# Quick Start Guide

Get up and running with EasyBallistics in under 10 minutes! This guide will walk you through creating your first ballistic weapon system.

> **🎯 New Gun-Centric Approach Available!**
> 
> This guide shows the **component-based approach** using individual barrel components. For a complete weapon system with magazines, fire modes, and realistic gun mechanics, see the **[Gun Blueprint Creation Guide](../tutorials/gun-blueprint-guide.md)**.

## Overview

In this quick start, you'll:
1. Create bullet properties
2. Set up a material response map
3. Create a simple weapon
4. Test ballistic impacts

## Step 1: Create Bullet Properties

First, let's define the characteristics of our projectile.

### Create the Asset

1. In the Content Browser, **right-click** → **Ballistics** → **Bullet Properties**
2. Name it `BP_556_NATO_Properties`
3. **Double-click** to open the editor

### Configure Properties

Set these values for a 5.56x45mm NATO round:

```yaml
Bullet Properties:
  Grain Weight: 55.0
  Diameter Inches: 0.224
  Length Inches: 0.825
  Bullet Type: Full Metal Jacket
  Bullet Material: Copper Jacket

Ballistics:
  Ballistic Coefficient G1: 0.151
  Ballistic Coefficient G7: 0.076
  Use G7 Model: false

Penetration:
  Bullet Hardness: 15.0
  Penetration Energy Threshold: 58.0
  Expansion Velocity Threshold: 1800.0
```

![Bullet Properties](https://placehold.co/800x600/2e8555/white?text=Bullet+Properties+Editor)

## Step 2: Set Up Physical Materials

Configure materials that bullets will interact with.

### Create Steel Material

1. Content Browser → **right-click** → **Physics** → **Physical Material**
2. Name it `PM_Steel`
3. Open the material editor
4. In the **Ballistics** section:
   - Click **Create New** to generate ballistic properties
   - The system will auto-configure steel properties

### Create Wood Material

1. Create another Physical Material: `PM_Wood`
2. In the **Ballistics** section:
   - Click **Create New**
   - The system will detect "wood" in the name and configure accordingly

## Step 3: Create Material Response Map

Define how bullets interact with different materials.

### Create the Asset

1. Content Browser → **right-click** → **Ballistics** → **Material Response Map**
2. Name it `MRM_Default`
3. Open the editor

### Configure Responses

Add entries for your materials:

```yaml
Steel (PM_Steel):
  Penetration Depth Multiplier: 0.3
  Ricochet Probability Multiplier: 2.0
  Ricochet Restitution: 0.8
  Never Penetrate: false
  Never Ricochet: false

Wood (PM_Wood):
  Penetration Depth Multiplier: 2.0
  Ricochet Probability Multiplier: 0.1
  Ricochet Restitution: 0.2
  Never Penetrate: false
  Never Ricochet: false
```

## Step 4: Create a Simple Weapon

Now let's create a weapon that fires ballistic projectiles.

### Create Weapon Blueprint

1. Create **Actor Blueprint**: `BP_SimpleRifle`
2. Add a **Static Mesh Component** for the weapon model
3. Add an **EB Barrel Component**

### Configure the Barrel

Select the **EB Barrel** component and set:

```yaml
Ammunition:
  Bullet Class: EBBullet (from dropdown)
  Bullet Properties Asset: BP_556_NATO_Properties
  Material Response Map: MRM_Default

Ballistics:
  Muzzle Velocity Min: 3100
  Muzzle Velocity Max: 3200
  Use Mathematical Physics: true
  Use New Impact System: true

Fire Mode:
  Fire Mode: Semiauto
  Rounds Per Minute: 600
```

### Add Firing Logic

In the **Event Graph**, add this simple firing setup:

```cpp
// On Input Action Fire (or your input event)
Event InputAction Fire
    ↓
Branch (Can Fire?)
    ↓ True
Call Function: Fire Single Shot
    ↓
Set Timer by Function Name
    - Function Name: "Reset Fire Cooldown"
    - Time: 0.1 (for 600 RPM)
```

## Step 5: Set Up Target Objects

Create objects to shoot at with proper materials.

### Create Target Blueprint

1. Create **Actor Blueprint**: `BP_Target`
2. Add **Static Mesh Component** (use a cube or custom model)
3. Set the **Physical Material** to either `PM_Steel` or `PM_Wood`
4. Enable **Collision** and **Simulate Physics**

### Add Impact Response

Add an **EB Ballistic Impact Component** to the target:

```cpp
// In the target's Event Graph
OnBallisticImpact
    ↓
Branch (Did Penetrate?)
    ↓ True: Spawn Penetration Effect
    ↓ False: Spawn Impact Effect

OnBallisticRicochet
    ↓
Spawn Ricochet Effect
    ↓
Play Ricochet Sound
```

## Step 6: Test the System

Time to see your ballistic system in action!

### Testing Setup

1. Place `BP_SimpleRifle` in your level
2. Place several `BP_Target` actors with different materials
3. Set up a **Player Controller** or **Pawn** to control the weapon
4. **Play** the level

### What to Look For

- **Penetration**: Bullets should penetrate wood more easily than steel
- **Ricochet**: Bullets should ricochet off steel at shallow angles
- **Material Response**: Different materials should show different impact behaviors
- **Physics**: Targets should receive impulse and move when hit

### Debug Features

Enable these for testing:

```yaml
Bullet Debug Options:
  Debug Enabled: true
  Debug Trail Time: 2.0
  Debug Trail Color Fast: Green
  Debug Trail Color Slow: Red
```

You'll see colored trails showing bullet paths!

## Expected Results

After completing this setup, you should have:

✅ **Realistic Ballistics**: Bullets affected by gravity and air resistance  
✅ **Material Interactions**: Different penetration/ricochet on steel vs wood  
✅ **Impact Events**: Targets respond to bullet impacts  
✅ **Debug Visualization**: Visible bullet trails for testing  

## Troubleshooting

### Bullets Not Spawning
- Check that `Bullet Class` is set to `EBBullet`
- Verify `Bullet Properties Asset` is assigned
- Ensure the barrel component is properly configured

### No Material Response
- Verify targets have **Physical Materials** assigned
- Check that materials are added to the **Material Response Map**
- Ensure `Use New Impact System` is enabled

### Poor Performance
- Enable **Object Pooling** in bullet settings
- Reduce **Max Traces Per Step** if needed
- Consider using **Fixed Step** simulation for consistency

## Next Steps

Now that you have a basic system working:

1. [Core Concepts](../core-concepts/overview) - Understand the system architecture
2. [API Reference](../api/overview) - Detailed function documentation
3. [Troubleshooting](../troubleshooting) - Common issues and solutions

## Getting Help

- Join our [Discord](https://discord.gg/easyballistics) for real-time help
- Check the [API Reference](../api/overview) for detailed function documentation
- Browse the [Troubleshooting Guide](../troubleshooting) for common issues