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I downloaded the ETQW demo and....

...I'm too busy playing for polls.

14%

...it's awesome.

43%

...it's okay, I expected better.

14%

...I'm lost in the valley, anyone have a map?

0%

...my machine won't run it. :-(

29%

Total votes: 7

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Welcome to RUST | Gamedesign.net

Quake 2 editing

Submitted by Gard on Fri, 2003-11-07 22:53.

Quake 2 Editing FAQ

By Richard Neff

This is an attempt to answer the most frequently asked questions on the q2 map editing list and the discussion board, as well as any email we get. If you have a question to add to it then email us the question and the answer. Thanks.

Note: A new Errors FAQ has been created in order to explain some of the more common compiler error messages.

Ed. note: I made this index, so there may be links that are broken/wrong -- in this event, please email Miniwood or Jherax for fixing.

Index:

Clicking on an item in the index will quickly scroll down the page.

Entities and effects

Entities and effects

Why don't my explosions, switchable lights, etc. show up in DM or CTF mode?
Certain entities or effects don't work in Deathmatch or CTF play that exist in single play mode. They are:
-func_explosive
-func_object
-turrets
-named/switched lights (these lights will be constantly on)

Mappack (a Q2 mod) allows for these items to appear in DM play.
(ed. note: no longer seems to exist)

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I'm having trouble with my entity, I've tried setting the right Angle property, but I don't know what value to put in here. How do I set Q2 angles?
The angles in Q2 don't match what you're used to in real life. 0 - is to the right(East) looking from the top view. Then, it's 90 to the North, 180 to the West, and 270 to the South. -1 is up, and -2 is down. Also, there is a bug with the trigger_push entity, you should use 1 instead of 0 if you want the player to be pushed Eastward.

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I want to loop a sound that is heard throughout the level, but it isn't working properly when I set the looped sound to Attenuation -1. What's wrong?
Attenuation = -1 works fine for non-looped sounds. Looped sounds are always attenuation = 3, regardless of what you enter for this value. If you want a looped sound to be heard across the entire map:
1) Find the duration of the sound using Sound Recorder or other audio program. If the .wav file is in one of the Q2 paks, you may have to extract it to your hard disk first. If you don't have a pak editor to do this, a good one is qped, available from www.planetquake.com/qped.
2) Add a func_timer to your level, with the "start on" spawnflag. The wait value of the func_timer should be set to the duration of the .wav file. Target your target_speaker with the func_timer. (David Hyde)

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How do I use a sound I made in Quake 2 with the target_speaker entity?
First make sure your .wav file is mono rather than stereo. Create a custom directory for your custom sounds so that you don't get confused about what sounds came from who or where. All sounds must go somewhere below baseq2\sound, so create a subdirectory baseq2\sound\mysound, for example. In the .map, reference the sound including the relative path below baseq2\sound. For example, the noise field of your target speaker would be "mysound/mywav.wav". Note the forward slash rather than a backslash. (David Hyde)

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How can I create user-controlled turrets?
You can't with the default turret entities in Quake 2. You have to use the Jailbreak TC or Mappack to have a player controlled turret or code your own entity.

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How do I get double doors or other multi-part doors to open at the same time?
You can use the Team attribute to accomplish this. In the Team attribute, put the same name for all the components of the door. When a section of the door opens, all the other sections with the same Team attribute also open.

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What is the maximum distance from the 0,0,0 origin that a map can be?
The maximum size of a map is +4048 or -4048 on any axis from the 0,0,0 origin.

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How do I get multiple items to spawn in Deathmatch Mode, like in some of the Id levels where the BFG and Rocket Launcher interchangeably spawn?
Once again, use the Team attribute for the two entities. Place the two items (for example, the RL and BFG) and give each the same team name (for example, "weaponspawn"). Then, one of them will be spawned, after that item it taken, the next item with the same Team attribute will spawn the next time.

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How to I make "wind tunnels" like the stuff that pushes players along?
See the Tutorials page here at Rust and look for the trigger_push entity.

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Ok, I made a "wind tunnel" with the trigger_push entity. Now, how do I turn it on or off?
Unfortunately, you can't turn the trigger_push on or off using the standard Q2 entity. It's an all-or-nothing deal. The best you can do is turn it off for good in a level, by using the killtarget attribute of another trigger or button. You'll notice Id used this technique in one of their levels.

Mappack (a Q2 mod) allows for switchable trigger_push entities.

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How do I make doors that "swing out" on hinges like my doors at home?
Now we're getting into the rather obvious. Read the tutorial on the func_rotating_door entity on the Tutorials page here at Rust.

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How do I get rid of the teleporter's base and "sparkles" in Quake 2?
Unlike Quake 1, which had no visible signs of teleporters, Quake 2 teleporters have a base and "sparkles" in the later releases of the Quake2 engine. There is a quick "trick" to get around this if you have a deep enough floor. You can simply move the entity down a few Quake units into the floor and both the base and the "sparkles" will disappear. Unfortunately, there is no way to get rid of this if you can't embed the entity into the floor except via coding a new entity or using a mod that has such an entity.

Mappack (a Q2 mod) allows for teleporters without the "sparkles" entities.

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How do I get that cool looking "space" sky in my maps? Or, how to I get a sky to appear at all?
Skies in Quake 2 are slightly different. They need to be defined using the Sky attribute in the Worldspawn entity. (And to keep all you Qoole users from asking, you modify the Worldspawn entity in Qoole by not having anything else selected and choosing the entity properties). The valid skies are unit1_ through unit9_ and space1. Then, any texture with a surface property of sky will use the sky defined. (See the tutorial page for information about Surface and Content Properties)

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I want to make a complex brush with a 90 degree turn in it, how do I do this?
Unfortunately, you cannot make just one big brush with a 90 degree bend in it. It must be made of smaller separate brushes (you can later group them in you editor). This is because the Quake engine cannot handle concave brushes. You can check if a brush is concave in your head like this: Think of one of the vertices in the brush, and see if you can make an imaginary line to another one, where the line goes outside the brush.

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Can I mix entities for the same object? For example, can I make a func_train also a func_explosive?
No. Quake 2 entities can only be assigned to a single entity. You can NOT make the same object two different entities.

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Can I have moving lights in my Quake 2 level?
Not without coding or using a mod that supports it. The original Quake 2 engine doesn't allow the default light entities to move. The Quake 2 Mission Pack: The Reckoning, however, has a rotating_light entity.

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How do I make the func_train entity rotate?
You can't. The func_train entity in Quake 2 can't rotate around an axis. Like the rotating light question however, it all depends on how an entity is coded. Hexen II, for example, has such an entity. So, you'll either have to do coding of your own entity to do this or find a mod that has one.

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How do I make glass that can be shot?
Apply a texture that has the trans_33 or trans_66 property applied (see the Surface and Content Properties tutorial) and make the object a func_explosive. You may want to also target a target_speaker entity to create the breaking glass sound.

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How do I create those fancy "sparks," like the ones found in base1.bsp?
The "sparks" themselves are actually the target_splash entity. However, as the entity name implies, this entity needs to be targeted in order to work. Typically, the target_splash entity is targeted by a func_timer entity, with the random property set. See the target_splash and func_timer tutorials on the tutorials page for more information.

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I created a transparent window on my train/door/moving entity, but it won't move with the rest of the entity...why?
The Quake 2 engine doesn't allow transparent items to move. This means that you can't have windows or other transparent surfaces on trains, doors, etc.

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I've heard someone mention "point entity" and "solid entity." What's the difference between the two?
A point entity is an entity that doesn't require a user-defined model to work. For example, a monster is an example of a point entity since it has a pre-defined model associated with it. A solid entity, however, requires the editor to manually define a brush to be associated with the entity. For example, a door entity is an example of a solid entity. The editor has to define what brush (or brushes) make up the physical door. If a solid entity is not associated with a brush, a PF:SetModel = None error or something similar when the level is started.

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How do I create the F1 computer messages and increment the Goals count?
Use a target_help to create the message. If you need a multi-lined message put "/n" without the quotes or spaces between the words where you want the break to occur. The target_goal is used to increment the Goals count. Typically, you'll want to have both entities named with the same targetname and triggered by an event. See the tutorials page for more information.

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How do I create multi-line text in the F1 computer message, trigger message, level start message, etc.?
Simply use \n (forward slash + n) to create a Q2 line break. Additionally, you should not have any spaces before or after the \n. For example, if you wanted to have:
My Level
By Me
as the level title, you'd put "My Level\nBy Me" (without quotes) in the Worldspawn entity.

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How do I create the cool force field doors that were in the prison levels of Q2?
Use a func_wall, with one of the force field textures (redfield or yelfield) and make it transparent using the surface properties. Then, give the func_wall a targetname and have it activated by a trigger or button.

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I applied the func_water to create a pool of water and it's not transparent. Why?
The func_water entity isn't required for static pools of water or water with currents. It's a specialized entity used for rising/falling water that's activated by a trigger or button. However, the water texture used for func_water can not be transparent! See the func_water tutorial for details.
To create other types of water, make sure the same water texture is applied to all sides of the brush.

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I tried to make a rotating door. I even put the Origin brush in by giving a brush the Origin texture on all sides, but now I'm getting an error like "Origin not allowed in world" Why doesn't this work?
This occurs when the Origin brush hasn't been properly grouped with the rest of the brushes before making it a rotating door or object. Different editors may require their own method of grouping or use the func_group entity, so check the documentation or editor-specific boards for grouping information.

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Textures and Surface Properties

How do I create ladders? Are they some sort of entity type or something?
Ladders aren't a separate entity, rather they are created by applying the ladder surface property to ALL sides of a brush to create the ladder. See the Surface Properties tutorial on the tutorials page for more information.

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What about currents...how are they created?
Like ladders, currents are created by applying the appropriate current surface property to liquid textures. See the Surface Properties tutorial on the tutorials page for more information.

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I've got a texture with text on it, but the text is backwards. How do I 'flip' the texture so the text is readable?
Textures can be 'flipped' by putting a -1 value in the X-axis Scale attribute for that texture surface. This is most useful for textures that have some sort of readable text.

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How do I create "one-way" see-through walls, similar to Quake 1?
Create a func_wall entity on a brush. Then, on the side you want to see through, select the Skip surface property.

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How do you make it so an animated texture moves when triggered like in the research lab where you hit a button and the display monitor texture starts moving?
That particular "trick" is done as follows: It's actually two separate func_walls at each monitor location. The func_wall that's initially seen has trigger spawn, toggle, start on, and animated spawnflags set. The other has trigger spawn and toggle spawnflags. Both func_walls have the same targetname. The button targets both func_walls, and their visibility flip-flops.

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I've noticed the Animated and Animated Fast spawnflag for certain solid entities. What exactly do these flags do?
It basically makes certain animated texture animated. Animated Fast makes it animate faster than normal. However, it should be noted that this does only work with certain textures, for example, e1u2/keydran1_1(& 1_2). Other textures may not show any effect with those spawnflags.

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How can I make mirrors in Quake 2? I've seen other games do this (like GLQuake 1) if I've got a 3DFx card.
Unfortunately, Quake 2 doesn't support mirrors or 'reflecting' textures.

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Does Quake 2 store textures in the .bsp files like Quake 1?
No, one difference between Quake 2 and the original Quake is that textures are no longer stored with .bsp files.

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So, how do I include a new texture with my map?
There are 2 ways to do this:
-When you .zip up the file for distribution, create a \textures directory and include the new texture(s) in the .zip file.
-Create a .pak file which includes the .bsp and the textures. Keep in mind you may need to have the player create a new subdirectory under the Quake2 directory and have them run the map with the +set game parameter.

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How do you make animated textures in Q2?
1) Download Wally
2) Make the frames of your animated sequence as separate wal files.
3) Go into the texture properties box in Wally, and, in the box labeled 'Next animation texture' fill in the filename of the next frame.

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Compiling, Leaks and Errors

Every time I try to compile my map with the latest versions of qbsp3.exe or any of the other compilers, it crashes and I get some message saying that the program performed an illegal option or something to that effect. How do I fix this?
You don't have enough virtual memory for the compilers to finish (they're hogs, so you have to give them plenty of room!) Go to Control Panel, System, Performance, Virtual Memory. Turn off letting Win95 (or Win98) handle the swapfile and switch it to be located on the drive with the most free space. It's not unusual for the compilers to need 100Mb to 500Mb of free space, depending on the size of the maps.

Unfortunately, if you don't have that sort of room you've got 2 choices:
-delete some stuff (and run a disk defrag afterwards)
-get another hard drive.

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After compiling my level, I notice that I can see "through" the sky into another room in my level. How can I keep this from happening?
First, make sure that you've done a full VIS which sometimes helps clear up this problem. Also, you can use a Hint brush between the player and the sky. However, sometimes these methods won't clear up the problem, so you have to always consider this when designing your maps. Plan ahead and if need be, use blocker walls and the like to help obstruct the view into these areas.

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My level takes ### hours/days/weeks to compile. Am I doing something wrong?
This is a next-to-impossible question to answer. The fact is that how complex your level is determines how long it will compile. And this means how complex your level is to the Quake engine, not your perception of complex. If your level is taking longer than you think it should, you need to understand WHY it's taking so long. Things like texture lighting, large open spaces, etc. can all dramatically increase the time it takes to compile a level. See the Tutorials and Style pages here at Rust for a better idea of how to create good levels.

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My map has gotten bigger, and all of a sudden, some of the items or doors in my level disappear at certain angles...what causes this and how can I fix it?
In most instances, a full VIS compile on the level will correct this. Typically, this solves the problems. However, if it occurs after a full compile, you've probably got an area that's far too complex or big for the Quake2 engine to handle. In which case, you'll have to simplify your level.

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Why is my map always/never lighted, even though I place entities? (I have a leak, btw)
Check your maps for leaks during the BSP compile. If you see the message "***Leaked***" any time during that compile, then the VIS and Radiosity compilers will not take effect. Hence, the level will either be completely dark or fullbright.

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Ok, I checked and my map doesn't leak, yet it's still not lighted, even though I place entities?
Be sure you're running the compilers in order. The proper order is QBSP, then the VIS compiler, finally the Radiosity compiler (which handles lighting). Additionally, make sure ambient light is set to zero or a decimal value.

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How do I convert a .bsp file to a .map file?
See the Links and File Server pages here at Rust for .bsp to .map converters and for Quark.

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After doing a full compile with all 3 compilers, I notice light "leaks" under doors and the like. What's going on here?
Entities are not calculated during the radiosity compile, so they can't block light. So, you get a "leaking" effect since the Q2 engine and light compiler pretty much act as if the door isn't there. Unfortunately, there is no way to actually prevent this from happening, so you have 2 options: either move the light far enough away (or decrease its intensity) from the door or put an offsetting light on the other side of the door for a more gradual lighting effect.

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I've heard of a "level 4" compile for VIS, but there seems to be some debate as to whether this actually does anything. Does using the -level 4 parameter actually do anything for Quake 2 maps?
No, a -level # parameter used with the VIS compiler will be ignored by the compiler for Quake 2. The -level 4 parameter for the VIS compiler DID improve the quality of Quake 1 maps, but with Quake 2 the parameter is ignored. So, while it can be specified, it won't actually make any improvements to the maps (nor will it have any adverse affects.) It's merely a carryover from the Q1 days.

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For the most common compiler errors, visit the Errors FAQ.

CTF & Xatrix Entities

What entities are needed for CTF to work?
CTF requires both player starts (info_player_team1 and info_player_team2) and flags (item_flag_team1 and item_flag_team2). However, other player starts are added using the deathmatch player starts. Additionally, you don't need to place the 4 CTF powerups, since they are automatically placed into CTF maps. See the tutorials page for more information.

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What new entities are in the Xatrix Mission Pack 1: The Reckoning?
- Monster_chick_heat - Chick Heat - Same as the Quake2 Chick but her missiles follow you.
- Monster_gladb - Phalanx Gladiator - Same as the QuakeII Gladiator but he fires a Phallanx Cannon instead of a Rail Gun. Also has a power shield.
- Monster_boss5 - Super Tank - Same as the Boss Tank in Quake2 but with a power shield.
- Monster_gekk - Gekk - Man sized lizard. Humanoid in shape. Jumps real high, swims, runs, moves fast, and spits acid.
- Monster_fixbot - Fixer Bot - Roams around and repairs things and reanimates monsters.
- Func_object_repair - Object to be repaired - Creates small sparks that the Fixer Bot will move towards and start to weld (it doesn't actually fix anything it's a visual effect)
- Brain - Not a Xatrix entity but when used with the Reckoning Mission Pack has beefed up abilities. Now has a laser and a parasite like tongue that grabs you from a distance and drags you within slashing range.
- Monster_soldier_hypergun - HyperBlaster Soldier - Same as the Light Guard in Quake2 except he carries a hyperblaster.
- Monster_soldier_lasergun - Lasergun Soldier - Same as the Light Guard in Quake2 except he carries a laser rifle.
- Monster_soldier_ripper - Ripper Soldier - Same as the Light Guard in Quake2 except he carries an ion ripper rifle.
  
  Weapons and Ammo
- Weapon_boomer - Ion Ripper - Shoots an energy boomerang that ricochets around corners.
- Weapon_phalanx - Phalanx - High powered energy weapon.
- Ammo_magslug - Ammunition for the Phalanx Cannon
- Ammo_trap - Creates a vortex that sucks enemies in and turns them into power cubes that you can use.
  
  Items
- Item_quadfire - Increases the firing rate of all your weapons.
- Rotating_light - Like a red police dome.
- Target_mal_laser - Same as the Quake2 laser entity but it flashes on and off.
  
  Misc. Items
- Misc_amb4 - Ambient sound effect
- Misc_nuke - Kills everything on a level (including yourself). Good when you know you're going to die and want to take everyone with you or as used in the Mission Pack a self destruct device where you have to get out quick.
- Misc_transport - This is the HUGE transport ship at the end of the Mission Pack. It has to be triggered and targeted to a path corner to be visible.
- Misc_crash_viper - Works the same as the Big Viper in Quake2
- Misc_viper_missle - Supposed work like the viper bomb but instead it acts like a missile.
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Console Commands

How do I bring up the Quake 2 console?
Hit the tilde key "~" to bring up the Quake 2 console. Type a command and hit "Enter" or "Return" to execute a command. Then, hit the tilde key again to close the console and return to play.

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What are some of the useful editing console commands?
Some of the more useful commands are:
- noclip: Allows the player to go through walls and objects.
- r_speeds 1/0: Turns r_speeds on/off. This allows you to view the poly count and other useful information for a level. The output depends on the video mode.
- gl_showtris 1/0: (You can only use this if you have a full open/GL card. 3Dfx owners, see the Techniques page) This command allows you to see how the brushes were broken up into polys by the QBSP compiler. Useful for seeing WHY the poly count is high in an area.
- imagelist: Displays a list of all images used in the level.
- info: Displays selected information about your map.
- notarget: Allows the player to move through the map without being "seen" by monsters.
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Advanced Questions

How do I configure difficulty settings for my levels?
A lot will depend on the editor you use. However, difficulty settings are configured for entities by the use of spawnflags. If you have to manually enter the spawnflag values in your editor, the values are as follows:
- Not in Easy=256
- Not in Normal=512
- Not in Hard=1024
- Not in Deathmatch=2048 (not needed for monsters or other items don't appear in DM mode)
These values can be combined. For example, if you have a monster that you want to appear ONLY in Hard, the spawnflags would be set to 256+512=768.
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What are Detail brushes and when should I use them?
Detail brushes are used to help speed up the compile time by "hiding" those brushes from the compilers. Since the QBSP compiler breaks up a brush if another brush intersects it, this means that a lot of brushes may be created. Detail brushes can be used for any brushes that do not block the player's line of site.

This is taken from a text file included with the gamex86.dll source code. The author is John Carmack.

The basic idea is that you should make all of the brushes that aren't major occluders into detail brushes. This lets the vis program ignore all of the little protrusions that never really block sight. Because of the factorial order of the vis algorithm, it is pretty easy to get a 10x speedup in vis time by making the non-essential brushes detail. This also gives a method to fight some of the errors that still occur in bsps. If polygons are dissapearing in the game, but they come back with "r_novis 1" set, then there is a vis error. This can usually be fixed by making more of the brushes between the problem viewpoint and the problem polygon into detail brushes.
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What are Clip brushes and when should I use them?
Clip brushes are often used to keep a player from getting stuck along a wall, floor or ceiling by any brushes that protrude from those surfaces. For example a light fixture or a column. There are two methods for using Clip brushes:
-Create a triangle and put it flush with the sides of the protruding object and another side on the wall. This allows the player to be "moved out" slightly when moving along the wall.
-Create a rectangle Clip brush that covers the whole length of the wall and is out far enough to cover the edges of the items sticking out of the wall.
Both methods were used in the original Id levels. Using Clip brushes is strongly recommended for multiplayer maps.

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So, what are Hint brushes then?
Hint brushes help controll the poly count in a view by breaking up portals. A good tutorial of Hint brush use can be found at : http://users.net66.com/~gdewan/hintdesc.html

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Editor-Specific FAQs

Ok, I couldn't find the answer to my question here. Maybe it's something specific to the editor I'm using. Where can I find FAQs for specific editors?

Quark
DeathMatch Maker 2 (DMM 2)
QERadiant
Quest
Worldcraft

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What's the best editor?
Simply put...there is no best editor! While all of the editors have their own advantages/disadvantages, they all pretty much do the same thing. Check out the links page here to get a listing of the editors available and simply start playing with them. You're going to probably spend many hours in front of an editor, so it pays to compare them on your own and see which one fits your editing needs and abilities.

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Since I've started Quake2 editing, I've lost every second of the day to editing. My wife left me, the dog has run away, and I no longer have any friends (although, I think the QBSP compiler is starting to like me). What should I do?
Be aware that to really make good maps, you're probably going to have to put in some serious time! Of course, it's only a game and you CAN have a life if you work at it...otherwise, buy a cat or goldfish since they tend to be less dependent on you for survival.

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Common Editing Errors FAQ

Updates

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