Factorio Forums

/c game.player.print(game.player.character.supports_direction)
-> returns true
/c game.player.print(game.player.character.orientation)
-> returns 0
/c game.player.print(game.player.character.direction)
-> returns 0

depending on the facing direction, the player's position is not exactly centered on the player model.
so when you spawn a circle (a shield for example) on a player, it will be offset when the player is facing left or right.

This is already fixed for 0.17. In the meantime you can use player.walking_state.direction.