Randomizing messages for a critical hit

Alright, I was sitting here, at my computer trying to figure out the best way to do this. So I thought, why not post on the forum, they're always helpful. Anyways, perhaps some of you will share your insights on this.

For my mud I added in the basic critical hit that doubles the damage. It was in a snippet found at kyndig.com. Anyways, it just says You critically hit them!, so I wanted to expand it a bit.

So are questions:
I want it to display different messages, for example instead of always hitting them in the chest, it could randomize it and it could hit them in the head and do more damage, or hit them in the foot and only do 1.5x damage instead of double..how would I do that?
Should I just use the rand() function?
If I use rand(), how do I assign the number it generates to a variable that can then be combared in strings?

Any and all help, ideas, suggestions, comments are welcome and will be much appreciated.

Here's how I'd do it.

switch(number_range(1,5))
{
case 1:
sprintf(buf, "You hit 'em in the head!");
dmg *= 2;
break;
case 2:
sprintf(buf, "You smashed their face!");
dmg *= 2.5;
break;
case 3:
sprintf(buf, "You hit 'em in the chest!");
dmg *= 1.5;
break;
case 4:
sprintf(buf, "You hit 'em in the groin!");
dmg *= 1.5;
break;
case 5:
sprintf(buf, "You missed and hit their foot!");
dmg *= 0.5;
break;
}

This should help you out. I'm not sure how the code you're using is set up. So if you can't quite figure out what you should do with this code, post the 'critical hit' part you have now, and I'll update this. ;-)

I don't know about him but I'd love the help, I have the same snippet, downloaded from the same spot but there's a problem with it. It says "you critically hit blah blah or they critically hit you, but it doesn't actually do any damage, none at all. Here's the snippet:


1.) Open fight.c
2.) Find the following code:
if ( !wield ) /* bare hand dice formula fixed by Thoric */
dam = number_range( ch->barenumdie, ch->baresizedie * ch->barenumdie );
else
dam = number_range( wield->value[1], wield->value[2] );
And directly after that paste :

/*
* Critical Hit Snippet
* By Josh Jenks [ Haelyn ]
*/
if ( diceroll == 19 )
{
act( AT_FIRE, "You critically hit $N!", ch, NULL, victim, TO_CHAR );
act( AT_FIRE, "$n critically hits you!", ch, NULL, victim, TO_VICT );
act( AT_FIRE, "$n critically hits $N!", ch, NULL, victim, TO_NOTVICT );
dam = dam*2;
}
If you know how to make it actually do the damage it's supposed to that would be great, and if you feel like telling me how to incorporated your system for chest/head/face/feet hits as well, I would love you forever :P

See the other message about the critical hit snippet.