3-Month Godot Roguelike Development Roadmap with AI Integration

Congratulations on taking this exciting leap into game development! This roadmap will transform your software engineering skills into roguelike mastery using Godot Engine and AI tools like GitHub Copilot and ChatGPT. By month 3, you’ll have a portfolio-ready project showcasing procedural generation and AI-assisted workflows.

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Month 1: Foundations & AI-Powered Prototyping

Goal: Build core Godot proficiency while leveraging AI for rapid iteration.

1. Week 1-2: Learn Godot Basics (AI-Accelerated)

- Complete [Godot’s official docs](https://docs.godotengine.org) (focus on GDScript).

- Use GitHub Copilot to speed up scripting (e.g., auto-complete movement systems).

- Project: Prototype a simple turn-based character with ChatGPT’s help for design ideas.

2. Week 3-4: Roguelike Essentials + AI Tooling

- Study procedural generation via [Roguelike Tutorial (Godot 4)](https://www.gridsagegames.com/blog/roguelike-tutorial-godot/).

- Use ChatGPT to brainstorm dungeon algorithms (e.g., "Suggest 3 ways to implement BSP trees in GDScript").

- Project: Generate a basic dungeon with randomized rooms/enemies using Copilot for boilerplate code.

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Month 2: Advanced Systems & AI Collaboration

Goal: Implement complex roguelike features with AI support.

1. Week 5-6: Turn-Based Combat & NPC AI

- Learn Godot’s state machines; use Copilot to draft finite state machine templates for enemies.

- Train a simple behavior tree via ChatGPT prompts (e.g., "How to make NPCs flee at low health?").

- Project: Add combat with enemy AI that adapts to player tactics.

2. Week 7-8: Procedural Content & Balancing

- Integrate noise-based loot tables (let Copilot handle probability math).

- Use ChatGPT to generate lore/quest hooks for your dungeons ("Write a backstory for a roguelike set in a dying forest").

- Project: Populate dungeons with unique items/stories tied to procedural seeds.

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Month 3: Polish, Portfolio, & Career Pivot

Goal: Refine your game and showcase AI-augmented development.

1. Week 9-10: Optimization & Playtesting

- Profile performance with Godot’s debugger; use Copilot to suggest optimizations (e.g., object pooling).

- Deploy a WebGL build and gather feedback via itch.io or Discord communities.

2. Week 11-12: Showcase & Job Prep

- Record a devlog explaining how you used AI tools (great for LinkedIn/portfolio).

- Target indie studios by contributing to open-source Godot projects on GitHub (Copilot helps navigate new codebases!).

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Final Deliverables:

✅ A polished roguelike prototype with procedurally generated levels, enemies, and loot.

✅ Public GitHub repo highlighting AI-assisted scripts (add GeneratedWithAI comments).

✅ Portfolio case study detailing your workflow (example template [here](https://www.thegameportfolio.com)).

You’ve got this! The games industry craves developers who blend technical skill with creative tool mastery—your hybrid background is a superpower 🚀 Keep iterating, shipping small wins, and reaching out to fellow devs!