I have seen some people ask about this around the forums and Discord server from time to time, and I think it is interesting enough, so I have decided to make a small guide that is all about applying forces to projectiles! And as with everything in TF2, it can get quite jank.
If you want triggers to only detect and affect projectiles, you will need to put down a filter_activator_class, name it and set its Filter Classname keyvalue to tf_projectile*, and then set the trigger's filter to your newly created filter - this will make the trigger check if the classname of whatever is touching it starts with tf_projectile.
If I have forgotten anything of importance, or you have a suggestion or feedback on this guide, then please tell me, and I will correct my mistake.
Hope you may find this guide helpful, and have fun sending projectiles off into space!
Methods of Pushing Entities
Here is a few methods to pushing entities around, with notes co-related to pushing projectiles specifically:• trigger_push: A trigger that applies a force to applicable entities within its volume every half a second.
◦ Only affects projectiles detected by triggers. (see table below)
◦ For projectiles, it only applies its force once if the trigger is stationary.
• trigger_apply_impulse: Applies a force to applicable entities within its volume whenever it receives the ApplyImpulse input.
◦ Only affects projectiles detected by triggers. (see table below)
• trigger_catapult: Launches applicable entities in a specific direction or at a specific target.
◦ Does not launch projectiles. Still fires the OnCatapulted output for projectiles that can be detected by triggers, but the Speed Threshold Check seems to unfortunately not work.
• trigger_vphysics_motion: Modifies the physics of entities within its volume. Customizable, but does not affect all entities.
◦ Tends to only affect projectiles that are not detected by triggers (see table below)
• point_push: Can repel or suck in entities from/to where this entity is.
◦ Tends to only affect projectiles that are not detected by triggers (see table below)
◦ Cannot be filtered
• BaseVelocity: Unlike other methods, this is a keyvalue on individual entities rather than an entity. When changed using AddOutput, it will add its value to the entity's velocity, and reset itself back to 0 0 0. Unsure how many entities have this, but I am aware that some projectiles do have this.
Detecting Projectiles with Triggers
In order to make any trigger detect and affect projectiles, you need to tick the Everything flag in the trigger's Flags tab.If you want triggers to only detect and affect projectiles, you will need to put down a filter_activator_class, name it and set its Filter Classname keyvalue to tf_projectile*, and then set the trigger's filter to your newly created filter - this will make the trigger check if the classname of whatever is touching it starts with tf_projectile.
The List of All Projectiles
As I have mentioned, what projectiles can get affected by varies, and for that reason I have tested every projectile out and made a list of what projectiles are affected by what, and if they can be detected by triggers.Projectile | Class Name | Detected By Triggers | Velocity Affected By |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arrow Fired by: Huntsman, Fortified Compound Repair bolt Fired by: Rescue Ranger | tf_projectile_arrow | Yes | • trigger_push • trigger_apply_impulse • BaseVelocity keyvalue |
| Flame ball Fired by: Dragon's Fury | tf_projectile_balloffire | No | • Nothing |
| Ornament Fired by: Wrap Assassin | tf_projectile_ball_ornament | No | • trigger_vphysics_motion • point_push |
| Flying Guillotine | tf_projectile_cleaver | No | • trigger_vphysics_motion • point_push |
| Energy rocket Fired by: Cow Mangler 5000 | tf_projectile_energy_ball | Yes | • trigger_push • trigger_apply_impulse • BaseVelocity keyvalue |
| Laser ray Fired by: Pomson 6000, Righteous Bison | tf_projectile_energy_ring | No | • BaseVelocity keyvalue |
| Flare Fired by: Flare Gun, Detonator, Scorch Shot, Manmelter | tf_projectile_flare | Yes | • trigger_push • trigger_apply_impulse • BaseVelocity keyvalue |
| Grappling Hook | tf_projectile_grapplinghook | Yes | • trigger_push • trigger_apply_impulse • BaseVelocity keyvalue |
| Healing bolt Fired by: Crusader's Crossbow | tf_projectile_healing_bolt | Yes | • trigger_push • trigger_apply_impulse • BaseVelocity keyvalue |
| Jarate, Self-Aware Beauty Mark | tf_projectile_jar | No | • trigger_vphysics_motion • point_push |
| Gas Passer | tf_projectile_jar_gas | No | • trigger_vphysics_motion • point_push |
| Mad Milk, Mutated Milk | tf_projectile_jar_milk | No | • trigger_vphysics_motion • point_push |
| Energy orb Fired by: Short Circuit | tf_projectile_mechanicalarmorb | No | • BaseVelocity keyvalue |
| Pipebomb Fired by: Grenade Launcher, Lonch-n-Load, Iron Bomber, Loose Cannon | tf_projectile_pipe | No | • trigger_vphysics_motion • point_push |
| Stickybomb Fired by: Stickybomb Launcher, Quickiebomb Launcher, Scottish Resistance, Sticky Jumper | tf_projectile_pipe_remote | No | • trigger_vphysics_motion • point_push |
| Rocket Fired by: Rocket Launcher, Original, Beggar's Bazooka, Air Strike, Black Box, Liberty Launcher, Rocket Jumper Eye ball Fired by: MONOCULUS | tf_projectile_rocket | Yes | • trigger_push • trigger_apply_impulse • BaseVelocity keyvalue |
| Quad rockets Fired by: Sentry Gun | tf_projectile_sentryrocket | Yes | • trigger_push • trigger_apply_impulse • BaseVelocity keyvalue |
| Baseball Fired by: Sandman | tf_projectile_stun_ball | No | • trigger_vphysics_motion • point_push |
| Syringe Fired by: Syringe Gun, Blutsauger, Overdose | tf_projectile_syringe | Yes | • Nothing |
| Ball'O Lightning spell | tf_projectile_lightningorb | No | • BaseVelocity keyvalue |
| Swarm of Bats spell | tf_projectile_spellbats | No | • trigger_vphysics_motion • point_push |
| Fireball spell Created by: Meteor Shower spell | tf_projectile_spellfireball | Yes | • trigger_push • trigger_apply_impulse • BaseVelocity keyvalue |
| Meteor Shower spell Note: This is the fiery projectile that will cause the meteor shower, not the meteors themselves - those are the Fireball spell projectile | tf_projectile_spellmeteorshower | No | • trigger_vphysics_motion • point_push |
| Pumpkin MIRV spell Note: This is the initial pumpkin bundle, not the pumpkin bombs summoned - those are the pumpkin bomb projectile | tf_projectile_spellmirv | No | • trigger_vphysics_motion • point_push |
| Pumpkin bomb Created by: Pumpkin MIRV spell Note: For some reason, both its trigger detection and what it is affected by changes when it is fully deployed - when it hits a solid surface, and its model changes into a pumpkin bomb from a tiny pumpkin grenade | tf_projectile_spellpumpkin | While deploying: No After deployed: Yes | While deploying: • trigger_vphysics_motion • point_push After deployed: • trigger_push • trigger_apply_impulse • BaseVelocity keyvalue |
| Summon MONOCULUS spell | tf_projectile_spellspawnboss | No | • trigger_vphysics_motion • point_push |
| Skeletons Horde spell | tf_projectile_spellspawnhorde | No | • trigger_vphysics_motion • point_push |
| Skeleton summoning grenade Created by: Skeletons Horde spell | tf_projectile_spellspawnzombie | No | • trigger_vphysics_motion • point_push |
| Shadow Leap spell | tf_projectile_spelltransposeteleport | No | • trigger_vphysics_motion • point_push |
If I have forgotten anything of importance, or you have a suggestion or feedback on this guide, then please tell me, and I will correct my mistake.
Hope you may find this guide helpful, and have fun sending projectiles off into space!
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