Randomized monsters and XML

[Seby]

Hi,
I'm looking for a way to implement "semi-random" monsters without hard-coding them.
XML seems to be a good choice, so I come with such a structure:

Code: [Select]

<monsters>
 <monster>
  <guard1>
   <stats str="8"(...)/>
   <inventory>
    <equip>
     <pants id="GUARD_PANTS"/>
     <top id="GUARD_JACKET"/>
     <weapon id="GUN45"/>
    </equip>
    </money min="0" max="100">
    <items>
     <item id="MAG45" prob="0.5"/>
     <choice_items>
      <item id="CANDY_BAR1" prob="0.25"/>
      <item id="BIER" prob="0.25"/>
     </choice_items>
    </items>
   </inventory>
  </guard1>
 </monster>
</monsters>Meaning all these guards have standard equipment, can have from 0 to 100 dollars, 50% chance having ammunitions for his .45 and 50% chance having a candy bar (25%) or a bier (25%).
This choice should be extended to all the fields that have to be randomized (stats, appearance, equipment...).
Would it be a good idea to proceed so? Could you see any limitation with these structure of data ?

[stu]

the only problem I see is that its xml I dont like xml at all. its a language fart.

[Seby]

I think XML is quite easy to read and there are lots of parsers for each programming language so I won't have to write mine (and I really hate writing parsers!).
But the best would be to write items/monsters/skills editors, so the XML-files would be easier to generate/maintain.

[Krice]

I would make separate generic item lists and then point to them based on enemy type. For example skeleton warrior could pick a random weapon from generic swords list etc.

[Gamer_2k4]

I have StartingInventory objects that hold a list of objects for each location of the body.  When a monster is given that particular starting inventory, they pick one random item from each list.  This way you can have goblins with crude clubs or spears, but they won't ever have heavy lances.