A few questions from a noobie

Hot Dog Weenies

L1: Registered
Oct 27, 2015
5
0
Hello, I was wondering a few questions:

-How do you create land that isn't a rectangle. (Like a circle).
-How do you create a functioning train with tracks and multiple cars behind it.
-How do you add decorative danger signs that aren't giant. (Like a toxic chemicals sign in above some barrels)

Many thanks
-Weenies
 

killohurtz

Distinction in Applied Carving
aa
Feb 22, 2014
1,016
1,277
Hi, Hot Dog Weenies!

1. When you have the Block tool :brushtool: selected, you can change the type of shape created in the New Objects toolbar. There's a little drop down menu that includes round things like cylinder and arch. The Vertex tool :vertexmanip: gives you more freedom to adjust the shape of a brush, but be careful to keep brushes convex and their faces flat. You don't want invalid solids!

2. Here is an in-depth guide on how to make a train. It might seem complicated, but knowing how to make func_tracktrains that follow path_tracks opens up a lot of possibilities!

3. You might be thinking of overlays. You can place these on other brushes and rotate or resize them. Make sure you turn on texture lock :texlock: when editing their size or shape.

Hope this helps!
 

tyler

aa
Sep 11, 2013
5,102
4,621
One thing to add about weird shaped geometry: try to keep your points on grid lines (at a larger scale, if possible) and don't resize cylinders/arches after making them (except by using the Vertex Tool).

There are good and bad ways to make common TF2 geometry (like pipes or archways) that people will be happy to explain if you can't find a solution via searching.

Also remember to turn texture lock off after resizing things if you want to keep your brushwork textures aligned by default.