Mapping for CSS without having it Created 16 years ago2008-01-14 16:11:42 UTC by Spike

I'm going to buy CSS next week, but I want to start mapping for it now, so can I map for example the solids for TF2 and next week copy+paste it on a CSS VHE map?

What's VHE?

It should work with prefabs. I just did a quick test: Made a block and an arch in the Episode Two (don't have TF2) version of Hammer; saved it as prefab into the Episode One Prefab folder; closed Hammer; ran Hammer in Episode One mode (with "-engine ep1" in the launch options) with CS:S config and put the prefab into a new map. Worked so far.

Ofc, I don't know about possible bugs, but I guess as long as you just use brushes you should be fine.

What's VHE?

You're kidding, right?
VHE = Valve Hammer Editor.

Spike, you can do some brushwork in HL2, HL2DM or any other pre Orange Box Source game that you own, and when you have CSS installed and ready to go, just open the map you made with another Source game in CSS and all should work fine. Don't play with entities yet as some of them may not work in CSS.

Muzz, you really shouldn't give advice like that.

Spike, you can try, but the ep2 version of the Source engine is vastly different to CSS's, and so is the version of Hammer for each.

Whether -engine ep1 hammer will open an ep2 .vmf, is unknown to me, but it can't hurt to try.

Muzz, you really shouldn't give advice like that.

What are you talking about?
A map (vmf file) with only brushwork that was made for HL2DM will load fine in Hammer for CSS.

You're kidding, right?

Nah, I wasn't. Didn't know that abbr.

Yes, I guess saving the whole map (brushwork only) should be fine too, because prefabs are stored as vmf files too. I didn't try that though.

HL2DM isn't a different engine from CSS.

in many ways EP2, and TF2 are.
They use different versions of hammer than CSS & HL2DM

HL2DM isn't a different engine from CSS.

Im not talking about the actual game, im talking about Hammer.
Imaging this:

1. You start up Hammer for HL2, HL2DM, whatever.
2. You make some brushwork for your upcoming CSS map, just to try out some ideas.
3. Then once you get CSS, simply start Hammer for CSS, load the vmf you've made for HL2, HL2DM (see step 1) and it'll open fine.

Just don't open it a Orange Box version of Hammer, as Hunter pointed out (i never told said you can do that, R1Co did).

Yeah I came up with EP2 because he talked about TF2.

Of course it's better to use any pre-orange-box game, if you have one, Spike. I should have pointed that out earlier.

Spike: Muzzleflash got it right the first time, just listen to him.

lmao cubone!

Ok thnx, then I'll start the map tomorrow

MuzzleFlash: I believe The Hunter was refering to Spike's original post, which stated that he was going to map under the TF2 config and then move it over to CS:S, which may pose a problem.

does brushwork really make that big of a difference between engines? as far as i know, you can still import the brushwork from a Goldsource map into source... so i mean, as long as you're not playing outside the limits that CSS can use, then you should be fine...

Yes, but you can bring a VMF into Hammer 3.5, can you?

Different versions of the file format can potentially be problematic. To be safe, it's best to work with the respective version of the SDK that the game works with.

Yes I'm aware. But I figure, as long as it's just brushwork, TF2 file shouldn't look any different to Hammer than a CSS one would (that is again, if there is no entities).

Better safe than sorry though.

And by "sorry" I mean having to re-do some brushwork one extra time.

someone could just test.

gimme a mo'

[edit]

a .vmf with some brushes textured with DEV materials made in the ep2 version of hammer just opened without problems in ep1 Hammer.

Like I expected.

Well, there you go.