C# How to call a function in only one of many prefab clones?

Question

I'm making a space shooter game similar to Galaga where the enemies above you shoot at you randomly. The enemy prefab is cloned multiple times (all with a unique name; enemyclone1-enemyclone8) and all share the same script. Inside of that script is the function to shoot. I want to pick a random clone and call the shoot function so only he shoots a projectile. Is this possible?

Here's what i have:

Enemy Script

  public void shoot()                             //Shoots laser down from enemy's current position
     {     
         Instantiate(laser, transform.position, Quaternion.identity);
         GetComponent<AudioSource>().Play();
 
         }
 }

Game Manager Script

 void shipToShoot()
     {
         int random = Random.Range(0,onscreenShips);   //Picks random enemy ship number
         var shooter = GameObject.Find("enemyclone" + random);   //Sets shooter equal to random enemy
         shooter.GetComponent<Enemy_S>().shoot();      //Makes enemycloneX shoot?
     }

When I do this I get these errors

alt text

This is where I'm stuck. Any help is GREATLY appreciated.

Answer 1

Answer by UsmanAbbasi · May 12, 2016 at 07:02 AM

The problem is here: Instantiate(laser, transform.position, Quaternion.identity);

"laser" variable is null. Make sure you have assigned the prefab to laser from inspector or through "Resources.Load()".

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vinbertinelli · May 12, 2016 at 11:15 PM 0

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Thanks! I had it set to static so it wasn't showing in the inspector.

Answer 2

Answer by $$anonymous$$ · May 12, 2016 at 07:14 AM

My suggestion would be to make a list of Enemy_s and use the following code

     Enemy_s[] Enemies = GetComponentsInChildren<Enemy_s>();
     int onscreenShips = gameobjects.Length;
 
    if (onscreenships > 0)
 {
     int random = Random.Range(0,onscreenShips);  
     Enemies[random].shoot();
 }

It avoids using the Find function often, which is bad for performance;

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C# How to call a function in only one of many prefab clones?

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