Advanced question about First Stikes

[yatta77]

I have an advanced question about First Strikes.
(as always I'm sorry if my english isn't perfect, it is not my first language. Hope you can understand me )

I'll start from here:
http://forums.civfanatics.com/showpost.php?p=4690897&postcount=5
a unit can have some Full FS and some FS Chanches (x-y FS).

Archer (1 first strike) with Drill IV: x4-y7

Skermisher (1 first strike + 1 first strike chance) with Drill IV: x4-y8

Cho-ko-nu (2 first strikes) with Drill IV: x5-y8

Now, this is how FS round works:

A first strike round is like any other round, except that the first striker is the only one who can do damage. For example, if the attacker has two first strikes and the defender zero, the first two rounds have two possibilities – the attacker wins so the defender loses damage or the defender “wins” and nobody gets hurt. The odds in this round are just like any other. The first striker is just immune to damage.

First strike round(s) are special. The number of them is determined by looking at the number of first strike rounds of the attacker and the defender. Whichever number is greater gets the difference of values in first strike opportunities. For x-y first strikes (possible first strikes), the math is still unproven, but it looks like a 50% likelihood of getting a first strike each "round" possible.

link: http://www.civfanatics.com/civ4/strategy/combat_explained.php

But here it looks a little different about calculating how many FSC became FS rounds:
http://forums.civfanatics.com/showpost.php?p=4315184&postcount=7

I understood how FS round works, and I understood what FSC are (x-y FS: x is the number of full FS, y is the maximum number of FS the unit can get), so now I'm asking: how it is randomized the number between x and y?
a) every FS chance has 50% of probability to became a full FS (in this case an "average" number would have more probability to "come out");
b) every numeber between x and y (included) has the same probability to "come out" (in this case every number would have the same probability to "come out").

I add a post I founded on a discussion on Apolyton, where the author ask the same question, but there's no answer.

Before battle is fought, each unit has a step where the number of first strikes is computed. This total for the battle is equal to
first_strikes_battle = first_strikes + chance(extra_first_strikes).
Basically, it means that for the battle, anywhere between 5 and 7 first strikes will be assigned to the Drill IV unit.
(Note that I don't kow what kind of randomizer is used for the chance distribution, meaning I can't tell if 5-7 would leadmore to 6 first strikes then it would to 5.)

link: http://apolyton.net/forums/showthread.php?postid=4090621#post4090621 (post #24)

Why do I ask that? Well there's some differences between...

...so let's say the Skermisher Drill IV (FS x-4 y-8):

a) generating a 50% random every first strike chance:
4 FS rounds: 6.25% (1 probability on 16 / no-no-no-no)
5 FS rounds: 25% (4 probabilities on 16 / no-no-no-yes, no-no-yes-no, no-yes-no-no, yes-no-no-no)
6 FS rounds: 37,5% (6 probabilities on 16 / all the others)
7 FS rounds: 25% (4 probabilities on 16 / yes-yes-yes-no, yes-yes-no-yes, yes-no-yes-yes, no-yes-yes-yes)
8 FS rounds: 6.25% (1 probability on 16 / yes-yes-yes-yes)

b) generating a random number between 4 e 8:
4 FS rounds: 20%
5 FS rounds: 20%
6 FS rounds: 20%
7 FS rounds: 20%
8 FS rounds: 20%

Not a big deal, but I wonder about it

Thanks in advance to anybody could aswer to this

EDIT: oops.... did I post in the wrong section?

 

[VoiceOfUnreason]

The number of first strikes you will get is recalculated for each combat.

That number is uniformly distributed - your calculation in (b) is correct.

 

[yatta77]

The number of first strikes you will get is recalculated for each combat.

Yes, I probably forgot to specify that, but it was clear to me. Every "fight" the first stike x to y of the unit envolved are regenerated. This what you said, right?

That number is uniformly distributed - your calculation in (b) is correct.

THANK YOU!!!!
By the way, if it's not bothering you, can you tell me where you can find those kind of information?
Thanks again!

EDIT: I mean you check in the files (where?) or they're already posted somewhere in the forum?

 

[VoiceOfUnreason]

By the way, if it's not bothering you, can you tell me where you can find those kind of information?
Thanks again!

EDIT: I mean you check in the files (where?) or they're already posted somewhere in the forum?

I search through the C++ source code (the "SDK"), which is delivered with the latest patches.

Unless I think it is a question I've answered before, in which case I first look to see if I already posted the answer, THEN go look at the location in the source code I referenced in my previous answer to verify that it hasn't been changed by a patch.

 

[yatta77]

I search through the C++ source code (the "SDK"), which is delivered with the latest patches.

Unless I think it is a question I've answered before, in which case I first look to see if I already posted the answer, THEN go look at the location in the source code I referenced in my previous answer to verify that it hasn't been changed by a patch.

ooopsss....
I missed that thread....

Thank you!