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<H1>Name/language generation</H1>
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<LI><em>To</em>: <A HREF="mailto:mud-dev#null,net">mud-dev#null,net</A></LI>
<LI><em>Subject</em>: Name/language generation</LI>
<LI><em>From</em>: Oliver Jowett <<A HREF="mailto:oliver#sa-search,massey.ac.nz">oliver#sa-search,massey.ac.nz</A>></LI>
<LI><em>Date</em>: Wed, 18 Jun 1997 15:21:40 +1200 (NZST)</LI>
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<PRE>
I have a sneaking suspicion that I've seen discussion on this before, but
FWIW..
I'm slowly setting up a system where some NPCs (not the major ones, and
not the minor - ie. animal-level - ones) are generated with unique names,
physical characteristics, and personalities. As part of this I need some
way to generate random names or words in a specific language.
Currently what I'm trying is to construct a probability tree from a chunk
of the language in question. The tree consists of the probability that a
particular chain of letters occurs in the language, including both start
and end of word as a "letter". It generate names by matching as much of
the existing name as it can against the tree, then picking a letter based
on the probabilities at the end of the match.
For example, assuming that the generated name so far is Sol, and there are
probability chains for |-s-?, s-o-?, and o-l-? (| indicates
start-of-word). |-s matches, but the tree is exhausted before the end of
the name is reached. s-o also matches, but the same problem exists. o-l
matches, and is long enough. Then, based on the stored probabilities for
letters occuring after o-l, it picks the next letter.
This works marginally well, but a lot of the names generated aren't
acceptable. With some massaging (limiting repetition of letters, etc), I
get better results, but that limits the range of languages that can be
generated - and even then, they're not satisfactory.
Seeded with /usr/dict/words for probabilities, typical output is:
Reatuer
Panier
Elliaf
Nvalmo
Rott
Cess
Igner
Somkier
Yonesi
Elleliy
Ighvad
Erig
Ttees
Qunqu
Racf
Any suggestions for improving this?
-Oliver
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<li><strong><A NAME="01379" HREF="msg01379.html">Re: [MUD-Dev] Name/language generation</A></strong>
<ul compact><li><em>From:</em> Martin Keegan <martin#cam,sri.com></li></ul>
<li><strong><A NAME="01360" HREF="msg01360.html">Re: [MUD-Dev] Name/language generation</A></strong>
<ul compact><li><em>From:</em> Brandon Gillespie <brandon#roguetrader,com></li></ul>
<li><strong><A NAME="01357" HREF="msg01357.html">Re: [MUD-Dev] Name/language generation</A></strong>
<ul compact><li><em>From:</em> Shawn Halpenny <malachai#iname,com></li></ul>
<li><strong><A NAME="01353" HREF="msg01353.html">[MUD-Dev] Name/language generation</A></strong>
<ul compact><li><em>From:</em> Brandon Cline <brandon#merlin,sedona.net></li></ul>
<li><strong><A NAME="01352" HREF="msg01352.html">[MUD-Dev] Name/language generation</A></strong>
<ul compact><li><em>From:</em> Jamie Norrish <jamie#sans,vuw.ac.nz></li></ul>
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<ul><li>Thread context:
<BLOCKQUOTE><UL>
<LI><STRONG>Re: [MUD-Dev] Population container</STRONG>, <EM>(continued)</EM>
<ul compact>
<LI><strong><A NAME="01483" HREF="msg01483.html">Re: [MUD-Dev] Population container</A></strong>,
clawrenc <a href="mailto:clawrenc#cup,hp.com">clawrenc#cup,hp.com</a>, Wed 25 Jun 1997, 06:44 GMT
<UL>
<LI><strong><A NAME="01558" HREF="msg01558.html">Re: [MUD-Dev] Population container</A></strong>,
Wout Mertens <a href="mailto:Wout.Mertens#rug,ac.be">Wout.Mertens#rug,ac.be</a>, Fri 27 Jun 1997, 22:37 GMT
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</UL>
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<LI><strong><A NAME="01555" HREF="msg01555.html">Population container</A></strong>,
Wout Mertens <a href="mailto:Wout.Mertens#rug,ac.be">Wout.Mertens#rug,ac.be</a>, Fri 27 Jun 1997, 21:22 GMT
</LI>
</ul>
</LI>
<LI><strong><A NAME="01358" HREF="msg01358.html">Re: [MUD-Dev] Name/language generation</A></strong>,
Chris Gray <a href="mailto:cg#ami-cg,GraySage.Edmonton.AB.CA">cg#ami-cg,GraySage.Edmonton.AB.CA</a>, Thu 19 Jun 1997, 21:48 GMT
<LI><strong><A NAME="01348" HREF="msg01348.html">Name/language generation</A></strong>,
Oliver Jowett <a href="mailto:oliver#sa-search,massey.ac.nz">oliver#sa-search,massey.ac.nz</a>, Thu 19 Jun 1997, 06:13 GMT
<UL>
<LI><strong><A NAME="01352" HREF="msg01352.html">[MUD-Dev] Name/language generation</A></strong>,
Jamie Norrish <a href="mailto:jamie#sans,vuw.ac.nz">jamie#sans,vuw.ac.nz</a>, Thu 19 Jun 1997, 14:36 GMT
<UL>
<LI><strong><A NAME="01373" HREF="msg01373.html">Re: [MUD-Dev] Name/language generation</A></strong>,
Jeff Kesselman <a href="mailto:jeffk#tenetwork,com">jeffk#tenetwork,com</a>, Fri 20 Jun 1997, 13:06 GMT
</LI>
</UL>
</LI>
<LI><strong><A NAME="01353" HREF="msg01353.html">[MUD-Dev] Name/language generation</A></strong>,
Brandon Cline <a href="mailto:brandon#merlin,sedona.net">brandon#merlin,sedona.net</a>, Thu 19 Jun 1997, 16:26 GMT
</LI>
<LI><strong><A NAME="01357" HREF="msg01357.html">Re: [MUD-Dev] Name/language generation</A></strong>,
Shawn Halpenny <a href="mailto:malachai#iname,com">malachai#iname,com</a>, Thu 19 Jun 1997, 20:56 GMT
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