Tutorial: Dimensions Last edited 21 years ago2003-05-26 04:00:00 UTC

Half-Life Dimensions

These dimensions apply to Half-Life maps created with WorldCraft/Hammer as long as the code for the player entities has not been modified. So if your using standard player models these dimensions apply.

What does 1 unit equal?. The answer is that 1 unit doesn't really equal anything. It is not a "real" inch or centimeter. It is just a figure. If you build your maps based on a unit actually representing a standard measurement, then Gordon will end up being a short fat person.

The following figures are pretty good, but it is best to add a few units just to be sure. A unit is the smallest square available in the 2D views. Just use your [ key to reduce the size of your grid until it won't go any smaller, then zoom in with the C key, and the grids should be one unit. You can verify this by checking the Snap on Grid indicator at the bottom right of the screen.

Ground Obstacle Height:
This is the maximum height, in units, an object can be while still allowing the player to walk over it.
Crouched: 18
Standing: 18

Overhead Obstacle Height:
This is the minimum distance, in units, that can be between the ground and an object while still allowing the player to pass underneath.
Crouched: 37
Standing: 73

Minimum Path Width:
This is the minimum width, in units, that can be between two objects while still allowing the player to pass between them.
Width: 33

Jump Height:
This is the maximum height, in units, an object can be while still allowing the player to jump on top of it.
Crouched: 44
Walking: 44
Running crouch-jump: 62

Jump Span:
This is the maximum distance, in units, that can be between two objects of the same height, while still allowing the player to jump from one object to the other.
Crouched: 99
Walking: 109
Running: 239
Running crouch-jump: 259

Eye Level:
Looking directly ahead, a brush will appear to be at eye level if it is about 45 units off the floor.

Other Dimensions:

By JB:
I was just reading your dimensions tut to see what was there when I noticed you included information about maximum crouch-jump-able height. I discovered once that you CAN crouch jump 64 units high provided the surface you jump up to is sloping down towards you between 45? -and 0?. Interesting bug in the game, and worth mentioning, I think.

Jump using the Long Jump Module:
Does anyone know? Or did the Long Jump unit become obselete?

Slope:
I built a flat brush and used the transformation tool with an entry of 20 to make it a slope. I couldn't walk up it! However I increased the slope to 25 and you could get up it. Somewhere between these transitions is the magic figure. You can't run up the 25 slope, but you can get there with a steady mouse.
As for falling off a slope, the way the engine works, you don't really fall off, but slide down, and that seems to be anything around the 35 slope. I don't know if those figures actually equate to degrees, but it wouldn't surprise me.

The smallest brush you can walk on:
A half of one unit... if it's there you can walk on it. This covers most of the available mapping dimensions, if you know of any more please let me know.

For those of you interested in HL2 check out the FAQ at Collective - some interesting stuff.