my $numspells = 0; $numspells += 1 if ($doDeanStuff); $numspells += 1 if ($doSeamusStuff); $numspells += 2 if ($doHarryStuff); # Harry's stuff takes multiple spells $numspells += 1 if ($doRonStuff); $numspells += 5 if ($doSeverusStuff); # it's really complicated