[DF] Suitable Dangerous Encounters

Bruno · 11-02-2009, 03:07 PM

There is a cheat involving spreadsheets which basically performs thulben's algorithm, taking advantage of a spreadsheets ability to store and manipulated data in two dimensions simply. Also makes great use of the copy-down function :D

Unfortunately I've forgotten the details, which is really irking me right now.

AHA!

OK. Instructions will be provided for Excel, but probably work in OpenOffice Calc or can be easily translated. I'll use D6s as the example, cuz this is GURPS.

Pop open a blank spreadsheet.

In A6, put the number 1.
In B7, put the foruma =SUM(A1:A6)/6
Copy B7
Paste it from B7 to the right however many dice you are interested in (so if you're interested in 5d6, copy it right to F7, so it fills an area 5 columns wide).
Paste it DOWN until your far-right column fills up with numbers and then starts becoming 0 again.

What you've just done is calculate the probability of rolling any given number on Xd6, where X is the number of columns you filled in with your formula.

You can then sum them up to find the probability of rolling less than 10 or 10, 11, or 12 or whatever you need to do.

11-02-2009, 03:07 PM	#31
Bruno Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Canada	Re: [DF] Suitable Dangerous Encounters There is a cheat involving spreadsheets which basically performs thulben's algorithm, taking advantage of a spreadsheets ability to store and manipulated data in two dimensions simply. Also makes great use of the copy-down function :D Unfortunately I've forgotten the details, which is really irking me right now. AHA! OK. Instructions will be provided for Excel, but probably work in OpenOffice Calc or can be easily translated. I'll use D6s as the example, cuz this is GURPS. Pop open a blank spreadsheet. In A6, put the number 1. In B7, put the foruma =SUM(A1:A6)/6 Copy B7 Paste it from B7 to the right however many dice you are interested in (so if you're interested in 5d6, copy it right to F7, so it fills an area 5 columns wide). Paste it DOWN until your far-right column fills up with numbers and then starts becoming 0 again. What you've just done is calculate the probability of rolling any given number on Xd6, where X is the number of columns you filled in with your formula. You can then sum them up to find the probability of rolling less than 10 or 10, 11, or 12 or whatever you need to do. __________________ All about Size Modifier; Unified Hit Location Table A Wiki for my F2F Group A neglected GURPS blog Last edited by Bruno; 11-02-2009 at 03:21 PM. Reason: Remembered the spreadsheet hack!