I'm trying to build a CTF map featuring a truck stuffed full of intel briefcases. I used a playerclip brush to prevent people getting caught on the truck's geometry, then filled the bed with prop_static briefcases. The briefcases, however, don't load when I run the map, and it warns me that they can't be prop_static or prop_detail. Apparently it has to be $staticprop but I don't know what that is and the Valve Dev wiki doesn't offer any clues. Additionally, I want to add a vending machine with a small halloween health kit in front of it... but I don't know how to do that either.
The briefcases have to be made prop_dynamic because the model wasn't compiled with the $staticprop parameter. The better way though would be to use models/props_spytech/suitcase.mdl because it can be a static prop, and it's higher res. It was basically made for using as decoration, the only thing is it has no neutral skin. Health kits have a model parameter. Browse to the halloween model you want and that's it.
Is there any way to permanently group several objects together, so that once I've constructed the truck/intel pile/cap zone I won't have to redo it every time I want to move the truck to a new location? Or would I have to make it a prefab?
Ctrl+G = group. you have to make sure the selection mode (top right) isn't set to 'solids' for grouping stuff to work.