Cantr II Discussion Forum

Would it be allowable to use advanced mathematics in cantr?

In the real world, some mathematical advances have been of significant direct, practical importance. I think I've found a few that would be useful in cantr also:
differential calculus
least-squares approximation/curve-fitting
simple cryptography

Also, how fast can characters do calculation? Is it only ok if the player does the math by hand, or can we use calculators and matlab and such?

I think that one should not use computers for encrypting. But that's just because the manual means are more fun and give a kind of medieval strategic taste to it...

Differential calculus.... .... and curve-fitting... You just have to tell us what kind of applications you have on your mind. I am very curious...

The Industriallist wrote:Would it be allowable to use advanced mathematics in cantr?

In the real world, some mathematical advances have been of significant direct, practical importance. I think I've found a few that would be useful in cantr also:
differential calculus
least-squares approximation/curve-fitting
simple cryptography

Also, how fast can characters do calculation? Is it only ok if the player does the math by hand, or can we use calculators and matlab and such?

Perhaps your character should discover the basics, come up with is own theories and solutions (perhaps different from the real world), teach it to other characters, allow for it become more advanced but not to quickly even allow wrong solutions or ones that don't work to hold them back etc...

We have economics so why not.

advanced math --> advanced science

advanced science + cobalt = more desert

Of course math is allowed

For example, for the characters to figure out the speed function in terms of load. I for one have no idea what form that takes, but I could figure it out with enough examples.

For calculus, once I had the speed function I could figure out the optimal load for a trader to carry, for example.

I don't think I could RP the invention of calculus...

You can role play anything. Don't think in terms of what you know or you would do but as to what your character knows and what your character would do.

It is simple.

Personally, I think that every number we enter in anything in Cantr should be changed by a random amount, based on a probability curve similar to that of the location of an electron in relation to it's atom.

Nice amount of numbers would stay relatively correct, but then you'd have ones off in the millions.

Like how every town has a mayor or council, with no contact between them? Or how everyone hates thieves and Lad?

There is no way characters have enough experience to form their opinions, as a rule. Similarly, I don't think it is possible that a cantr character could invent calculus without any continuous processes to observe.

For that matter, what character has the background to reallize that trade is useful? At least until they are in their thirties.

One more thing: trigonometry. Very important if you want to make an ocean map, or so Brandon tells me. It would probably help in some ways for land maps as well.

It's not going to be easy to RP the invention of advanced mathematics. Not very easy at all. I'd have to say math skills are going to have to go in the same category as writing skills: things that should be but cannot practically be role-played. I would, however, draw the line at anything that requires a modern computer to do.

Cryptography could be done in Cantr. A one-time pad would be easy - a character could toss objects to generate random numbers. There are also some secure systems that could be done by hand. If you've read Cryptonomicon by Neal Stephenson, it has an example of a cryptosystem that usues a deck of playing cards. However, I know of no public-key system that could be used without a computer.

Sho wrote:One more thing: trigonometry. Very important if you want to make an ocean map, or so Brandon tells me. It would probably help in some ways for land maps as well.

So Brandon tells you? I leave for a while, and my invention gets credited to somone else? BAH!

Oops! You all look the same to me!

Okay, I'll credit thingnumber2, kroner, Mavsfan911, Jos and the Great Pumpkin. Anyone else want credit?

I do! I do!

*credits RyceLandeer*