#1 (at 97 characters)
sub f{
($a)=@_;+split//,'0@*+'.'='x(4/(pop)-4);
print$"x--$a,$_>1?map$_[rand@_],1..2*$_-1:'*',$/for 1..$a
}

#2 (at 86 characters)
sub g{
+split//,'0@*+'.'='x(4/$f-4);
print$"x--$h,$_>1?map$_[rand@_],1..2*$_-1:'*',$/for 1..$h
}