diff --git a/src/nodes/level.cpp b/src/nodes/level.cpp
index d145eaf..47a1998 100644
--- a/src/nodes/level.cpp
+++ b/src/nodes/level.cpp
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ namespace rl::inline node
         if (this->active()) [[likely]]
         {
             godot::Point2 mouse_pos{ this->get_global_mouse_position() };
-            this->draw_circle(mouse_pos, 10, { "DARK_CYAN" });
+            this->draw_circle(mouse_pos, 5, { "DARK_CYAN" });
         }
     }
 
@@ -70,16 +70,21 @@ namespace rl::inline node
     void Level::on_character_spawn_projectile(godot::Node* obj)
     {
         godot::Node2D* node{ gdcast<godot::Node2D>(obj) };
-        rl::Projectile* proj{ m_projectile_spawner->spawn_projectile() };
-
-        proj->set_position(node->get_global_position());
-        proj->set_rotation(node->get_rotation() - godot::Math::deg_to_rad(45.0));
+        Projectile* projectile{ m_projectile_spawner->spawn_projectile() };
+        if (projectile != nullptr)
+        {
+            projectile->set_position(node->get_global_position());
+            projectile->set_rotation(node->get_rotation() - godot::Math::deg_to_rad(45.0));
 
-        rl::Character* character{ gdcast<rl::Character>(node) };
-        if (character != nullptr)
-            proj->set_velocity(godot::Vector2{ 0, -1 }.rotated(character->get_global_rotation()));
+            Character* character{ gdcast<Character>(node) };
+            if (character != nullptr)
+            {
+                projectile->set_velocity(
+                    godot::Vector2(0, -1).rotated(character->get_global_rotation()));
+            }
 
-        this->add_child(proj);
+            this->add_child(projectile);
+        }
     }
 
     [[signal_slot]]
diff --git a/src/nodes/projectile_spawner.cpp b/src/nodes/projectile_spawner.cpp
index 8786cea..d62cb1f 100644
--- a/src/nodes/projectile_spawner.cpp
+++ b/src/nodes/projectile_spawner.cpp
@@ -1,16 +1,47 @@
 #include "nodes/projectile_spawner.hpp"
 
+#include "util/bind.hpp"
+
 namespace rl::inline node
 {
-    void ProjectileSpawner::_ready()
+    [[nodiscard]]
+    Projectile* ProjectileSpawner::spawn_projectile()
     {
-        m_scene.set_path(path::scene::Bullet);
+        auto elapsed{ clock_t::now() - m_prev_spawn_time };
+        if (elapsed < m_spawn_delay)
+            return nullptr;
+        else
+        {
+            Projectile* projectile{ m_scene.instantiate() };
+            m_prev_spawn_time = clock_t::now();
+            return projectile;
+        }
     }
 
-    [[nodiscard]]
-    Projectile* ProjectileSpawner::spawn_projectile()
+    [[property]]
+    double ProjectileSpawner::get_fire_rate() const
+    {
+        return m_fire_rate;
+    }
+
+    [[property]]
+    void ProjectileSpawner::set_fire_rate(double fire_rate)
+    {
+        m_fire_rate = fire_rate;
+        m_spawn_delay = ProjectileSpawner::calculate_spawn_delay(m_fire_rate);
+    }
+
+    ProjectileSpawner::millisec_t ProjectileSpawner::calculate_spawn_delay(double fire_rate)
+    {
+        // converts fire rate (shots per second) to the time delay between shots in ms.
+        // the multiplication by 100 is just to offset the rounding errors by shifting
+        // the decimal place to the right a few places before dividing.
+        return (1000ms * 100) / static_cast<uint64_t>(fire_rate * 100);
+    }
+
+    void ProjectileSpawner::_bind_methods()
     {
-        Projectile* projectile{ m_scene.instantiate() };
-        return projectile;
+        bind_member_function(ProjectileSpawner, get_fire_rate);
+        bind_member_function(ProjectileSpawner, set_fire_rate);
     }
 }
diff --git a/src/nodes/projectile_spawner.hpp b/src/nodes/projectile_spawner.hpp
index d599983..aeb9ff3 100644
--- a/src/nodes/projectile_spawner.hpp
+++ b/src/nodes/projectile_spawner.hpp
@@ -1,14 +1,19 @@
 #pragma once
 
 #include "nodes/projectile.hpp"
+#include "util/bind.hpp"
 #include "util/constants.hpp"
 #include "util/scene.hpp"
 
+#include <chrono>
+
 #include <godot_cpp/classes/node2d.hpp>
 #include <godot_cpp/variant/typed_array.hpp>
 
 namespace rl::inline node
 {
+    using namespace std::chrono_literals;
+
     class ProjectileSpawner : public godot::Node2D
     {
         GDCLASS(ProjectileSpawner, godot::Node2D);
@@ -17,15 +22,27 @@ namespace rl::inline node
         ProjectileSpawner() = default;
         ~ProjectileSpawner() = default;
 
-        void _ready() override;
         Projectile* spawn_projectile();
 
     protected:
-        static void _bind_methods()
-        {
-        }
+        [[property]] double get_fire_rate() const;
+        [[property]] void set_fire_rate(double fire_rate);
 
-    protected:
-        resource::preload::scene<Projectile> m_scene;
+        static void _bind_methods();
+
+    private:
+        using clock_t = std::chrono::high_resolution_clock;
+        using millisec_t = std::chrono::milliseconds;
+        static millisec_t calculate_spawn_delay(double fire_rate);
+
+    private:
+        // number of prjectiles per second
+        double m_fire_rate{ 10.0 };
+        // time delay between shots (ms). multiplication by 100 is just to offset rounding errors.
+        millisec_t m_spawn_delay{ ProjectileSpawner::calculate_spawn_delay(m_fire_rate) };
+        // the time point that keeps track of when the last projectile was spawned.
+        clock_t::time_point m_prev_spawn_time{ clock_t::now() };
+        // preloaded packed scene that will be instantiated per spawn
+        resource::preload::scene<Projectile> m_scene{ path::scene::Bullet };
     };
 }