From: Thufir <hawat.thufir@...>
Date: 2007-11-08T06:16:29+09:00
Subject: instantiating random sub-classes (Dragon, TeethDeer, etc)

In Driver, I was considering creating a pseudo-random number between 0
and 4, then using case:

case 0
AssistantViceTentacleAndOmbudsman

case 1
Dragon

case 2
DwarvenAngel

case 3
IntrepidDecomposedCyclist

case 4
TeethDeer


so that the array of Creatures is filled with a variety of monsters
which inherit from Creature.  However, there's gotta be another way.
Perhaps ask Creature what its sub-classes are?  Then randomly select
from that list/array of monsters?

Here's the code:

C:\code>
C:\code>type Driver.rb
require 'ArrayOfCreatures'
require 'Dragon'                                      #Dragon inherits
from Creature
require 'Creature'                                    #Subclasses
include:  Dragon, TeethDeer, etc

#numOfCreatures=Kernel.rand(3)

puts "\nquantity of creatures:"
numOfCreatures = gets.chomp.to_i


someCreatures = ArrayOfCreatures.new


0.upto(numOfCreatures) do |i|
        someCreatures[i]=Dragon.new              #what about other
types (children/sub-classes) of creature?
        print "\n"
        print "someCreatures["
        print i
        print "]:\n"
        print someCreatures[i].toString
end


C:\code>


thanks,

Thufir