Harrowland - conceptual issues, multiple loops

1

First, I haven’t posted any code in this topic because I am trying to understand the conceptual issues.

Second, I am working on Harrowland. My assumptions are 1) the Simple CPU is set to be approximately equal to whatever character I use. 2) the Simple CPU is set to run a simple, not terribly efficient set of loops 3) the problem is designed to test for the ability to write a more efficient loop than the Simple CPU is using.

Third) I have come close to winning, but have not won.

Fourth) I think the solution is to sort the enemies to first ignore the yaks, second attack the throwers, third reduce the remaining sub-enemies and finally to attack the Hero.

I only know the type of “sand-yak” and “archer”. I don’t know the type of the other sub-enemies or the hero.

I am only using “loop” and “while”. I don’t know if I missed a lesson on “for” loops or if they are being reserved for later lessons. I think that the “for” loop would be helpful here, but I could be wrong.

The best solution that I can imagine, but I don’t know how to execute, is to sort the Hero and the sand-yaks out of “enemies = self.findEnemies()” and create a second array of the remaining sub-enemies. Once, I had cycled through the second array, I could attack the Hero.

I have tried to simulate that tactic with successive loops. I am not having very much luck. Assuming that the remarks above indicate that I understand the problem, I have some specific questions.

  1. What are the types of the enemies in the problem and how can I identify them myself?
  2. Should I be using “for” statements to solve the problem, and where do I find the information on them?
  3. Is it possible to implement nested “loop” statements efficiently?
  4. Is somebody willing to discuss how “while” loops end?

Thank you very much,
George34

2 
enemyDef.type=["catapult","munchkin","scout","thrower","chieftain","witch","ogre",
	"warlock","fangrider","headhunter","brawler","shaman","skeleton","tower",
     "decaying-skeleton","decaying-shaman","burl","sand-yak","ice-yak","yeti","door"];

Test the enemy type like this:

if enemy.type is not "yak":

Enemy hero or your hero is different. There can be of many types “captain”, “knight” "librarian"
Instead we use their id:
The Human hero is always Hero Placeholder
The Ogre hero is always Hero Placeholder 1

if enemy.id is "Hero Placeholder 1":
  1. http://www.tutorialspoint.com/python/python_for_loop.htm

Basically there are two types of loops.

  1. if you want just to get an element from an array:
for soldier in soldiers:
    self.command(soldier,...
  1. If you want to do something for each value of i from 2 to N-1 (!!! stops before N)
for i in range(2,N):

A specific case is when you want to iterate over a list but you also want to know the exact position you are in the list.
len(my_list) says how long is your list

for i in range(len(soldiers)):
  self.command(soldiers[i],"defend",my_points[i]

Here we have two lists and we want the 3rd soldier to go to the 3rd point in my list of points.

If you use a loop you need to break out of it:

loop:
   #do stuff
   if something_happend:
        break;

Generally you can implement it with a while. Loop is codeCombat construction, in reallity is equivalent to while(true)

while (something_no_yet_happened)
   do stuff

After your code is executed a test is performed to see if the something_no_yet_happened is true, If it is true you get out of the loop

enemies =self.findEnemies()
i=0
while (i < len(enemies)):
    enemy=enemies[i]   #start looking at the enemy on the position i  
    while(enemy.health>0):  #not dead yet
        self.attack(enemy)
   i++   #add 1 to i so in the next loop you'll look at the next enemy in list
3

In harrowland the enemy hero has the same equipment as your hero and it always attacks his nearest enemy.

You have to do better than this:

  1. attack a better target
  2. or use equipment with special properties: cleave, shield bash, ranger’s throws, wizard’s spells etc
4

Hoo ah!

Your answers are always very useful.

Thank you very much.

George34

5

It may be worth checking out my posters on this forum (post 2)

It has lost of example code and this (although I am missing some types):

image.png1304×904 740 KB

6

Thank you Hinkle.

The documents and the posters are very helpful. I am doing this with my son (11), and I thought that I was going to have to generate some kind of guide for him. These are far, far better than anything I could hope to do with the time I have available. Thanks for making them available.

Thanks,
George34