Custom Skybox - Whitelist/Fastdownload

moxie2020

L1: Registered
May 18, 2012
24
0
I made a map using a custom skybox. It compiles and runs just fine. My question is how do I get it to work on a server. The map itself downloads but the sky does not.
The whitelist definitely allows for file downloads and all the files are in the appropriate locations:

materials\skybox\... allow_from_disk

Is it possible to force the skybox to download to clients or do I need to revert to a normal skybox?
 

moxie2020

L1: Registered
May 18, 2012
24
0
The most effective way is packing the custom sky-textures in the map using a PackBSP or Pakrat. No need to upload it to the server, this also means that more servers can use your map without getting texture errors.

Thanks. I tried Pakrat. It packed the skybox into the .bsp and runs fine locally but crashes on the server. I tried omitting the ain, cache and nav files also but it still crashes.

I will try packBSP and see if I have any better luck.
 

Arne

L3: Member
Nov 22, 2012
114
55
You shouldn't put the .ain, .nav. These just messes the server(s).
As so far I packed. I did only pack the non-packed models and materials, it worked good for me.
 

moxie2020

L1: Registered
May 18, 2012
24
0
You shouldn't put the .ain, .nav. These just messes the server(s).
As so far I packed. I did only pack the non-packed models and materials, it worked good for me.

I don't get it. I don't have anything but the skyboxes added and it still crashes immediately.

It works locally just fine. I tried it with both programs too.
 

Seba

DR. BIG FUCKER, PHD
aa
Jun 9, 2009
2,364
2,728
.vtf is the actual image, .vmt is a textfile that defines the texture's properties (solid to players, will block bullets, transparent, etc). You need to pack both.

Have you tried PackBSP yet? It works well for me.
 

moxie2020

L1: Registered
May 18, 2012
24
0
.vtf is the actual image, .vmt is a textfile that defines the texture's properties (solid to players, will block bullets, transparent, etc). You need to pack both.

Have you tried PackBSP yet? It works well for me.

I tried both. My guess is the skybox wasn't set up for tf2. I am looking at the .vmt's and setting them up appropriately.
 

Seba

DR. BIG FUCKER, PHD
aa
Jun 9, 2009
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2,728
Skyboxes should work across all Source games, unless they're using some weird VMT parameters limited to a version of the engine. Where did you get yours from?
 

moxie2020

L1: Registered
May 18, 2012
24
0
Skyboxes should work across all Source games, unless they're using some weird VMT parameters limited to a version of the engine. Where did you get yours from?

Thats what I figured. I even changed the VMT parameters to make them more tf2 friendly. I have no idea why the server doesn't like the skybox. It works perfectly fine locally.

Here is the exact sky I have been trying to use:

http://css.gamebanana.com/textures/2211

I tried editing the vmts to look like this:
"sky"
{
"$nofog" 1
"$ignorez" 1
"$basetexture" "skybox/mpa112bk"
"%keywords" "tf"
}

Still no luck.
I only have skybox .vmt and .vtf files added to my .bsp. I tried using both packaging programs. I changed the .vmt files to be more tf2 compliant and it still crashes every single time. It always works locally and if I go back to a normal skybox the problem goes away.
 

moxie2020

L1: Registered
May 18, 2012
24
0
Ok guys. I resolved the problem. Somehow the .nav file I kept placing with it got corrupted and it turned out to be causing the problem. Even though it too worked fine locally.

I appreciate all the help.

Thank you.
 

Seba

DR. BIG FUCKER, PHD
aa
Jun 9, 2009
2,364
2,728
Could you explain what "more tf2 friendly" means?
 

moxie2020

L1: Registered
May 18, 2012
24
0
I spoke too soon. I am getting the following error right before it crashes:

Requesting texture value from var "$basetexture" which is not a texture value (material: skybox/mpa112rt)
Requesting texture value from var "$basetexture" which is not a texture value (material: skybox/mpa112bk)
Requesting texture value from var "$basetexture" which is not a texture value (material: skybox/mpa112lf)
Requesting texture value from var "$basetexture" which is not a texture value (material: skybox/mpa112ft)
error with $spriteOrientation
 

moxie2020

L1: Registered
May 18, 2012
24
0
Could you explain what "more tf2 friendly" means?

The skybox originally says this in the vmt files:

"UnlitGeneric"
{
"$basetexture" "skybox/mpa112bk"
"$nofog" 1
"$ignorez" 1
}

I changed it to this:

"sky"
{
"$nofog" 1
"$ignorez" 1
"$basetexture" "skybox/mpa112bk"
"%keywords" "tf"
}