Homing Projectiles

Hello!

I'm working on a plugin for a friend's server, and I was wondering what you guys think the most effective way to create a homing projectile is.

So far I have a plugin the shoots a fire charge when the player right-clicks with a firework in hand. I have a cool-down set up for it, and custom damage for the fire-charge.

I'm looking for the best way to locate and track the nearest player for 5 seconds.
When the player shoots this missile, it should find the closest player, move towards the player, following his movements, and hit the player OR explode after 5 seconds. What would yall recommend?

 

i got my own homing proj plugin, you can edit it and use for yourself

Code:

public void onBowShoot(EntitySpawnEvent event) {
        if (event.getEntityType().equals(EntityType.ARROW)) {
            Arrow arrow = (Arrow) event.getEntity();
            if (arrow.getShooter() instanceof Player) {
                Player shooter = (Player) arrow.getShooter();
                entities = (List<Entity>) shooter.getWorld().getNearbyEntities(shooter.getLocation(), 32, 32, 32);
                if (ArrowPhysics.getTarget(shooter, entities) != null) {
                    Entity target = ArrowPhysics.getTarget(shooter, entities);
                    Arrows.addArrow(arrow);
                    BukkitRunnable r = new BukkitRunnable() {
                        public void run() {
                            if (Arrows.getArrows().contains(arrow)) {
                                ArrowPhysics.addForce(arrow, target);
                            } else {
                                if (!this.isCancelled()) {
                                    this.cancel();
                                }
                            }
                        }
                    };
                    r.runTaskTimerAsynchronously(main, 0L, main.getConfig().getInt("Mechanics.arrow-calc-time")*1L);
                }
            }
        }
    }

Code:

public void onArrowHit(ProjectileHitEvent event) {
        if (event.getEntityType().equals(EntityType.ARROW)) {
            Arrow arrow = (Arrow) event.getEntity();
            if (arrow.getShooter() instanceof Player) {
                Arrows.removeArrow(arrow);
            }
        }
    }

ArrowPhysics class

Code:

public static Entity getTarget(Player shooter, List<Entity> entities) {
        Entity target = null;
        for (Entity e : entities) {
            Vector n = e.getLocation().toVector().subtract(shooter.getLocation().toVector());
            if (shooter.getLocation().getDirection().normalize().crossProduct(n).lengthSquared() < 1.0 && n.normalize().dot(shooter.getLocation().getDirection().normalize()) >= 0) {
                if (target == null || target.getLocation().distanceSquared(shooter.getLocation()) > e.getLocation().distanceSquared(shooter.getLocation())) {
                    target = e;
                    break;
                }
            }
        }
        return target;
    }

    public static void addForce(Arrow arrow, Entity target) {
            Vector v = target.getLocation().add(0.0, target.getHeight()/2, 0.0).toVector().subtract(arrow.getLocation().toVector()).normalize();
            arrow.setVelocity(v.multiply(main.getConfig().getDouble(("Mechanics.arrow-multiplier"))));
            arrow.getLocation().setDirection(v);
    }
}