Turn Player with Right Stick (Top Down) Question

[LawH]

So in my infinite wisdom (I have no idea how I did this, but I did a couple of semi coherent wild guesses) I managed to create a system where if I use my right stick my player character will look where the stick is pointing.

How it works is, is that if I aim (move my right stick into any direction), my character will face into the direction of a reticule object that is circling the player. I don't actually need to see the reticule, so I made it not draw itself. However, for future reference, I would like to know a way to make the reticule always stay a minimum distance away from the player.

Here is my code that is placed in the reticule object:

///Circle Around Player if Aiming
if !keyboard {
reticule_dist = 16;


x = obj_p1.x + lengthdir_x(reticule_dist*gamepad_axis_value(0,gp_axisrh),east);
y = obj_p1.y + lengthdir_y(reticule_dist*gamepad_axis_value(0,gp_axisrv),south); }
///End of Code

What the reticule obviously does here, is return to the center of the player if the aim stick is not used. It's not that big of a deal, since the player will face a direction if you're not aiming. The slight problem I have is that the if the player is standing still, and you stop using the aim stick, the player sometimes jolts a little to the direction of the returning reticule (EDIT: THIS JOLT IS NO LONGER AN ISSUE, SINCE I FORGOT TO REMOVE SOME KEYBOARD ACTIONS). I got this far by pretty much just subconsciously understanding how this thing works, so placing a minimum distance to the reticule from the player seems to be out of my reach, though I love exploring and I will try different things out.

While I do that, it would be great if any of you could give a simple solution to this issue. Thanks!

 

[RefresherTowel]

I would rewrite it so that you use point direction, rather than having an object that is entirely based around trying to find the direction to a point:

var gpx = gamepad_axis_value(0,gp_axisrh);
var gpy = gamepad_axis_value(0,gp_axisrv);
if (abs(gpx) > deadzone || abs(gpy) > deadzone) {
    pad_dir = point_direction(0,0,gpx,gpy);
}

pad_dir should end up pointing wherever the right thumbstick is pointing. No need for an invisible reticle object or worrying about length, etc. deadzone is just a variable you use to make sure that the direction isn't changed unless the controller is moved enough (you have to set it and pad_dir manually in the Create Event), a value of 0.1 for deadzone should be alright to start with, but if you find the aim is wandering, set it a little higher (and if you release the game to actual players, make sure to make the deadzone value into a setting people can change).

EDIT: This code should be in whatever object is doing the aiming, not in the reticle object. You can delete the reticle object if you implement this code.

 

[LawH]

I'll try this out, thank you.

I already set an adjustable dead zone since my controllers are very sensitive, but I did that elsewhere.