Roblox Lua Scripting Tutorial - Episode 8: Advanced Multiplayer Features

Welcome to the eighth episode of our Roblox Lua scripting tutorial series! In this episode, we'll dive deeper into advanced multiplayer features, including leaderboards, chat systems, and more.

Prerequisites

Before we begin, make sure you've completed the previous episodes and have a good understanding of scripting in Roblox Lua.

Leaderboards

Leaderboards are an essential feature for many multiplayer games. Let's create a simple leaderboard that tracks player scores:

-- Create a table to store player scores
local playerScores = {}

-- Function to update the leaderboard
local function updateLeaderboard()
    -- Sort players by score
    local sortedPlayers = {}
    for player, score in pairs(playerScores) do
        table.insert(sortedPlayers, {Player = player, Score = score})
    end
    table.sort(sortedPlayers, function(a, b) return a.Score > b.Score end)
    
    -- Update the leaderboard GUI
    local leaderboard = game.ServerStorage.LeaderboardTemplate:Clone()
    leaderboard.Parent = game.Workspace
    leaderboard.Position = UDim2.new(0.8, 0, 0.1, 0)
    
    for i, data in ipairs(sortedPlayers) do
        local playerLabel = game.ServerStorage.PlayerLabelTemplate:Clone()
        playerLabel.Parent = leaderboard
        playerLabel.Position = UDim2.new(0, 0, 0, 30 * (i - 1))
        playerLabel.PlayerName.Text = data.Player.Name
        playerLabel.Score.Text = data.Score
    end
end

-- Function to handle player scoring
local function onPlayerScored(player)
    if not playerScores[player] then
        playerScores[player] = 0
    end
    playerScores[player] = playerScores[player] + 1
    
    -- Update the leaderboard
    updateLeaderboard()
end

-- Connect to the player scoring event
game.Players.PlayerAdded:Connect(function(player)
    player.Leaving:Connect(function()
        playerScores[player] = nil
        updateLeaderboard()
    end)
end)

-- Example: Call onPlayerScored when a player scores
local player = game.Players.LocalPlayer
onPlayerScored(player)

In this script, we've created a leaderboard that tracks player scores. When a player scores, their score increases, and the leaderboard is updated accordingly. Players are also removed from the leaderboard when they leave the game.

Chat System

A chat system is important for communication in multiplayer games. Let's create a simple chat system:

-- Function to handle player chat
local function onPlayerChat(player, message)
    -- Customize the chat message (e.g., adding player name)
    local formattedMessage = player.Name .. ": " .. message
    
    -- Broadcast the chat message to all players
    for _, recipient in pairs(game.Players:GetPlayers()) do
        recipient:Chat(formattedMessage)
    end
end

-- Connect to the player chat event
game.Players.PlayerAdded:Connect(function(player)
    player.Chatted:Connect(function(message)
        onPlayerChat(player, message)
    end)
end)

In this script, we've created a simple chat system. When a player sends a chat message, it's customized with their name and broadcasted to all players.

Teleporting Players

Teleporting players to different places is a common feature in multiplayer games. Let's create a script that teleports players to a different place when they step on a teleporter:

-- Reference to the teleporter part
local teleporter = script.Parent

-- Function to handle teleporting players
local function teleportPlayer(player)
    -- Check if the player is in a valid team
    if player.Team == game.Teams.BlueTeam then
        player:MoveTo(Vector3.new(10, 0, 0))  -- Teleport to a new position
    else
        player:MoveTo(Vector3.new(-10, 0, 0))  -- Teleport to a different position
    end
end

-- Connect to the teleporter touch event
teleporter.Touched:Connect(function(hit)
    local player = game.Players:GetPlayerFromCharacter(hit.Parent)
    if player then
        teleportPlayer(player)
    end
end)

In this script, we've created a teleporter that moves players to different positions based on their team. When a player touches the teleporter, they are teleported to the appropriate position.

Conclusion

In this episode, you've explored advanced multiplayer features, including leaderboards, chat systems, and teleportation. These features enhance the multiplayer experience in your Roblox game and make it more engaging for players.

Stay tuned for future episodes, where we'll continue to explore advanced scripting techniques and game development strategies. Happy scripting and game development!

Lua Scripting Tutorial - 8