<!-- MHonArc v2.4.4 --> <!--X-Subject: [MUD-Dev] Re: Systems you use --> <!--X-From-R13: X Q Znjerapr <pynjNhaqre.rate.ftv.pbz> --> <!--X-Date: Thu, 23 Apr 1998 10:40:06 -0700 --> <!--X-Message-Id: 199804231739.KAA330091#under,engr.sgi.com --> <!--X-Content-Type: text/plain --> <!--X-Reference: Pine.SOL.3.96.980423131107.13525A-100000@sun-cc203 --> <!--X-Head-End--> <!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 3.2//EN"> <html> <head> <title>MUD-Dev message, [MUD-Dev] Re: Systems you use</title> <!-- meta name="robots" content="noindex,nofollow" --> <link rev="made" href="mailto:claw#under,engr.sgi.com"> </head> <body background="/backgrounds/paperback.gif" bgcolor="#ffffff" text="#000000" link="#0000FF" alink="#FF0000" vlink="#006000"> <font size="+4" color="#804040"> <strong><em>MUD-Dev<br>mailing list archive</em></strong> </font> <br> [ <a href="../">Other Periods</a> | <a href="../../">Other mailing lists</a> | <a href="/search.php3">Search</a> ] <br clear=all><hr> <!--X-Body-Begin--> <!--X-User-Header--> <!--X-User-Header-End--> <!--X-TopPNI--> Date: [ <a href="msg00422.html">Previous</a> | <a href="msg00441.html">Next</a> ] Thread: [ <a href="msg00378.html">Previous</a> | <a href="msg00458.html">Next</a> ] Index: [ <A HREF="author.html#00431">Author</A> | <A HREF="#00431">Date</A> | <A HREF="thread.html#00431">Thread</A> ] <!--X-TopPNI-End--> <!--X-MsgBody--> <!--X-Subject-Header-Begin--> <H1>[MUD-Dev] Re: Systems you use</H1> <HR> <!--X-Subject-Header-End--> <!--X-Head-of-Message--> <UL> <LI><em>To</em>: <A HREF="mailto:mud-dev#kanga,nu">mud-dev#kanga,nu</A></LI> <LI><em>Subject</em>: [MUD-Dev] Re: Systems you use </LI> <LI><em>From</em>: J C Lawrence <<A HREF="mailto:claw#under,engr.sgi.com">claw#under,engr.sgi.com</A>></LI> <LI><em>Date</em>: Thu, 23 Apr 1998 10:39:49 -0700</LI> <LI><em>Delivery-date</em>: Thu Apr 23 10:40:07 1998</LI> <LI><em>Delivery-date</em>: Thu, 23 Apr 1998 10:40:07 -0700</LI> <LI><em>Envelope-to</em>: claw#kanga,nu</LI> <LI><em>Reply-To</em>: <A HREF="mailto:mud-dev#kanga,nu">mud-dev#kanga,nu</A></LI> <LI><em>Sender</em>: "Petidomo List Agent,,,," <<A HREF="mailto:petidomo#kanga,nu">petidomo#kanga,nu</A>></LI> </UL> <!--X-Head-of-Message-End--> <!--X-Head-Body-Sep-Begin--> <HR> <!--X-Head-Body-Sep-End--> <!--X-Body-of-Message--> <PRE> On Thu, 23 Apr 1998 13:17:52 +0100 (BST) Ling <K.L.Lo-94#student,lboro.ac.uk> wrote: > Out of interest, what system do people use for their randomness and > why? Here's a list of some of the ones I can immediately remember > with short explanations of how I know they're used. I have a random number generator which claims to be "non-lumpy" (picked it out of DDJ some years ago). > Linear probability, percentile, 1D100, 1D20: Self-explanatory, > probably the most popular one. Often conducted as a 'roll higher to > succeed'. Eg: 60% chance of hitting someone, minus their defensive > modifiers, plus attacking modifiers. Roll over to achieve. > Variants include systems using a float those value hovers between 0 > and 1 (simply a finer version) and Palladium games using a 1D20. I use percentile variants almost exclusively. Choice of suitable multiple break points for your criteria can make almost any curve form -- including the multiple-roll/extreme-peak/trough variations. Note: I've found it easier and sufficiently cheap to use the multiple-roll technique for the very low probability oddities to not bother with figuring the appropriate percentile marks to get the same curve. > Strange multiple D6 only: Easier to give examples for this one. > For Heavy Gear (DP9): character rolls number of D6's equal to their > skill. Complete 1's result in a fumble. Result of the roll is > equal to the highest die rolled. In the event of multiple 6's, > additional 6's contribute a +1 to the roll. Coz of this, the > probability curve is *highly* non-linear after 7. Simple, quick. Note: I use a *lot* of non-linear curves. My random function returns a 64bit unsigned integer. I then define value ranges for the vcarious responses, at leat one of which ranges results in a further (possibly several) number generation(s) for torqued curves. I could of cour do the same thing by defining very small sub-ranges for the torques, but accuracy of probability definition suffers as well as ease of defining oddities. > Combat Resolution Table (CRT): Advocated by Steve Jackson (of SJG > fame). Attacking strength and defensive strength are turned into a > ratio and a single die is rolled to get a list of potential results. > Eg: Hovercraft Alpha with fires with a strength of 3 at APC Beta > with defence of 2, ratio is 3:2. A table might look something like: I do cascaded effects. I guess in a way I use a generated table (its really just an f(x) return), to determine the result of a given attempted action. I then use that result to determine what resultant actions to compute. > Other: Random numbers are dependent upon stats. Eg: Strength of 200 > will allow rolls of 1-200 or variation of. Yup, I use stats (well, probability fields -- see earlier discussion) to modify and warp the base curves and distributions. > When it comes down to it, some of the systems listed can emulate the > others so it is all down to a matter of preference. This is the real point. When you get right down to it any probability system can be described in terms of any other probability system. The only *real* advantage (other than comutational load) of any system over another is the mental model it gives the programmer/user. People find some models easier to "think with" and to apply to new situations than others. -- J C Lawrence Internet: claw#null,net (Contractor) Internet: coder#ibm,net ---------(*) Internet: claw#under,engr.sgi.com ...Honourary Member of Clan McFud -- Teamer's Avenging Monolith... -- MUD-Dev: Advancing an unrealised future. </PRE> <!--X-Body-of-Message-End--> <!--X-MsgBody-End--> <!--X-Follow-Ups--> <HR> <!--X-Follow-Ups-End--> <!--X-References--> <UL><LI><STRONG>References</STRONG>: <UL> <LI><STRONG><A NAME="00369" HREF="msg00369.html">[MUD-Dev] Systems you use</A></STRONG> <UL><LI><EM>From:</EM> Ling <K.L.Lo-94#student,lboro.ac.uk></LI></UL></LI> </UL></LI></UL> <!--X-References-End--> <!--X-BotPNI--> <UL> <LI>Prev by Date: <STRONG><A HREF="msg00422.html">[MUD-Dev] Re: MAPPING: Creating a bitmaped graphic from map coordinates</A></STRONG> </LI> <LI>Next by Date: <STRONG><A HREF="msg00441.html">[MUD-Dev] Re: Teamwork</A></STRONG> </LI> <LI>Prev by thread: <STRONG><A HREF="msg00378.html">[MUD-Dev] Re: Systems you use</A></STRONG> </LI> <LI>Next by thread: <STRONG><A HREF="msg00458.html">[MUD-Dev] Re: Systems you use</A></STRONG> </LI> <LI>Index(es): <UL> <LI><A HREF="index.html#00431"><STRONG>Date</STRONG></A></LI> <LI><A HREF="thread.html#00431"><STRONG>Thread</STRONG></A></LI> </UL> </LI> </UL> <!--X-BotPNI-End--> <!--X-User-Footer--> <!--X-User-Footer-End--> <ul><li>Thread context: <BLOCKQUOTE><UL> <LI><STRONG>[MUD-Dev] Re: Teamwork</STRONG>, <EM>(continued)</EM> <ul compact> <ul compact> <LI><strong><A NAME="00441" HREF="msg00441.html">[MUD-Dev] Re: Teamwork</A></strong>, J C Lawrence <a href="mailto:claw#under,engr.sgi.com">claw#under,engr.sgi.com</a>, Thu 23 Apr 1998, 17:56 GMT </LI> </ul> </ul> </LI> <LI><strong><A NAME="00238" HREF="msg00238.html">[MUD-Dev] Graphical MUD project (Sea Of Blood)</A></strong>, J C Lawrence <a href="mailto:claw#under,engr.sgi.com">claw#under,engr.sgi.com</a>, Wed 22 Apr 1998, 19:27 GMT <UL> <LI><strong><A NAME="00369" HREF="msg00369.html">[MUD-Dev] Systems you use</A></strong>, Ling <a href="mailto:K.L.Lo-94#student,lboro.ac.uk">K.L.Lo-94#student,lboro.ac.uk</a>, Thu 23 Apr 1998, 12:18 GMT <UL> <LI><strong><A NAME="00378" HREF="msg00378.html">[MUD-Dev] Re: Systems you use</A></strong>, Caliban Tiresias Darklock <a href="mailto:caliban#darklock,com">caliban#darklock,com</a>, Thu 23 Apr 1998, 13:36 GMT </LI> <LI><strong><A NAME="00431" HREF="msg00431.html">[MUD-Dev] Re: Systems you use</A></strong>, J C Lawrence <a href="mailto:claw#under,engr.sgi.com">claw#under,engr.sgi.com</a>, Thu 23 Apr 1998, 17:40 GMT </LI> <LI><strong><A NAME="00458" HREF="msg00458.html">[MUD-Dev] Re: Systems you use</A></strong>, Adam Wiggins <a href="mailto:adam#angel,com">adam#angel,com</a>, Thu 23 Apr 1998, 19:57 GMT </LI> <LI><strong><A NAME="00462" HREF="msg00462.html">[MUD-Dev] Re: Systems you use</A></strong>, Katrina McClelan <a href="mailto:kitkat#the486,bradley.edu">kitkat#the486,bradley.edu</a>, Thu 23 Apr 1998, 21:13 GMT <UL> <LI><strong><A NAME="00475" HREF="msg00475.html">[MUD-Dev] Re: Systems you use</A></strong>, J C Lawrence <a href="mailto:claw#under,engr.sgi.com">claw#under,engr.sgi.com</a>, Thu 23 Apr 1998, 21:22 GMT <UL> <LI><strong><A NAME="00468" HREF="msg00468.html">[MUD-Dev] Re: Systems you use</A></strong>, Katrina McClelan <a href="mailto:kitkat#the486,bradley.edu">kitkat#the486,bradley.edu</a>, Thu 23 Apr 1998, 22:31 GMT </LI> </UL> </LI> </UL> </LI> </UL> </LI> </UL> </LI> </UL></BLOCKQUOTE> </ul> <hr> <center> [ <a href="../">Other Periods</a> | <a href="../../">Other mailing lists</a> | <a href="/search.php3">Search</a> ] </center> <hr> </body> </html>