Contest 14 - DnD Dice Roller

Programming Contest – DnD Dice Roller

For all those who haven't participated in the contest please read the FAQ

Overview
Given an input of dungeons and dragons dice commands, have the program execute the commands and show the user the results.

For example, if I input 1D20 1d% then the program should output:

Code:

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1D20 - 16
1d% - 60

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Languages
C#, F#, JavaScript (vanilla ES5), LUA, Python, Visual Basic 6, and VB.Net

Deadline
October 2nd, 2020

Rules for Contest
The rules followed will be specific to the contest and not the game.

• You must submit the source code and include a fiddle(ideone, dotnetfiddle, codepen, etc.)
• You are responsible for determining the syntax of the dice command
• Allow for multiple dice commands
• Include a help menu to assist the user
• Acceptable dice types are:
  
  1. 4-sided
  2. 6-sided
  3. 8-sided
  4. 10-sided
  5. 12-sided
  6. 20-sided
  7. Percentage (percentages include increments of 10 from 0 - 90)

Marking
Each entry will be judged on the following things.

• Accuracy - Does the program follow all of the rules?
• Length - How concise is the submitted code?
• Execution - How quick did the code execute?
• Efficiency - How efficient is the algorithm(s) you chose?

Prizes
You will get to brag that you won a VBForums contest and I'll also include a special avatar!

Please submit all entry's to the forum below with the title in the following format "Contest 14 - DnD Dice Roller - [User Name]"
Contest Entries Forum

So the format is

<# of rolls>D<max value>?

So like

1D20 = 1 roll of 1-20
4D5 = 4 rolls of 1-5
2D% = 2 rolls of 1-100

?

I've updated my post to include the type types, but the format is correct (the output of 2D% would be different and 4D5 would be invalid because there isn't a 5 sided die).

I'm starting to write my entry now. My entry will be in C# Core but I might do one in Ada as well just for fun :)

Might be worth tweaking the rules a bit regarding percentage rolls. Standard percentage dice are numbered 00-90 and 0-9 (decades and units respectively), thus yielding values 0% through 99%.

Hmmm, I've always had a percentage die, which was 00-90 and then we rolled a D10 with it. So it would be 1D% + 1D10 to yield a percentage between 0-100.

IT depends on the die manufacturer.... I've got some that have the tens on them... others that have an odd colored 1d10 with just simple 0-9 on it... to be used as the tens... There is also a massive 1d100 out there.... so pick your poison and die carefully.

-tg

I believe the D100 has been outlawed by international convention as an offensive weapon.

I suppose it doesn't matter then as long as there are 100 distinct values available. In real life the DM would arbitrate any dispute and have final say no matter what.

Any dissenting players can be handily eaten by a beholder. :)

I shall be the DM of this competition and will thoroughly feed my beholders as I see fit.

Ouch, looks like I need to roll a constitution save.

Submitted my lame attempt at an entry :)

Got it!

I'm reading https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dice_notation

Are multipliers and expressions allowed? e.g. 3x(2d6+4) or d4 + 2d6 + 4 - 3d8 + 6d7/2

cheers,
</wqw>

Multiple dice can be rolled at once, the syntax would look something along the lines of: 1D8 1D% 6D4

I'd expect, at minimum, for it show the results of each individual die roll (in this case 8 results).

I suppose there's no harm in allowing additional features (as I have done in my entry) as long as they are not mandatory. It's nice to let people show off a bit, and might be useful in the event of a tie-break situation.

What do you mean by

Quote:

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"include a fiddle(ideone, dotnetfiddle, codepen, etc.)"

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and how do we do that ?

In wossname's case, his program relied on command line arguments and so he wasn't able to submit a fiddle.

However, the service I prefer for .NET console fiddles is dotnetfiddle.net. Follow these steps:

1. Go to the website
2. Specify the language: C#, VB.NET, or F#
3. Copy/paste your code in the text editor
4. Click on the Run button

Once it runs, you can interact with the console via the split window at the bottom. In order to generate a link to your fiddle, click on the Share button.

Here is an example: https://dotnetfiddle.net/PVKGWK

Hum and how do I pass the form, textbox, labels, help menu and other things in the fiddle?

You can't, it is specifically for console applications. If you wanted to implement GUI then you wouldn't be able to submit a fiddle (which is fine).

An other question : it is not in the rules but do we have to check for input error and/or incorrect dice (1d7 for example) ?

Ok, I submited my contribution. Thanks for the fun !

regards

Sorry for the late reply, error handling (including invalid syntax) is up to you but I'd appreciate if it were included.

Don't worry for the delay, it has been included anyway. Did you get my entry ? (as nothing appears, I don't know if it worked)

Yes, the threads go into the moderator approval queue (similar to when new members post) and then from there we move it to a private moderator forum. Once the deadline is met, we move them back to the contest entries forum.

This is so that other members can't see/study existing submissions until after the contest has ended.

@dday9, how many entries so far? :)

2 :(

I wonder of those who have read these contest posts actually know what is required in terms of possible input and output? I know nothing about Dungeons Dragons and had an idea what the input will be (until I saw + !) but I don't what format of output is required eg post #5 1D% + 1D10 where does + come into this, how does rolling 2 die get one number etc. I'm not entering as this time C++ isn't an accepted language (fair enough) but if I was, I'd be asking for much more info.

Has this put some off?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by 2kaud

I wonder of those who have read these contest posts actually know what is required in terms of possible input and output? I know nothing about Dungeons Dragons and had an idea what the input will be (until I saw + !) but I don't what format of output is required eg post #5 1D% + 1D10 where does + come into this, how does rolling 2 die get one number etc. I'm not entering as this time C++ isn't an accepted language (fair enough) but if I was, I'd be asking for much more info.

Has this put some off?

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Plus just means "and" in the colloquial sense, e.g. "1 and 1 is 2". Therefore "1D% + 1D10" means "one roll of the percentage die and one roll of the ten-sided die". As was explained earlier, the percentage die would yield a number in the range {0, 10, 20, ..., 90} and the ten-sided die would yield a number in the range 1-10 so adding those together yields a number on the range 1-100. As I have no experience with D&D, there's apparently none needed. That said, that doesn't seem to be part of this contest anyway, so it's a moot point.

I have seen only one time a dice with 100 faces and it is not practical.

Attachment 178892


In game to have a % we use two 10-faced dices (with different colors), one for the tenth and one for the unity and assemble them. Sometime, the dice for the tenth is written with 10 , 20, 30, etc instead of 1, 2, 3, ...


Attachment 178891Attachment 178890

example : throw 2 dices, one blue and one red, decide that the blue is the tenth, the blue give 5 and the red give 8, the result is 58

Quote:

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Originally Posted by dday9

2 :(

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Heh, at least we both get a guaranteed podium finish :) Sweet.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by 2kaud

Has this put some off?

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It's just a bit of fun. Just get the job done in any way you like. My own C# entry doesn't even conform to the rules as they are given (the 3rd party hosting sites do not offer commandline argument features).

If you want to do a C++ version then go for it. We'll get it built and run it so it can be fairly judged against the other entries.

Yeah, my C++ isn't the sharpest, but I could certainly judge it if you wanted to submit an entry.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by jmcilhinney

Plus just means "and" in the colloquial sense, e.g. "1 and 1 is 2". Therefore "1D% + 1D10" means "one roll of the percentage die and one roll of the ten-sided die". As was explained earlier, the percentage die would yield a number in the range {0, 10, 20, ..., 90} and the ten-sided die would yield a number in the range 1-10 so adding those together yields a number on the range 1-100. As I have no experience with D&D, there's apparently none needed. That said, that doesn't seem to be part of this contest anyway, so it's a moot point.

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It means that if + (and - and x[*] and / and brackets) are allowed as per Wikipedia definition https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dice_notation then you're got a different ballgame than just treating each roll as separate. An example given is 3x(2d6+4) which produces one number. This is what I meant when I said that the problem wasn't well defined.

In the original overview in post #1, 1D% + 1D10 is an invalid input. 1D% 1D10 would give an output like:

1D% - 60
1D10 - 7

but if arithmetic operators are required, then if the die rolled the same then 1D% + D10 is a valid input and would give the single number 67.

?????????????????????

I think replies 12 and 13 might clear it up a bit for you.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by 2kaud

if the die rolled the same then 1D% + D10 is a valid input and would give the single number 67.

?????????????????????

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Does it make any coherent sense to add a 1% resolution value to a 10% resolution value?

According to the actual dice rules for DnD - yes. See posts #5, #12 and the wikipedia link.

Although as dday9 points out in post #13 this isn't expected for this contest.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by 2kaud

According to the actual dice rules for DnD - yes. See posts #5, #12 and the wikipedia link.

Although as dday9 points out in post #13 this isn't expected for this contest.

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What an odd game.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by dday9

Yeah, my C++ isn't the sharpest, but I could certainly judge it if you wanted to submit an entry.

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Humble effort submitted.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by wossy

What an odd game.

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How else should it work?You have two d10 dice.... one is for the tens, the other the ones.... you roll one, get the tens place, roll the other, get the ones place... add them together. The 1d% is simply the d10 that's designated as the tens place.

So yeah, you need to roll both and add them. That's how you get a value from 0-99... depending on the situation the double naught is ends up being 100% so you go from 1-100.

-tg

I misunderstood 1d% and thought it to be equivalent to the pair of percentage dice considered together as an atomic roll 0-99. Adding d10 to that would give values between 1-109.

Since the momentous occasion of the deadline for this illustrious struggle of wits has now elapsed, has the dedicated team of expert judges had enough time to reach a conclusion?
I've yet to see any white smoke coming from dday9's chimney :)

I'm not desperate to know or anything, it's just that this contest is the only thing that can save 2020 from being an unmitigated disaster for everyone.

I intended on judging the entries this weekend, but I had family surprise me with a visit. I intend on going through them tonight.

Had any more entries?

No, I just haven't had time to judge existing entries -insert facepalm-

I should have judged them on the 10th, but got lazy. Then Hurricane Delta came and screwed up all my plans.

They seek him here, they seek him there - that elusive d day 9

I just have yours left to judge, 2kaud. It only took me forever to get to them :(

I want to thank everyone who participated in the DnD Dice Roller contest!

As is tradition, it took me too long to judge the entries, but without further adieu. The winner is...
Attachment 179132

Wossy for his C# entry!

Congratulation to the Cat ! :thumb:

Congrats.

Thank you kindly.

The irony is that I've never even played D&D.

I've had a look at the competitors' entries and to be honest I think that all of them could have won on their own merits. I did enjoy that they are all in different languages too.

Delaney's entry did the job asked with clear, idiomatic code that is easy to understand and didn't deviate into any superfluous functionality.
2kaud's entry was rather more complex than mine (we both added quite a bit of functionality that wasn't asked for). However 2kaud went the extra mile and made a pretty much fully rounded D&D dice roller that I could easily imagine being very useful in real-life D&D games.

In my opinion this was anyone's race, but it was an enjoyable one for sure.

I hope we can get more people involved with the next one, if only to make the judges' lives harder :D

dday9, I wouldn't mind judging the next contest if you want a breather (or want to take part yourself). I'll try to come up with some ideas for a new contest topic anyway.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by dday9

Hmmm, I've always had a percentage die, which was 00-90 and then we rolled a D10 with it. So it would be 1D% + 1D10 to yield a percentage between 0-100.

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I'm sorry i missed this one. I think i may add a submission anyway as this seems like something fun to code in c# .net console.

ok i know the contest is over but it seemed like a fun project to try so i threw something together while waiting for SNL to start. Here's my fiddle. https://dotnetfiddle.net/MFNZn6

Note that the fiddle doesn't seem to support TextUtils so i had to do a workaround to determine if the # of dice is numeric (a try catch block)