What does the random setting do on the Random World Generator?

[Weazelsun]

I understand that it randomizes things, but what specifically? Since I have everything set to default, does it even matter when I set the random setting to the max? Should I put in between at 5 instead? Because, overall, to be fair the maps I've generated with that setting are indeed random. They're not the same. 

[theFlu]

Come on man, it's clear as day! It's "random"! It does.. the thing!

 

I mean, I have no idea..

[Maharin]

I'm pretty sure it breaks up the size of biomes into smaller pieces the higher the random value is.

 

But then, it could just be social experiment trying to figure out what value most people use.

[DEATH MECHANIC]

17 minutes ago, theFlu said:

Come on man, it's clear as day! It's "random"! It does.. the thing!

 

I mean, I have no idea..

this almost sounds like a quote from the president. 

" It does....ya know ...the thing!

fixed it for ya lol

Edited January 10, 2022 by DEATH MECHANIC (see edit history)

[theFlu]

1 minute ago, DEATH MECHANIC said:

this almost sounds like a quote from the president.

I wrote three separate things in response, but I think I'll keep my head down...

[DEATH MECHANIC]

4 minutes ago, theFlu said:

I wrote three separate things in response, but I think I'll keep my head down...

well now i'm curious, but i understand.

[Boidster]

Good grief. It adds random. How much random do you want? Well, set the slider appropriately. I personally like a medium-high amount of random, so I tend to monkey bicycle dishwasher.

 

/I'm doing a little test to see if I can suss it out. I'll be back.

[Boidster]

Okay, I tested same seed, Random 0 (left) vs Random 10 (right):

 

There are minor differences in biome borders, and all of the water, mountains, and towns/roads are different. But "more random"? >shrug< I dunno. Maybe the difference is down at the POI level somehow.

 

[Darklegend222]

5 minutes ago, Boidster said:

Okay, I tested same seed, Random 0 (left) vs Random 10 (right):

 

There are minor differences in biome borders, and all of the water, mountains, and towns/roads are different. But "more random"? >shrug< I dunno. Maybe the difference is down at the POI level somehow.

 

Interesting, I've always assumed it had a chance to change the customizable values one higher or lower per level of random. For example, towns could go from many to few, or few to default.

[Weazelsun]

I think that's exactly what it is.  Along with what Boidster also said.  I think I'll ping @faatal to see if he can provide insight.

2 hours ago, Darklegend222 said:

Interesting, I've always assumed it had a chance to change the customizable values one higher or lower per level of random. For example, towns could go from many to few, or few to default.

 

[BarryTGash]

3 hours ago, Boidster said:

monkey bicycle dishwasher

 

That... that's my password! Sometimes random is just not random enough... 

[Weazelsun]

After a few more generating. It does seem that random primarily affects the towns, with some generated having them be the default size to others basically being mega-cites.

[Red Eagle LXIX]

It only changes the towns indirectly because it changes the terrain.

 

Just going to copy this here from a post I did on Steam:

 

It introduces a Random chance for one of the 3 terrain types (Plains, Hills, Mountains).
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2712406902
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2712406736
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2712406840
Notice that default world with no values is basically the same as a world with all Plains.  Setting a value for plains is for forcing some to be created.
Also notice in the below shots that even with all Hills & Mountains both at 10 some spots do not get chosen and are left as the default plains even though plains are set to 0.

 

Random introduces a chance for plains, hills, or mountains.  As can be demonstrated by these screenshots.
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2712406864
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2712428382
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2712407080

 

Edited January 11, 2022 by Red Eagle LXIX (see edit history)

[Boidster]

11 hours ago, Red Eagle LXIX said:

Random introduces a chance for plains, hills, or mountains.  As can be demonstrated by these screenshots.

 

Can you elaborate on the difference between the last two screenshots? The one with Hills=10 + Mountains=10, and the one which adds Random=10 into that? They look very similar, in terms of how much area is covered by mountain, how much by hills, how much by plains. I'm wondering if you select high enough values in the biomes themselves - meaning the RWG is going to pick a few of them anyway - that the Random setting doesn't really affect the overall feel of the world. Put another way, if you want "random", then you really ought to decrease - maybe even set to 0 - the biome values.

[Kinyajuu]

The random setting would weight the terrain stamper to randomly select between plains, hills, mountains, rather than using the set weight.

[Boidster]

When it weights the terrain stamper, is that sort of like:

 

1) Terrain stamper picks a terrain based on player-chosen terrain weights

2) RNG check against the Random setting

3) If #2 succeeds, Terrain stamper replaces the choice from #1 with a random choice (could be the same)

 

If that's pretty accurate, does a setting of Random=10 basically override all of the terrain weights and just randomize everything? Or would it still be at least a little bit controlled by the player-selected weights.