Camera orbit turntable with spring arm for product viewer

Setup: SceneComponent(root) → SpringArmComponent(child) → CameraComponent(child). SpringArm: UsePawnControlRotation=false, TargetArmLength=500. Orbit: InputAxis MouseX → MakeRotator(0,0,Value*Sensitivity) → AddRelativeRotation(SpringArm). Zoom: MouseWheel → GetTargetArmLength → Subtract(Current, Axis*Step) → FClamp(Min,Max) → SetTargetArmLength.

GetTargetArmLength — get spring arm distance

SetSpringArmLength — set target arm length on spring arm component

USpringArmComponent property. Set directly or use SET node.

Spring Arm

A boom that holds a child component (usually a Camera) at a fixed offset, with collision-aware retraction. Standard for third-person cameras.

Smooth camera follow with spring arm using RInterpTo

Pattern in PlayerController or Character: EventTick → GetControlRotation → RInterpTo(Current=CurrentCameraRot, Target=ControlRotation, DeltaTime=DeltaSeconds, InterpSpeed=10.0) → SetControlRotation(NewRotation=InterpResult). OR: use SpringArmComponent with CameraLagSpeed and bEnableCameraLag=true for physics-based follow. RInterpTo: 'Current' and 'Target' are Rotators. DeltaTime from Tick's 'DeltaSeconds' output.

Smooth zoom with mouse wheel on spring arm camera

Pattern: Variables TargetArmLength(float), MinZoom(float)=200, MaxZoom(float)=2000, ZoomStep(float)=50, ZoomSpeed(float)=5. InputAxis MouseWheel: TargetArmLength = FClamp(TargetArmLength - AxisValue*ZoomStep, MinZoom, MaxZoom). Tick: SpringArm.TargetArmLength = FInterpTo(Current, TargetArmLength, DeltaSeconds, ZoomSpeed). FInterpTo provides smooth easing.

LaunchCharacter — launch character with velocity

ACharacter::LaunchCharacter. Good for knockback, bouncing, jumppads.

Create a Blueprint for a simple FPS weapon that shoots raycasts and deals damage

LaunchCharacter — apply a velocity impulse to a Character

bXYOverride/bZOverride: if true, replaces current velocity. If false, adds to it.

Object pooling pattern for frequently spawned actors like projectiles

Pattern: PoolManager with Array<AActor*> AvailablePool. Init: loop SpawnActor N times → SetActorHiddenInGame(true) → SetActorEnableCollision(false) → Array_Add to pool. GetFromPool: Array_Length > 0 → remove last → SetHidden(false) → SetCollision(true) → SetActorLocation → return. ReturnToPool: SetHidden(true) → SetCollision(false) → Array_Add back.