diff --git a/direct/src/particles/Particles.py b/direct/src/particles/Particles.py
index 637037a0ab..0c976e133c 100644
--- a/direct/src/particles/Particles.py
+++ b/direct/src/particles/Particles.py
@@ -546,3 +546,19 @@ class Particles(ParticleSystem):
             file.write('# Tangent Ring parameters\n')
             file.write(targ + '.emitter.setRadius(%.4f)\n' % self.emitter.getRadius())
             file.write(targ + '.emitter.setRadiusSpread(%.4f)\n' % self.emitter.getRadiusSpread())
+            
+    def getPoolSizeRanges(self):
+        litterRange = [max(1,self.getLitterSize()-self.getLitterSpread()),
+                       self.getLitterSize(),
+                       self.getLitterSize()+self.getLitterSpread()]
+        lifespanRange = [self.factory.getLifespanBase()-self.factory.getLifespanSpread(),
+                         self.factory.getLifespanBase(),
+                         self.factory.getLifespanBase()+self.factory.getLifespanSpread()]
+        birthRateRange = [self.getBirthRate()] * 3
+
+        print litterRange
+        print lifespanRange
+        print birthRateRange
+        
+        return dict(zip(('min','median','max'),[l*s/b for l,s,b in zip(litterRange,lifespanRange,birthRateRange)]))
+