Create Resource

Generate a custom Resource class so designers (or a future you) can author data as .tres files in the editor instead of hardcoded Dictionary literals.

Why Resources over Dictionaries

Use Dictionary only for transient runtime payloads (state machine state, signal arguments, network packets).

Template — basic Resource

class_name {Name}
extends Resource

@export var id: StringName
@export var display_name: String
# add fields here

Save to scripts/resources/{snake_case}.gd. Then in the FileSystem dock right-click → New Resource → {Name} to author .tres instances under resources/{plural}/.

Common templates

Item

class_name Item
extends Resource

@export var id: StringName
@export var display_name: String
@export_multiline var description: String
@export var icon: Texture2D
@export var max_stack: int = 1
@export var value: int = 0
@export_enum("Common", "Uncommon", "Rare", "Epic", "Legendary") var rarity: int = 0
@export var tags: Array[StringName] = []
@export var on_use: Script  ## script that defines a static use(actor: Node) -> void

Ability / Spell

class_name Ability
extends Resource

@export var id: StringName
@export var display_name: String
@export_multiline var description: String
@export var icon: Texture2D
@export var cooldown: float = 1.0
@export var resource_cost: int = 0   ## mana / energy / stamina
@export_range(0.0, 50.0, 0.5) var range: float = 5.0
@export var damage: int = 0
@export var effect_scene: PackedScene
@export var sound: AudioStream
@export var animation_name: StringName = &""
@export var tags: Array[StringName] = []   ## "fire", "ranged", "channeled"

EnemyStats

class_name EnemyStats
extends Resource

@export var id: StringName
@export var display_name: String
@export var sprite_frames: SpriteFrames
@export var max_health: int = 30
@export var damage: int = 5
@export var speed: float = 80.0
@export var attack_range: float = 30.0
@export var detect_range: float = 200.0
@export var xp_drop: int = 10
@export var loot_table: LootTable    ## another Resource
@export var ai_tree: PackedScene      ## behavior tree scene

LootTable

class_name LootTable
extends Resource

@export var entries: Array[LootEntry] = []

func roll(rng: RandomNumberGenerator) -> Array[Item]:
    var out: Array[Item] = []
    for entry in entries:
        if rng.randf() < entry.chance:
            out.append(entry.item)
    return out

class LootEntry extends Resource:
    @export var item: Item
    @export_range(0.0, 1.0, 0.01) var chance: float = 0.5
    @export var min_count: int = 1
    @export var max_count: int = 1

DialogueLine

class_name DialogueLine
extends Resource

@export var speaker: StringName
@export_multiline var text: String
@export var portrait: Texture2D
@export var audio: AudioStream
@export var choices: Array[DialogueChoice] = []
@export var next_id: StringName = &""    ## empty = end of conversation
@export var conditions: Dictionary[StringName, Variant] = {}

LevelConfig

class_name LevelConfig
extends Resource

@export var id: StringName
@export var display_name: String
@export var scene: PackedScene
@export var music: AudioStream
@export var ambience: AudioStream
@export_range(1, 10) var difficulty: int = 1
@export var enemy_pool: Array[EnemyStats] = []
@export var time_limit_seconds: float = 0.0   ## 0 = unlimited
@export var unlocks_on_complete: Array[StringName] = []

CardData (turn-based / card games)

class_name CardData
extends Resource

@export var id: StringName
@export var display_name: String
@export var icon: Texture2D
@export var cost: int = 1
@export var attack: int = 0
@export var health: int = 1
@export var speed: int = 5
@export var card_type: StringName = &"unit"   ## "unit", "spell", "trap"
@export var placement: StringName = &"any"    ## "any", "own_side", "back_line"
@export var tags: Array[StringName] = []
@export_multiline var rules_text: String
@export var effect_script: Script

@export annotation cheatsheet

Resource-with-methods

Resources can have logic, not just fields:

class_name Stat
extends Resource

@export var base: float = 10.0
@export var modifiers: Array[StatModifier] = []

func get_value() -> float:
    var value := base
    var add := 0.0
    var mult := 1.0
    for m in modifiers:
        match m.kind:
            StatModifier.Kind.FLAT: value += m.amount
            StatModifier.Kind.PERCENT_ADD: add += m.amount
            StatModifier.Kind.PERCENT_MULT: mult *= 1.0 + m.amount
    return (value + value * add) * mult

class StatModifier extends Resource:
    enum Kind { FLAT, PERCENT_ADD, PERCENT_MULT }
    @export var kind: Kind = Kind.FLAT
    @export var amount: float = 0.0
    @export var source: StringName = &""

Common gotchas

• Shared instances: load("res://x.tres") returns the same Resource every call. If you mutate it (e.g. add modifiers to a Stat), you mutate it for everyone. Call .duplicate(true) for deep copy.
• Inner classes (class X extends Resource) work but their .tres files become hard to instantiate from the editor — prefer top-level class_name.
• Resource references in arrays: @export var arr: Array[Item] works; Array[ItemSubclass] does not (Godot stores the array as base class).
• Circular references: A holds B, B holds A — Godot detects cycles in 4.x but the file becomes hard to read. Prefer using IDs and resolving lazily.
• Inspector reload: editing the script while the editor has a .tres open can wipe values. Save scripts, close .tres, then re-open.

Authoring .tres instances

1. FileSystem dock → right-click in resources/items/ → New Resource → Item
2. Save as iron_sword.tres
3. Edit fields in Inspector
4. Reference from another resource or scene: drag iron_sword.tres into an @export var weapon: Item slot