When is it best to use a class in Python?

Question

I\'m new to python and programming in general, so would really appreciate any clarification on this point.

For example, in the following code:

    #         


        

Answer 1

what about my monsters? he can fight another monster! Presumably your functional monster cannot do that ;-)

class Monster(object): 
    def __init__(self, level, damage, duration): 
        self.level    = level
        self.damage   = damage
        self.duration = duration
    def fight(self, enemy):
        if not isinstance(enemy, Monster) :
            print "The enemy is not a monster, so I can't fight it."
            return None
        else :
            print "Starting fighting"
        print "My monster's level is ", self.level
        print "My monster's damage is ", self.damage
        print "My monster's attack duration is ", self.duration
        print "The enemy's level is ", enemy.level
        print "The enemy's damage is ", enemy.damage
        print "The enemy's attack duration is ", enemy.duration

        result_of_fight = 3.*(self.level    - enemy.level)  + \
                          2.*(self.damage   - enemy.damage) + \
                          1.*(self.duration - enemy.duration)
        if result_of_fight > 0 :
            print "My monster wins the brutal battle"
        elif result_of_fight < 0 :
            print "My monster is defeated by the enemy"
        else :
            print "The two monsters both retreat for a draw"
        return result_of_fight
    def sleep(self, days): 
        print "The monster is tired and decides to rest for %3d days" % days
        self.level    += 3.0 * days
        self.damage   += 2.0 * days
        self.duration += 2.0 * days
x = Monster(1, 2, 3)
y = Monster(2, 3, 4)
x.fight(y)
x.sleep(10) 

so:

Starting fighting
My monster's level is  1
My monster's damage is  2
My monster's attack duration is  3
The enemy's level is  2
The enemy's damage is  3
The enemy's attack duration is  4
My monster is defeated by the enemy
The monster is tired and decides to rest for  10 days