I am trying to print out the name of the value that has been selected by math.random(), I have a folder inside ReplicatedStorage which holds all the available power-ups, the error that I am receiving is:
Workspace.CoreScript:68: attempt to index number with 'Name'
The script:
local powerUps = game.ReplicatedStorage.PowerUps:GetChildren()
local ranPowerUp = math.random(1, #powerUps)
if ranPowerUp.Name == "Speed" then
print("Speed power-up has been selected!")
end
This is a common misconception with math.random(). It does NOT pass you back the object itself, it gives you as the name implies a random number. Instead we index the table using the random number, giving us that object.
local powerUps = game.ReplicatedStorage.PowerUps:GetChildren()
local ranPowerUp = math.random(1, #powerUps)
if powerUps[ranPowerUp].Name == "Speed" then
print("Speed power-up has been selected!")
end
EDIT: I also heavily recommend some randomness being added. Below will set a 'randomseed' based on the time, and proc a few randoms to better 'randomize' then number given. Its always a good idea.
math.randomseed(os.time())
math.random();math.random();math.random();
ranPowerUp is a number, not a userdata value. You're assuming it's a userdata value, which it evidently isn't. You can index powerUps with ranPowerUp in a fashion such as powerUps[ranPowerUp], which should give you a userdata value from the table returned by GetChildren(). (Did you forget how GetChildren() works?)
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3 comments
Thank you, it worked!
math.random() will not change the internal seed; making calls will not adjust the "randomness".
Internally i know this, but it FEELS more random. Which makes it true.