How to Start Scripting on Roblox (A Simple, Practical Guide)

If you’re new to Roblox scripting (or want a cleaner mental model), this post walks through how scripting actually works, what to learn first, and how to avoid common beginner traps.

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1. What “Scripting on Roblox” Really Means

Roblox uses Luau, a fast, safe version of Lua.

You write code that:

• Responds to events (player joins, button clicked, tool equipped)
• Changes Instances (parts, GUIs, values)
• Runs either on the server or the client

That’s it. No magic.

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2. The 3 Script Types (This Matters)

Script

• Runs on the server
• Secure
• Controls game logic, data, damage, currency, etc.

📍 Location: ServerScriptService, Workspace (some cases)

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LocalScript

• Runs on the player’s client
• Fast, visual, not secure
• Used for UI, camera, effects, input

📍 Location: StarterPlayer, StarterGui, StarterCharacterScripts

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ModuleScript

• Reusable code
• Can run on server or client
• Used for systems, utilities, classes

📍 Location: Anywhere (commonly ReplicatedStorage)

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3. The Golden Rule (Read This Twice)

Clients ask. Servers decide.

If something:

• Gives money
• Deals damage
• Saves data

It must happen on the server.

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4. Your First Useful Script

Server script that runs when a player joins:

local Players = game:GetService("Players")

Players.PlayerAdded:Connect(function(player)
	print(player.Name .. " joined the game")
end)

This is the core pattern you’ll use everywhere:

• Get a service
• Connect an event
• Run logic

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5. Understanding Instances (Everything Is One)

Everything in Roblox is an Instance:

• Parts
• GUIs
• Sounds
• Values
• Scripts

You access them with dot indexing:

local part = workspace.Part
part.Anchored = true
part.Color = Color3.new(1, 0, 0)

If you can see it in Explorer, you can script it.

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6. Values & State (How Games Remember Stuff)

Use Value objects for simple state:

• IntValue
• BoolValue
• NumberValue

Example:

local coins = Instance.new("IntValue")
coins.Name = "Coins"
coins.Value = 0
coins.Parent = player

Later:

player.Coins.Value += 10

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7. Modules (How Real Games Are Structured)

Instead of one giant script, use modules:

-- ReplicatedStorage/MathUtil
local MathUtil = {}

function MathUtil.Add(a, b)
	return a + b
end

return MathUtil

Use it:

local MathUtil = require(game.ReplicatedStorage.MathUtil)
print(MathUtil.Add(2, 3))

Modules = clean code, reuse, scalability.

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8. Events (How Scripts Talk)

Server ↔ Client communication:

• RemoteEvent
• RemoteFunction

Example (Server):

RemoteEvent.OnServerEvent:Connect(function(player, amount)
	print(player.Name, amount)
end)

Client:

RemoteEvent:FireServer(10)

Again:

Never trust client input blindly.

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9. Common Beginner Mistakes

❌ Putting economy logic in LocalScripts ❌ One massive script doing everything ❌ Overengineering too early ❌ Trusting the client ❌ Not using ModuleScripts

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10. What To Learn First (In Order)

1. Variables & functions
2. Events (Connect)
3. Tables
4. ModuleScripts
5. Client vs Server
6. RemoteEvents
7. Basic OOP patterns (optional)

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Final Advice

Roblox scripting isn’t about knowing everything — it’s about:

• Writing small, testable systems
• Keeping logic simple
• Letting the server stay in control

If you can:

• Spawn a part
• Detect a player
• Call a function cleanly

You’re already building real games.

Happy scripting 👋