GameMaker Possible bug? Rate-capping + passing argument = disagreement

[Solitary Confinement]

Heya,

I've tried troubleshooting this quite a bit and was hoping some light could be shed on the issue. I'm attempting to rate-cap without using alarms and followed @FrostyCat 's guide here: https://forum.yoyogames.com/index.php?threads/restricting-unwanted-repetition-with-flags.34455/

A strange issue I've run into is that I am not able to use a sprite variable as a condition in a script specifically for rate-capping. My setup is as follows:

Create:

cross_rt=5;
flag = cross_rt;

Script that uses the rate-cap:

if myid.char.sprite_index==argument[3]{   
  if (flag <= 0) {
    show_debug_message(random(300))
    flag += cross_rt;
  } else {
    flag -= 1;
  }
} else {
  flag = cross_rt;
}

When I run this, nothing is printed. But, if I replace argument[3] with the actual sprite or even a variable that holds the sprite, it prints fine. Like so:

if myid.char.sprite_index==spr_char_stuff //(or even sp_var_stuff){
  if (flag <= 0) {
    show_debug_message(random(300))
    flag += cross_rt;
  } else {
    flag -= 1;
  }
} else {
  flag = cross_rt;
}

Now, if I have simply the following:

if myid.char.sprite_index==argument[3]
  {show_debug_message(random(300))}

It prints the numbers.

So whats going on here? Is this a bug in GMS or am I missing something?

Thanks for any input.

 

[Relic]

Show the whole script please and an example of how you call it.

 

[Solitary Confinement]

Thanks for the reply.

The script is called "scr_addon_brth". The section in question is with the commented header "Cross-hair". Full script code is as follows:

var argument_arr = array_create(argument_count);
for (var i = 0; i < argument_count; i++) {
    argument_arr[i] = argument[i];
}
if (live_call_ext(argument_arr)) return live_result;

//Spc Triggers and System
/*
scr_addon_brth(
"df_lt",    //0
global.k_lt,    //1
global.mg_en_flm_req,    //2
spr_g60_spc_brth_ini, //3
0.3, //image_speed(ini) //4
global.snd_shn_brth_ini, //arg5

global.snd_shn_lsr_loop, //6
spr_g60_spc_brth_aim, //7
global.mg_en_flm_use,    //arg8

spr_g60_spc_brth_end, //9
0.02, //image_speed(end) //10
23, //tic countdown for sound reset (about this much bench'ed to shn's brth sound) //arg11
"use_en", //use type //12
0, //can_shoot rate //13
10, //cancel_allow //14 (def=10, fr=-1)
-1, //brth duration //15 (def=-1, fr=30)
)


*/

        


//Trigger
with(myid.char)
{
if active==1
{
    
if (spc_start_chk)
{
if pos=="stand" or pos=="duck"
    {
    if sprite_index==spr_walk
    or sprite_index==spr_stand
    or sprite_index==spr_land
    or sprite_index==spr_duck
        {                           
        if spc_type==argument[0]// and myid.en_curr>=argument[2)       
            {               
            myid.addon.use_type=argument[12]
            
            if (myid.addon.use_type=="use_en" and myid.en_curr>=argument[2])
            or (myid.addon.use_type=="use_am" and myid.ammo_curr>=argument[2])
            or (myid.addon.use_type=="use_am_a" and myid.ammo_a_curr>=argument[2])
            or (myid.addon.use_type=="use_am_b" and myid.ammo_b_curr>=argument[2])
            or (myid.addon.use_type=="use_am_c" and myid.ammo_c_curr>=argument[2])
            or (myid.addon.use_type=="use_am_fr" and myid.ammo_fr_curr>=1
               and fr_mode==2 and can_fr==1)             
                {   
                if myid.addon.use_type=="use_am_fr"
                    {
                    myid.addon_share_alarm.alarm[10]=argument[14];
                    scr_addon_fury_usage(myid.addon.ammo_fr_rld);
                    }
                else
                    {myid.addon_share_alarm.alarm[10]=argument[14];}
                can_atk_stand=0
                can_jump=0
                can_duck=0
                atk_state="atk"                       
                myid.addon.brth_spr=argument[7] //Set the "breath sprite state" to the aim sprite
                myid.addon_share_alarm.alarm[11]=999//argument[15] //set to proper value in ini to aim transition
                sprite_index=argument[3]
                image_speed=argument[4]
                image_index=0
                wspeed=0
                move_prev=1           
            
                oop=instance_create(x,y,osnd_char_hit);
                oop.myid=myid;
                oop.t="c";
                oop.snd = FMODSoundPlay(argument[5],0);                                 
                
                }
        else if (myid.addon.use_type=="use_en" and myid.en_curr<argument[2])
                or (myid.addon.use_type=="use_am" and myid.ammo_curr<argument[2])
                or (myid.addon.use_type=="use_am_a" and myid.ammo_a_curr<argument[2])
                or (myid.addon.use_type=="use_am_b" and myid.ammo_b_curr<argument[2])
                or (myid.addon.use_type=="use_am_c" and myid.ammo_c_curr<argument[2])
                or (myid.addon.use_type=="use_am_fr" and myid.ammo_fr_curr<1 and fr_mode!=2 and can_fr!=1)   
                {
                if (myid.addon.use_type=="use_en")
                    {scr_ingame_en_lack();}
                else if ( (myid.addon.use_type=="use_am") or (myid.addon.use_type=="use_am_a") or
                          (myid.addon.use_type=="use_am_b") or (myid.addon.use_type=="use_am_c") or
                          (myid.addon.use_type=="use_am_fr")
                        )
                    {scr_ingame_ammo_lack();}                                               
                }
            
            }
        }
    }

}

}//active

//Streaming   
myid.addon.alarm_snd_max=argument[11];

if sprite_index==argument[7]
    {//spr
    //myid.en_curr-=argument[8]
    scr_addon_usage(argument[8])
    image_index=myid.addon.index_pos
    wspeed=0     
    
    //Sound loop system
    with(myid.addon)
        {
        if addon_snd_sys=="alarm"
            {
            if can_snd==1
                {
                alarm_snd=myid.addon.alarm_snd_max
                can_snd=0           
                oop=instance_create(x,y,osnd_obj)
                oop.myid=myid;
                oop.snd = FMODSoundPlay(argument[6],0)               
                }
            }
            
        else if addon_snd_sys=="loop"
            {
            if can_snd_loop==1
                {
                can_snd_loop=0                           
                oop=instance_create(x,y,osnd_char_loop)
                oop.myid=myid;
                oop.snd = FMODSoundLoop(argument[6],0)
                oop.spr_condit=argument[7]
                }
            }
            
        }
    
//Can_shoot rate
myid.addon.alarm_can_shoot_curr-=1

if myid.addon.alarm_can_shoot_curr<0
    {
    myid.addon.alarm_can_shoot_curr=argument[13]
    myid.addon.can_shoot=1   
    }
        
    }//spr
    
//Sound rate
myid.addon.alarm_snd-=1

if myid.addon.alarm_snd<0
    {
    myid.addon.alarm_snd=myid.addon.alarm_snd_max
    myid.addon.can_snd=1   
    }   

}

//Cross-hair
if myid.control=="player"
{
if myid.char.sprite_index==argument[3]{   
  if (flag <= 0) {
    show_debug_message(random(300))
    flag += cross_rt;
  } else {
    flag -= 1;
  }
} else {
  flag = cross_rt;
}   
    
}

//Cancel  (releasing (ini and aim/energy gone/hit)
with(myid.char)
{
if sprite_index==argument[3]
or sprite_index==argument[7]
    {
    if (myid.addon.use_type=="use_en" and
            (
                myid.addon.cancel_allow==1 and
                (
                    myid.en_curr<=argument[8] or
                    (   (myid.control=="player" and spc_type==argument[0] and  !(keyboard_check(argument[1])) ) or
                        (myid.control=="ai" and spc_type=="n")
                    )
                )
            )
        )
    or (myid.addon.use_type=="use_am_fr" and myid.addon_share_alarm.alarm[11]<0)         
    or active==0
    or hit_state==1
    or pos=="ko"           
        {           
        myid.addon.fire=0
        //spc_type="n"
        //atk_state="n"
        atk_prevs="atk"
        myid.sub_key.key_lock=0           
        can_shoot=1           
                                
        sprite_index=argument[9]//spr_g90_spc_brth_end
        image_speed=argument[10]
        image_index=0   
        //with(myid.ai)
        //    {scr_ctl_reset();}
        }       
    }
}

//Firing !*note: firing must ALWAYS go BELOW cancel part in these scripts, otherwise you'll get stray shots since one final projectile instances is created
            //with a different dir just before breath is cancelled, and where the alarm is super low, or even -1.
if myid.char.sprite_index==argument[7]//"Aim" sprite index is assumed here
{
fire=1
if fire==1 and can_shoot=1
            {//
            can_shoot=0
            scr_proj_brth_cre_inst(brth_proj,brth_amt,brth_spr,dir)           
            alarm_can_shoot_curr=argument[13]     //
            }//   
}
        
//anima
with(myid.char)
{
//Initial phase to aim   
if spc_type==argument[0]
{
if sprite_index==argument[3] //the brth ini anima
    {
    if (image_index>=image_number-image_speed) //the final image index before ini animation ends
        {
        myid.addon.can_aim=1           
        myid.addon.fire=1       
        //if facer==1
        //    {myid.addon.dir=argument[12];} //starting direction. Right facing
        //else if facer==-1
        //    {myid.addon.dir=180-(argument[12]);} //starting direction. Left facing   
        image_speed=0;
        //image_index=argument[13];
        image_index=myid.addon.index_pos       
        sprite_index=argument[7]; //the sprite_index of the aim part of brth animation, e.g. spr_shn_spc_brth_mid             
        myid.addon_share_alarm.alarm[11]=argument[15]
        //show_message("hyy2")
        }
    }
}


//End phase to stand/neutral
if sprite_index==argument[9] //the brth end anima
    {
    if (image_index>=image_number-image_speed)
                    //Recovery determined by IMAGE_SPEED
                    //in scr_addon_brth > argument[ 9
        {
        scr_addon_reset_full();
        #region original reset vars
            
        /*
        myid.addon.can_shoot=1   
        sprite_index=spr_stand
        image_index=0
        image_speed=img_speed
        can_atk_stand=1
        atk_state="n"
        atk_nomov=0
        move_prev=0
        can_jump=1
        can_duck=1   
        */
        #endregion
        }
    }
}

The script is called in the step event of a player object as follows. The argument with //3 is the required argument:

scr_addon_brth(
"df_lt",    //0
global.k_lt,    //1
global.mg_en_flm_req,    //2
sp_brth_ini,//spr_g90_spc_brth_ini, //3
0.25, //image_speed(ini) //4
g90_vo_proj_var,    //5 
global.snd_g90_brth_loop, //6

sp_brth_aim,//spr_g90_spc_brth_aim, //7
global.mg_en_flm_use, //8
sp_brth_end,//spr_g90_spc_brth_end, //9
0.02, //image_speed(end) //10
500,//sound rate/dummy //11
"use_en", //12
-1, //can_shoot rate //13
cancel_allow_dur_def, //cancel_allow //16 (def=10, fr=-1) //14
-1, //brth duration //15 (def=-1, fr=30)
)

Again posting the create event of the player object (contains several other irrelevant variables, so I've only included the relevant ones):

cross_rt=5;
flag = cross_rt;

 

[FrostyCat]

Did you try printing out sprite_get_name(argument[3]) to see what's ending up in it?

 

[Solitary Confinement]

^ Thank you for the reply.

I've tried it now and I can see the sprite name appear. However, I had to do this before "flag<=0" check. This is what I have:

if myid.char.sprite_index==argument[3]{  
 show_debug_message(sprite_get_name(argument[3]))
  if (flag <= 0) {
    show_debug_message(random(300))
    flag += cross_rt;
  } else {
    flag -= 1;
  }
} else {
  flag = cross_rt;
}

Also, when using sprite_index==argument[3], if I comment out the "flag = cross_rt" part of the code below the second "else", it prints the numbers fine, but then won't reset flag automatically. This again is strange because if I use the sprite resource name or a variable instead of argument[3], that part doesn't interfere with the code's running.