How to add projectile spread?

#1 There is no built in spread for the Torque projectile. You'd have to script this by adding a small random vector to the initial projectile velocity.

This seems like a bit of script work... but my first idea would be to add something like this to the projectile's onFire script:

// Random deviation from center line, this value basically
// controls the spread.
%deviation = getRandom(0.1);

// Random rotation around muzzle vector axis
%rotation = "0 0 0" SPC %muzzleVector SPC getRandom(360);

// Build the offset vector which will be perpendiculer
// to the muzzle vector.  This assumes you can never
// look exactly straight up or down.
%offset = VectorCross("0 0 1",%muzzleVector);
%offset = VectorNormalize(%offset);
%offset = VectorScale(%offset,%deviation);
%offset = MatrixMulVector(%rotation,%offset);

// Add it to the initial velocity
%velocity = VectorAdd(%velocity,%offset);

This is just an idea of one way to do it, I haven't tested this code. Maybe someone has something better? :)

#2 ... if someone actually does something like this, and it works :), we should get it posted as a resource "HowTo" and add it to the Torque scripting section of the resource tree.

#3 I added it right before:

Create the projectile object

in the rifle.cs

But it don't seem to have any effect.
I also up'ed this:

%deviation = getRandom(0.1);

To

%deviation = getRandom(5.0);

To see if the first was to low to notice.

Maybe someone could look into this :)

// Clocks out.

#4 The console tells me there's a syntax error in this line:

// Random deviation from center line, this value basically
// controls the spread.
%deviation = getRandom(0.1);

// Random rotation around muzzle vector axis
%rotation = "0 0 0" SPC %muzzleVector SPC %getRandom(360);

// Build the offset vector which will be perpendiculer
// to the muzzle vector. This assumes you can never
// look exactly straight up or down.
%offset = VectorCross("0 0 1",%muzzleVector);
%offset = VectorNormalize(%offset);
%offset = VectorScale(%offset,%deviation);
%offset = MatrixMulVector(%rotation,%offset);

// Add it to the initial velocity
%velocity = VectorAdd(%velocity,%offset);

Being the non-programmer that I am, I can't find it :(

// Clocks out.

#5 Well its not just that easy.. :)

What you will need to do is this...



// Create the projectile object
%p = new (%this.projectileType)() {
dataBlock = %projectile;
initialVelocity = %velocity;
initialPosition = %obj.getMuzzlePoint(%slot);
sourceObject = %obj;
sourceSlot = %slot;
client = %obj.client;
};

This bit of code is going to have to be changed to create more then 1 projectile because as it is now it just creates 1 bullet.. How to fix this you say.

Try the following.

%vector = %this.getMuzzleVector(%slot);
%x = (getRandom() - 0.5) * 2 * 3.1415926 * %obj.projectileSpread;
%y = (getRandom() - 0.5) * 2 * 3.1415926 * %obj.projectileSpread;
%z = (getRandom() - 0.5) * 2 * 3.1415926 * %obj.projectileSpread;
%mat = MatrixCreateFromEuler(%x @ " " @ %y @ " " @ %z);
%vector = MatrixMulVector(%mat, %vector);

%p = new (%this.projectileType)() {
dataBlock = %projectile;
initialDirection = %vector;
initialPosition = %obj.getMuzzlePoint(%slot);
sourceObject = %obj;
sourceSlot = %slot;
client = %obj.client;
};

(Please note I did not test this.. You may need to add the projectileSpread into a projectileSpread datablock.. Or possibly create a sub script that does the same or similar work as that of what the datablock should do.)

I'll do some testing and get it to working. and post what I find..

#6 Cool thx.
That would be great.

// Clocks out.

#7 The line should read:
%rotation = "0 0 0" SPC %muzzleVector SPC getRandom(360);
I removed the % in front of getRandom(360)

#8 That still don't work.
Did I put it in the right place?

This is somewhat important as the weapons are too accurate as it is now.
I can hit someone with one shot from as far as the fog allow me to see. And that's just not fun in the long run.

// Clocks out