Choosing start and end points for a game

this example from a Well House Consultants training course
More on this [link]

This example is described in the following article(s):
• Travel Across Wiltshire - the game - [link]

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This example references the following resources:
http://www.wellho.net/pix/game_01.jpg

Source code: game01.php Module: M200


<?php

/* This script chooses random start and end points for a
game.  Note that points chosen are based on the relative
population of each of the places in Wiltshire, and the
tourist attractions selected are based on their popularity */

$fromto = array (
        "Swindon" => 120000,
        "Salisbury" => 100000,
        "Trowbridge" => 30000,
        "Chippenham" => 30000,
        "Melksham" => 24000,
        "Devizes" => 18000,
        "Marlborough" => 18000,
        "Malmesbury" => 12000,
        "Wootton Bassett" => 12000,
        "Corsham" => 12000,
        "Pewsey" => 9000,
        "Bradford-on-Avon" => 12000,
        "Westbury" => 12000,
        "Warminster" => 18000,
        "Dilton Marsh" => 6000,
        "Avoncliff" => 1000,
        "Tisbury" => 8000,
        "Bedwyn" => 4000,
        "Dean" => 1000,
        "Wilton" => 4000,
        "Easterton" => 1000,
        "Fovant" => 1000,
        "Ludgershall" => 8000,
        "Tidworth" => 4000,
        "Amesbury" => 5000,
        "Downton" => 4000,
        "Box" => 3000,
        "Cricklade" => 4000,
        "Highworth" => 4000,
        "Shrivehnam" => 4000,
        "West Lavington" => 3000,
        "Calne" => 14000);

$special = array (
        "Avebury" => 20,
        "Longleat" => 30,
        "Stourhead" => 30,
        "Fovant" => 15,
        "Crofton" => 10,
        "Stonehenge" => 50,
        "Salisbury" => 40,
        "Wilton" => 10,
        "Ludgershall Castle" => 10,
        "Westbury White Horse" => 20,
        "Holt, The Courts" => 15,
        "Bath" => 40,
        "Lacock" => 20,
        "Caen Hill, Devizes" => 10,
        "Bowood" => 10,
        "Woodhenge" => 5,
        "Castle Combe" => 10,
        "Steam, Swindon" => 35,
        "Corsham Court" => 30);

function choose($fromto) {
$tot = 0; $upto = array();
foreach (array_keys ($fromto) as $ak) {
        $tot += $fromto[$ak];
        $upto[$ak] = $tot;
        }
$starter = rand(0,$tot) ;
foreach (array_keys($upto) as $ak) {
        if ($starter < $upto[$ak] and $starter > $bestsofar) {
                $bestsofar = $starter;
                $startfrom = $ak;
                }
        }
        return $startfrom;
}

for ($k=1; $k<7; $k++) {

$from = choose($fromto);
while (1) {
        $to = choose($fromto);
        if ($to != $from) break;
        }
while (1) {
        $via = choose($fromto);
        if ($via != $from and $via != $to) break;
        }
while (1) {
        $and = choose($special);
        if ($and != $from and $and != $to and $and != $via) break;
        }

$plan .= "Player <b>$k</b> Travel from <b>$from</b> to <b>$to</b>";
$plan .= " via <b>$via</b> and <b>$and</b><br><br>\n";
}

?>
<html>
<head>
<title>Choose your start and end points for the Wiltshire Travel
Game</title>
</head>
<body>
<h1>Wiltshire Travel Game</h1>
Start and end points are chosen at random for each game, and are
based on the relative population of each place. So you'll get a lot
of Salisbury and Swindon journeys. The first "via" uses the same
method, and the second "via" is a tourist location ranked by the
number of visitors it gets.<br><br>
<?= $plan ?>
<img src=http://www.wellho.net/pix/game_01.jpg><br><br>
<b>Suitable for all ages - from 2 to 6 players</b>
<br><br>
<b>The objective of the game is to travel by public transport
from one point to another across Wiltshire, calling at two
specified intermediate point along the way.</b>
<br><br>
Each player draws a start point, an end point, and their
intermediate points from decks of cards (or via this page -
see journeys at the top of this sheet)
and places their token on the start point. Players throw a
die in turn.
<br><br>
Players must throw a six in order to join a public transport
service at their following turn.  When travelling, you may
move up to the number of marks shown on you throw.  You do
NOT need to throw exactly the right number to arrive at your
destination.
<br><br>
The thin black lines to Longleat, Stourhead, Castle Combe and
Crofton are taxi rides - there is no bus service or a very
irregular one. You may ONLY use a taxi to get to / from these
places; usual dice rules apply for a taxi ride.<br><br>
You may visit your intermediate points in either order.
<hr>
Design notes:
<br><br>
The need to throw a six to start represents the need to wait
for your bus or train.  This is rather kind to the players,
at it represents a typical wait of 18 minutes for what are -
in most cases - hourly services.
<br><br>
Each dot represents 3 minutes of travel - so there are fewer
dots along the railway lines where the average speed is much faster.
<br><br>
The board shows the Bath and Swindon to Salisbury bus routes
split at Warminster and at Pewsey, as per EC bus route directives
which are coming into force at the current time.
<br><br>
Note that there is no station South of Devizes, so you may not
connect between the Westbury to Pewsey train and any of the
bus services there.
<br><br>
The map shows the TransWilts railway line (in green).  However,
there is currently only a very limited service on this line
so for a more realistic game you should not use the service.
<br><br>
It is impractical to make a game such as this totally realistic
- some connections will always be good but others may routinely
miss, journey times will vary and there are many other bus
services that run infrequently.  No allowance has been made for
delays and cancellations ....
<hr>
</body>
</html>

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