I was constructing an infection map in Halo 3 that varied gameplay by making a shotgun spawn only 1/3 of the time. Figuring this was a good idea, I incorporated it into my remake of "The Generators", making a rocket launcher spawn 1/4 of the time, and a grenade launcher spawn 1/2 the time. I did this by spawning 4 rocket launchers and 2 grenade launchers, but only 1 of each weapon was in the playable map area. All weapons were set to not spawn at the start, and on a 180 second spawn time. However, there is a minimum run time of 1 on each weapon, making one spawn at the start of the game. Theoretically, this would mean that it would be random as to which spawns in the map. However, every time I start a new round in forge the two weapons that spawned are both the weapons in the map. Only once did the rocket launcher spawn outside. So am I doing something wrong? Can anyone explain this? Find a fix for it? Any help would be greatly appreciated, since one of the key factors of this map depends on it, as well as a new map I have in construction. SUMMARY: Is random spawning using a run-time minimum not as random in Reach? Is there another option?
Have you ever thought about using that idea in a maze, so that it changes every game and makes each play different from another
It depends on how many games you went through, but generally speaking, only two options isn't enough to have a truly random system. This was true in Halo 3 as well; for example, if you only had 3 warthogs, and had only 1 spawn at a time, the randomness of the setup will be rather low.
If it works as it should in theory, that would be an interesting idea. However, it would be complicated to insure that there is ALWAYS a way out. Aside from the fact that that's slightly off topic, it's a good idea. I don't think that the reasoning can be put off as coincidence - I've restarted the round about 13 times now. The odds of the grenade launcher spawning there (if my math is correct) is 1/8192. It's possible that it's coincidence. Though it is quite unlikely.
Don't the weapons in forge always spawn. I would think the only way to test it to see if it works is to go into custom games.
If they always spawned in forge then all of them would be spawned, but its only one that spawns. I've played through a couple custom games and they still spawn in the map anyway.
If I remember correctly, the spawning system places greater emphasis on the items placed first-that doesn't really help you, but I think that might explain why the percentages are so lopsided. Unfortunately, there's not (to my knowledge) a way to make a perfectly random system, except by using multiples of object. Perhaps you could first place a grenade launcher outside, then one inside, then outside, and set the runtime max to 2?
If your initial statement is true than that should work. Unfortunately, I don't have the budget to do that. Do you know if the preference will always go to the first object? Or is it just most of the time?
The same concept is apparent when trying to randomize neutral flag or neutral bomb spawn locations. I believe the game favors specific objects to spawn first when presented the option.