Skip to content

Skill Shot

Related Config File Sections:

Types of skill shots:

  • Time based
  • Hit some target before another target
  • Super skill shot
  • How to create a lane-change skill shot

A simple skill shot mode:

#! switches:
#!   s_lane_l:
#!     number:
#!   s_lane_m:
#!     number:
#!   s_lane_r:
#!     number:
#! lights:
#!   l_lane_l:
#!     number:
#!   l_lane_m:
#!     number:
#!   l_lane_r:
#!     number:
##! mode: skill_shot
mode:
  start_events: ball_started
  stop_events:
    - skill_success
    - skill_failed
  priority: 500
shots:
  skill_l:
    switch: s_lane_l
    profile: skill_shot_profile
    advance_events: mode_skill_shot_started        # replace "skill_shot" with your mode name
    show_tokens:
      light: l_lane_l
  skill_m:
    switch: s_lane_m
    profile: skill_shot_profile
    show_tokens:
      light: l_lane_m
  skill_r:
    switch: s_lane_r
    profile: skill_shot_profile
    show_tokens:
      light: l_lane_r
shot_groups:
  skill_shot:
    shots: skill_l, skill_m, skill_r
    rotate_left_events: s_left_flipper_active
    rotate_right_events: s_right_flipper_active
shot_profiles:
  skill_shot_profile:
    states:
      - name: unlit
        show: off
      - name: flashing
        show: flash_color
        show_tokens:
          color: red
        speed: 4
      - name: lit
        show: on
    loop: true
variable_player:
  skill_success:
    score: 42
timers:
  skill_shot_timeout:
    start_value: 0
    end_value: 5     # set the timeout of your skill shot here
    direction: up
    tick_interval: 1s
    start_running: false
    control_events:
      - action: start
        event: balldevice_plunger_lane_ball_eject_success  # replace "plunger_lane" with the name of your plunger device
state_machines:
  skill_shot_success:
    debug: true
    states:
      start:
        label: Skill shot ready
      success:
        label: Skill successful
        events_when_started: skill_success
      failed:
        label: Skill failed
        events_when_started: skill_failed
    transitions:
      - source: start
        target: success
        events: skill_shot_flashing_hit
      - source: start
        target: failed
        events: skill_shot_unlit_hit, timer_skill_shot_timeout_complete
##! test
#! # failure
#! start_game
#! assert_mode_running skill_shot
#! hit_and_release_switch s_lane_l
#! assert_mode_not_running skill_shot
#! assert_player_variable 42 score
#! stop_game
#! # success
#! start_game
#! assert_mode_running skill_shot
#! hit_and_release_switch s_lane_m
#! assert_mode_not_running skill_shot
#! assert_player_variable 0 score
#! stop_game
#! # move + success
#! start_game
#! assert_mode_running skill_shot
#! post s_right_flipper_active
#! hit_and_release_switch s_lane_m
#! assert_mode_not_running skill_shot
#! assert_player_variable 42 score
#! stop_game
#! # test race between success and failed -> success first
#! start_game
#! mock_event skill_success
#! mock_event skill_failed
#! assert_mode_running skill_shot
#! hit_and_release_switches_simultaneously s_lane_l s_lane_m
#! assert_mode_not_running skill_shot
#! assert_event_called skill_success
#! assert_event_not_called skill_failed
#! stop_game
#! # test race between success and failed -> failed first
#! start_game
#! mock_event skill_success
#! mock_event skill_failed
#! assert_mode_running skill_shot
#! hit_and_release_switches_simultaneously s_lane_m s_lane_l
#! assert_mode_not_running skill_shot
#! assert_event_called skill_failed
#! assert_event_not_called skill_success
#! stop_game
#! # test timeout
#! start_game
#! mock_event skill_success
#! mock_event skill_failed
#! assert_mode_running skill_shot
#! advance_time_and_run 10
#! assert_mode_running skill_shot
#! post balldevice_plunger_lane_ball_eject_success
#! advance_time_and_run 10
#! assert_mode_not_running skill_shot
#! assert_event_called skill_failed
#! assert_event_not_called skill_success
#! stop_game

This works the following way: The three shots skill_l, skill_m and skill_r represent the three lanes. skill_l starts lit. The group skill_shot can be rotated using the flippers. When a lit shot it hit the group posts skill_shot_lit_hit and skill_shot_unlit_hit when a unlit shot is hit. To prevent races between the two events we use a state_machine called skill_shot_success which has three states:

image

When the mode started it starts at start. Then when either skill_shot_lit_hit or skill_shot_unlit_hit are posted in transitions to success or failed. Those states will post either skill_success or skill_failed. Additionally, there is a timer skill_shot_timeout which will fail the skill shot 5s after the ball left the plunger.

Usually, you want to create a modes which starts on skill_success and another mode which starts on skill_failed to play some shows.

Related How To guides:

Something missing or wrong? You can fix it!

This website is edited by people like you! Is something wrong or missing? Is something out of date, or can you explain it better?

Please help us! You can fix it yourself and be an official "open source" contributor!

It's easy! See our Beginner's guide to editing the docs.

Page navigation via the keyboard: < >

You can navigate this site via the keyboard. There are two modes:

General navigation, when search is not focused:

  • F , S , / : open search dialog
  • P , , : go to previous page
  • N , . : go to next page

While using the search function:

  • Down , Up : select next / previous result
  • Esc , Tab : close search
  • Enter : go to highlighted page in the results