Spawning Random(1, 5) (actually random) From Another Actor

Homebrew_Kid

I am able to spawn an actor from another actor with this (updated image):

but it seems to only be taking 1 spawn time (whether it be 2, 4, etc.) and using it consistently. I would like to have the actor spawn after 3 seconds, then maybe after 5 seconds, 3.5 seconds, or 4.

Thanks in advance.

SmokeyAce73

Try ticking run to completion, add the actor to spawn, also why have you selected random(min,max) for the direction? just wondering why no values are in there

Let me know if you sort it

tatiang

Unfortunately, the Timer behavior will not re-calculate an expression used for the duration of the timer. As you're noticing, if you have a random() expression, it will calculate the value once and then use that same value every time the Timer runs.

You'll need to use a custom timer for this. One way to do this is (the Spawn Actor behavior would replace the Log Debugging Behavior below):

Homebrew_Kid

Thank you for the feedback, working on some particles right now.

Homebrew_Kid

@tatiang said:
You'll need to use a custom timer for this. One way to do this is (the Spawn Actor behavior would replace the Log Debugging Behavior below):

I'm still trying to grasp this. My guess is to make an internal clock that must be reset to start running the code again.

Fixed (Spawner actor had invalid attributes): Getting a black screen with the same code but i'll fiddle with it. I have multiple spawner actors coming from a spawner so this could be causing it to black screen.

StormyStudio

You've got access to game time . you can use that as the basis for your custom timer

Homebrew_Kid

Using that same script only spawns 1 enemy for me.

Lets say:

set game.time = self.timeStamp

have the random number be set to 4.

if game.time >= self.timeStamp + 4
spawn actor

How do you reset the attribute to spawn again?

when time is now 24,
24 >= 24+4

The spawn has already happened.

Here is what I have:

tatiang

Don't use a custom attribute named game.time. Use the built-in game.Time, which counts up continually while an app is running.

Homebrew_Kid

@tatiang said:
Don't use a custom attribute named game.time. Use the built-in game.Time, which counts up continually while an app is running.

I'm using the built in game.time

tatiang

The idea is that if game.Time is 24, that means that game.timeStamp may have been 22 (for example) and game.duration was 2. Then, the rule will spawn an actor, change game.timeStamp to 24 and self.duration to random(1,5). game.Time will be 24 but because game.Time continually counts up, as soon as it reaches 24+self.duration, it will trigger that rule again and repeat the process I just described.

I don't use Windows Creator so I didn't realize that game.Time is displayed as game.time but I now see that it is. Sorry for any confusion earlier. In Mac Creator, people sometimes make the mistake of creating a custom attribute called game.time and then confusing it with the built-in attribute.

Try setting it up exactly as I have it in the screenshot above with no other rule conditions or spawn behaviors... just the log debugging statement. Can you get that to work?

Homebrew_Kid

@tatiang said:
Try setting it up exactly as I have it in the screenshot above with no other rule conditions or spawn behaviors... just the log debugging statement. Can you get that to work?

After using the exact code there is no black screen. I have displayed the self.duration as a text above the actor (after the rule block) in the stage and tried the same with the self.timeStamp to try and see what is going on.

The self.timeStamp displays "0" constantly.

The self.duration displays "2" constantly.

self.timeStamp should display "1", "2", "3" etc? It seems to be recording the first number, "0.174" or whatever, but does not update to keep up with the game.time. (Display Text: game.time does update.)

tatiang

Hmm... I'm not sure why that would be happening. Any chance you can send me a link to download your project file (first .zip it and upload it to Dropbox or another file-sharing service)? I can take a look and let you know if there's another reason it's not working.

Homebrew_Kid

@tatiang said:

Hmm... I'm not sure why that would be happening. Any chance you can send me a link to download your project file (first .zip it and upload it to Dropbox or another file-sharing service)?

Yep, I'll send you the .zip and .gsproj

tatiang

Sent you a PM.