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Python

Posted by Ashwin Somasundara
Ashwin Somasundara
Courses Plus Student 2,689 Points

Overriding __init__

Hi Guys, Just wondering how to "override" the _init method. I tried this example here - 

import random

COLORS = ['red', 'purple', 'blue', 'magenta', 'black', 'brown']

class Monster: 
    # these are the monster class defaults 
    min_hit_points = 1
    max_hit_points = 1
    min_experience = 1
    max_experience = 1
    weapon = 'sword'
    sound = 'roar'

    def __init__(self, **kwargs):
        self.hit_points = random.randint(self.min_hit_points, self.max_hit_points)
        self.experience = random.randint(self.min_experience, self.max_experience)
        self.color = random.choice(COLORS) 

    def battlecry(self):
        return self.sound.upper()

class Goblin(Monster):
    max_hit_points = 3
    max_experience = 2
    sound = 'squeak'

    def __init__(self, *args, **kwargs):
        # call base class __init__()
        super(Goblin, self).__init__(*args, **kwargs)
        color = 'orange'  # <-- hard set color

When i try - annaji = Goblin()

I get this error - 

Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "/example/src/monster.py", line 51, in <module>
    annaji = Goblin()
  File "/example/src/monster.py", line 47, in __init__
    super(Goblin, self).__init__(*args, **kwargs)
TypeError: must be type, not classobj

Whats this all about? Can somebody help!

1 Answer

Evgeny Chuvelev
Evgeny Chuvelev
3,056 Points
Evgeny Chuvelev
Evgeny Chuvelev
3,056 Points

Hi, Ashwin. Your question was not easy for me. But I found out answer for it. The main thing that u should change in your code is just add object argument in the base Monster class.

import random

COLORS = ['red', 'purple', 'blue', 'magenta', 'black', 'brown']

class Monster(object): # <------- add object argument
    min_hit_points = 1
    max_hit_points = 1
    min_experience = 1

    def __init__(self, **kwargs):
        self.hit_points = random.randint(self.min_hit_points, self.max_hit_points)
        self.experience = random.randint(self.min_experience, self.max_experience)
        self.color = random.choice(COLORS)

    def battlecry(self):
        return self.sound.upper()

class Goblin(Monster):
    max_hit_points = 3
    max_experience = 2
    sound = 'squeak'

    def __init__(self, *args, **kwargs):
        super(Goblin, self).__init__(*args, **kwargs)
        self.color = 'orange' # <----- change color by self 

annaji = Goblin()
print annaji.color # 'orange'

This code works for me.