Setting up a server with a custom map...

[Spamdini]

so basically i want to know from a guy who runs or has a custom server how to properly set up a custom map. because i have some people do it for me and the intro pics i provide dont show when joining the map and it seems complicated when i include a custom texture file or something.

so i understand u need to bsp zip it with 7zip. pack as a bz2 file, but do u do the entire hierarchy or do u have to do each individual file and then put those IN the hierarchy on the server...

thanks in advance guys.

 

[Pseudo]

You need to embed custom files into the BSP using a program such as Pakrat. Then after the custom files have been packed into the BSP you can bz2 compress it.

 

[Hampster]

Isn't it better style not to embed stuff into the BSP? I feel like that was a no-no while mapping for TFC, but there seem to be an abundance of 20mb BSPs for TF2..

 

[Hawk]

Well, it really falls down to whether or not there is custom stuff in the map. If there are custom textures or objects, they absolutely have to be embedded or they won't show up to people who download the map. Mappers concerned about map sizes need to not use custom assets in their maps at all.

On a side note, I love seeing custom assets in maps and I don't mind downloading a 20mb map file when they're included.

 

[trainRiderJ]

Connection speeds are faster nowadays I suppose. It's definitely something to consider when you think about how long people are willing to wait to download your map if they've never heard of it before. Word of mouth and sites like this one and fpsbanana can help towards distributing the map outside of game so players don't have to wait.

 

[Spamdini]

i have one custom texture... is the only way for people to get it when joining a server to have it embedded? im still running into some issues though.

for example, yes i can use pakrat to embed the 1 texture, and then i bz2 it so it can be downloaded right? but what about my intro movie and pictures. do those also need to be bz2 zipped so they are dled and work?

 

[Pseudo]

but what about my intro movie and pictures. do those also need to be bz2 zipped so they are dled and work?

The movies and pictures also need to be added to the BSP using Pakrat.

 

[phatal]

Isn't it better style not to embed stuff into the BSP? I feel like that was a no-no while mapping for TFC, but there seem to be an abundance of 20mb BSPs for TF2..

Sheesh.. mine is over 20mb and I haven't added my customs in yet. :laugh:

 

[Colt Seavers]

aye - as the guys say - pakrat it into thap bsp clients. as for vids and intro music generally - keep em small and only include if its essential to the map - in my experience people dont mind waiting for a 40mb file, as long as it's worth the wait (horus springs to mind - whatever you may think of it's sytle - theres no doubting it's spectacular). So, if the map is absolutely awesome - you can get away with a larger file size. but if the map is average, may be fun, but huge cos its got an intro vid, then it's not so good.

so far as everything else goes - its no different to running a stock map. add to map folder. add to fast ftp if you have one, as a bzp. add to map list and mapcycle if desired. change to map. and play

 

[Spamdini]

still my question isnt answered though. do i need to bzp all the files individually or can i bzp the hierarchy of folders and such? ie do i need to bzp the bsp file then bzp the intro movie then bzp the intro pics and place them as seperate bzps in the proper folders on the server or ftp, or can i bzp a team fortress 2 folder with a maps folder a materials folder (with vgui and maps folder in that aswell), so there is only 1 bzp?

 

[Pseudo]

You first add all custom content to the BSP using Pakrat. Your entire map and everything it requires are in that one BSP file. Then you can compress that BSP file using bzip2.

 

[Geuel]

So, TF2 won't make the bzip for you when someone is trying to download it?

 

[Hampster]

Wait, I'm confused. Is the ability to use .res files gone or do we just love pakrat a lot?

 

[Pseudo]

So, TF2 won't make the bzip for you when someone is trying to download it?

I don't think that the bzip is made automatically.

Wait, I'm confused. Is the ability to use .res files gone or do we just love pakrat a lot?

RES files are still supported I just thought that Pakrat would be easier to explain.

 

[Hawk]

I think in an ideal situation, Hammer should just automatically embed custom materials into your map when you compile (if some sort of "embed" box is checked). At least, that's what I wish would happen. It's kind of silly that somebody should have to create something like Pakrat to take care of something Hammer should have handled.

 

[Spamdini]

You first add all custom content to the BSP using Pakrat. Your entire map and everything it requires are in that one BSP file. Then you can compress that BSP file using bzip2.

this is great i get it, but my question still stands. what about the intro movie and intro pics and intro text file (the one that appears on the chalkboard as your map description) do they also need to be bziped SEPERATElY from your pakrated bsp file? or can i bzip the bsp, intro movie, intro pics etc... all together?

 

[phatal]

I think in an ideal situation, Hammer should just automatically embed custom materials into your map when you compile (if some sort of "embed" box is checked). At least, that's what I wish would happen. It's kind of silly that somebody should have to create something like Pakrat to take care of something Hammer should have handled.

Especially with such limited texture selection.

 

[Pseudo]

this is great i get it, but my question still stands. what about the intro movie and intro pics and intro text file (the one that appears on the chalkboard as your map description) do they also need to be bziped SEPERATElY from your pakrated bsp file? or can i bzip the bsp, intro movie, intro pics etc... all together?

You first add ALL custom content INCLUDING PICTURES, MOVIE, AND TEXT FILES to the BSP using Pakrat. Your entire map and EVERYTHING it requires are in that one BSP file. Then you can compress that ONE BSP file using bzip2.

Your entire map and all of its content, including stuff for the intro screen, will be added in to one file such as mapname.bsp. To make your map download faster, you then have the option to compress your map file to create a file such as mapname.bsp.bz2. Bzip only compresses a file, it does not "archive", which would be to combine several files into one. All of the files your map needs should already be in the BSP before you create the compressed file. Both the BSP file and the compressed BSP.BZ2 file should be uploaded to the server.

 

[Spamdini]

ok thank you ill try that.

 

[phatal]

Both the BSP file and the compressed BSP.BZ2 file should be uploaded to the server.

You would put the bz2 and the bsp in the maps folder of the server??

You wouldn't put the bz2 on the redirect instead?