Chapter 19
Probability
Not everything is predictable in the world or in games. However, it is possible to understand unpredictability. By examining basic probability, you will understand how existing games use random chance to manipulate players. Further, you can learn techniques that allow you as a system designer to allow random, unpredictable events while maintaining control over the flow of the game. But what is random?
Random is more difficult to define than you might imagine. There are entire fields of study dedicated to randomness and probability. This book covers many of the most basic concepts of probability, but it stops well short of providing full explanations; you can find books and other resources dedicated to those subjects.
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