func_tracktrain Last edited 4 years ago2020-03-13 19:33:51 UTC

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Brush Entity

This entity allows you to create a player-controllable train / platform etc. that follows a path.

Attributes

Name (targetname) - Property used to identify entities.
Render FX (renderfx) - Gives objects special render effects. Think of it as modifying whatever the Render Mode puts out. The options are as follows:

= Normal
= Slow Pulse
= Fast Pulse
= Slow Wide Pulse
= Fast Wide Pulse
= Slow Fade Away
= Fast Fade Away
= Slow Become Solid
= Fast Become Solid
= Slow Strobe
= Fast Strobe
= Faster Strobe
= Slow Flicker
= Fast Flicker
= Constant Glow
= Distort
= Hologram (Distort and Fade)

Render Mode (rendermode) - Controls the type of rendering that is used for an object. Options are:

= Normal
= Color
= Texture
= Glow
= Solid
= Additive

Global Entity Name (globalname) - If your train is going to cross level transitions, it'll need a global name.
FX Amount (renderamt)
FX Color (rendercolor)
ZHLT Lightflags (zhlt_lightflags)
Light Origin Target (light_origin) - Overrides the position from which the train will receive its lighting when the map compiles. Useful if the train doesn't have the correct lighting in-game. This can be used with an info_target.
First stop Target (target) - The name of the path_track to start at.
Sound (sounds) - Values:

= none
= rail 1
= rail 2
= rail 3
= rail 4
= rail 6
= rail 7

Distance between the wheels (wheels) - This determines how the train behaves when turning corners. Generally the length of the object works here.
Height above track (height) - This is the height above the path_track that the train will ride, based on the location of the train's origin brush.
Initial Speed (startspeed) - The speed the train starts at, until overridden by player control or path_track settings.
Speed (speed) - The maximum speed the player can make a controllable train go in units/second.
Damage on crush (dmg) - If train movement is blocked by the player, deal out this much damage.
Volume (volume) - Range: 0 - 10.
Bank angle on turns (bank) - This is the angle the train will tilt when cornering.
Minimum Light Level (_minlight) - The minimum light level the train will have, even if its initial position in the editor is in a purely dark room.

Flags

No pitch(X-rot) (1) - Enabling this will make the train rotate on the Z axis only (yaw - left and right)
No User Control (2) - Removes the player's ability to control the train (free ride to death?... yeah!)
Passable (8) - Makes train non-solid.

Notes

When you create the brush model it must face west (90 degrees - to the left in the top view). When it spawns in the game it will automatically move to the first path_track and orientate itself to face the second path_track.
- Sometimes the entity might require an 180 degree turn to appear correctly in-game, instead of 90. The cause of this is unknown (possibly an engine bug?)
Changing the degrees in the yaw circle won't affect the direction that the func_tracktrain faces in-game. The degrees in the yaw circle in the path_track don't change anything either.
func_traincontrol entities allow the player to control the train. They are not part of the func_tracktrain and their placement only determines the area of use. They will automatically stay in that area relative to the train as it moves.
An origin brush needs to be part of the entity to specify its axes.
This is one of the few entities that can have 'clip' brushes as part of itself, which prevent player movement (i.e. to stop the player falling off the sides).

3 Comments

Captain Terror

Commented 9 years ago2014-11-24 15:31:52 UTC Comment #101139

Hmpf. Anyone know a trick to make func_tracktrain?

RollingBarrel

Commented 9 years ago2014-11-26 00:52:09 UTC Comment #101140

I'm experimenting with func_tracktrain at the moment.
I'll make a tutorial on my channel if I figure it out.

kimilil

Commented 10 months ago2024-01-05 12:12:36 UTC Comment #105848

Some findings about func_tracktrain:

wheels distance is only measured forward from origin. To make the train travel as much on the path as possible, the origin needs to be located at the center of the back axle.
wheel distance defaults to 100.
target of a path_track is fired when the origin passes the path_track.
the position and angle is set wrt the origin point as follows:
1. trace a line forward.
2. if there's enough distance to the end of the current path, keep heading
3. if wheel distance > distance to next path, subtract current distance to next path, then iterate the path forwards until the distance fits the path. the point where distance is 0 is the new heading.
4. origin moves forward
5. angle is adjusted to point to the heading. this will in all cases be shorter than wheel distance; the sharper the curve the more noticeable. this also means the front wheel part will always overshoot the path. but the origin is guaranteed to always be on the path.

[2024-05-12] While I am a proponent of the origin at the back axle, more realistically moving trains, I can see how it is totally incompatible with track [auto]changers. Gotta have to pick your poison, I guess.

[2024-05-13] Also, a tutorial for track trains is needed.

[2024-07-10] You can control a func_tracktrain remotely using game_counter_set entities. Value 1 throttles up one notch, -1 down a notch.

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