{"id":639,"date":"2019-08-06T09:40:13","date_gmt":"2019-08-06T09:40:13","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.shmupcreator.com\/doc\/?docs=shmupcreator\/weapons-and-bullet-patterns\/weapon-editor"},"modified":"2025-10-20T08:05:34","modified_gmt":"2025-10-20T08:05:34","slug":"weapon-editor","status":"publish","type":"docs","link":"https:\/\/www.shmupcreator.com\/doc\/?docs=shmupcreator\/weapons-and-bullet-patterns\/weapon-editor","title":{"rendered":"Weapon Editor"},"content":{"rendered":"

To open the weapon editor, go to the Weapon Tab for players or enemies and click on the Open WEAPON EDITOR<\/strong> \"\" button.<\/p>\n

For more information about how weapons work in the SHMUP Creator, please read the Weapons concepts<\/a> section.\"\"<\/p>\n

The left column lists all the Weapon Sets<\/strong> of the currently selected player or enemy.
The middle column lists all the Weapon locators with the mane of their current Weapon from the selected Weapon set.
The third column allows you to modify the selected Weapon properties.
And the last column is the preview.<\/p>\n

WEAPON SETS LIST<\/h3>\n

\"\" Rename Weapon Set<\/strong> button: rename the current weapon set
\"\" Move up Weapon Set<\/strong> button: move the  current weapon set up
\"\" Move down Weapon Set<\/strong> button: move the current weapon set down
\"\" Weapon Set name<\/strong> button: click on the name to select the Weapon Set.<\/p>\n

WEAPONS LIST<\/h3>\n

\"\" Eye<\/strong> button: hide the current weapon in the preview window
\"\" Weapon name<\/strong> button: click on the name to select the Weapon.
<\/span>\"\" Open Weapon manager<\/strong> button: open the Weapon manager window to choose an existing weapon from the game or create a new one<\/p>\n

WEAPON PROPERTIES:<\/h3>\n
\"\" CONTROLS TAB FOR PLAYER<\/strong><\/h5>\n

The behavior is simple: it’s the user who will trigger the weapon using the keyboard or its joypad.
\"\" Assign button<\/strong> menu: the button number which will shoot the weapon.<\/p>\n

\"\" refire limit: <\/strong>SHUMUP Creator allows you to limit a weapon’s rate of fire to avoid players being able to rapidly tap the fire button to achieve a greater rate of fire than auto-firing the weapon.
With refire limit enabled the player will not be able to shoot faster than the weapon time between bursts duration. This solves potential exploits by players but also gives you the flexibility to design this feature into your weapon system.<\/p>\n

\"\" Use A.I.<\/strong> checkbox: the weapon can also use some A.I., like warm-up or charge shot.<\/p>\n

\"\" Start delay<\/strong> edit box:<\/p>\n

WARM-UP<\/strong><\/div>\n

The warm-up is a waiting time, just before the shoot. You can add a sound and an sfx, and typically you can use this to warn the player that the weapon will soon shoot, for instance with a boss big laser.
      \"\" Warm-up Duration<\/strong> spinner: the warm-up duration.
      \"\" Warm-up FX<\/strong> menu: the particle effect which is played during the warm-up. The effect will loop until the end of the warm-up.
      \"\" Warm-up Sound<\/strong> menu: the looping sound which is played during the warm-up.
      \"\" Volume<\/strong> spinner: the warm-up sound volume<\/p>\n

\n

CHARGE SHOT<\/strong>
This type of weapon is usually more powerful than the regular ones. The player needs to hold down the shot button during the warm-up, then release it to fire the weapon.
To indicate that the weapon is charged, the weapon can play a particle system and a sound.
\"\" Charge shot<\/strong> checkbox: the weapon can also use some A.I., like warm-up or charge shot.
\"\" Particle system<\/strong> menu: the particle system played when the weapon is charged
\"\" Sound<\/strong> menu: the sound played when the weapon is charged
    \"\" Volume<\/strong> spinner: the charge shoot ready sound volume<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

\"\" Shooting duration<\/strong> spinner:  the weapon shoot duration. It corresponds to how long the enemy will press its virtual button on the pad.<\/p>\n

\"\"Loop<\/strong> checkbox: Does the weapon loop?
      \"\" Loop delay<\/strong> spinner: a waiting time before looping the behavior.<\/p>\n

\"\"Auto shoot<\/strong>: the weapon is always activated even if the player doesn’t press the button<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

FOR ENEMIES:<\/h5>\n

The weapon behavior is similar to what is happening to the weapon trigger: when will it press the trigger, how long, how?<\/p>\n

\"\"Use safe zone<\/strong> checkbox: most of the time you want the enemies to only shoot when they are on-screen. If you uncheck this, the weapon will start as soon as the enemy wakes up, even if it is out of the screen.<\/p>\n

\"\"Wait for target<\/strong> checkbox: the weapon will only start when the player is in front of the weapon. Useful for tanks.<\/p>\n

\"\" Random wait<\/strong> spinner: When the enemy is activated, this property allows to wait a little before starting to use this weapon. This property is only used once at the start.<\/p>\n

\"\"Random wait<\/strong> checkbox: the weapon wait for a little before starting. The duration of the wait is random.
\"\" Min. wait<\/strong>  spinner: the minimum duration of the wait
\"\" Max. wait<\/strong>  spinner: the maximum duration of the wait<\/p>\n

\n
WARM-UP<\/strong><\/div>\n

The warm-up is a waiting time, just before the shoot. You can add a sound and an sfx, and typically you can use this to warn the player that the weapon will soon shoot, for instance with a boss big laser.
      \"\" Warm-up Duration<\/strong> spinner: the warm-up duration.
      \"\" Warm-up FX<\/strong> menu: the particle effect which is played during the warm-up. The effect will loop until the end of the warm-up.
      \"\" Warm-up Sound<\/strong> menu: the looping sound which is played during the warm-up.
    \"\" Volume<\/strong> spinner: the warm-up sound volume<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n
\n

\"\" Shooting duration<\/strong> spinner:  the weapon shoot duration. It corresponds to how long the enemy will press its virtual button on the pad.<\/p>\n

\"\"Loop<\/strong> checkbox: Does the weapon loop?
      \"\" Wait before loop<\/strong> spinner: a waiting time before looping the behavior.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\n

FLOW <\/strong>
If the behavior loops, the weapon flow is: 
\"\"<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

 <\/div>\n
\"\" BURSTS TAB<\/span><\/div>\n
 <\/div>\n
\n

When a weapon shoots something, it shoots a burst, which is a collection of one or several bullets. The weapon shoots bursts of bullets while the (virtual) shoot button is pressed.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Note: <\/strong>if the button is not pressed anymore while shooting a burst, the burst is stopped even if all its bullets are not fired.<\/pre>\n\n\n
\u00a0<\/em>\"\"\u00a0Time between burst<\/strong> spinner:\u00a0the duration between two bursts<\/p>\n
WEAPON<\/strong><\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 DIRECTION
<\/strong>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0The initial direction of the bullet when it is shot.
\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \"\"Bullet direction<\/strong>: the bullet direction is the direction of the weapon
\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \"\"Aim player<\/strong>: the bullet direction is the direction of the player
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \"\" Angle limit<\/strong> spinner: in degrees, can limit the shot angle. For example, a value of 180 will prevent an enemy to shoot behind him. Zero = no limit.
\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0 \"\"Parallel<\/b> checkbox
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 \"\"Don’t rotate during burst<\/strong> checkbox: during the burst, the locator stops its rotation. The locator only rotates between 2 bursts.<\/p>\n
\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0 LOCATOR ROTATION ANIMATION
<\/strong>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0This feature rotates the weapon locator.
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \"\" Angle<\/strong> spinner: the locator rotation angle 
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \"\" Speed <\/strong>spinner: the locator rotation speed. A negative value will rotate in the other direction. 
\u00a0 \u00a0 \"\"ping-pong<\/strong> checkbox: If checked, the weapon locator will rotate from the default orientation to the angle, then go in the other direction, in a looping manner.
If unchecked, once the weapon locator has rotated from the default orientation to the angle, it will go back instantly to the default orientation, and start again.\u00a0
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \"\" start<\/strong> from the center <\/strong>checkbox
<\/strong><\/p>\n
BURST<\/strong>S
\"\"\u00a0Number of bullets<\/strong> spinner: the number of bullets shot in one burst\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 \"\"\u00a0Bullets interval<\/strong> spinner: The time between each bullet shot during one burst.
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 START POSITION
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \"\"bullet offset<\/strong> edit box
\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \"\" burst<\/strong> edit box: the distance of the spawn from the weapon canon. \u00a0Useful to make circles.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 SPREAD
<\/strong>\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0 Those features modify the position, angle, or speed of the bullets from a burst. They have no effect if the burst contains only one bullet. You can use those values to create 5-ways burst for instance.
\u00a0 \u00a0 \"\"\u00a0Angle<\/strong> edit box: the angle between each bullet from a burst.
\u00a0 \u00a0 \"\"\u00a0Horizontal<\/strong> edit box: the horizontal offset between each bullet from a burst.
\u00a0 \u00a0 \"\"\u00a0Vertical<\/strong> edit box: the vertical offset between each bullet from a burst.\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \"\"\u00a0Speed<\/strong> edit box: will add or remove some speed at each bullet from a burst. For instance, with a 2 value, each new bullet from a burst will go twice as fast as the previous one.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 PROBABILITY
<\/strong>\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0 A random value can be added to a bullet when it is spawned.
\u00a0 \u00a0 \"\" Angle<\/strong> edit box: the maximum random angle added to the bullet.
\u00a0 \u00a0 \"\"\u00a0Horizontal<\/strong> edit box: the maximum random horizontal offset added to the bullet.
\u00a0 \u00a0 \"\"\u00a0Vertical<\/strong> edit box: the maximum random vertical offset added to the bullet.
\u00a0 \u00a0 \"\" Speed<\/strong> edit box: the maximum random speed added to the bullet<\/p>\n
\"\"\u00a0Symmetry<\/strong> checkbox: Instead of adding those values to each bullet, they can be distributed in a symmetric way to create other patterns. Note that some bullets are added to create symmetry: a 3 bullets burst will become a 5 bullets burst.<\/p>\n
REPEATER
<\/strong>A fun and powerful feature, the repeater will repeat the burst around the weapon. It can create quickly very complex patterns.
\"\"\u00a0Number<\/strong> edit box: The number of burst copies.
\"\"\u00a0Angle<\/strong> edit box: The total angle of distribution of the burst copies: 360 will shoot burst all around the weapon. 180 will shoot burst around a half-circle around the weapon.<\/p>\n
\n
\"\"\u00a0BULLETS TAB<\/h5>\n
\n
\"\"Attached to camera<\/strong> checkbox: when this feature is checked, the bullets will be attached to the camera when spawn. This means that the camera translation will not affect the position of the bullets on-screen. If un-checked, the particle will stay in the world.<\/p>\n
\"\"Projectile<\/strong> radio button: the bullet is a normal projectile.
\"\"Laser<\/strong> radio button: the bullet is part of a laser.
\u00a0 \u00a0 \"\"Normal<\/strong> radio button:\u00a0the laser is straight.
\u00a0 \u00a0 \"\"Plasma<\/strong> radio button: the laser is like a water jet and deforms itself with the weapon translation.<\/p>\n
SKIN
<\/strong>The skin is the texture and appearance of the bullet. It’s a picture stored in the asset\/bullets directory.
\"\"\u00a0Skin<\/strong> menu: the texture used by the bullet.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
NOTE:<\/strong> Draw your bullet the way you want it goes to its goal, upward.<\/pre>\n\n\n
\"\"<\/p>\n\n
\n
\n
ANIMATION<\/strong>
\"\"\u00a0Animation speed<\/strong> edit box: If the bullet is an animated sprite, the value modifies the animation speed.
\"\"\u00a0Columns <\/strong>edit box:<\/strong> Set the number of columns of the texture atlas
\"\"\u00a0rows <\/strong>edit box:<\/strong> Set the number of rows of the texture atlas (see “animating sprites<\/a>” section for more information)<\/p>\n
COLLISION SIZE<\/strong>
It’s the size of the collision rectangle.
\"\"\u00a0Width<\/strong> edit box: The collision rectangle width.
\"\"\u00a0Height<\/strong> edit box: The collision rectangle height.<\/p>\n
\"\"\u00a0Bullet size<\/strong> edit box: The size of the bullet.<\/p>\n
\"\"\u00a0Speed<\/strong> edit box: The start speed of the bullet when it’s shot.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
DAMAGE<\/strong><\/div>\n
\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\"\"\u00a0Destructible<\/strong> checkbox:\u00a0A destructible bullet can be destroyed by another bullet.
\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\"\" Invincible<\/strong> checkbox: An invincible bullet can’t be destroyed by another bullet.
 \u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0 \"\" Cancellable <\/strong>checkbox: If checked, this bullet can be canceled, if not, this bullet is excluded from the cancelings.<\/div>\n
\u00a0<\/div>\n
\u00a0<\/div>\n
DIRECTION BEHAVIOR<\/strong><\/div>\n
Modify the bullet trajectory during its life.
\"\"\u00a0Type<\/strong> menu:
\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0– None<\/strong>: The bullet travel in the bullet start direction.
\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0– Aim<\/strong>: The bullet aim at the nearest target.
\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0– Gravity<\/strong>: Gravity affects the bullet trajectory and goes to the screen’s bottom direction.
\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0– Left<\/strong>: The bullet curves to the left.
\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0– Right<\/strong>: The bullet curves to the right.
\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0– Random<\/strong>: The bullet curves to the left or to the right. The direction is randomly chosen at the bullet spawn time.
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 – Angle<\/strong>: The bullet curves to a chosen angle direction (ex: 45 degrees.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 OPTIONS<\/strong>
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \"\"\u00a0Strength<\/strong> edit box: The trajectory deflection strength. The bigger the value, the more the bullet will deflect from its previous trajectory.
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \"\"\u00a0Start time<\/strong> edit box: The duration after which the Change direction will start to affect the bullet.
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \"\"\u00a0Duration<\/strong> edit box: The Change direction effect duration. When the effect is complete, the bullet continues in front of it.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/div>\n
\"\"FIRST CHANGE SPEED<\/strong>
Those properties allow you to modify the speed of the bullet in time. This allows, for instance, to spawn a bullet, make it stop after 1 second, wait for a little while, then start again and go quickly in the player’s direction.
\"\"\u00a0New speed<\/strong> edit box: The final speed after the speed change.
\"\"\u00a0Start time<\/strong> edit box: The start time of the speed change.
\"\"\u00a0Duration<\/strong> edit box: The duration of the speed change.<\/p>\n
\"\"SECOND CHANGE SPEED
<\/strong>Same thing. This second speed change can only start after the end of the 1st one.
\"\"\u00a0New speed<\/strong> edit box: The final speed after the speed change.
\"\" Start time <\/strong>edit box: The start time of the speed change.
 \"\"Duration<\/strong> edit box: The duration of the speed change.
\"\"\u00a0Life duration<\/strong> edit box: you can control the life of the bullet. After this duration, the bullet will disappear.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
\u00a0<\/div>\n
\n
\"\" VISUAL and SOUND EFFECTS TAB<\/h5>\n
You can attach particle effects to your weapon and set sounds.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
LOCATOR SHOT
<\/strong>\"\" <\/strong>Particle sys. 01<\/strong> menu: this effect is played when the bullet is shot. It is spawned at the weapon position.
\"\" <\/strong>Particle sys. 02<\/strong> menu: this effect is a secondary effect and is also spawned at the weapon position. It can allow adding a smoke effect for instance.<\/p>\n
\"\" sound<\/strong> menu: the sound played when a bullet is shot.
\"\"Volume<\/strong> edit box: the volume of the shot sound.
\"\" Pitch<\/strong> edit box: the pitch will change the sound height: like playing a lower or higher note.
\"\" Pitch<\/strong> variation<\/strong> edit box: a random pitch variation. The higher the number, the bigger the variation range.<\/p>\n
BULLET
<\/strong>This menu is available if you choose a “projectile bullet”
!!!<\/strong> Pay attention to the rendering cost: 1000 bullets with 1000 particle emitters can slow down the game.<\/span>
\"\" Bullet particle sys.<\/strong> menu : allow to attach a particle system to a bullet.
\"\" Bullet particle sys. > trail<\/strong>. A trail is a polygonal trail attached to the bullet.
\"\" Trail texture<\/strong> menu: you can choose your own texture for the trail effect. Please note that this texture should be 1D: this means that the texture only needs 1 pixel for its height and will represent one horizontal slice of the trail. Trail textures should be saved in the Particles assets directory.<\/p>\n
LASER PARTICLE SYSTEM
<\/strong>This menu is available if you choose a “laser”
<\/strong>\"\"\u00a0start<\/strong> menu:\u00a0This effect is played at the weapon position, and so at the laser start.
\"\"\u00a0end<\/strong> menu:\u00a0This effect is played at the laser end.<\/p>\n
BULLET IMPACT
<\/strong>\"\" particle sys.<\/strong> menu: when a bullet collides with something and dies, this effect is played at the bullet position.
\"\"\u00a0Sound<\/strong> menu: the sound played when the bullet collides with something.
\"\"volume<\/strong> edit box: the volume of the shot sound.
\"\" pitch<\/strong> edit box: the pitch will change the sound height: like playing a lower or higher note.
\"\" pitch<\/strong> variation<\/strong> edit box: a random pitch variation. The higher the number, the bigger the variation range.<\/p>\n\n\n
Note<\/strong>: Attaching a particle effect or a trail to a bullet can be costly if you are shooting a lot of those bullets.<\/pre>\n\n\n\n
Note<\/strong>: The best way to understand how the weapons are working is to try every feature. Don't hesitate to change values and see how it modify the bullets patterns!<\/pre>\n\n\n
WEAPON PREVIEW<\/h3>\n
This window displays the weapon in action.<\/p>\n
\"\" Pause<\/strong> button: pause or play the bullet pattern.
\"\" Reset<\/strong> button: reset and restart the pattern.
\"\" Sound<\/strong> button: can mute or un-mute the sound<\/p>\n
WEAPONS MANAGER<\/h3>\n
When you want to assign or create a new weapon preset to a weapon, open the WEAPON MANAGER.
To open it, click on the \"\"  select button.<\/p>\n
\"\" Weapon Name<\/strong> button: the name of the weapon
\"\" New Weapon Preset<\/strong> button: create a new weapon preset
\"\" Duplicate Weapon Preset<\/strong> button: duplicate the selected weapon preset
\"\" Rename Weapon Preset<\/strong> button: rename the selected weapon preset
\"\" Delete Weapon Preset<\/strong> button: delete the selected weapon preset<\/p>","protected":false},"featured_media":0,"parent":137,"menu_order":1,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","template":"","doc_tag":[],"class_list":["post-639","docs","type-docs","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.shmupcreator.com\/doc\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/docs\/639","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.shmupcreator.com\/doc\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/docs"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.shmupcreator.com\/doc\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/docs"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.shmupcreator.com\/doc\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=639"}],"version-history":[{"count":91,"href":"https:\/\/www.shmupcreator.com\/doc\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/docs\/639\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2999,"href":"https:\/\/www.shmupcreator.com\/doc\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/docs\/639\/revisions\/2999"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.shmupcreator.com\/doc\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/docs\/137"}],"prev":[{"title":"Weapon concepts","link":"https:\/\/www.shmupcreator.com\/doc\/?docs=shmupcreator\/weapons-and-bullet-patterns\/weapons-concepts","href":"https:\/\/www.shmupcreator.com\/doc\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/docs\/638"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.shmupcreator.com\/doc\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=639"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"doc_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.shmupcreator.com\/doc\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fdoc_tag&post=639"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}