Getting a syntax error when trying to use a protected variable in a derived class

Question

I have a class named Creature with 3 protected variables: string name, int quantity and string type. I have two derived classes Phoenix and Basilisk.

I tried redefining some of the variables inside each derived class, so that it becomes that value for that derived class only, but I get these errors for each line I try redefine a variable.

Error   C2059   syntax error: '='   
Error   C2238   unexpected token(s) preceding ';'

class Creature {
protected:
    string name;
    int quantity;
    string type;
};

class Phoenix : public Creature {
    Creature::type = "phoenix";
};

class Basilisk : public Creature {
    Creature::type = "basilisk";
    Creature::quantity = 1;
};

Answer 1

THis is not valid c++

class Phoenix : public Creature {
    Creature::type = "phoenix";
};

you need

class Creature {
protected:
    string name;
    int quantity;
    string type;
    Creature(string t) :type(t) {}
};
class Phoenix : public Creature {
    Phoenix() :Creature("phoenix") {};
    
};

NOTE: storing a type in a class heirarchy is considered a c++ code smell. Better to use behavior than to ask for a type. If its for display purposes then the canonical thing to do it to have a method called something like 'creatureType' thats implemented by the derived classes that returns a string.