twistAmount = random.uniform(100.0, 400.0)

if (random.random() < 0.5):

twistAmount = twistAmount * float(-1.0)

for i in range(0, n):

# create a new cone

cmds.select(baseTentacle)

newTentacle = cmds.duplicate()[0]

cmds.move(0, 0, 0)

# vary tentacle size

sx = random.uniform(0.1, 0.3)

sy = random.uniform(0.5, 1.3)

cmds.scale(sx, sy, sx)

# create twist deformer

twist = cmds.nonLinear(type="twist", lowBound=-1, highBound=1)[0]

cmds.move(-11.25, 44, 0)

# hide the deformer

mel.eval("editDisplayLayerMembers -noRecurse hidden `ls -selection`;")

# combine twist and model, rotate it

rx = random.uniform(-360, 360)

ry = random.uniform(-360, 360)

rz = random.uniform(-360, 360)

cmds.select(newTentacle, add=True)

mel.eval("doGroup 0 1 1")

cmds.rotate(rx, ry, rz);

tentacleGroup = cmds.ls(selection=True)

# move to frame 0

cmds.currentTime(0)

for j in range(0, 40): #TODO this is frames

# do the twist

cmds.select(twist)

twistAmount = RandTwist()

cmds.setAttr(twist + ".endAngle", twistAmount);

cmds.setKeyframe(twist + ".ea")

# rotate a bit

cmds.select(tentacleGroup)

rx = random.uniform(-36, 36)

ry = random.uniform(-36, 36)

rz = random.uniform(-36, 36)

cmds.rotate(rx, ry, rz, relative=True)

cmds.setKeyframe(tentacleGroup)

# move to next key frame

cmds.currentTime(30 * j + random.uniform(-10, 10))