[Freeciv-Dev] Re: (PR#4387) The Return of the Rand() Moves

["Gregory Berkolaiko" <Gregory.Berkolaiko@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

On Tue, 10 Jun 2003, Raimar Falke wrote:

> On Tue, Jun 10, 2003 at 09:37:32AM -0700, Per I. Mathisen wrote:
> > 
> > On Tue, 10 Jun 2003, Raimar Falke wrote:
> > > > Unfortunately, I really don't see a way of computing the real average 
> > > > time
> > > > in PF.
> > >
> > > To clarify this: it is easy to calculate the weighted cost of a single
> > > step if you have a "concrete" state (turn and moves left are
> > > integers). However after the first step such you don't have this. You
> > > have something like (turn=0,moves_left=1.47). So it is hard/imopssible
> > > to calculate the weighted cost of the next step.
> > 
> > I've gone back and reread the debate about rand() movement. I think it is
> > time to remove rand() moves. Clearly pf does not handle it as effortlessly
> > as it was advertised back then and which was part of the reason why the
> > debate died off.
> 
> No if the only reason is that it is hard to implement. The current PF
> works very good with the current move model. Chris has a point that it
> can be made better but this is just the top notch which is missing
> here. And I think the outlines implementation (which is optimal in all
> cases except maybe danger) isn't this hard.

I couldn't disagree stronger! 

  Chris' examples that random movement rules are inherently troublesome.  
The outline implementation will be a nightmare to implement and maintain,
will slow the PF down significantly and will not satsify all users either.

G.