Error when making random errors in Python

Question

import random
import time
loop = [1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10]
queenstrength = 100
queendamagenum = 1,20
print "The queens health is currently: ",queenstrength

while queenstrength > 0:
    queendamage = random.randint((queendamagenum))
    print""
    print "queen damage:", queendamage
    queenstrength = queenstrength - queendamage
    print queenstrength
    time.sleep(1)

print""
print"finished"

I'm trying to use this code in a game I am making, but I keep getting the error:

**Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "Untitled.py", line 9, in <module>
    queendamage = random.randint((queendamagenum))
TypeError: randint() takes exactly 3 arguments (2 given)**

what does it mean 3 arguments (2 given)? I thought it only needed a min and a max?

DSM · Accepted Answer · 2012-02-26 18:12:22Z

8

randint accepts a min and a max, like this:

>>> import random
>>> random.randint(0,10)
1

but you're passing a tuple:

>>> random.randint((0, 10))
Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "<stdin>", line 1, in <module>
TypeError: randint() takes exactly 3 arguments (2 given)

You can use argument unpacking (the * operator) to turn your tuple into a series of arguments for randint, if you like:

>>> queendamagenum = 1, 20
>>> random.randint(*queendamagenum)
8

As for the fact that the error message says "3 arguments (2 given)", that's because randint is actually a method living in an instance of random.Random, and not a function. methods automatically get an argument passed to them (traditionally called "self") which is the instance itself. So you should translate "3 arguments (2 given)" into "2 non-self arguments (1 given)", and you only passed it 1 tuple, so that make sense.

edited Feb 26, 2012 at 18:12

answered Feb 26, 2012 at 18:04

DSM

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2 Comments

Fred Foo Over a year ago

+1. Btw., the third argument is implicit; random.randint is actually an instance method on a hidden singleton object.

DSM Over a year ago

@larsmans: hey, I can't type as fast as you five-digit-karma types: :^)

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