Random Timer

[FreeTacos.exe]

Hello, I've been making this jumping entity and I want it to jump at different intervals instead of a constant interval. For example, there is a 3 second delay to each jump, so it would be like jump, wait 3 seconds, jump, wait 3 seconds... I want it to be different like jump, wait 2 seconds, jump, wait 5 seconds, jump, wait 4 seconds. I tried the following code ,but it doesn't work.

timer.Create( "jump_timer"..self:EntIndex(), i, 0, function()
	phys:SetVelocity(self.Entity:GetRight() * -100 + Vector(0,0,100))
end)
	
local i = math.random(2,5)

[ben434]

Don't you have to define 'I' before you run the timer?

[LUA]
local i = math.random(2,5)

timer.Create( "jump_timer"..self:EntIndex(), i, 0, function()
phys:SetVelocity(self.Entity:GetRight() * -100 + Vector(0,0,100))
end)
[/lua]

[FreeTacos.exe]

[QUOTE=ben434;41016249]Don't you have to define 'I' before you run the timer?

[LUA]
local i = math.random(2,5)

timer.Create( "jump_timer"..self:EntIndex(), i, 0, function()
phys:SetVelocity(self.Entity:GetRight() * -100 + Vector(0,0,100))
end)
[/lua][/QUOTE]

I did define I in the following code

local i = math.random(2,5)

[Agent766]

You defined it after you try to use it.

[ben434]

[QUOTE=FreeTacos.exe;41016267]I did define I in the following code

local i = math.random(2,5)[/QUOTE]

I know, but you have to put it before the timer. Not after.

[FreeTacos.exe]

[QUOTE=Agent766;41016304]You defined it after you try to use it.[/QUOTE]

Thanks, but I am still not getting what im looking for. I am getting the same random interval. For example
local i = math.random(2,5)
jump, wait 3 seconds, jump, wait 3 seconds, jump, wait 3 seconds, ect.

I want it to be like
jump,wait 2 seconds, jump,wait 5 seconds, jump,wait 3 seconds, jump,wait 4 seconds, jump,

[zzaacckk]

You need to have the timer delete itself and then remake it on every tick as there is no method to make a timer have dynamic increments.

[lua]
local i = math.random(2,5)

local function JumpTimerResponse()
i = math.random(2,5)
phys:SetVelocity(self.Entity:GetRight() * -100 + Vector(0,0,100))
timer.Create( "jump_timer" .. self:EntIndex(),i, 1 );
end

timer.Create( "jump_timer" .. self:EntIndex(), math.random(2,5), 1 );
[/lua]

Something like that.

[~Razor~]

[lua]function ENT:Initialize()
self.nextJump = CurTime() + math.random(2, 5); -- CurTime() is the time the script was ran at in seconds. Adding an amount to it basically means: *Amount* seconds from now
end;

function ENT:AttemptJump()
if CurTime() >= self.nextJump then
local phys = self:GetPhysicsObject();
if IsValid(phys) then
phys:SetVelocity(self:GetRight() * -100 + Vector(0,0,100));
self.nextJump = CurTime() + math.random(2, 5);
end;
end;
end;

function ENT:Think()
self:AttemptJump();
end;[/lua]

Personally I hate using timers into entities.
I don't know if it's just me, but my timers tend to screw up if they are working in a "complex" way.
(Also, this method has the benefit to be able to get how long left until the jump occurs again)
Example:

[lua]function ENT:HowLongUntilJump()
return math.Round(self.nextJump - CurTime(), 1); -- Rounds it to only one decimal digit, otherwise there might be a lot.
end;[/lua]

[_Kilburn]

nextJump should be initialized in your entity's Initialize function, otherwise you might as well initialize it to 0. Other than that, your code is the right way to do it.

I only dislike this part:

[lua];[/lua]

The only time this should be used is when you want to separate two instructions on the same line. Or as a replacement for commas in table declarations. A lot of beginners tend to read code like that and then believe that semicolons are an obligation.

[~Razor~]

[QUOTE=_Kilburn;41018726]nextJump should be initialized in your entity's Initialize function, otherwise you might as well initialize it to 0. Other than that, your code is the right way to do it.

I only dislike this part:

[lua];[/lua]

The only time this should be used is when you want to separate two instructions on the same line. Or as a replacement for commas in table declarations. A lot of beginners tend to read code like that and then believe that semicolons are an obligation.[/QUOTE]

I was thinking about putting it into initialize, but I was afraid the Think function would start running before Initialize for some reason. Either way, it has always worked for me the way I do it. (Although I'll edit the post putting it into initialize for good practice)

[FreeTacos.exe]

Thank you ~Razor~. It works!