Hint Skip tutorials

Haggis

L2: Junior Member
Jan 19, 2009
86
1
Im looking for a really good tut. on this subject.I have checked out the optimizing guides on this site but only 1 of them are working.i know the basics and why you need them but i am looking for something that goes into a bit more detail,especially when you have to put these brushes in an area which is outside.I have tried to google it but with no success,can someone point me in the right direction,cheers.
 

Sgt Frag

L14: Epic Member
May 20, 2008
1,443
710
The only ones I've seen tell you had to clip off hallways.
The same basic principles can be used outside.

A major difference though. Inside in a hallway you usually want to put the clip across the entire hallway.
Outside the spaces can be large, and since hints don't have to seal anything they can be placed anywhere, touching terrain or not.

The best thing to do is compile. Then in Hammer load the portal file. That draws the blue lines all over your map. Fly around and look for really large leafs (like ones that go from floor to above buildings. You want to place the hint so it cuts those into 2, one piece from ground to building top, and one that goes above to the skybox. That would help keep players from viewing things on the other side of the building.

Also the same for large leafs that stick out past corners, you can put hints in the corners to block views around them (just like in a hallway).

Try to be clean about it though and not make extra leafs.
One very large leaf could be next to a short one, make sure your hint only cuts the large leaf and doesn't also stick out into and cut the smaller one.
 

StoneFrog

L6: Sharp Member
May 28, 2008
395
81
I don't know how to use hintbrushes when it's not along turns or anything. Valve seems to have them in some rather trivial places in 2fort, where I think areaportals would work better...
 

DJive

Cake or Death?
aa
Dec 20, 2007
1,465
741
Check my signature for a list and make sure to bookmark it!

Namely..

Optimization Guides / Techniques - All these are a MUST to read
 

A Boojum Snark

Toraipoddodezain Mazahabado
aa
Nov 2, 2007
4,775
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DJive

Cake or Death?
aa
Dec 20, 2007
1,465
741
Gah that needs to be updated badly
@ chat it seems to have been down for the last 2 hours.. i cant connect at all =*(
 

HojoTheGreat

L5: Dapper Member
Nov 11, 2008
206
34
Can't remember who hosted it, but here it is:

http://rvanhoorn.ruhosting.nl/optimization.php?chapter=intro

While it is the best Optimization guide their is, I can't help but wish I could find something better. Hint brushes can be used in a MASSIVELY wide vereity of ways, and I still don't understand those methods. Some people use them trough their maps, some only in open outdoor areas, some very little at all. And ALL seem to be missing them in areas they could probably use them.

If we have an optimization wiz in this community, please please PLEASE do the world a favor and make a video tutorial, or another written one that explains Hints so that we can all understand how to use them.

Things like using them outside, how to use them in larger rooms, rooms with odd angles, etc.
 

Haggis

L2: Junior Member
Jan 19, 2009
86
1
Djive i did check the page you listed but none of the ones i wanted to look at were working,the links are down.The optimizing link above my post i have had for some time now,i understand it but its not what i am looking for.You are totally correct HojoTheGreat,there are very limited tutorials that go into great depth about the use of these brushes.Hallways and doorways are the obvious place to put them after that im not to sure.
 
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Sgt Frag

L14: Epic Member
May 20, 2008
1,443
710
Well, this isn't the best example, but it shows a reason/method of using a hint to optimize outside. I ddin't want to search too long looking for a perfect example.
By putting this one here I limited players views of the moat from the spawn area.

You are trying to limit the players view by cutting large leafs into pieces that can't be seen by other leafs. (the players 'view' as far as the engine is concerned is from within ANY point inside that leaf. So in this case even though the player is standing on the ground they might as well be floating in the top of that leaf)

In this case a player standing right next to the wall shouldn't be able to see a player on the other side of the wall. However the leaf the player is in is taller than the wall, so it can see the leaf on the other side.
This is probably a case of over optimizing, thus not a great example. But it does do the intended purpose. (over optimizing and adding too many hints can be as bad as n9ot having enough, you have to decide if cutting the leafs is going to have enough benefit to be useful or not.

You can see that after the hint was added the leaf the player is in is only as high as the wall (on each side) so players standing next to the wall wouldn't render each other (unless one jumped higher than wall).

hint_outside.jpg


You may wonder why the hint is there/shaped like that. It doesn't have to butt up to wall or anything. In this case I 'sealed' the top of the area inside the wall with the hint and stuck it out far enough on the other side to cut that leaf. It could be a 1x1x1 unti cube and cut a leaf that is 512x512x512.
 
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