Non-coding workarounds for your mod Last edited 1 year ago2023-08-13 00:55:33 UTC

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NOTE: This guide is a work in progress, wich means that you might find it very short, lacking of information, poorly done or with terrible spelling. If you have any suggestions, ideas or you know any workarounds, please go to the comments section.

When developing a mod you will often run across the no-coding issue, wich consists in you trying to implement a feature but not being able to do so since you dont know how to code, there are no programmers on your mod team or you just simply don´t want to code. This can be a problem for the development of the mod.
On this tutorial we will review a lot of workarounds that will help to add some features to your mod without coding.

The main problem of no-coding workarounds

Some of the workarounds presented in here may not be what you want. Besides, this workarounds are very limited. An example would be that you can´t add a new weapon or NPC. These are all based on leftover content and "exploiting" already existent features, so dont get too excited.
However, the advantage of using these workarounds is that it will make your mod stand out of the crowd, or at least look less plain.
Without further adieu, lets start.

UI/Menu

Different loading background

Half-Life uses a single background image both for the menu and when the game is loading. However, you can add different backgrounds for the loading screen and menu.
Main MenuMain Menu
Loading screenLoading screen
This can be achieved by modifying the file "YourMod/resource/BackgroundLoadingLayout.txt", and adding your new background files. A recommended way to organize the backgrounds is putting the files in different folders, rather than putting everything in the "background" folder:
ImageImage

Music in the main menu

This one is pretty popular. Adding a music file named "gamestartup.mp3" to the folder "YourMod/media" adds music to the main menu. However, the music plays in a loop and does not play again when the player leaves the game or disconnects from a server.

Mapping/Level editing

Dynamic Lights

This one was found in a russian server by the user Windawz. If you add the parameter "effects" to a brush or point-based entity with the value of 8 or 4, it will emit dynamic light.
Image by WindawzImage by Windawz
An example can be found here.

Models

Different models for a single entity

You can make variations of pickups, monsters, etc. by adding a bodygroup to the model and adding the "body" property in a map editor:
PickupsPickups
MonstersMonsters
You can also add "limitless" body/skingroups to entities that already use them like HECU grunts of scientist. I wrote "limitless" because there is still a limit on every model. Acording to The303.org, the limits are: An example can be found here, by UrbaNebula.

6 Comments

Commented 1 year ago2023-08-13 10:23:31 UTC Comment #105469
All of the features shown in Mapping are included in Advanced Half-Life FGD by default. Thus, there is no need to turn off the Smart Edit and add relevant keyvalues every time.
User posted image
User posted image
Even scientists with different pitches using the same head bodygroup can be created.
User posted image
Body and Skin keys are already included as long as they are supported on almost most monster_* entities.
User posted image
All func_* entities include the effects key by default.
User posted image
User posted image
Of course, this FGD did not become popular because it didn't get enough attention, and everyone is still making maps with the outdated Half-Life FGD.
Commented 1 year ago2023-08-13 21:38:29 UTC Comment #105470
User posted image
Commented 1 year ago2023-08-14 05:00:13 UTC Comment #105471
我曾经在ka_airtrain里使用func_conveyor的时候,也出现了光照效果,即使我并未有任何非常规操作。
When I once used the func_conveyor entity in ka_airtrain, it also compiled with a light effect in the map, even though I didn't do anything unconventional with it.
Commented 1 year ago2023-08-14 21:05:10 UTC Comment #105472
Interesting, could you please elaborate further?
Commented 1 year ago2023-08-15 10:14:12 UTC Comment #105476
很难说,因为这个实体很久以前就被我删除了。
It's hard to say because this entity was deleted by me a long time ago.
Commented 1 year ago2023-09-04 16:41:42 UTC Comment #105523
Here to clarify what "loading screen" means. It's the moment after the game entered fullscreen and before the main menu shows. It's actually not the time when the maps are loading (I tested) so you're actually only seeing it for a fraction of a second tops. No wonder nobody bothers making a custom one.

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