ISDL

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Getting Started with ISDL ā€‹

Welcome to the Intelligent System Design Language! ISDL lets you create complete tabletop RPG systems for Foundry VTT using simple, readable code.

What is ISDL? ā€‹

ISDL automatically generates:

  • Interactive character sheets with forms, buttons, and calculations
  • Item and equipment systems with drag-and-drop functionality
  • Dice rolling mechanics with chat integration
  • Game rules automation for combat, leveling, and more

Quick Example ā€‹

Here's a simple character with health and a healing action:

kotlin
config MyRPG {
    id = "my-rpg"
    label = "My First RPG"
}

actor BasicHero {
    // Name and Description are automatically part of every Document
    health resource HP(max: 20)
    
    action Heal {
        fleeting amount = roll(d8)
        self.HP += amount
        chat Healing {
            self.Name + " heals for " + amount + " HP!"
        }
    }
}

This creates a working character sheet in Foundry VTT!

image

Installation & Setup ā€‹

Requirements ā€‹

  • Visual Studio Code - Free code editor
  • Node.js 16+ - Runtime environment
  • Foundry VTT - Virtual tabletop platform

Install the VS Code Extension ā€‹

  1. Open VS Code
  2. Go to Extensions (Ctrl+Shift+X)
  3. Search for "Intelligent System Design Language"
  4. Install the extension by IronMooseDevelopment

Create Your First System ā€‹

  1. Create a new file ending in .isdl (like my-system.isdl)
  2. Copy the example above into the file
  3. Press Ctrl+Shift+P and run "ISDL: Generate"
  4. Choose your .isdl file and your Foundry systems folder as the destination
  5. Launch Foundry and activate your new system!

Prefer the terminal (or a different editor)? ā€‹

You don't need VS Code to generate a system. Install the CLI from npm and run it from anywhere:

bash
npm install -g intelligent-system-design-language
isdl generate my-system.isdl --destination "/path/to/Foundry/Data/systems"

See the Command Line Interface page for full details, including editor-agnostic editing via the language server.

Learning Path ā€‹

New to ISDL? Follow this recommended order:

  1. šŸ“š Your First System - Complete step-by-step tutorial
  2. šŸ—ļø Documents - Learn about actors, items, and structure
  3. šŸ“ Fields - Explore all available field types
  4. šŸ§® Basic Logic - Add calculations and simple mechanics
  5. āš” Advanced Logic - Functions and complex automation
  6. šŸŽ® Interactivity - Actions, chat cards, and user interaction

Need quick answers?

  • šŸ“– Recipes - Copy-paste solutions for common tasks and RPG mechanics
  • šŸ“‹ Logic Reference - Complete syntax and function reference

Examples and Resources ā€‹

Get Help ā€‹

  • Troubleshooting - Fixes for common setup, generation, and Linux/editor issues
  • Study the examples in the examples/ folder
  • Check the Recipes page for common solutions
  • Join the community discussions on Discord
  • File issues if you find bugs or need features

Ready to create your first RPG system? Start the tutorial!