Why do I can't initialize protected variable through constructors aren't they inherited protected members of derived class?

Question

class Enemy {
protected:
int attackPower;
public:
void setAttackPower(int a){
attackPower = a;
}
};

class Ninja: public Enemy {
public:
Ninja(int a)
: attackPower(a){}
void attack() {
cout << "Ninja! - "<<attackPower<<endl;
}
};

class Monster: public Enemy {
public:
Monster(int a)
:attackPower(a){}
void attack() {
cout << "Monster! - "<<attackPower<<endl;
}
};
the error is saying class 'Ninja' does not have any field attackPower. doesn't attackPower is the inherited protected member of class Ninja.

Answer 1

Hi,

this doesn't work when using an initialization list. If you do it in the constructor's body, it should work. For a full explanation to this very problem, see http://stackoverflow.com/questions/2290733/initialize-parents-protected-members-with-initialization-list-c

Regards,
Alex