Random of zero

[Shari]

>HyperCard apparently uses a maximum of m = 32768, which clearly 
>produces random numbers that are not evenly distributed (as you 
>noticed). But don't be surprised if the same number appears a number 
>of times in succession if you simulate throwing a dice! For example, 
>if you toss a coin, the chance that a large number of tails occur in 
>succession is much larger than you intuitively would expect.

So tossing a coin would not give a 50-50 chance of landing one way or 
the other?  I suppose if the coin were not absolutely perfect in its 
symmetry, if one size were a thousandth of a hair thicker than the 
other, or even the engraving could affect the weight in a way that 
would "flip" it a certain way more often.

I've often noticed in my Poker Dice game (similar to yahtzee), that 
if I get a "yahtzee" of 3's, the odds are that 3's are hot, and it's 
a good idea to go for 4 of a kind in 3's etc., or even more 
"yahtzee's".

Blackjack Gold is not as tethered to randomness.  Using a new deck, 
the cards start in order, and are shuffled, as a dealer would shuffle 
them.  (Or at least one version of a dealer shuffle, there are many 
official Vegas shuffles :-)

Once the deck has been gone thru one time, it keeps track of the 
discards as closely as I could proximate to a dealer actually picking 
up the cards, and it shuffles those cards based on an actual dealer 
shuffle.  It simulates an actual round of blackjack, including the 
shuffle, and there is not really a lot of random there, as one might 
think.  That's why the big hoohah of card counting and other ways of 
keeping track of the cards.  Someone with a good memory could 
actually "memorize" the flow of cards into the discard pile.  One 
could theoretically write down the cards as they were picked up by 
the dealer, watch the shuffle, and actually predict the flow of 
cards.  That's why such folks are kicked out of casino's.  The Big 
Boys don't want what they consider to be "cheaters" in their midst.

So the shuffled deck in Blackjack Gold does not just pull a random 
number out of the air and that is your next card.  Blackjack Royale 
was totally random as to what the next card would be.  (Hence a $10 
game versus a $20 game :-)

The adventure game will use a bit more randomness in it.  Though 
clumping of a number will not likely have a bad effect.  In fact, 
that could be a good thing :-)  When you hit a snag of monsters, you 
will likely hit others nearby.... (evil grin)

Shari C
Gypsy King Software

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