Shotgun using array/list in Javascript

Question

Sorry for the vague title, I wasn't sure what to call this.

Anyway, I am making a shotgun for an FPS and want it to be easy to modify it's properties from the editor, so I am planning to have a variable determining the number of pellets fired in each shot:

 var pelletsPerShot : int=12;

and from that make an array or list of rays, with a length equal to the variable above, then, for every item on that array, assign a new direction to simulate spread. (I know how to do the bullet spread part of the script, I just don't know how to make/use arrays and lists, as I am relatively new to unity, and can't find an explanation for them anywhere.)

So, what I want is a script that makes an array of new rays with a length of x, then for all of them does y.

Also I don't know whether I should use arrays or lists, apparently arrays are obseletebut I have never seen a list used on this site so I am not sure.

Answer 1

When you read to not use Array(), the comments are talking about a specific Array() class. I typically use the build-in arrays for anything that is fixed in size. For most other things I used a Generic List. You can find out more about the various array classes here:

http://wiki.unity3d.com/index.php?title=Which_Kind_Of_Array_Or_Collection_Should_I_Use%3F

As for your problem, here is a bit of code to demonstrate using Debug.DrawRay(). The lines will visible in Scene view and in Game View if Gizmos is turned on.

 #pragma strict
 
 var maxPellets      : int = 50;
 var pelletsThisShot : int = 12;
 var spreadAmount    : float = 0.2;   // This much spread at 
 var spreadDistance  : float = 11.0;  //   this distance
 private  var arv3Shots : Vector3[];
 
 function Start() {
     arv3Shots = new Vector3[maxPellets];
     CalcSpread();
 }
 
 function Update() {
 
     if (Input.GetKeyDown(KeyCode.A)) {
         pelletsThisShot = Random.Range(10, maxPellets);
         CalcSpread();
     }
     
     for (var i = 0; i < pelletsThisShot; i++)
         Debug.DrawRay(transform.position, arv3Shots[i]*20.0, Color.green);
 }
 
 function CalcSpread() {
     pelletsThisShot = Mathf.Clamp(pelletsThisShot, 0, maxPellets);
     for (var i = 0; i < pelletsThisShot; i++) {
         var v3 : Vector3 = Random.insideUnitCircle * spreadAmount;
         v3.z = spreadDistance;
         v3.Normalize();
         v3 =  transform.TransformDirection(v3);
         arv3Shots[i] = v3;
     }
 }

A few comments:

Rather than a variable using a list which I could add to and delete from, I'm using the build-in array and establishing a maximum number of pellets.
I use Random.insideUnitCircle and a spreadDistance to make the shots random. I felt this would be a good way of getting a uniform spread.
This script uses the forward of the game object it is attached to as the 0 point for the spread.

Shotgun using array/list in Javascript

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