Mapping Question Megathread v3

[Pales]

Hey guys. Would it be possible for anyone to take a look at my VMF over steam and show me how to properly introduce rounded corners? I've tried many tutorials, but to be honest, I just don't understand how to execute it properly. Would really appreciate some 'one on one' tutoring! :P

Steam name: PalesSDK (Auric Logo)

[TCB]

Make a cylinder and clip it into quarters, then use one of them as a rounded corner.

[phabeZ]

[QUOTE=phabeZ;37968305]I've been fiddling around with a map and I'm looking for advice regarding a couple of things.

Firstly, I request some optimization help. The area right now is relatively small, so really the only optimization I've done is func_detailing most things. To help you understand how you can help, I'll try give a bit of perspective by describing the area and I'll provide a hammer screenshot below. I intend to have 2 rows of prison cells, with 6 cells each row (so 12 total). They will sit adjacent to each other and the doors will face towards each other. Inside, they're all going to have a few props (both static and physics), quite a few func_detail brushes, lights, env_sprites walls, floor, roof and some decals here and there. All cells will be virtually the same but different in their own way like rotated/relocated props and what not.

Now, taking reference from Valve maps (specifically ar_monastery), I have placed area portals on the doorway and window in the prison cell (it is 100% sealed so no leaks there). Now I ask are area portals the right way to do this or is there a better method for it (I heard due to all the calculations being made they can be laggy if there's too many)? Also if it is, should I have individual brushes for each doorway + window, or should I have one large brush running across each 6 cells doorways + windows?

Screenshot to hopefully help you understand, the window is behind the wood on the back wall, it's func_breakable

Secondly, I made a custom blend texture (using 2 existing textures) and it seems to have increased one of the textures size when I use the blend texture, I imagine this is because one of the textures is larger than the other, though I may be wrong. Now, I ask is there a way I can reduce the stretched texture back down to its normal size without the other texture being shrunk at the same time? It would be preferable if I could somehow just do it through the .vmt or something, but I understand that might not be possible.

For reference this is the .vmt

WorldVertexTransition
{
$basetexture "nature/vostok_snow"
$basetexture2 "stone/stone_floor_01"
$blendmodulatetexture "nature/tibet_blendmod_snow_rock"
$surfaceprop snow
$surfaceprop2 concrete
}

Thanks if advance for any help[/QUOTE]

Still looking for help if anyone can, I've progressed a bit more from one cell now though so I just need to know the best way to optimize these cells, some of which are pretty heavy on the props. Here's a screenshot of all the cells, still no doors but they'll come eventually.

[t]http://i.imgur.com/0AvsB.jpg[/t]

Also I've been wondering a couple more things.

Firstly, how do I fix this:
[t]http://i.imgur.com/fvb4K.jpg[/t]

Both (what I imagine to be) the reflections on the barbed wire and the errors. The errors are supposed to be 'models/de_aztec/aztec_stone_bulge.mdl', and they are prop_details - I'm not really sure when I'm supposed to use prop_detail as opposed to other prop types, however I recall decompiling de_aztec a while ago and seeing that prop_details were used on stone bulges then (though I might be wrong, like I said it was a while ago). I could do a bit of trial and error to see if it is the prop type causing the problem but since I'm posting here anyway I figured I'd ask.

Secondly, a minor but a little annoying problem which I've had for a while, in hammer 'info_player_terrorist' appears as a big ERROR sign, CT is fine but T is the problem. In game I see the T models fine so it's only in hammer that this error sign exists for the t model, so I don't know what I've done to make it an error sign.

Again any help would be appreciated, thanks in advance.

[Vamp]

I am porting over a model from CS:S and I have the model files but when I load them in hammer I get pink and black textures. I looked for the textures in the CFG but couldn't find them, I even opened the model in the model viewer in SDK and it said the texture was loaded from the same place as the model but found no VTF's. Am I just putting them in the wrong place? I made a folder system based off of where it came from "models/props/cs_office" but the texture still doesn't show.
I packed them into the map with pakrat too.
[IMG]http://www.mediafire.com/conv/daaabac692bf0ee06fea53db34d5c8b326a8af59dd1a5967dc16196707d45bdc6g.jpg[/IMG]

[Cheshire_cat]

[QUOTE=overwatch pvt;37979585]So I have a combine performing a scripted sequence where he places a grenade, I want to have the grenade destroy a fence its placed next to or just have the fence removed at the time of the grenade explosion, is that possible to do?[/QUOTE]
Is the fence a prop or a brush? What model name is it?

[Swilly]

What's the best course of action when it comes to making tunnels in Hammer?

I have this large as fuck cylindrical shaft and I want to keep the tiled wall texture I'm using to spread out into this shaft but it doesn't tile very well or at all.

[editline]11th October 2012[/editline]

Edit:Nevermind, I'm doing each floor, layer by layer.

[overwatch pvt]

[QUOTE=Cheshire_cat;37999861]Is the fence a prop or a brush? What model name is it?[/QUOTE]

The fence is 2 models named fence01b and fence01a.

[Cheshire_cat]

[QUOTE=overwatch pvt;38000116]The fence is 2 models named fence01b and fence01a.[/QUOTE]
To start, change both fence models to prop_dynamics and name them the same thing.
Then put an env_explosion near the spot where the combine soldier drops the grenade. Add a trigger to the env_explosion targeting the fence models.
Click the flag at the bottom of the window to set the output to fire once only, then add a value of [I]Disable[/I] and save it.
Finally, don't forget to set the combine soldier's animation to activate the env_explosion after it's completed.

If all goes well, the soldier will walk over, play the scripted_sequence to drop the 'grenade', then the env_explosion will detonate and the fences will disappear, allowing the player to continue.

[yy958]

I just got introduced to the source sdk mod option, and I have two questions. Can someone give me a link to a good tutorial for source mod? And, could I put lua/programming language sweps and entities into the mod?

[overwatch pvt]

[QUOTE=Cheshire_cat;38002563]To start, change both fence models to prop_dynamics and name them the same thing.
Then put an env_explosion near the spot where the combine soldier drops the grenade. Add a trigger to the env_explosion targeting the fence models.
Click the flag at the bottom of the window to set the output to fire once only, then add a value of [I]Disable[/I] and save it.
Finally, don't forget to set the combine soldier's animation to activate the env_explosion after it's completed.

If all goes well, the soldier will walk over, play the scripted_sequence to drop the 'grenade', then the env_explosion will detonate and the fences will disappear, allowing the player to continue.[/QUOTE]

Many thanks, Ill test that when I get the chance to get back into hammer.

[lorde banana]

Anyone know the name of the glass texture that kinda looks like it has honey combs in it? Also, does anyone have a site that shows what textures look like in game?

[marcopixel]

[QUOTE=Banana Lord.;37976911]A while ago someone posted a download of like 10 super awesome skyboxes they made, does anyone happen to have a link to that thread? Thanks![/QUOTE]

Do you mean Firegod's Skyboxes?

[URL="https://dl.dropbox.com/u/55412016/websites/skybox_list.html"]https://dl.dropbox.com/u/55412016/websites/skybox_list.html[/URL]

[TCB]

that question was already answered

[pac0master]

Hey guys i need help about portal 2 mapping .. Im working on a map where you wake up from a bed but when you enter the map, you start with the portal gun so i added a weapon strip but when we start, we hear the portal gun getting equiped sound and we see the portal gun disapear from your head in a fraction of seconds later .. I dont want to hear the sound and just not starting with it at all .. i just dont know what to do

Thanks for help :)

[Kube]

[QUOTE=LtKyle2;37862600]So apparently clicking the texture tool crashes Hammer.

What do?[/QUOTE]

[LordManatee]

I'm trying to make a combination gun wall / dispensery for a JB map I'm making.
I want the guns behind a glass wall on display, and a small button on the glass in front.
The problem is, the player can pick up the guns THROUGH the glass wall.

How do I either make the guns not be able to be picked up through the wall, or turn the gun itself into just a static model?

Thanks for any help.

EDIT: Figured it out on my own. :]

[Azzator]

[QUOTE=LtKyle2;38015232]something[/QUOTE]

reinstall, verify your game files, restart steam, etc;

[Swog]

[QUOTE=LtKyle2;38015232][/QUOTE]

Is Source SDK open as well Hammer?

[Cheshire_cat]

[QUOTE=Banana Lord.;38011404]Anyone know the name of the glass texture that kinda looks like it has honey combs in it? Also, does anyone have a site that shows what textures look like in game?[/QUOTE]
If I think what you're talking about, it should be [I]glass/glasswindow007a[/I].

[ScottyWired]

How did this happen? It looks cool.
[t]http://i.imgur.com/FnBMn.jpg[/t]

EDIT: Don't worry, I figured it out. Carved a smaller cylinder into another and the funny line were a side effect..

[lorde banana]

[QUOTE=Cheshire_cat;38015927]If I think what you're talking about, it should be [I]glass/glasswindow007a[/I].[/QUOTE]

it's close but that's not [i]exactly[/i] it but it'll work for what I need, thanks!

the one I'm looking for has legit honey comb shapes in it and I think it has a blueish tint

[Samuel2213]

[QUOTE=ScottyWired;38018219]How did this happen? It looks cool.
[t]http://i.imgur.com/FnBMn.jpg[/t]

EDIT: Don't worry, I figured it out. Carved a smaller cylinder into another and the funny line were a side effect..[/QUOTE]

Don't use carve. Those 'funny lines' will cause errors, and cause the compile time to explode. If you want to cut holes into things use the clipping tool.

[Shirky]

Anybody know why or how to fix Alien Swarm version of hammer from crashing ALL the time?

[img]https://dl.dropbox.com/u/4112921/runtime.JPG[/img]

[g-foxisus]

Is it possible to convert a quake 3 map file (.map) to a model or .bsp?

[overwatch pvt]

So I was texturing some of my brushes with the toolsinvisible texture to cut down on compiling time and after I loaded my map up the npcs and I could shoot through any brush the had a side textured with that texture. Does anyone know why?

[Kwaq]

[QUOTE=ScottyWired;38018219]How did this happen? It looks cool.
[t]http://i.imgur.com/FnBMn.jpg[/t]

EDIT: Don't worry, I figured it out. Carved a smaller cylinder into another and the funny line were a side effect..[/QUOTE]

[img]http://i.imgur.com/L6nn4.png[/img]
[img]http://i.imgur.com/wlBEQ.png[/img]

[Swog]

[QUOTE=Shirky;38019420]Anybody know why or how to fix Alien Swarm version of hammer from crashing ALL the time?

[img]https://dl.dropbox.com/u/4112921/runtime.JPG[/img][/QUOTE]

Try reinstalling.

[Shirky]

[QUOTE=overwatch pvt;38022550]So I was texturing some of my brushes with the toolsinvisible texture to cut down on compiling time and after I loaded my map up the npcs and I could shoot through any brush the had a side textured with that texture. Does anyone know why?[/QUOTE]
Use nodraw as an optimization texture not toolsinvisible.

[editline]13th October 2012[/editline]

[QUOTE=G-foxisus;38021967]Is it possible to convert a quake 3 map file (.map) to a model or .bsp?[/QUOTE]

Is the .map file the level file, or the editor file? Because if it is the editor file I could imagine it working with a bit of tweaking.

[overwatch pvt]

[QUOTE=Shirky;38022897]Use nodraw as an optimization texture not toolsinvisible.

[/QUOTE]

So Im assuming I want to use toolsinvisible if I want to create an invisible wall that can be shot through but not passed through right?

[g-foxisus]

Level file. I'm trying to convert a RTCW map (which runs on a modified Quake III engine) to a model or bsp valid file. It would also be handy (should anyone know) if its possible to configure the draw distances in a Quake III game