Lua math.random not working

Question

So I'm trying to create a little something and I have looked all over the place looking for ways of generating a random number. However no matter where I test my code, it results in a non-random number. Here is an example I wrote up. ``` local lowdrops = {"Wooden Sword","Wooden Bow","Ion Thruster Machine Gun Blaster"} local meddrops = {} local highdrops = {} function randomLoot(lootCategory) if lootCategory == low then print(lowdrops[math.random(3)]) end if lootCategory == medium then end if lootCategory == high then end end randomLoot(low) ``` Wherever I test my code I get the same result. For example when I test the code here http://www.lua.org/cgi-bin/demo it always ends up with the "Ion Thruster Machine Gun Blaster" and doesen't randomize. For that matter testing simply ``` random = math.random (10) print(random) ``` gives me 9, is there something i'm missing?

Accepted Answer

You need to run `math.randomseed()` once before using `math.random()`, like this:

```
math.randomseed(os.time())
```

One possible problem is that the first number may not be so "randomized" in some platforms. So a better solution is to pop some random number before using them for real:

```
math.randomseed(os.time())
math.random(); math.random(); math.random()
```

Reference: Lua Math Library

Lua math.random not working

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