How to get the enemy to shoot and then delay

Questions & Answers
1

Hi,
I am trying to find the most simple possible way to make an enemy face the player and then shoot. I have pretty much got this sorted through various videos etc however when the enemy shoots it does so about 20 times a second. I would like to know a way of making it shoot 1 bullet per second or maybe even better slightly random timings but with space between the bullets. You can probably tell I am just learning but have tried to find out the answer but would have to change all I have done to use it. I think I am close so any help would be great

var target:Transform;
//create a variable to check how far away enemy is
var range = 10.0;
var shotPrefab:Transform;

function Update()
{
	if (CanAttackTarget())
	{
		var targetRotation = Quaternion.LookRotation(target.position - transform.position, Vector3.up);
		//this code rotates the object. Needs current rotation, target and then a delay. Delta time is difference between last frame rendered and current frame rendering
		transform.rotation = Quaternion.Slerp(transform.rotation, targetRotation, Time.deltaTime * 2.0);
		InvokeRepeating("shoot", 2, 2);	
	}
}

function CanAttackTarget()
{
	if (Vector3.Distance(transform.position, target.position) > range)
	{
		return false;
	}
	
	var hit: RaycastHit;
	//line cast detects a collider within cast
	//this code means that you can hide behind walls etc
	if (Physics.Linecast(transform.position, target.position, hit))
	{
		
		if (hit.collider.gameObject.tag != "Player")
		{
			print ("Item in the way");	
			return false;
		}
		else
		{
			print("Player detected");
			return true;
		}
	}
	
	return true;
	
}


function shoot()
{
		var shot = Instantiate(shotPrefab, transform.position, Quaternion.identity);
		shotPrefab.rigidbody.AddForce(transform.forward * 2000);
}

Thanks

3

The simplest way would be :

var lastShot : float = 0.0;
var delayBetweenShots : float = 1.0;

function Start()
{
    lastShot = Time.time;
}

...
...

function CanAttackTarget()
{
    if (Time.time - delayBetweenShots < lastShot)
    {
        print("Too early too shoot again.");
        return false;
    }

    //Rest of your function here
}

function shoot()
{
    lastShot = Time.time;
    //Rest of your function here
}

Time.time gives you the current time since the game has started. lastShot will reference when was the last time you shot and delayBetweenShots, the amount of time needed to shoot again. You just need to check if lastShot was more than delayBetweenShots seconds ago. If not, you can’t attack.

Hope that helps.

2

You could try adding an extra variable “CanShoot”. then, once the enemy has shot set it to false, then add a function , wait a second maybe, then set it to true again. heres an example:

Shoot function:

    function shoot(){
if(CanShoot == true){
    CanShoot = false;
    ReShoot();       
    var shot = Instantiate(shotPrefab, transform.position, Quaternion.identity);
    shotPrefab.rigidbody.AddForce(transform.forward * 2000);
    }
}

pause the shot function:

function ReShoot(){
yield WaitforSeconds(1);
CanShoot = true;
}

Hope this helps!