Ropes and hanging props

Hey all, first time poster here, but I've been reading the site for a few weeks and have gotten some helpful information. I'm building a CS:S map and am trying to create hanging lights in an archway. I've read every tutorial I can find but I keep running into the same problems, so let me explain what I'm doing:

I make a move_rope entity, based just under the ceiling of the archway. A few units down, I create a keyframe_rope entity. I make sure move_rope has its keyframe set as this keyframe I just made. The rope appears as it should in the 3d view. Then I make the lantern prop, and I've been experimenting with prop_physics_multiplayer, and props_physics_override to no avail. I parent the keyframe to the lantern, then throw in the the phys_pulleyconstraint entity to keep the rope taut.

When I actually load my map, I've gotten a number of results according to the various methods I've attempted. When I go to look, the lantern is on the ground and there is no rope. Or, the rope is visible, but the prop is not. What is really weird is that the rope runs from its position down to 0,0,0 on the map... it totally disregards the keyframe entity and defaults to the center of the map, regardless of the geometry collision setting. I don't know what else to do other than give up. Can anyone suggest anything to help?

Was doing a little searching and this came up... http://www.halflife2.net/forums/archive/index.php/t-49358.html

and this

http://www.anozireth.com/index.php?option=content&task=view&id=7&Itemid=26

Actually...wow, I've made hanging lights before, but I've never heard anything about that logic_measure_movement entity. Very interesting. Since that second tut is in CS: S obviously, maybe that invalidates the first post? Good luck with it...perhaps I'll revisit these hanging lights...most have the trouble of having them be all twitchy-like, including me.

EDIT: Actually the way described in that post obviously isn't the only way to do it...he mentions the problem that models will only be connected by their origin, but I think there's a way around this...having the length constraint go between the two rope entities and parenting the model to the lower rope entity?

What effect are you trying to achieve here? First of all, what happens when the light is just a prop_physics? Ropes going wrong like this are usually problems with the things they're meant to be attached to, rather than anything else.

And secondly if you just want a hanging light, just use a phys_lengthconstraint entity between the model and an info_target somewhere!

Well, I've been experimenting over and over with hanging objects, and just prop entities in general to give you an idea of what is occuring. Prop_physics entities don't even show up in my map. Prop_physics_multiplayer do appear, however, if they are supposed to be bound to a rope entity, they don't appear, or appear on the ground with no rope. I tried your suggestion of an info target and length constraint, and that did not work. The prop ended up on the ground. Those props that I attempted to hang with ropes did not appear, but the ropes appear and run to 0,0,0 on my map.

What I'm trying to attain is a series of arches with a common ceiling, and from the ceiling hang lanterns that move around in the wind, or when shot. The light from the lanterns (light_dynamic prop) will swing around with the lantern and make eerie shadows through the arches.

Why's it on the ground? 2 reasons- either it's falling there because you haven't set up the lengthconstraint properly, or it's starting there because there's a problem with the prop itself (tried a prop_dynamic? Is it touching a wall or another solid object or prop?). I think the fact that your rope end is moving to 0,0,0 tells me that it's the latter...

I'm pretty sure all you need here is the correct prop_ entity and a lengthconstraint between the prop itself and an info_target- NOT between the keyframe and an object- otherwise it will look unrealistic if the rope doesn't go slack when the light gets blown about. Check out the tutorial I wrote here about television screens as it shows you how to use these entities, it can be fiddly to get working.

Well I made a test map and I've been fiddling around with rope entities and props some more to see what I could get to happen. So far here's what I've managed to do:

I can make a rope from point A to point B.

I can make a prop_physics_multiplayer that is constrained to a move_rope entity. The prop appears, floating in mid air. There is, as expected, no rope, which is something I want to appear attached to the prop.

However, if I make a rope from point A to B but do not make point B (the keyframe) parented to the prop, the rope appears dangling and the prop will be sitting there on the floor. If I parent point B to the prop, the rope defaullts to 0, 0, 0 in the game (despite appearing normal in Hammer) and the prop remains on the ground. Any help would be much appreciated.

After doing some reading on the net, I found a few forum posts that seem to indicate that this is actually an issue with Hammer and CSS maps, and not a problem with entities or ropes not being placed correctly by the user. Helpful in that it means I don't have to waste my time trying until it's actually fixed by Valve - but disappointing no less. Thanks for all your help.