Tf2 Prefabs in Hammer? Making Buildings (Architecture) in Hammer?

Rovert Scott

L1: Registered
Jun 12, 2009
6
0
I have two questions.

1. I have begun my first TF2 map, and having a limited background in modeling. Is there a Tutorial on the proper way to Create Buildings like those found in professional maps. The walls are too thin and textures are ify.

2. Where are all the TF2 Prefabs? I figured when I added TF2 to the Hammer Manifest I would get all the models. How do the pros put TF2 models in their maps, or is there an archive file somewhere I can get to place in the Hammer System Files?

Thank you very much for your time, I hope my map becomes a favorite, as I enjoy the process of making them.
 

MungoKing

L3: Member
Jul 12, 2008
148
47
Buildings are created in Hammer out of brushes, not models. Theoretically you could make a custom model of a building and bring it into hammer for your map. But I would severely advise against that, because models don't block VVIS, so everything is rendered behind them even if the player can't necessarily see them, which is why we use normal, world geometry, brushes. It would also increase the filesize of your map drastically.

Lunchbox linked you to a .vmf that just shows all the models in a map in hammer instead of having to use the mediocre model browser in hammer. To actually place models though, select the Entity tool (Shift + E) and click inside your 3D view window. Now select the Select tool (Shift + S) and select your entity that you just placed. Go to it's properties (Right click->Properties or Alt + Enter) and change the entity type to prop_static. Hit apply. Now where it says World Model, click on that and then click browse on the right side of the window. This will take you to the model browser if you choose to use that.

Hope this helps, I look forward to your map :)
 

XFunc_CaRteR

L5: Dapper Member
May 14, 2009
248
17
To actually place models though, select the Entity tool (Shift + E) and click inside your 3D view window. Now select the Select tool (Shift + S) and select your entity that you just placed. Go to it's properties (Right click->Properties or Alt + Enter) and change the entity type to prop_static. Hit apply. Now where it says World Model, click on that and then click browse on the right side of the window. This will take you to the model browser if you choose to use that.

Hope this helps, I look forward to your map :)

Too complicated. Just copy it out of the ABS vmf file (control-c), go to your map, point your little crosshairs where you want it and paste it right in to your map (control-v). Easy.

Next, if you want to make if a different kind of prop, then you can open up the properties (alt-enter), but usually you don't need to.
 

LunchBox

L1: Registered
Jun 13, 2009
41
4
ok i am new to all this hammer and mapping stuff as well. So i shouldnt just copy and paste for instance a prop from snarks prop library instead i should make all the entitys and what not myself ?
 

A Boojum Snark

Toraipoddodezain Mazahabado
aa
Nov 2, 2007
4,775
7,669
ok i am new to all this hammer and mapping stuff as well. So i shouldnt just copy and paste for instance a prop from snarks prop library instead i should make all the entitys and what not myself ?

umm... no. You can copy and paste, that's the point. Mungo was just explaining the process because Rovert seems new and might not know it.
 

LunchBox

L1: Registered
Jun 13, 2009
41
4
Oh ok thanks for the clarity. BTW your prop library is the amazing it saves me so much time and its great for us newbies :D