Starting Player Positions

//beginning
int sp, counter, player;
//i want to keep i and j for the array, so let's use counter for the sake of consistency
int userflag = 1;
//userflag becomes 0 when the first random user is found, you'll get it later
int direction;
//direction becomes 0 (up), 1 (left) or 2 (right) through the use of rand(). Keep this comment in the code
//it is later used to check a direction's corresponding starting point for availability to put a player on

//once dimensions have been decided
sp = (dimensions/2) - 1;

//malloc an array the size of players called wincon. it will save the characters u, l, r and d
//which will be the opposite of the player's direction when he is being given a starting point
//malloc an array named pcoord which will be players x 2, where player coordinates will be saved
//initialize all of pcoord to be dimensions + 1


do{
	//select a random number from 0 to 3 and set this number to player
	if(pcoord[player][0] == (dimensions + 1)){ //this if checks if the player has already had his starting point set
		if((type[player] == 0) && (userflag == 1){ //this if checks for the first randomly chosen player
			pcoord[player][0] = sumi;
			pcoord[player][1] = sp;
			wincon[player] = 'u';
			array[sumi][sp] = symbol[player];
			userflag = 0;
		}
		else{//this takes care of every player other than the first randomly selected user
			//randomly check a direction
			//check for direction's availability. we could potentially use a small array, but i did it the hard way
			//make the check in a loop. might need a new variable
			if (direction == 0){ //0 is for starting position up (array[2][sp])
				pcoord[player][0] = 2;
				pcoord[player][1] = sp;
				wincon[player] = 'd';
				array[2][sp] = symbol[player];
			}
			else if(direction == 1){ //1 is for starting position left (array[sp][3])
				pcoord[player][0] = sp;
				pcoord[player] = 3;
				wincon[player] = 'r';
				array[sp][3] = symbol[player];
			}
			else if(direction == 2){ //2 is for starting position right (array[sp][sumj])
				//could have gone for a simple else, but put the check in as a precaution
				pcoord[player][0] = sp;
				pcoord[player][1] = sumj;
				wincon[player] = 'l';
				array[sp][sumj] = symbol[player];
			}
		}
		counter++; //now that a new player has had his starting point set, the counter can increment
	}
}while (counter < 4);