Designing PHP RPG game: Should I use multiple classes for each type of item or a single table?

Question

I'm making a text-based role playing game written in PHP.

I have a hard time figuring out how to handle items in game - there will be a few types of objects (weapon, machine, tool, building etc) each of these types will have its own stats, attributes etc, and items itself.

My initial plan was to make a interface and abstract class called Object

interface IObject
{

   public function takeObject() {};
   public function dropObject() {};
   public function examineObject() {};
   // etc
}

abstract class WeaponObject implements IObject
{
   // Some generic properties valid for this type of objects
   public $name = "";
   public $weight = 0;
   public $damage = 0;

   // etc
}

and then make another class for each item that extends the base Object

e.g

class HuntingBow extends WeaponObject
{
   //
}

But there's a problem I think. There's going to be a lot of objects in the game - and that means a lot of classes, and composer need to load them all. So I think that performance may decrease significantly?

My second idea was to make a generic table called objects

In which I would store every item. But setting up object attributes, handling stats, etc, would be a nightmare.

Is the first idea the best way to approach the problem? Is there a better way of doing thins that I don't about?

Answer 1

A rule of thumb is that you use different classes when objects require different code and instances of the same class when the objects only require different values.

So when ShortBow, HuntingBow, CompositeBow, ElvenBow etc. all behave identical except for having different stats, then they would all be instances of the same class.

When bows have different mechanics for resolving attacks than other ranged weapons, that class would be Bow. When guns, crossbows and slingshots also use the same mechanics as bows do, they would all be class RangedWeapon. When you don't have any mechanical differences between ranged weapons and melee weapons, they would all be of class Weapon.

But in any case, when you have one really special bow with very unique mechanics, like LordKibosMagicBowWhichAlwaysDoesCriticalDamageExceptOnThursdays that might again justify an unique class which extends whatever class the other bows use.