Learning a new coding language, like Python, felt like rolling a natural 1 on an Intelligence check. I had no idea where to start. I tried reading programming books, but they were written like ancient spell scrolls—filled with cryptic jargon that made my brain hurt. Even when I learned something, it didn’t always stick. Ever forget a spell mid-battle? Yeah, it was like that.

But here’s the trick to leveling up in coding: treat it like an RPG quest and start with small side missions—aka coding projects.

Why Side Quests (Projects) Are the Best Way to Gain XP

Reading tutorials is like listening to an NPC explain the main quest—it’s useful, but unless you get your hands dirty, you won’t gain any real experience. The best way to grind XP in coding is to build your own projects, just like grinding mobs in an RPG.

Since I love RPGs, I started with projects that matched my interests. My first “quests” were a Dungeons & Dragons dice roller and a simple Tetris clone. These were perfect beginner-level encounters—manageable but still challenging enough to teach me valuable skills like loops, conditionals, and user input handling.

How to Start Your Own Coding Adventure

1. Choose a Quest That Excites You – Whether it’s a battle simulator, a loot tracker, or an inventory system, pick a project that keeps you hooked.
2. Start With Small Challenges – Think of simple projects like a text-based adventure, a random name generator for your characters, or an automated initiative tracker.
3. Break It Into Steps – Just like an RPG quest log, split your project into bite-sized tasks.
4. Embrace the Bugs (a.k.a. Random Encounters) – Debugging is part of the adventure. Every mistake is just another monster to defeat.
5. Keep Leveling Up – Once you complete a simple project, upgrade it or take on a tougher challenge.

Final Boss Fight

If learning Python feels like fighting a dragon at level 1, don’t worry—you just need to grind some side quests first. Start coding, even if it’s a simple dice roller, and watch your skills grow. Before you know it, you’ll be scripting entire game mechanics like a true coding wizard.

So, fellow adventurer, what will your first quest be?