Wow, I REALLY suck at this (HALP)

KaiserFate

L69: Deviant Member
Dec 9, 2009
69
12
So I decided to get cracking with making a house by following Martijntje's tutorial, just so I knew I could do it.
I'm having three problems: skyboxes (I have no clue what on earth I'm doing), env_lighting, and prop models.
Now until this point, all my maps have been indoors so I have been lighting everything with spotlights and for the life of me I still don't know what I'm doing with skyboxes. If anyone knows a good tutorial (or even a page on the Valve Developer site) that explains how to make them clearly then please hit me up, I need to start at the beginning.
Skybox aside, I've run into a rather amusing problem I assume a lot of other absolute n00bs have been hit with: a model error.

Here's what it looks like in Hammer.

this-is-the-best-map-ever-n.jpg


Okay, so I have got my head around the concept. That doesn't look too bad. But when I compile it, I get this:

this-is-the-best-map-ever.jpg


Yuck!

I don't know why it's doing this, in my previous two orange maps I have a working prop_dynamic in the form of a resupply cabinet and several prop lights fixed to the roof. I've only seen this happen on this map just now.

I found some errors in the Compile Process window that may be of help.

*** Error: Skybox vtf files for skybox/sky_tf2_04 weren't compiled with the same size texture and/or same flags!
Can't load skybox file skybox/sky_tf2_04 to build the default cubemap!
*** Error: Skybox vtf files for skybox/sky_tf2_04 weren't compiled with the same size texture and/or same flags!
Can't load skybox file skybox/sky_tf2_04 to build the default cubemap!

...

Placing detail props : 0...1...2...3...4...5...6...7...8...9...Error! To use model "models/props_2fort/gibs/miningcrate001_break01.mdl"
with detail_prop, it must be compiled with $staticprop!
Error loading studio model "models/props_2fort/gibs/miningcrate001_break01.mdl"!
10


I also don't know what I'm doing wrong with the light_environment. Here are the settings I'm using. I assume this only works properly if you set up your skybox correctly?
Ambient - 248, 255, 100, 110
Pitch / Yaw / Roll - 0, 337, 0
Pitch - 45
Angle - 337
Sun Spread Angle - 6



It's kind of depressing that I could do so many things wrong on such a simple map. I knew I should have stuck with orange maps for the time being - I'm way in over my head here!
 

Nutomic

L11: Posh Member
Feb 7, 2009
888
177
For the skybox stuff, you best just copy it from there:

http://developer.valvesoftware.com/wiki/Sky_list

About the models: they have to be prop_static, not prop_detail (just change it at the top in the edit window while having the model selected). (miningcrate001_break01.mdl may also be prop_physics).

*** Error: Skybox vtf files for skybox/sky_tf2_04 weren't compiled with the same size texture and/or same flags!
Can't load skybox file skybox/sky_tf2_04 to build the default cubemap!
*** Error: Skybox vtf files for skybox/sky_tf2_04 weren't compiled with the same size texture and/or same flags!
Can't load skybox file skybox/sky_tf2_04 to build the default cubemap!


This error is normal and appears for everyone, just ignore it.
 

KaiserFate

L69: Deviant Member
Dec 9, 2009
69
12
For the skybox stuff, you best just copy it from there:

http://developer.valvesoftware.com/wiki/Sky_list

About the models: they have to be prop_static, not prop_detail (just change it at the top in the edit window while having the model selected). (miningcrate001_break01.mdl may also be prop_physics).

(In Charlton Heston voice) "You truly are a king of kings."

this-is-the-best-map-ever3.jpg


In one deft swoop, you've changed my mentality from "I must not be cut out for this" to "wow, this isn't as hard as I thought".
It's a shame I can only thank you once for the post.
 

Trotim

aa
Jul 14, 2009
1,195
1,045
In related news, props usually always are prop_static (in TF2), unless they have some kind of special purpose like moving doors. For the bottles and cans you can shoot ingame, Valve level designers always use prop_physics_multiplayer.
 

gamemaster1996

L13: Stunning Member
Sep 30, 2009
1,064
134
Also most props will say what type of prop thing eg prop_static or props_physics_multiplayer on the info tab.