How to connect multiple arduinos over 1 network using an ethernet shield

Projects Networking, Protocols, and Devices
1

Hi, I have a project where I need to connect multiple arduinos to 1 nodejs server, let me explain the idea:

I want to create a laser-tag like game, each 'player' would have a gun to shoot other players and a vest, if they get shot on the vest they die, and the information that they died will be sent to a web server, and it will register the player that was killed and the one that killed.

Each player would need its own arduino, and I'll be making a node js server to register the data, so I was thinking what's the best way to comunicate the arduinos with the nodejs server.

My teacher said I can use an ethernet shield, because WiFi is too complicated. What do you think is the best way to connect multiple arduino to a web server and make requests and receive responses from the server?

PS: How the vest and the gun are gonna comunicate is not important rn, all I need to know is how to comunicate multiple arduinos to a web server preferably using ethernet.

2

"My teacher said I can use an ethernet shield, because WiFi is too complicated. What do you think is the best way to connect multiple arduino to a web server and make requests and receive responses from the server?"

Well, possibly you could have the target arduinos connected to the server arduino using serial connections.

3

Players will be dragging Ethernet or serial cables? WiFi using ESP8266/NodeMCU is cheap and wireless. I suggest investigating MQTT for server player communication.

4

What do you think is the best way to connect multiple arduino to a web server and make requests and receive responses from the server

If i consider that the person carrying the device should not be connected with a cable to the server, use WiFi. Either a WemosD1 or a NodeMCU programmed with the Arduino IDE.