Multiple Installations of TF2 for Mapping?

Atasco

L2: Junior Member
Aug 7, 2017
58
2
So, I have a very, very bad computer. Like, extremely bad. The game can technically get around 60fps... but only on an empty server with no players, and only after I've sat around for a few minutes waiting for the audio-stuttering source engine lag to subside. For every player that joins the server, it's about 10fps taken off what it starts with. That's not great!
However, with the help of special resources and configs, I can make my TF2 playable. And by playable, I mean about 10 to 20fps in a 24 player server. Unfortunately, it does this by making the maps look pixelated and undetailed. When I'm making my own maps, I'm always stuck at the detailing stage, since I can't actually see what the maps look like in a real game.

I don't want to have to uninstall all my performance tweaks to make maps that look good, but I also want more than 10fps when I'm playing a real game with real people. Is there a way to have multiple installations of TF2? I'm not sure what to tag this with either, since it's something I have very little experience with.
 

MOCOLONI

L6: Sharp Member
Dec 16, 2014
373
89
The map is the same for everyone. If you know what you're doing, then it's the map everyone else will experience; it's their visual settings that may change how the map renders.
 

I dinne ken

Has currently had enough
aa
Apr 16, 2016
324
432
I think you should get a better PC if you can't run a 14 year old game at lowest settings. No offense
 

Atasco

L2: Junior Member
Aug 7, 2017
58
2
The map is the same for everyone. If you know what you're doing, then it's the map everyone else will experience; it's their visual settings that may change how the map renders.
I'm aware :0 It's just that it's had to control exactly what my map will look like if I can't actually see what things look like in-game, as there's only so much that the 3D textured view in hammer can tell me. If the textures on an overlay are aligned differently from hammer and in-game, I'll never actually know about it until I get someone else to play it and tell me. I say that because it's actually an issue I've had before, where hammer and the actual game disagreed about how to render something.

I think you should get a better PC if you can't run a 14 year old game at lowest settings. No offense
Ahh, yes, of course, why didn't I think of that? How silly of me! I should probably stop eating for about a month or so, so that I can afford the privilege of being a better gamer. Lol
 

Lonely Author

L2: Junior Member
Aug 27, 2021
87
42
eyo, I got some free time and would be willing to run around and find out problems/engine disagreements

as a fledgeling mapper myself my biggest pet peeve is overlapping textures lol
 

Atasco

L2: Junior Member
Aug 7, 2017
58
2
eyo, I got some free time and would be willing to run around and find out problems/engine disagreements

as a fledgeling mapper myself my biggest pet peeve is overlapping textures lol
Aww, thank you! I don't want to inconvenience anyone though (and also want to keep what I'm working on a secret for now) so I'll have to decline the offer :'0 I appreciate it though :D

Rather than having multiple installations of TF2, setup two configs - one for better visuals, and one for better fps. Then just execute the config you need at the time.
That's a good idea actually :0 though my "config" is unfortunately more than just the literal config file, sorry I didn't specify. It's the Mastercomfig thingamabobber that puts in a bit of custom content to squeeze out a bit more performance. I've noticed that it also makes things like env_sun vanish completely, which took me a long time to figure out
 

Lonely Author

L2: Junior Member
Aug 27, 2021
87
42
Aww, thank you! I don't want to inconvenience anyone though (and also want to keep what I'm working on a secret for now) so I'll have to decline the offer :'0 I appreciate it though :D

is fine, and It wouldn't be inconvenient, but that's your choice, and good luck!
 

Atasco

L2: Junior Member
Aug 7, 2017
58
2
Apparently multiple quality levels are just a feature that Mastercomfig can do on its own, and I just didn't realize it :0
For anyone that has Mastercomfig, and looks for this after me, the way to do it is to make sure you're not in a game, then type preset=(desired quality without these parenthesis), and then type run_modules after that. The game will lag heavily, but then reset to the desired config level.