It’s the mouse position when you click, but it could take inspiration from what your game has–a bar that stretches out or something like that. Thanks for playing and for the suggestion!
Well, yes the mouse/cursor does set the direction. There’s a behind the curtain skill for throw strength that increases each level. There’s a drag force that slows down the pine cones over distance and they need to be going a certain speed when they hit to take down the penguin.
The projectiles were far more trouble than I expected. Sometimes I’ll shoot one and ask myself, “Now, why didn’t that knock down that penguin?” Penguin feet seem especially resistant to pine cones for reasons I do not understand.