QL Ruins ACT - 1st problem random number within a range of.

[vanpeebles]

Now first up, this is more of a maths question, rather than a how do I code this. This is in ACT adventure code (no groaning at the back!!) In various places the original programmer, can get a range of set random numbers using divide, but I don't know how the division number applies to the amount of choices that you want/need. If I can get my head round this, I can add little random description messages per location, or even make future adventures semi random each time you play (eg changing room colours, size descriptions etc)

Manual States:

In this case, the use of the routine 'random_message3' requires variable 1 to contain the number of the middle message of a group of three.

9880 NAME random_message3:RANDOM 0:DIVIDE 0,16385:VAR_ADD 1,0:PRINT_GEN 0:STOP

Line 74: It's already open.
Line 75: It is open already.
Line 76: No, it's already open.

RANDOM Vn : A random number (range -32768 to +32767) is loaded into Vn.
DIVIDE Vn,#m : The value in Vn is divided by #m.
VAR_ADD Va,Vb : The contents of Va are added to those of Vb.

So 75 is already known to us, and passed in via variable 1 on var_add

Another example chooses from five messages (middle message is number 15)
2350 RANDOM 0:DIVIDE 0,10923:ADD 0,15:PRINT_GEN 0:RETurn
using 10932 returns a choice of five messages 13, 14, 15, 16, 17

So if I want say, a range of ten, what would my 16385 or 10932 value be? I don't understand how this figure is worked out? I know what my message numbers are, say 10 in a row starting at 45 to 55, I'd pass 50 either directly or with a var, but it's the division figure I'm stuck on.

I should have paid more attention to Johnny Ball

[tofro]

Peter,

Let's say you want a number between 50 and 100:

RANDOM gives you a number -32768-32767

scale that into -25..25 (you want a range of 50)

DIVIDE 0,1311

(1311 is 32767/25, i.e the max/min value you want)

gives you a value between -25 and +25

ADD 75

gives you a value between 50 and 100.

Adaption to your exact problem is left as an exercise to the reader (and a cup of coffee )

Hint: work with the min and max values and see if you land in the area you're targetting.

Tobias

[vanpeebles]

Many thanks! I think I kind of get it, In the second example above, how does 10932, equate to a range of 5 numbers?

[vanpeebles]

Many thanks! I think I kind of get it, In the second example above, how does 10932, equate to a range of 5 numbers?

Roughly divided by 3 and rounded up/down?

[pjw]

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Let's say you want a number between 50 and 100:

RANDOM gives you a number -32768-32767

Am I missing something here? What about RND(50 TO 100)? or RND(-50 TO 50)? RND already does all the hard work for you..

[tofro]

Am I missing something here? What about RND(50 TO 100)? or RND(-50 TO 50)? RND already does all the hard work for you..

Unfortunately for Pete he's not working with SuperBASIC, but with ACT (Adventure creation tool)

Tobias

[tofro]

Many thanks! I think I kind of get it, In the second example above, how does 10932, equate to a range of 5 numbers?

10932: Not at all.

You want a number between 13 and 17. That is a range of 5. Thus, divide the complete range of random numbers RANDOM gives you by 5 to get the proper divisor:

65535/5= 13107
now

DIVIDE 0,13107

will now give you a value between -2.5 and +2.5 (i.e. range of 5)

now add 15 to get you in the range of 12.5 to 17.5

ADD 0,15

and you should be there. Due to integer rounding, you may need to round up or down your values in places (that is, give or take 1) - I'm too busy sort that atm.

Tobias

[tcat]

Hi,

Nice.
`ACT' defines its own language, I can only admire.

Slightly off topic. Is it possible to generate randoms just using integer maths only?

Thinking further..
I wonder what it takes, to make a simple adventure game engine, nothing to compare with ACT, just a proof of concept sort of thing.

Being zero on the subject, it reminds me of a `state machine', changing states on iterraction with objects, characters, and environments. Then it must also implement a language and vocabulary, with some interpreter in place. Is this like a programming language with its syntax and semantics?

Tomas

[vanpeebles]

Many thanks! I think I kind of get it, In the second example above, how does 10932, equate to a range of 5 numbers?

10932: Not at all.

You want a number between 13 and 17. That is a range of 5. Thus, divide the complete range of random numbers RANDOM gives you by 5 to get the proper divisor:

65535/5= 13107
now

DIVIDE 0,13107

will now give you a value between -2.5 and +2.5 (i.e. range of 5)

now add 15 to get you in the range of 12.5 to 17.5

ADD 0,15

and you should be there. Due to integer rounding, you may need to round up or down your values in places (that is, give or take 1) - I'm too busy sort that atm.

Tobias

Ah, it's 65535/x. So, I'm hoping a range of ten would be 6553. You don't have to worrying about the roundings, as ACT sorts that

[vanpeebles]

My idea was having say a list of descriptors, such as gold, copper, silver, iron etc. Then at the start of the game, it would run through and change them all at random on the objects. For ACT, I'd have to make sure my word list, is numbered the same as my description message range, then it would be a case of setting message range number to the word number on the object, after randomisation. So it would be the same.

For locations, I don't think there is a way to do this in ACT, I'd have to think on that.

For my current game, I was hoping to implement a random text on screen for idling in an area. So each room would have maybe 3 or 4 messages, picked at random after a while.

*A florescent ceiling light flickers*
*A solitary vehicle whirs past the building and into the distance*
*The swipe panel LED glows softly in the gloom*

Just to add a bit of atmosphere.