version 3.3
Before you get started with making maps, Worldcraft has to be properly configured. Although there is a version of it on the Half-Life/Counter-Strike CD, it is recommended you get the newest version from the files page (or at least v3.3, for the purpose of this tutorial).
The first time you start Worldcraft, it will give you a dialogue box in which to configure everything. Later on, it can be accessed from the tools menu (tools > options). Here's what to edit in order to get started- don't worry what everything means, just do as I say!
General
You might want to lower the undo levels here- 10 is recommended for most PCs, as more can really slow it down. You can leave all the boxes unchecked if you want.
2D views
Uncheck the "Use VisGroups colors" box or else all your solids will be different coloured (trust me, it's better off white). I also suggest you tick the "white on black color scheme" box too.
3D views
Turn on "mouselook navigation"; this'll let you look around your map whilst you're making it in the 3D window.
Textures
These are the images that go onto the walls and floors and other objects making up your level. The textures are stored in WAD files, so click on "add WAD" and go to your half-life/valve directory, where you will find several. You don't need to use them all (as many newbies do), halflife.wad will do for now (others include xen.wad for alien style textures, liquids.wad for liquids and decals.wad for decals which are like stickers). Change texture brightness if you have a dark monitor, this slider only affects texture brightness as seen in the 3D window.
Game Configurations
Build Programs
These are the programs that will compile your map, i.e. "build" it so that you can play it in Half-Life. Make sure Half-Life is selected in the configuration menu (under the 'game configuration' tab, above). In the "Game" box type in the path to Half-Life, e.g. c:gameshalf-lifehl.exe. Worldcraft comes with a set of these, but you should use Zoner's versions- the latest versions can be downloaded here. Simply enter the correct path to the relevant tools- your CSG program should be HLCSG, BSP should be HLBSP, etc... And finally, compiled maps should be placed in your half-lifevalvemaps directory before running the game (or cstrike/maps for Counter-Strike, and similarly for other mods).
As a final note, compile tools tend not to like spaces in folder/file names. If you get 'cannot find file' errors when you compile, place your maps and compilers into directories without spaces in them, or use the DOS '~1' notation (so, for example, C:My Documents becomes c:mydocu~1).
The first time you start Worldcraft, it will give you a dialogue box in which to configure everything. Later on, it can be accessed from the tools menu (tools > options). Here's what to edit in order to get started- don't worry what everything means, just do as I say!
General
You might want to lower the undo levels here- 10 is recommended for most PCs, as more can really slow it down. You can leave all the boxes unchecked if you want.
2D views
Uncheck the "Use VisGroups colors" box or else all your solids will be different coloured (trust me, it's better off white). I also suggest you tick the "white on black color scheme" box too.
3D views
Turn on "mouselook navigation"; this'll let you look around your map whilst you're making it in the 3D window.
Textures
These are the images that go onto the walls and floors and other objects making up your level. The textures are stored in WAD files, so click on "add WAD" and go to your half-life/valve directory, where you will find several. You don't need to use them all (as many newbies do), halflife.wad will do for now (others include xen.wad for alien style textures, liquids.wad for liquids and decals.wad for decals which are like stickers). Change texture brightness if you have a dark monitor, this slider only affects texture brightness as seen in the 3D window.
Game Configurations
- Configuration:
The name of the game you are editing. Adding others to this list will allow you to use different settings for WC, which is useful for making maps for mods. - Game data files:
The FGD file(s) that you're currently using. In most cases you should use only one. - Default PointEntity and SolidEntity class:
The first entity that appears on your lists (these should be the entities that you use most often) - Game executable directory:
The folder that Half-Life is in (hl.exe) - Mod directory:
If you're setting up a mod, this is the subdirectory it is in (e.g. cstrike for counterstrike) - Game directory:
This should point to your half-life/valve directory - RMF directory:
Default folder for saving your maps. I save mine in half-life/maps but it's up to you as this only affects Worldcraft.
Build Programs
These are the programs that will compile your map, i.e. "build" it so that you can play it in Half-Life. Make sure Half-Life is selected in the configuration menu (under the 'game configuration' tab, above). In the "Game" box type in the path to Half-Life, e.g. c:gameshalf-lifehl.exe. Worldcraft comes with a set of these, but you should use Zoner's versions- the latest versions can be downloaded here. Simply enter the correct path to the relevant tools- your CSG program should be HLCSG, BSP should be HLBSP, etc... And finally, compiled maps should be placed in your half-lifevalvemaps directory before running the game (or cstrike/maps for Counter-Strike, and similarly for other mods).
As a final note, compile tools tend not to like spaces in folder/file names. If you get 'cannot find file' errors when you compile, place your maps and compilers into directories without spaces in them, or use the DOS '~1' notation (so, for example, C:My Documents becomes c:mydocu~1).
