Thread: Question about variables in structures

Is there a way to write a general chunk of code and then have the program determine which variables to use depending on some condition?
One thing I'm trying to experiment with is a combat system for a text RPG; I have all the enemy variables in a structure like

Code:

 
struct enemy {
     int eatk;
     int edef;
     int maxehp;
     int ehp;
     int XPworth;
};

and then several kinds of monsters declared with different values for each variable.

What I'd like to do is have the program generate a random number and then send out a monster based on that; I have a general "battle mode" that has stuff like

Code:

...
printf("You attack the enemy for %d damage!\n", patk-edef);
ehp = ehp - patk + edef;
printf("The enemy has %d HP remaining.\n", ehp);

...

How could I make it so if, for example, a function returned a random number '2' (I know how to do this part), all the instances of 'edef' would be set equal to (for example) 'rat.edef'? I know I can have a switch or if statements than set edef = rat.edef but if I have more than a few monsters that seems like it would be quite huge

It depends on how/what you want to do. The easiest way is just an if.

Code:

if (num == 2)
	edef = rat.edef;

If you want something more complex, you can use an array and initialize it:

Code:

int myarray[]= { /* something */, /* something */, &rat.edef, /* something */ };
/* ... */
edef = *myarray[num];