This problem was a tough one to solve, given the constraints. I took them to mean not only no arrays, but no IO help from file, lists, and etc.
Although I finally got it to handle 1-9 for input with proper "bouncing" output, I never got the inspiration for an easy way to do it. The program relies on "selection" (aka "magic numbers"), up and down the block.
I would post the code, but I'm planning a well deserved bonfire for it, later in the week. 
Here's it's idea of a text-based bouncing asterisk, from a height of 8 rows:
Code:
Pick a height to start [1-9]: 8
*
_*___________*
__*_________*_*_________*
___*_______*___*_______*_*_______*
____*_____*_____*_____*___*_____*_*_____*
_____*___*_______*___*_____*___*___*___*_*___*
______*_*_________*_*_______*_*_____*_*___*_*_*_*
_______*___________*_________*_______*_____*___*_**
press enter when ready
With underline char's marking the spaces. (I can count them sooo much easier.)
Originally Posted by Kinshara
