From: Alex Fenton <alex@...>
Date: 2007-11-08T09:15:07+09:00
Subject: Re: alternate to case; generating a list of sub-classes

Thufir wrote:
> The below uses pseudo-random number generation to populate an array
> with various monsters, all inherit from Creature.  Can a list of
> classes which inherit from Creature be generated automagically?  

Perhaps:

class Creature
   @creature_classes = []
   # hook to note when a class inherits
   def self.inherited(klass)
     @creature_classes << klass
   end

   # generate a random creature from among known subclasses
   def self.random_creature
     @creature_classes[ rand(@creature_classes.length) ].new
   end
end

hth
alex