Basic Vector Math

[plucky shore]

There's a lot to do with vectors

Vectors can be used as directions and positions

They can be used to tp stuff, to make something follows something else, to see where someone is looking at etc

[tired nebula]

I know how vectors work as positions and rotations bro I'm not fucking stupid

I'm asking about vector M A T H

[plucky shore]

As I said, can be to make objects follow, to know what you're looking at

[tired nebula]

Why don't you explain that then instead of telling me they can be used to set positions :|

[plucky shore]

Combine with quaternions it can also be used to mane a little plane

Or a lot of stuff

Really can't say everything but it's used for A LOT

Also for more complex system like swimming, flying

[tired nebula]

then gtfo because I'm asking for examples and if you don't want to give me some then leave please

[plucky shore]

Bro wtf

I gave you like 5

Can't give you the hundreds of things

[tired nebula]

and you didn't explain them one bit

[plucky shore]

You never asked for explanation?

[tired nebula]

alright im not gonna talk to you if you cant read

[plucky shore]

You literally just ask what you could do with it

"what's the common use" "what other things can you do with it"

[tired nebula]

Follow this loop for me:

• Read the post
• Think about the definitions of the words I posted
• If you still think I didn't ask you to explain it, repeat. Else, realize.

[plucky shore]

"Give some basic" I did, "Explain the common uses" told you the common uses can be to make objects move, movements system etx

"What other stuff can you do similar" Just told you

Now please stop complaining like a military kid.

If you want every single system and how to make them it would take something like a 75 page book or more and 5 days of writing

So please use your brain

[tired nebula]

Okay, you've been in the loop for 3.25 hours, I'll just tell you.
I said "explain the common uses of that math" ; 'that math' being SOME examples, not all 75 pages worth. Just a few. Now, notice the word "explain" is not equal to the word "list". I did not ask you to list out the uses of that math, I asked you to explain them. Here is an example of what you should have said.

The part you got correct:

"One basic function of vector math is setting an object's position to a point a certain distance in front of the player."

The part you forgot:

"To do so, all you need to do is wire the player's forward vector into a vector3 scale and set the float value to the distance you want. Then, add that to the player's position, that gives you the vector3 position that you want to set the object to. For future reference, you can set the position of an object using the "Set Position" chip.

[plucky shore]

I think you're dumb.

Explaining THE MATH not the system

The math is to do system

If I explain the math I give you system

[placid narwhal]

Vector Dot:
Function:

• Similarity of 2 vectors multiplied by the product of their magnitudes

Examples:

• (0,1,0) dot (0,1,0) = 1
• (0,1,0) dot (0,-1,0) = -1
• (0,1,0) dot (0,0,1) = 0
• (0,2,0) dot (0,5,0) = 10
• (0,2,0) dot (0,-5,0) = -10

Vector Cross:
Function:

• Outputs a vector perpendicular to the 2 input vectors with a magnitude of the square root of the product of the input vector magnitudes

Examples:

• (0,1,0) cross (0,0,1) = (1,0,0)

Vector Scale:
Function:

• Multiplies the magnitude of the input vector by the Scale input

Examples:

• (0,1,0) scale 2 = (0,2,0) or better written as (0,1,0) * 2 = (0,2,0)
• (0,2,0) scale 5 = (0,10,0) or better written as (0,2,0) * 5 = (0,10,0)

[tired nebula]

epic, what would you use each of those things for though?

[placid narwhal]

Vector Dot is useful to see if a player is lookin at a position

So like, Acos(Vector Dot(Camera Forward,(Target Position - Player Position)) = "Angular Distance" in degrees

[tired nebula]

Awesome I'm gonna write that down

[plucky shore]

What's that acos for

[placid narwhal]

(Plugging a Vector Dot into Acos gets you angular distance between the 2 input vectors in degrees, assuming the input vectors are normalized)

[plucky shore]

What if you don't put it into acos?

What do you get

[placid narwhal]

Then you get a similarity between [-1,1]

where -1 is opposites and 1 is indifferent

[plucky shore]

Isn't that good enough?

[placid narwhal]

But if you plug that into Acos, you get the angular distance in degrees

So identical is 0, perpendicular is 90, opposite is 180

[placid narwhal]

Depends on the situation

[plucky shore]

Oh thatt

[placid narwhal]

you dont need it but its cool

[plucky shore]

But like without acos it works too yeah

[tired nebula]

@placid narwhal what can you do with vector cross?

[placid narwhal]

Vector Cross(Forward Vector, Up Vector) = Right Vector

[tired nebula]

How do you get left vector then?

[placid narwhal]

sec

[tired nebula]

Are you saying to multiply it by secant?

[plucky shore]

Down vector and backware vector then

Up right and forward are positive

Pretty sure that's kinda how it works

While left down and back are negative

[tired nebula]

@placid narwhal

[placid narwhal]

Multiply right vector by -1

[tired nebula]

I figured

[placid narwhal]

A better way is to rotate (-1,0,0) by the rotation of the thing

[tired nebula]

how is it better / are there any benefits that either has

[placid narwhal]

less CPU and chips

[tired nebula]

ok epic and then are there other combinations similar to the one needed to make a gravity gun?

[placid narwhal]

gravity gun doesnt need any lol

well

it needs Position + (Forward * Distance)

this creates a postion Distance meters infront of Position

[tired nebula]

I know but what other stuff like that exists

[placid narwhal]

idk what you mean

[tired nebula]

what other stuff can you do with those three vector chips yknow

[placid narwhal]

check out this thread