Random Level Selection?

Development Programming & Scripting Blueprint
1

It’s been over 20 years since I did any programming so I’m more than a little rusty and I need a bit of guidance please if any of you have the time.

I’m working on a VR game that’s going to have procedurally generated levels and I’m planning on building them NOT at runtime but pre-made beforehand.

I’m also looking at creating 5 different maps for each level. So I’m going to have 5 playable levels during each game and choose 1 out of 5 possible maps for each of the 5 levels. I also want to make sure that each time someone plays they get a different level to play in.

I’m probably not explaining this very well lol

So basically a new player starts a game:

Map (random n) out of 5 possible Maps (for example) is loaded for Level 1.

When that level is finished Map (random n) is loaded for level 2

All the way until level 5, the final level.

And once the game is finished by the player any new games will work as above but instead of choosing from 5 maps for each level the game will choose from 4 because one has already been played. And the next time from 3 and so on.

I’m just wondering what the best way of organising this will be?

I haven’t much of an idea where to start tbh. I’m guessing that the best bet would be 5 arrays Level1(5), Level2(5), Level3(5), Level4(5) and Level5(5).

Choose a random number for Level1(n) and write that number to a variable, and as soon as that has been done replace that number in Level1(n) with a null value? Have that in a For loop (does the UE have For loops?) until the 5 levels have been selected.

Then when a new game is selected using the same save slot there’ll only be 4 maps to choose from.

Or am I completely on the wrong track?

I’m just having problems getting this all sorted out in my head, like I said I’m VERY rusty!!! :eek::stuck_out_tongue:

2

Many ways to do it, consider the following:

  • have an array with all map names and *Shuffle *it (it now contains elements in random order)
  • save the shuffled array to a save game object
  • Load the map at element 0
  • once a level is finished, remove element 0, save the array
  • rinse & repeat the 2 previous steps

or, if you do not want to remove array elements:

  • have the Game Instance keep track of an array with all map names and *shuffle *it, have it keep track of an int Variable as well
  • use that Var to *Get *and *Load *map at index Var from the Shuffled Array
  • add 1 to the Var once the level is finished and use the int value to Load map at index Var
  • you only need to save between game sessions
3

Brilliant, thanks for that! I’ll check those two methods out. Ta! :slight_smile:

4

Dear Everynone and thesnowdog,
I just stumbled upon your conversation and find it very useful for my own research paradigm.

I think the options given as an answer would perfectly fit, because I am trying to load levels randomly, with keeping track of them. Let’s say I have 5 different levels (conditions), and I want each of them to appear in a random order of 100 trials.

Everynone, could you please specify in your answer which blueprints you are refering to for each step (solution 2 looks easier to implement but I might be wrong).

I am digging this post from the archives, but maybe this could still be useful!
Anyways, thank you very much for your help, even as just this post in itself!

5

The Game Instance, which can handle Save Games at the same time.

6

I’ll try this then, thank you!