---
name: "setParticleRandom"
type: command
status: ok
groups: ["Particles"]
arma3_since: "0.50"
locality: {"argument": "global", "effect": "local", "server_exec": false}
source: https://community.bistudio.com/wiki/setParticleRandom
revid: 378785
updated: 2026-06-05T12:18:37Z
---

# setParticleRandom

*Command · Particles · Arma 3 v0.50 · introduced in Operation Flashpoint: Elite v1.00*

Locality: arguments **global** · effect **local**

## Description

Sets randomization of particle source parameters. Correspondence between CfgCloudlets class param names and command array of params:

```sqf
particleSource setParticleRandom
[
    lifeTimeVar,
    positionVar,
    moveVelocityVar,
    rotationVelocityVar,
    sizeVar,
    colorVar,
    randomDirectionPeriodVar,
    randomDirectionIntensityVar,
    angleVar,
    bounceOnSurfaceVar
];
```

## Syntax

```sqf
particleSource setParticleRandom [lifeTime, position, moveVelocity, rotationVelocity, size, color, directionPeriod, directionIntensity, angle, bounceOnSurface]
```

**Parameters:**

- `particleSource`: [Object](../topics/Object.md)
- `lifeTime`: [Number](../topics/Number.md)
- `position`: [Array](../topics/Array.md) of [Number](../topics/Number.md) - in format [randomX, randomY, randomZ]
- `moveVelocity`: [Array](../topics/Array.md) of [Number](../topics/Number.md) - in format [randomX, randomY, randomZ]
- `rotationVelocity`: [Number](../topics/Number.md)
- `size`: [Number](../topics/Number.md)
- `color`: [Color (RGBA)](../topics/Color.md)
- `directionPeriod`: [Number](../topics/Number.md)
- `directionIntensity`: [Number](../topics/Number.md)
- `angle`: [Number](../topics/Number.md) - (Optional)
- `bounceOnSurface`: [Number](../topics/Number.md) - (Optional) *(since arma3 0.74)*

**Returns:** [Nothing](../topics/Nothing.md)

## Examples

### Example 1

```sqf
_particleSource setParticleRandom [0, [0.1, 0.1, 0.1], [0, 0, 0.5], 0, 0.1, [0, 0, 0, 0], 0, 0, 45, 0];
```

## See also

ParticleArray · [setParticleCircle](../commands/setParticleCircle.md) · [setParticleParams](../commands/setParticleParams.md) · ParticleTemplates · [setParticleClass](../commands/setParticleClass.md) · [particlesQuality](../commands/particlesQuality.md) · [setParticleFire](../commands/setParticleFire.md)

## Community notes

**DarkDruid** — 2013-07-03

Support of parameter *bounceOnSurface* ([Number](../topics/Number.md) - 0-1) is in the game since Arma 3 version 0.74. It's variability in speed's loosing in collision with ground. Requires collisions with ground enabled by script command [setParticleParams](../commands/setParticleParams.md).

<sub>Source: [BI Community Wiki — setParticleRandom](https://community.bistudio.com/wiki/setParticleRandom) (revision 378785).</sub>