fantasy-demographic.rb

#!/usr/bin/env ruby -wU

if ARGV[0] =~ /-h/i
  $stdout.puts "Generates a fantasy demographic of workers by population size."
  $stdout.puts ''
  $stdout.puts "./#{File.basename(__FILE__)} 2000"
  $stdout.puts ''
  $stdout.puts "Derived from Fantasy Demographics by Robert S Conley, 2010."
  $stdout.puts "Released under the Creative Commons License Attribution 3.0 Unported."
  $stdout.puts "You can share, remix, as long you give proper Attribution."
  $stdout.puts ''
  $stdout.puts "http://www.batintheattic.com/downloads/Fantasy%20Demographics%20Version%201.pdf"
else
  SIZE = ARGV[0].to_i
end

# These are broad categories of profession. In the largest medieval settlements
# these were finely divided into bewildering array of guilds each dedicated to a
# different aspect of a trade. For example fletchers for arrows were different
# those who made the arrow shaft which were different than those who made the
# arrow heads. For most games this level of detail is overkill and confusing. I
# grouped similar professions into the same categories. Here I list each broad
# profession and the some of the detailed occupations that can be found under
# that category.

$stdout.puts "Population: #{SIZE}"

[
  ["Artist", 965],
  ["Baker", 202],
  ["Carpenter", 196],
  ["Chandler", 509],
  ["Clerk", 3_929],
  ["Engineer", 13_750],
  ["Finesmith", 238],
  ["Fisherman", 1_078],
  ["Games", 3_667],
  ["Glassmaker", 1_375],
  ["Harper", 6_875],
  ["Herbalist", 573],
  ["Jeweler", 276],
  ["Laborer", 149],
  ["Leathercrafter", 80],
  ["Legal", 1_222],
  ["Luxury", 18_333],
  ["Mason", 259],
  ["Mercernary", 3_929],
  ["Merchant", 243],
  ["Metalsmith", 529],
  ["Miller", 275],
  ["Miner", 1_618],
  ["Ostler", 322],
  ["Physician", 289],
  ["Pilot", 1_774],
  ["Potter", 2_619],
  ["Religious", 786],
  ["Sailor", 4_583],
  ["Scholar", 353],
  ["Servant", 154],
  ["Shipwright", 3_929],
  ["Tailor", 94],
  ["Tanner", 1_058],
  ["Tavern", 130],
  ["Teamster", 1_122],
  ["Timber", 833],
  ["Weaponsmith", 462],
  ["Weaver", 119]
].each do |profession, threshold|
  number_existing = SIZE / threshold
  chance_of_one_more = (SIZE - number_existing * threshold) / threshold.to_f
  if chance_of_one_more > rand
    number_existing += 1
  end
  if number_existing > 0
    puts "* #{profession} #{number_existing}"
  end
end