How many prop_physics_multiplayer

bamibal

L1: Registered
Aug 14, 2015
47
5
How many prop_physics_multiplayer could I make before I break my map? :p I love the interaction of being able to whack props around so I'd love to make many of my props prop_physics_multiplayer, but I'm afraid that they're too expensive.
 
Mar 23, 2013
1,013
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One prop_physics_multiplayer adds one edict. Your map crashes a server if there are more then 2048 edicts on the server. You map shouldn't hold less then 1400 edicts since players add up as well. You can check your edict count with the "status" console command

While you don't need to worry about crashing the server, if you have an avarrage entity count, having many physical objects might cause a lot of legs during online play if they are all in motion at once.
 

YM

LVL100 YM
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Dec 5, 2007
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while lamp provides a very extreme case answer, I found that 100 physboxes was enough to start getting noticeable lag on the server. By 200 it was totally unplayable, 300 the server basically crashed but we abandoned ship before it did.

I found that keeping it to <50 at all times, on a small map, was OK.
 

Tumby

aa
May 12, 2013
1,084
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Random fact: Being YM instantly gets you more Thanks.

Just look at poor lampenpam writing the technical stuff that isn't just about prop_physics_multiplayer, but about entity limits in general. Meanwhile YM gives interesting examples, but no technical informations whatsoever, for which he gets instant thanks.

Both posts are usefull, but why is everybody always focusing on YM so much?
 

tyler

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Sep 11, 2013
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In this case, both posts are good, but YM's post gives actual, useful numbers for things and details what happens when you go past them. Lamp's is about how to check the number of edicts, but not what a good number is, or what the consequences really are. That's the difference between a simply informative post (Lamp's), and an informative and useful post (YM's). On their own, they are both missing something; together, YM's is the better of the two for most people.

It has nothing to do with YM or Lamp specifically. But that doesn't mean their thanks count doesn't reflect their tendencies, either.

Also, I don't tend to thank YM because that's one more thanks I need in my quest to displace him as the #2 Thanks Haver. So if I thank YM's post you know it's a good one.
 
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Tumby

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May 12, 2013
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After having written all this i kinda just wanna not post it but fuck it

Well, I find Lampenpams post more useful than YMs. Lets just compare

YM
100 phys-props lag, 200 lag a shit ton, 300 almost kill server.
leave below 50

Lampenpam
phys-prop adds 1 edict, maps can have max of 2048 edicts, players add edicts so stay below 1400, "status" in console shows edict number.
having a lot of phys-things lags when in motion

Dude, I actually learned a new console command today.


Why don't we ask bamibal which post helped the most and would deserve a thanks? Maybe even both?
 

bamibal

L1: Registered
Aug 14, 2015
47
5
Let's not fight about who has the most 'thanks', this isn't Facebook ok:p
YM's reaction was for me more practical but only because I'm a complete noob and only started using Hammer last week. Then again Lampenpam´s reaction was more informative, giving me new terms to learn and a new console command to discover. So yeah, to me they were both useful, thanks Lampenpam and YM!
 
Mar 23, 2013
1,013
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I don't mind getting less thanks. It's nothing uncommon that a more popular person gets more likes, thanks, +1s etc. (and a green cosmetic effect on the name, does mean he is more popular right?) and YM's post was pretty helpfull too

And to get back on topic:

I found that 100 physboxes was enough to start getting noticeable lag on the server. By 200 it was totally unplayable, 300 the server basically crashed

Were those props in motion? Donsn't the server stop calculating physics and stop sending data about their position as soon they stoped moving, or are those informations always send?

Because I think it would make a difference if you just have like 500 physical bottle props lying around a football field, which move sometimes when a player shoots them, then having 500 bottles in a bounce house.

So couldn't you tecnicaly have 1000 physical props as long only a few of them move at a time?
 
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YM

LVL100 YM
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Dec 5, 2007
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They were in motion for the first 2 seconds of their lives, then they were stationary after that (marked as debris so absolutely no collision detection). The lag started in weird 1-2 second stutters every 20-30 seconds. Then progressively got worse as more were added. It's amazing the server didn't actually crash.
 

Muddy

Muddy
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Sep 5, 2014
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I don't mind getting less thanks. It's nothing uncommon that a more popular person gets more likes, thanks, +1s etc. (and a green cosmetic effect on the name, does mean he is more popular right?) and YM's post was pretty helpfull too

Ultimately, thanks mean fuck all. Forget about 'em. Just make helpful comments 'cos you want to be helpful.
 
Mar 23, 2013
1,013
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They were in motion for the first 2 seconds of their lives, then they were stationary after that (marked as debris so absolutely no collision detection). The lag started in weird 1-2 second stutters every 20-30 seconds. Then progressively got worse as more were added. It's amazing the server didn't actually crash.

Weird, is there a way to create client-sided physical objects? The only client-sided physical props I know are gibs spawned after a prop breaks.
 

YM

LVL100 YM
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Dec 5, 2007
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The bottles and cans in TF2 are generally client side, they're affected by hitscan weapons. The server side ones, like hazard cones, aren't. Those are affected by explosion damage though. You can see it in the way they move, cones are jerky and bottles move smoothly
 

worMatty

Repacking Evangelist
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Jul 22, 2014
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I thanked YM because he taught me something I didn't know.