map_edit methods

I heard vague rumors of this method before but never knew how unusual and strange it was. There's a console command called "map_edit". You can use it to load maps while Hammer is running in the background and "synchronize" changes in game with Hammer(!). It can be used for moving AI nodes in realtime or place physics_props where you need them with the gravity gun and then write the new positions in the Hammer VMF file(!?!).

What interests me the most so far is the ability to settle physics props on a stable ground position to avoid a short lag at the map-load. But the existence of this feature alone is quite amazing. And I never heard of it in all the years.

Here's the full description:

http://developer.valvesoftware.com/wiki/Map_edit#Using_map_edit_to_settle_physics_props

---

Why snark works.

having props start asleep is a huge physics saving throughout the game, even though it's more noticable at startup. i can see me using this for small breakable stuff, that wouldn't be expected to last very long after being bumped awake, so there's no buildup of collision calculations.

---

i eat paint

Meh, I knew about this but it seems merely nothing more than a gimmick 8=\ (Forgive me if I'm wrong ofcourse).

---

Just Kidding

Just Kidding

I just found this to come out of nowhere for me. HL2 interlinked with Hammer to edit entity positions in the VMF? If I heard of that earlier without any proof I wouldn't have believed it. :smile:

---

Why snark works.

<DIV class=quote>
<DIV class=quotetitle>? quote:</DIV>
<DIV class=quotetext>Meh, I knew about this but it seems merely nothing more than a gimmick </DIV></DIV>

a gimmick that places physics props perfectly on the ground, so that they can start asleep, is the gimmick for me.

even doing stuff like blocking off corridors with big piles of furniture is so much easier to do with something like this. the last time i done that, it took forever to get a wardrobe and two chairs to fit together, without bits of one sticking through one of the others. this would probably have saved me half an hour with that one barricade alone.

---

i eat paint

I must admit to the fact that the post I made was rather hastily. I really just wanted to state that I new about the feature before. I guess the reason it never caught on for me was because of the fiddly quicksaving/quick loading that must take place in order for this feature to be of any use.

---

Just Kidding

Just Kidding

It's not really something that speeds up mapping, it's more for situations that would make pretty much every other method impossible. Like stacking phys props in a complicate way. I'm sure it could come in handy for SP AI controls, too.

---

Why snark works.

Hmm, me wants to try this.
I'm going to have to make some barricades in the next map I'm going to make, and this looks like the perfect thing for it.

---

Also change the texture of the dock. Docks are rarely tile. -Facepunch
As I Lay Dying