Builder Guide

Getting Started

The shortest path from zero to a playable Ichiloto project follows a four-step CLI-first loop.

1 min read First Steps cli setup quickstart
Ichiloto editor workspace with the map canvas, assets panel, and inspector visible together.
The quickest path into Ichiloto ends in a live editor workspace you can immediately start shaping.

The fast way to begin with Ichiloto is to follow the same loop featured on the website.

1. Install the CLI

composer global require ichiloto/console

Composer installs Ichiloto and resolves its dependencies automatically. The installation gives you the ichiloto command everywhere in your terminal.

2. Create a project

ichiloto new my-rpg

The new project gives you a starting shell with the files and structure the engine expects, including a generated title banner in assets/Graphics/System/title.txt.

If you want to reforge that banner later, use:

ichiloto generate:figlet "Moonfall Legend" --output assets/Graphics/System/title.txt

3. Open the editor

cd my-rpg
ichiloto edit

The editor is where maps, events, dialogue, and project data become tactile. Think of it as the worldbuilding cockpit rather than a detached side utility.

The Ichiloto editor after opening a project

4. Play and test

ichiloto play

This is the habit to preserve from day one: make a change, run the game, observe the feel, and refine immediately. Ichiloto works best when editing and playtesting stay close together.

A playable overworld scene rendered in the terminal

As the project grows, add validation to that loop:

ichiloto validate

Validation checks authored content and runtime references without modifying the project. The Validate and Balance guide explains how to combine it with focused battle playtests and simulations.