architectural core. Any action in the game (eating an apple, choosing a dialog option, equipping a sword) generates a list of “Game Effects.” A single, central system processes these effects, which means:

  • It handles all state changes: Modifying stats, adding/removing items, changing money, equipping gear.
  • It auto-generates clear player feedback. This creates a “System Narrator” that tells you exactly what happened in a clean, consistent format, just like in classic RPGs:
    • You feel more energetic. [+2 Endurance added]
    • Dull Knife [-1 Atk] removed from inventory.
    • 10 coins removed from your purse.

• Dynamic ASCII/Braille Art Rendering: This is my favorite feature. The game can take any image file (for NPC portraits, area maps, or the world map) and render it as high-quality Braille art directly in the terminal. The world map even supports panning and zooming!

• Intelligent Client-Side UI:

  • Smart Command Parser: Uses fuzzy matching to correct typos and understands a wide range of aliases (l for look, inv for inventory, etc.).
  • Context-Aware Actions: The use and unequip commands are tied to the UI. You just navigate your inventory with the arrow keys, type use, and the game knows exactly which item you mean.
  • Full Equipment & Stat System: Players can equip/unequip items into specific slots (Weapon, Armor). Stats update in real-time, and equipped items are clearly marked in the UI. Stats like Endurance can even be “overcharged” above their maximum.

• Live World Ticker: The game world has its own clock. NPCs will eventually move, and timed events (like traveling between locations) are handled with progress bars, making the world feel persistent.

It’s been a massive learning experience, especially getting the client-server architecture right and ensuring the game state is always consistent. The focus has been on building a solid, scalable foundation before piling on tons of content.

TL;DR: Building a multiplayer TUI-RPG in Rust with a data-driven world, a proper FSM dialog system with skill checks, and dynamic maps that are rendered from images as ASCII art in the terminal.

This content originally appeared on DEV Community and was authored by larinius