Random creature profile - Revision history

Doorkeeper: RCP -> rcp, sources use lowercase

2025-12-01T14:18:29Z

RCP -> rcp, sources use lowercase

DPhKraken: Updated for Lua release

2025-10-24T22:17:30Z

Updated for Lua release

Doorkeeper: /* Overview */

2023-12-08T07:54:31Z

Overview

Doorkeeper: /* Graphics */ typo

2023-12-08T07:46:47Z

Graphics: typo

Doorkeeper: /* Overview */ quote i found online.

2023-12-08T07:45:32Z

Overview: quote i found online.

24.196.221.195: Trolling was in article version template. Undid edit. Undo revision 296143 by 24.196.221.195 (talk)

2023-11-28T22:19:07Z

Trolling was in article version template. Undid edit. Undo revision 296143 by 24.196.221.195 (talk)

24.196.221.195: removing trolling

2023-11-28T22:13:06Z

removing trolling

Doorkeeper: /* List */ increased column width for mobile

2023-07-23T16:44:33Z

List: increased column width for mobile

Doorkeeper: /* Graphics */

2023-07-23T13:42:50Z

Graphics

Doorkeeper: /* Graphics */

2023-07-23T13:23:29Z

Graphics

@@ Line 2: / Line 2: @@
 {{Minorspoiler}}
-This is a list of '''random creature profiles''' ('''RCPs''') which are used by procedurally-generated creatures. RCPs typically use body parts from <code>body_rcp.txt</code> instead of <code>body_default.txt</code>.
+A '''random creature profile''' ('''rcp''') is a template used by procedurally-generated creatures. rcps typically use body parts from <code>body_rcp.txt</code> instead of <code>body_default.txt</code>.
 == Overview ==
-RCP stands for "[http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=30026.msg831163#msg831163 random creature profile]". RCP is a [[Lua scripting|scripted]] [[raw]] template that defines the basic body, tissues and body attacks of a random creature before it receives [[Lua scripting#Tweaks|further randomness]] (three-eyed, wings of stretched skin, external ribs, uniform elemental composition, etc). Most amphibian, mammalian and reptilian RCPs have humanoid variations of themselves, described as "in humanoid form" or "{{Tooltip|twisted into humanoid form|If evil.}}". There are 243 standard RCPs and 81 humanoid variations, which brings the known total to 324.
+'''rcp''' stands for "[http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=30026.msg831163#msg831163 random creature profile]". rcp is a [[Lua scripting|scripted]] [[raw]] template that defines the basic body, tissues and body attacks of a random creature before it receives [[Lua scripting#Tweaks|further randomness]] (three-eyed, wings of stretched skin, external ribs, uniform elemental composition, etc). Most amphibian, mammalian and reptilian rcps have humanoid variations of themselves, described as "in humanoid form" or "{{Tooltip|twisted into humanoid form|If evil.}}". There are 243 standard rcps and 81 humanoid variations, which brings the known total to 324.
-The RCP of a randomly generated creature can be identified by its description. Many RCPs have identical names with normal [[creature]]s (e.g. [[albatross]]), although they are entirely unrelated; other RCPs feature animals that don't exist anywhere else, such as zebras. Some RCPs have inherent abilities like flight or [[web]]bing.
+The rcp of a randomly generated creature can be identified by its description. Many rcps have identical names with normal [[creature]]s (e.g. [[albatross]]), although they are entirely unrelated; other rcps feature animals that don't exist anywhere else, such as zebras. Some rcps have inherent abilities like flight or [[web]]bing.
-[[Night troll]]s and [[bogeyman|bogeymen]] only use the generic "humanoid" RCP, and werebeasts use the humanoid animal forms. Primates, hexapods, octopods and decapods are unique to beast-like [[experiment]]s, while armless bipeds, wyrms, and the generic "snake" and "worm" RCPs are unique to failed experiments.
+[[Night troll]]s and [[bogeyman|bogeymen]] only use the generic "humanoid" rcp, and werebeasts use the humanoid animal forms. Primates, hexapods, octopods and decapods are unique to beast-like [[experiment]]s, while armless bipeds, wyrms, and the generic "snake" and "worm" rcps are unique to failed experiments.
 == Technical details ==
@@ Line 42: / Line 42: @@
 * bases (``body_base_fun``): amorphous, insect, insect larva, spider, scorpion, ten legged, eight legged, worm, no limbs, quadruped, snake, humanoid, two legs + no arms, quadruped with front graspers (like a monkey)
-The [[Lua functions#RCP Parameters|flags]] just force certain RCP additions, and prevent others from happening. For instance, the "slug" profile has "cannot have shell" because a slug with a shell is confusing.
+The [[Lua functions#rcp Parameters|flags]] just force certain rcp additions, and prevent others from happening. For instance, the "slug" profile has "cannot have shell" because a slug with a shell is confusing.
-Ah, here we go. The RCP are used via the "body tweak" system. A body can have a tweak from category one, a tweak from category two, and an attack tweak, respecting its profile flags.
+Ah, here we go. The rcp are used via the "body tweak" system. A body can have a tweak from category one, a tweak from category two, and an attack tweak, respecting its profile flags.
 * Category one tweaks (``options.btc``): wings, flightless wings, tail, proboscis, trunk, shell, antennae, head horns, large mandibles, twisted into humanoid form, six legged, eight legged
@@ Line 59: / Line 59: @@
 == List ==
-In ASCII mode, nearly all RCPs use specific uppercase or lowercase letters if the monster type does not use a fixed tile, such as '&' for demons. Lobsters uniquely use the '¥' sign instead. RCPs with humanoid versions are '''bolded'''. Humanoid forms use the same tile as their standard counterparts.
+In ASCII mode, nearly all rcps use specific uppercase or lowercase letters if the monster type does not use a fixed tile, such as '&' for demons. Lobsters uniquely use the '¥' sign instead. rcps with humanoid versions are '''bolded'''. Humanoid forms use the same tile as their standard counterparts.
 Capitalization denotes body size. In most cases, anything larger than a [[dwarf]] (60,000) uses an uppercase letter. Only uppercase letters are shown here.
@@ Line 312: / Line 312: @@
 == Graphics ==
-All random creatures except [[werebeast]]s use [[graphics|graphic]] sprites found in <code>beasts.png</code> and <code>beasts_small.png</code>. There are 19 primary body sprites (6 are alternate-legged variations) with additional sprite layers representing secondary body parts. Several RCPs have one or more secondary sprite layers by default. A few RCPs, like quadrupeds, have more than one body sprite to randomly select from.
+All random creatures except [[werebeast]]s use [[graphics|graphic]] sprites found in <code>beasts.png</code> and <code>beasts_small.png</code>. There are 19 primary body sprites (6 are alternate-legged variations) with additional sprite layers representing secondary body parts. Several rcps have one or more secondary sprite layers by default. A few rcps, like quadrupeds, have more than one body sprite to randomly select from.
 {| class="wikitable"<!--
-NOTE: RCPs may look out of place. be sure to verify before changing. last updated 0.50.09
+NOTE: rcps may look out of place. be sure to verify before changing. last updated 0.50.09
 to verify, create a world w/ compressed saves set to NO (in settings, game tab), go to its save folder and open 'world.dat' w/ a text editor that has a good find/search tool, e.g. Notepad++
@@ Line 331: / Line 331: @@
 	above: chinchilla with four broad horns (random body modifications are explicitly mentioned in the creature's description)
-	compare RCPs and eliminate random tokens, and you're left w/ 'default' sprite tokens
+	compare rcps and eliminate random tokens, and you're left w/ 'default' sprite tokens
 when creating/editing images: first token is the bottommost layer, last token is topmost layer (eyes layered above body, etc.)
 note that elementals don't have eyes
 -->
-|+ RCP sprites, ignoring random body modifications, large sprites only
+|+ rcp sprites, ignoring random body modifications, large sprites only
-! RCPs
+! rcps
 ! Sprite
 ! Secondary graphic token(s)
@@ Line 499: / Line 499: @@
 | BEAST_WALRUS
 |}
-:'''*''' The (generic) humanoid RCP has two or no eyes (by default) depending on the type of beast/monster:
+:'''*''' The (generic) humanoid rcp has two or no eyes (by default) depending on the type of beast/monster:
 ::2 eyes: bogeymen, experiments (intelligent humanoids), night trolls
 ::0 eyes: experiments (amalgamations), nightmares, everything else (which are elementals)

@@ Line 2: / Line 2: @@
 {{Minorspoiler}}
-This is a list of '''random creature profiles''' ('''RCPs''') which are used by procedurally generated creatures. RCPs use body parts from <code>body_rcp.txt</code> instead of <code>body_default.txt</code>.
+This is a list of '''random creature profiles''' ('''RCPs''') which are used by procedurally-generated creatures. RCPs typically use body parts from <code>body_rcp.txt</code> instead of <code>body_default.txt</code>.
 == Overview ==
-RCP stands for "[http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=30026.msg831163#msg831163 random creature profile]". RCP is hard-coded [[raw]] text that defines the basic body, tissues and body attacks of a random creature before it goes under further randomness (three-eyed, wings of stretched skin, external ribs, elemental composition, etc.). Most amphibian, mammalian and reptilian RCPs have humanoid variations of themselves, described as "in humanoid form" or "twisted into humanoid form". There are 243 standard RCPs and 81 humanoid variations, which brings the known total to 324.
+RCP stands for "[http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=30026.msg831163#msg831163 random creature profile]". RCP is a [[Lua scripting|scripted]] [[raw]] template that defines the basic body, tissues and body attacks of a random creature before it receives [[Lua scripting#Tweaks|further randomness]] (three-eyed, wings of stretched skin, external ribs, uniform elemental composition, etc). Most amphibian, mammalian and reptilian RCPs have humanoid variations of themselves, described as "in humanoid form" or "{{Tooltip|twisted into humanoid form|If evil.}}". There are 243 standard RCPs and 81 humanoid variations, which brings the known total to 324.
 The RCP of a randomly generated creature can be identified by its description. Many RCPs have identical names with normal [[creature]]s (e.g. [[albatross]]), although they are entirely unrelated; other RCPs feature animals that don't exist anywhere else, such as zebras. Some RCPs have inherent abilities like flight or [[web]]bing.
@@ Line 11: / Line 11: @@
 [[Night troll]]s and [[bogeyman|bogeymen]] only use the generic "humanoid" RCP, and werebeasts use the humanoid animal forms. Primates, hexapods, octopods and decapods are unique to beast-like [[experiment]]s, while armless bipeds, wyrms, and the generic "snake" and "worm" RCPs are unique to failed experiments.
-This [https://nm.reddit.com/r/dwarffortress/comments/kq86x5/i_made_some_calculations_towards_determining_the/gi2l7py/ quote from Toady], shared by Meph, goes into more detail on how procedural creature generation works (prior to v50.01):
+== Technical details ==
 <blockquote>
-The raw/objects/body_rcp.txt file has the definitions it expects for bodyparts. (rcp stands for "random creature profile") The main thing is that the base "animal" word is doing most of the heavy lifting in terms of making the descriptions evocative, so the rcp's don't end up mattering that much. There are little internal definitions for each animal word, about 230 of them. If we ignore that, then we're more just working with "feathered quadruped" and so forth.
+The ``body_rcp.txt`` file has the definitions it expects for bodyparts. (rcp stands for "random creature profile") The main thing is that the base "animal" word is doing most of the heavy lifting in terms of making the descriptions evocative, so the rcp's don't end up mattering that much. There are little internal definitions for each animal word, about 230 of them. If we ignore that, then we're more just working with "feathered quadruped" and so forth.
 Example of a random creature profile (for the elephant type):
-name="elephant"
+<syntaxhighlight lang="lua">
-tile='E'
+random_creature_types.MAMMAL_ELEPHANT={
-body base=quadruped
+	name_string="elephant",
-class=mammal
+	tile='E',
-flags=must have tail, must have elephant trunk
+	body_base="QUADRUPED",
 So, hmm, perhaps the base and class lists are relevant here...
-classes: mammal, chitin exo, fleshy, amphibian, reptile, feathered reptile, avian, uniform (like 'composed of iron')
+* classes (``random_creature_class``): mammal, chitin exo, fleshy, amphibian, reptile, feathered reptile, avian, uniform (like 'composed of iron')
-bases: amorphous, insect, insect larva, spider, scorpion, ten legged, eight legged, worm, no limbs, quadruped, snake, humanoid, two legs + no arms, quadruped with front graspers (like a monkey)
+* bases (``body_base_fun``): amorphous, insect, insect larva, spider, scorpion, ten legged, eight legged, worm, no limbs, quadruped, snake, humanoid, two legs + no arms, quadruped with front graspers (like a monkey)
-The flags just force certain rcp additions, and prevent others from happening. For instance, the "slug" profile has "cannot have shell" because a slug with a shell is confusing.
+The [[Lua functions#RCP Parameters|flags]] just force certain RCP additions, and prevent others from happening. For instance, the "slug" profile has "cannot have shell" because a slug with a shell is confusing.
-Ah, here we go. The rcps are used via the "body tweak" system. A body can have a tweak from category one, a tweak from category two, and an attack tweak, respecting its profile flags.
+Ah, here we go. The RCP are used via the "body tweak" system. A body can have a tweak from category one, a tweak from category two, and an attack tweak, respecting its profile flags.
-Category one tweaks: wings, flightless wings, tail, proboscis, trunk, shell, antennae, head horns, large mandibles, twisted into humanoid form, six legged, eight legged
+* Category one tweaks (``options.btc``): wings, flightless wings, tail, proboscis, trunk, shell, antennae, head horns, large mandibles, twisted into humanoid form, six legged, eight legged
-Category two tweaks: hair, feathers, scales, exoskeleton, skin, skin/bones, no eyes, one eye, three eyes, beak missing, nose missing, external ribs, lidless eyes, skinless
+* Category two tweaks (``options.btc2``): hair, feathers, scales, exoskeleton, skin, skin/bones, no eyes, one eye, three eyes, beak missing, nose missing, external ribs, lidless eyes, skinless
-Attack tweaks: tail stinger, insect stinger, blood proboscis, fire, webs, breath (trailing flow), breath (glob), breath (undirected), secretion, poisonous blood, poisonous bite
+* Attack tweaks (``options.attack_tweak``): tail stinger, insect stinger, blood proboscis, fire, webs, breath (trailing flow), breath (glob), breath (undirected), secretion, poisonous blood, poisonous bite
-That material list looks almost right - here's the official list of variables: ash, mud, vomit, salt (powder), grime, snow, water, steam, flame, amber, coral, green glass, clear glass, crystal glass, charcoal, coke, salt (solid), ice, mineral (any), soil (any), gem (any), metal (any)
+That material list (``random_creature_material``) looks almost right - here's the official list of variables: ash, mud, vomit, salt (powder), grime, snow, water, steam, flame, amber, coral, green glass, clear glass, crystal glass, charcoal, coke, salt (solid), ice, mineral (any), soil (any), gem (any), metal (any)
 The "any" materials can't be "[[Inorganic material definition token#SPECIAL|special]]", but there don't appear to be other restrictions.
-There are various other implicit flags on these things when it comes to werebeasts etc. "humanoidable" and "beast", for example. So all night creatures require "humanoidable" and werebeasts require "beast" on top of that. Which is why we don't have wereblobs or even wereserpents."
+There are various other implicit flags on these things when it comes to werebeasts etc. "humanoidable" and "beast", for example. So all night creatures require "humanoidable" and werebeasts require "beast" on top of that. Which is why we don't have wereblobs or even wereserpents.
 </blockquote>
@@ Line 542: / Line 554: @@
 [[Category:Creatures]]
 [[ru:Random creature profile]]

@@ Line 42: / Line 42: @@
 That material list looks almost right - here's the official list of variables: ash, mud, vomit, salt (powder), grime, snow, water, steam, flame, amber, coral, green glass, clear glass, crystal glass, charcoal, coke, salt (solid), ice, mineral (any), soil (any), gem (any), metal (any)
-The "any" materials can't be "special", but there don't appear to be other restrictions.
+The "any" materials can't be "[[Inorganic material definition token#SPECIAL|special]]", but there don't appear to be other restrictions.
 There are various other implicit flags on these things when it comes to werebeasts etc. "humanoidable" and "beast", for example. So all night creatures require "humanoidable" and werebeasts require "beast" on top of that. Which is why we don't have wereblobs or even wereserpents."
 </blockquote>

@@ Line 441: / Line 441: @@
 | ape
 | [[File:Beast front grasp, two eyes.png]]
-| BEAST_FRONT_EYE_TWO
+| BEAST_FRONT_GRASP_EYE_TWO
 | rowspan="2" | BEAST_FRONT_GRASP
 |-
 | monkey
 | [[File:Beast front grasp, two eyes, one tail.png]]
-| BEAST_FRONT_EYE_TWO, BEAST_FRONT_TAIL_ONE
+| BEAST_FRONT_GRASP_EYE_TWO, BEAST_FRONT_GRASP_TAIL_ONE
 |-
 | primate, quadruped

← Older revision		Revision as of 07:45, 8 December 2023
Line 10:		Line 10:

	[[Night troll]]s and [[bogeyman\|bogeymen]] only use the generic "humanoid" RCP, and werebeasts use the humanoid animal forms. Primates, hexapods, octopods and decapods are unique to beast-like [[experiment]]s, while armless bipeds, wyrms, and the generic "snake" and "worm" RCPs are unique to failed experiments.		[[Night troll]]s and [[bogeyman\|bogeymen]] only use the generic "humanoid" RCP, and werebeasts use the humanoid animal forms. Primates, hexapods, octopods and decapods are unique to beast-like [[experiment]]s, while armless bipeds, wyrms, and the generic "snake" and "worm" RCPs are unique to failed experiments.
		+
		+	This [https://nm.reddit.com/r/dwarffortress/comments/kq86x5/i_made_some_calculations_towards_determining_the/gi2l7py/ quote from Toady], shared by Meph, goes into more detail on how procedural creature generation works (prior to v50.01):
		+
		+	<blockquote>
		+	The raw/objects/body_rcp.txt file has the definitions it expects for bodyparts. (rcp stands for "random creature profile") The main thing is that the base "animal" word is doing most of the heavy lifting in terms of making the descriptions evocative, so the rcp's don't end up mattering that much. There are little internal definitions for each animal word, about 230 of them. If we ignore that, then we're more just working with "feathered quadruped" and so forth.
		+
		+	Example of a random creature profile (for the elephant type):
		+
		+	name="elephant"
		+	tile='E'
		+	body base=quadruped
		+	class=mammal
		+	flags=must have tail, must have elephant trunk
		+
		+	So, hmm, perhaps the base and class lists are relevant here...
		+
		+	classes: mammal, chitin exo, fleshy, amphibian, reptile, feathered reptile, avian, uniform (like 'composed of iron')
		+
		+	bases: amorphous, insect, insect larva, spider, scorpion, ten legged, eight legged, worm, no limbs, quadruped, snake, humanoid, two legs + no arms, quadruped with front graspers (like a monkey)
		+
		+	The flags just force certain rcp additions, and prevent others from happening. For instance, the "slug" profile has "cannot have shell" because a slug with a shell is confusing.
		+
		+	Ah, here we go. The rcps are used via the "body tweak" system. A body can have a tweak from category one, a tweak from category two, and an attack tweak, respecting its profile flags.
		+
		+	Category one tweaks: wings, flightless wings, tail, proboscis, trunk, shell, antennae, head horns, large mandibles, twisted into humanoid form, six legged, eight legged
		+
		+	Category two tweaks: hair, feathers, scales, exoskeleton, skin, skin/bones, no eyes, one eye, three eyes, beak missing, nose missing, external ribs, lidless eyes, skinless
		+
		+	Attack tweaks: tail stinger, insect stinger, blood proboscis, fire, webs, breath (trailing flow), breath (glob), breath (undirected), secretion, poisonous blood, poisonous bite
		+
		+	That material list looks almost right - here's the official list of variables: ash, mud, vomit, salt (powder), grime, snow, water, steam, flame, amber, coral, green glass, clear glass, crystal glass, charcoal, coke, salt (solid), ice, mineral (any), soil (any), gem (any), metal (any)
		+
		+	The "any" materials can't be "special", but there don't appear to be other restrictions.
		+	There are various other implicit flags on these things when it comes to werebeasts etc. "humanoidable" and "beast", for example. So all night creatures require "humanoidable" and werebeasts require "beast" on top of that. Which is why we don't have wereblobs or even wereserpents."
		+	</blockquote>

	== List ==		== List ==

← Older revision		Revision as of 22:19, 28 November 2023
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		+	{{av}}
	{{Minorspoiler}}		{{Minorspoiler}}

← Older revision		Revision as of 22:13, 28 November 2023
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−	~~{{av}}~~
	{{Minorspoiler}}		{{Minorspoiler}}

@@ Line 18: / Line 18: @@
 In-game, the tile color is determined by the creature's external color modifier. If it does not have a color modifier and is not skinless, it uses the outermost tissue layer's default material color. If it is skinless, it is displayed in dark red (4:0:0).
-{{columns-list|colwidth=12em|
+{{columns-list|colwidth=15em|
 * {{Tile|A|7:0}} Albatross
 * {{Tile|A|7:0}} '''Alligator'''

@@ Line 274: / Line 274: @@
 	recommend large worlds w/ min history, no civs, no vamps/secrets/interactions/weather, & max num of procgen beasts (titans, demons, night creatures, etc.)
 	for experiments, use basic options w/ small world, max hist, max civ, min beasts & min savage
-[PROCEDURAL_CREATURE_GRAPHICS:DEFAULT]
+example to look for:
 [PCG_LAYERING:BEAST_QUADRUPED_BULKY_TAIL_ONE]
-[PCG_LAYERING:BEAST_QUADRUPED_BULKY]
+	[PROCEDURAL_CREATURE_GRAPHICS:DEFAULT]
-[PCG_LAYERING:BEAST_QUADRUPED_BULKY_HORNS]
+	[PCG_LAYERING:BEAST_QUADRUPED_BULKY_TAIL_ONE]
-[PCG_LAYERING:BEAST_QUADRUPED_BULKY_EYE_TWO]
+	[PCG_LAYERING:BEAST_QUADRUPED_BULKY]
 	above: chinchilla with four broad horns (random body modifications are explicitly mentioned in the creature's description)