First ever map attempt, trouble with spawning. . .

[anothermike]

Howdy folks, and firstly - thanks for the great resource!

I've been itching to try mapping in TF2, but I've always been afraid of the hammer editor. Thanks to the many tutorials I've found, I decided to push ahead and give a go at it.

So I've been making my first test map, really simple box (with skybox cieling) with two CPs and two team spawn entities (1 each set for red/blue teams and tied to the CPS which default to red and blue respectively). Also a crate, for good measure.

Excitedly, I compiled it and jumped into TF server side to check it out.

Problem is, when I spawn in I just get a black screen (with the waiting for other players timer ticking down). I threw in some lighting objects, but I don't think that's what I'm missing.

As all the SDK tutorials I found were for other games, anyone have any idea what piece I'm missing?

quick pic of the map:

 

[drp]

try removing all of the lights in your map. that will give you full bright.

 

[trainRiderJ]

Make sure your spawn points are floating above the floor 16 or 32 units. If the spawns are "on" the floor, you will actually fall through the level.

 

[anothermike]

Thanks for the super-fast reply.

Done and done, but still no luck.

I still see this when starting TF2:

 

[drp]

Thanks for the super-fast reply.

Done and done, but still no luck.

I still see this when starting TF2:

IIRC, try adding a env_light to your map.
are you sure you dont have any leaks?

post the vmf?

 

[Paria]

check that you are using the correct skybox textures, by the looks of it it looks like youve painted an actual texture onto the surface?

http://developer.valvesoftware.com/wiki/Tool_textures

for a simple 2d skybox check out

http://developer.valvesoftware.com/wiki/Skybox_(2D)

 

[poopster101]

are you using info_playerstart
or imfo_playerteamrespawn?

 

[trainRiderJ]

Run your compile log through here:
http://www.interlopers.net/index.php?page=errors

If you're still having problems after that post your log here.

 

[Pseudo]

Enable the developer console and see if there are any errors.

 

[anothermike]

How do I tell which skyboxes are not textures? Also, leaks?

vmf is here: http://download.yousendit.com/66915156231CD2E8

 

[anothermike]

wow, you all are awesome. I'll try all this and get back to you ASAP.

Seriously though. Awesome community. Man did I stumble into the right place.

 

[trainRiderJ]

How do I tell which skyboxes are not textures? Also, leaks?

vmf is here: http://download.yousendit.com/66915156231CD2E8

Read the the first three sections of this link (which has already been provided in this thread): http://developer.valvesoftware.com/wiki/Skybox_(2D)

Basically, the skybox should be a tools texture, and then the actual sky texture is defined elsewhere.

EDIT: You're just lucky I'm bored at work

 

[Paria]

inside hammer the skybox should look like

http://developer.valvesoftware.com/wiki/Image:Toolsskybox.gif

the actual sky used is determined in the map properties details of which i've already posted in a link above.

edit im at work too

 

[anothermike]

@ poopster: info_player_teamspawn

@ trainrider: looks like a leak according to the website, but I've no idea where . . . it's just a box. . . still, I'll look closer

@Pseudo: First time ever mapping, is the developers console just pressing ~ in game?

 

[anothermike]

Wow. Learning so much so fast. Thanks for all the replies and patience.

I've fixed the skybox now, I think, but I'm still showing the same issues. Possibly due to the leak?

I've got the walls all touching other walls, I can't seem to find any leaks. New version of the vmf here: http://download.yousendit.com/C6E533C977591080

and here's what I see in hammer:


[EDIT: For better hammer picture]

 

[trainRiderJ]

@ trainrider: looks like a leak according to the website, but I've no idea where . . . it's just a box. . . still, I'll look closer

http://developer.valvesoftware.com/wiki/Leaks_Explained

@Pseudo: First time ever mapping, is the developers console just pressing ~ in game?

http://developer.valvesoftware.com/wiki/Developer_Console

I'm not trying to be short with you, sorry if it seems that way.

 

[anothermike]

no worries trainRider. I'm just happy for the help!

 

[Paria]

if you had a leak then in game it would be fullbright anyway since only the bsp section would have worked, the problem actually looks like the positions of player spawns - raise them off the ground, 16/32 units whatever just make sure they arent touching the floor.

And before you pick up any bad habits - see the red lines i've attached to your pic in the x/y view - the brushes only need to touch in the corner to stop leaks - there are a multitude of alternates but its good to get into the habit of not having overlapping brushes.

 

[trainRiderJ]

I told you to move those spawn points off the ground

 

[anothermike]

I had, I thought they were far enough up . . . The big blue boxes there are the CPs, the smaller purple boxes next to them (see the bottom right window) are the spawns. Is that still not high enough?