Else/if practice with giving points

Create a part that gives players points using if and else statements in Luau.

This project will use conditional statements to create a part that will give or subtract points on a leaderboard depending on what color the part is when touched. If blue, then it'll give players a few points. If green, then it'll give a lot of points. Finally, if red, then it'll take away points.

Set up the project#

The point giving part can be added into any project where points are relevant. For instance, an adventure game where players collect points.

Point tracking#

To setup this project, you'll need a leaderboard to track the points and a part that changes colors. Code for the leaderboard will be provided.

Create a new script in ServerScriptService named Leaderboard. Copy and paste the code below into the script.

Luau

--In ServerScriptService, create a script named PlayerSetup with the contents below.

local Players = game:GetService("Players")

local function onPlayerJoin(player)
    local leaderstats = Instance.new("Folder")
    leaderstats.Name = "leaderstats"
    leaderstats.Parent = player

    -- Example of an IntValue
    local points = Instance.new("IntValue")
    points.Name = "Points"
    points.Value = 0
    points.Parent = leaderstats
end

-- Run onPlayerJoin when the PlayerAdded event fires
Players.PlayerAdded:Connect(onPlayerJoin)

Color changing part#

The script will cycle through three different colors for the part. Each color will have a variable to store it's RGB value, a data type that includes a set of three numbers (red, green, blue) that create colors.

Create a part named PointPart with an attached script named PointScript.
In PointScript, use script.Parent to refer to the part.
Luau
```
local pointPart = script.Parent
```
Create variables to store the different colors. Each variable should be set to Color3.fromRGB(), which creates a color value.
- Blue (Some Points): (0, 0, 255)
- Green (Many Points): (0, 255, 0)
- Red (Lose Points): (255, 0, 0)
Luau
```
local pointPart = script.Parent

-- Colors
local blue = Color3.fromRGB(0, 0, 255)
local green = Color3.fromRGB(0, 255, 0)
local red = Color3.fromRGB(255, 0, 0)
```

Add variables for a small amount of points, a larger amount of points, and a third for removing points.

Luau

-- Colors
local blue = Color3.fromRGB(0, 0, 255)
local green = Color3.fromRGB(0, 255, 0)
local red = Color3.fromRGB(255, 0, 0)

-- Points values
local smallPoints = 10
local largePoints = 50
local losePoints = 100

Add the players service#

To award points, you'll need to get access to the player's information which is stored in the Explorer under Players, and is separate from the character object. This is where information like leaderboard stats can be found.

You can do so by adding the Players service to your script. Services are additional sets of pre-built functions made by Roblox engineers to save you time.

Get the Players service by typing:

local Players = game:GetService("Players")

Luau

-- Points values
local smallPoints = 10
local largePoints = 50
local losePoints = 100

-- Services needed
local Players = game:GetService("Players")

Functions and events#

PointsScript will need two functions. The first function will give and subtract parts. The second function will check if a player has touched the part. These functions will then be connected with a touch event, which runs whenever that part is touched.

Create a new function named givePoints() and a parameter named player. Inside, add a print statement to use for testing.

Luau

local Players = game:GetService("Players")

-- Gives or subtracts points
local function givePoints(player)
    print("Giving player points")
end

Under that, create a second function named partTouched() with a parameter named otherPart.

Luau

-- Gives or subtracts points
local function givePoints(player)
    print("Giving player points")
end

-- Checks if player touched the part
local function partTouched(otherPart)

end

Inside the function, use the function GetPlayerFromCharacter() to check if there's a player in the otherPart variable.

Luau

-- Checks if player touched the part
local function partTouched(otherPart)
    local player = Players:GetPlayerFromCharacter(otherPart.Parent)
end

If a player touched the part, it'll be stored inside the player variable. If not, the variable will stay empty. On your own:

Inside the function, check if player has a value. If there is, then call givePoints(player).
Beneath the function, connect partTouched() to the Touched event of pointPart.

Luau

-- Checks if player touched the part
local function partTouched(otherPart)
    -- Gets the player if one touched the part
    local player = Players:GetPlayerFromCharacter(otherPart.Parent)
    if player then
        givePoints(player)
    end
end

pointPart.Touched:Connect(partTouched)

Run the project. Whenever a player touches the part, you should see a message in the Output window saying: "Giving player points"

Troubleshooting Tips:

Check that "Players" in game:GetService("Players") is capitalized and in quotations.
partTouched() should be connected to pointPart's Touched event.

Create Looping Colors#

To loop through colors, the script will use a while =loop that changes the part's color every few seconds. The condition for this loop will be true, so it can run indefinitely.

At the end of the script, create a new while loop where the condition is true, meaning the loop always runs.

Luau

-- Checks if player touched the part
local function partTouched(otherPart)
    -- Gets the player if one touched the part
    local player = Players:GetPlayerFromCharacter(otherPart.Parent)
    if player then
        givePoints(player)
    end
end

pointPart.Touched:Connect(partTouched)

-- Loops through colors
while true do

end

If the while true do loop is not at the bottom of the script, any code below it will never be run. Since the while loop doesn't stop, it'll keep running the loop instead of any code below it.

On your own, code a while true do loop that changes pointPart to the color variables you've created. Don't forget to use task.wait() between colors. When finished, check your code against the version below.

Luau

-- Loops through 3 colors, waiting between each color
while true do
    pointPart.Color = blue
    task.wait(3)
    pointPart.Color = green
    task.wait(2)
    pointPart.Color = red
    task.wait(1)
end

Play-test and check that all three colors loop without stopping.

Troubleshooting tips#

At this point, if the color looping doesn't work as intended, try one of the following below.

Check that the while loop is at the bottom of the script, below the Touched event. If the loop is not at the bottom, it'll keep other parts of the script from running correctly.
Check that each color inside Color3.fromRGB() is correctly written. There must be three numbers between 0 and 255 separated by commas, like (255, 50, 0).

Give players points#

Players will be given points based on the current color of the part when they touch it.

Find the current color#

Whenever a player touches the part, the script will need to know the current color of the part to award points later.

Find givePoints(). Replace your testing message with a variable for the current color of pointPart. This variable will determine how many points the player gets (or loses).
Luau
```
local function givePoints(player)
    local currentColor = pointPart.Color
end
```

To affect a player's points, that function needs access to the player's leaderboard. Create a variable to store it.

Luau

local function givePoints(player)
    local currentColor = pointPart.Color

    local playerStats = player:WaitForChild("leaderstats")
end

Now add a variable to get the player's Points value, which is a child of their leaderboard.

Luau

local function givePoints(player)
    local currentColor = pointPart.Color

    local playerStats = player:WaitForChild("leaderstats")
    local playerPoints = playerStats:WaitForChild("Points")
end

Give or subtract points#

Next, you'll use if and elseif to give or subtract points depending on the color of the part when touched. Remember that blue provides a small amount, green provides many, and red subtracts points.

Inside givePoints(), beneath the variables, use an if statement to check if the current color is blue and if so then add smallPoints to the player's current points value.

Luau

local function givePoints(player)
    local currentColor = pointPart.Color

    local playerStats = player:WaitForChild("leaderstats")
    local playerPoints = playerStats:WaitForChild("Points")

    if currentColor == blue then
        playerPoints.Value += smallPoints
    end
end

To check for green, add an else if condition. If green, then add the largePoints variable to the player's points.

Luau

if currentColor == blue then
    playerPoints.Value += smallPoints
elseif currentColor == green then
    playerPoints.Value += largePoints
end

Use an else statement to subtract points if pointsPart was neither blue nor green.

Luau

if currentColor == blue then
    playerPoints.Value += smallPoints
elseif currentColor == green then
    playerPoints.Value += largePoints
else
    playerPoints.Value -= losePoints
end

Lastly, destroy the part after the if statement so that the script can't keep giving out points.

Luau

if currentColor == blue then
    playerPoints.Value += smallPoints
elseif currentColor == green then
    playerPoints.Value += largePoints
else
    playerPoints.Value -= losePoints
end

pointPart:Destroy()

Playtest and check that each color gives points as expected. Be sure to test all three conditions.

Give players feedback#

The PointPart works, but players might not notice something happened unless they happen to be looking at their leaderboard. Fix that by creating particles when the PointPart is destroyed.

Adding feedback when players use a part, like sounds, shakes, or particles, makes interactions with objects more satisfying to players.

Create a particle effect#

The particle effect will be the same color as the part when touched. Since the colors were stored in variables, it's easy to reuse them.

In givePoints() at the bottom, create a new ParticleEmitter instance. Make sure the instance name is spelled exactly as shown.
Luau
```
    local particle = Instance.new("ParticleEmitter")
end
```

ParticleEmitters use color sequences to control their Color property. Create a new ColorSequence and pass in the current part color.

Luau

-- Destroy part
pointPart:Destroy()

-- Create particles
local particle = Instance.new("ParticleEmitter")
particle.Color = ColorSequence.new(currentColor)

The particle will need to be parented to player that touched it. Create a variable to get the player's Character model. Then, parent the particle to the player's head.

Luau

local particle = Instance.new("ParticleEmitter")
particle.Color = ColorSequence.new(currentColor)

local playerCharacter = player.Character
particle.Parent = playerCharacter:WaitForChild("Head")

Use task.wait() for a quick second, then destroy the particles.

Luau

local particle = Instance.new("ParticleEmitter")
particle.Color = ColorSequence.new(currentColor)

local playerCharacter = player.Character
particle.Parent = playerCharacter:WaitForChild("Head")

task.wait(1)
particle:Destroy()

Playtest the game and make sure particles briefly follow the player after touching each color.

Troubleshooting tips#

At this point, if particles doesn't work as intended, try one of the following below.

Make when creating a new instance that ParticleEmitter is spelled exactly as shown and inside quotations.
When parenting the particles, make sure to use : between playerCharacter and WaitForChild() with no spaces between.

Complete PointScript#

A finished version of the script can be referenced below.

Luau

local pointPart = script.Parent
--local storage = game:GetService("ServerStorage")

-- Gives some points
local blue = Color3.fromRGB(0, 0, 255)
-- Gives more points
local green = Color3.fromRGB(0, 255, 0)
-- Makes players lose points
local red = Color3.fromRGB(255, 0, 0)

-- gold given to players
local smallPoints = 10
local largePoints = 50
local losePoints = 100

local Players = game:GetService("Players")

local function givePoints(player)
	local currentColor = pointPart.Color

	local playerStats = player:WaitForChild("leaderstats")
	local playerPoints = playerStats:WaitForChild("Points")

	-- Gives player gold based on the color of the part
	if currentColor == blue then
		playerPoints.Value += smallPoints
	elseif currentColor == green then
		playerPoints.Value += largePoints
	else
		playerPoints.Value -= losePoints
	end

	-- Destroy the part, wait a second, and then destroy the particle
	pointPart:Destroy()

	-- Creates a sparkles effect and destroys it
	local playerCharacter = player.Character
	local particle = Instance.new("ParticleEmitter")
	particle.Color = ColorSequence.new(currentColor)
	particle.Parent = playerCharacter:WaitForChild("Head")
	task.wait(1)
	particle:Destroy()
end

local function partTouched(otherPart)
	local player = Players:GetPlayerFromCharacter(otherPart.Parent)

	if player then
		givePoints(player)
	end
end

pointPart.Touched:Connect(partTouched)

-- Changes the color of the part based on variables. Needs to be at bottom of script.
while true do
	pointPart.Color = blue
	task.wait(4)
	pointPart.Color = green
	task.wait(3)
	pointPart.Color = red
	task.wait(2)
end