The Randomizer is a highly configurable randomization engine. It is used to generate all sorts of item, descriptions, places, events, etc.
You can import new TAB files into the module to add some new random capabilities in the engine. Here is a short example of a tab file Named "EarthNordicNames" that will generate Nordic character names:
:Start
1-2, Name(Male):
[NameListMale]
carrying {2D8} golds
3-5, Name(Female):
[NameListFemale]
carrying {4D8} silver pieces
6-9, 1 Male and 1 Female: [NameListMale]
and [NameListFemale]
having {1D4} children
10, 2 males and 2 females: [NameListMale],
[NameListFemale],
[NameListMale],
[NameListFemale]
:NameListMale
1, Aella
2, Agdi
:NameListFemale
1, Alf
2, Algot
3, Alrek
4, Agnar
A Tab file always starts with the category ":START". This is the entry point of the engine. In this sample, there is 4 possibilities in the start category. The engine will throw 1 ten sides dice and select one of the possibilities. It will select Name(male) on a 1 and 2, or select Name(female) on a 3,4 or 5. Etc.
Each reference to another category is made by the use of the [ ] characters, with the category name referenced inside the brackets. In the upper example, we have 3 categories, NameListMale, NameListFemale and the mandatory Start category.
A category always begins with the ":" character.
In the upper example, we have a Nordic name generation tab file with 2 Males names and 4 females names available.
The {2D8} instruct the engine to throw 2 eight side dices and display the result.
A category can reference another category but cannot reference itself.
The "3-5" command means from 3 to 5 included. This is used when you want one possibility to be selected more often than another.
Some other commands that may be used:
X05 , will execute 5 times the next request, example: [X{1d4}~MundaneItem] will give 1d4 items taken from the mundane items formula table. Each item will be rolled on the table and will be different. If you omit the "X{1d4}~" and instead use "[{1d4}MundaneItem] , the engine will simple choose a number from 1 to 4 followed by a mundane item name.
CC~ , will put the next letter in uppercase
CN~ , will put "a" or "an" before the next word if vowel.
<VariableName> , will substitute the corresponding field or variable. For example, [The pc's hit points total is: <pc.hp> ] will display the current pc Hit points since "pc.hp" is the field containing the hit points in the pc.dbf table.
<#FunctionName>, will execute a RPA function. This is mainly for internal usage because the list of functions available in RPA are not public knowledge.