Luck manipulation: Difference between revisions

The word "random" is essentially synonymous with "unpredictable". It is believed that [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hardware_random_number_generator some physical processes] are "truly random", i.e. absolutely unpredictable ahead of time, due to underlying quantum effects. However, specially designed hardware is usually needed to utilize those truly random physical processes. Other "random" processes, like rolling a dice or tossing a coin, have their results almost completely determined by the initial conditions, like the height, velocity, and spinning speed of the throw. However, since it is almost impossible for a normal human to control or otherwise determine those parameters to the precision needed to predict the results, those processes can also be considered random.

 

 

The internal state of an RNG is sometimes known as the "seed". Since many random numbers might be needed at a time when there are few or no external inputs, the unpredictability of random numbers depend on the unpredictability of the seed. Even if unpredictable at the beginning, a seed of finite length cannot generate an infinite sequence of truly random numbers, as each random number carries a certain amount of information about the seed, eventually making the seed, and thus further random numbers, predictable. The best RNG designers could do is to make the outputs "pseudorandom", i.e. making it a difficult computational task to predict later outputs from previous ones. However, real world RNGs, especially ones from old console games, are often not very carefully designed, making it feasible to analyze the outputs and retrieve the seed.

*[[Cute Charm exploit]]

*[[RNG correlation (Generation I)]]

 

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