Noobish question about angles

[Jase]

I know it's quite lame to ask this but, I do struggle with this type of math, as I haven't studied it much. I'll try to explain the best I can.

When dealing with engines with slopes in them, people tend to use 2 angle dots that detect the floor below the character. Then, according to both the dots Y positions, it calculates the angle for the character sprite to rotate to. How does this work?

Also, If the character is on a slope already, say, a 45degree angle slope, how would I make the angle dots move towards the correct angle, rather than directly down?

I am aware that this uses the Sin/Cos functions, and I have tried dissecting code from other engines, but I never really understood how it all worked.

Sorry for asking a very detailed question, and probably explaining it rather poorly. But whatever replies I get will be greatly appreciated

[arfa]

Here is an example of 'dot following' - a car on hills.
Not sure if it will help but just might.

http://www.buddhamind.info/mmf/AK_angleSeries.mfa
Basically it sets the angle of the car using triangulation.

[Eliyahu]

If you're looking for some help understanding how trigonometry works, I wrote an article: http://www.clickteam.com/epicenter/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=205565

Not completely relevant to your problem, but it'll give you an idea on how these sin and cos function work, instead of using them blindly. Just if you want to check it out sometime

[Jase]

arfa, that image you attached made me understand how the method actually retrieves the angle, which is helpful to me, thanks!

Eliyahu, checking out the guide at the moment

[Pixelthief]

and as far as finding the points themselves, this might help:
http://www.clickteam.com/epicenter/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=207486#Post2074 86

[arfa]

The two primary building blocks are Pythagoras and trigonometery.

The second....
Your car has broken down. The ubiquitous, slightly predatory tow truck driver arrives. You look at him for a short while and say:
"So, car tow-er?" as in one who tows
This says it all - SOH CAH TOA

Sine = Opposite over Hypotenuse
Cosine = Adjacent over Hypotenuse
Tangent = Opposite over Adjacent

High school memory that has never failed...