Invisible, seemingly non-existent barrie Created 14 years ago2009-12-06 18:36:00 UTC by FrozenFire

I'm developing a map currently, and after adding a new section, this weird invisible barrier has appeared, which interacts with both players and weapons fire. It blocks off an entire area of the map.

In Hammer, there are no objects in the vicinity of the barrier that would cause the issue. The barrier extends the whole length of the map. The only thing correlating to the position of the barrier is the far wall of the new section I have added.

I have deleted numerous objects in the map, trying to locate what is causing this, but have no had any luck in removing the barrier yet.

Any suggestions? I would be happy to provide the map source, if someone wishes to examine the map. Until I fix this issue, I cannot release the map.

Do you have any object assigned to a VIS group?

Is the map near the edge of the grid?
So you have any complex geometry? (triangle terrain)
Is there something hidden in a visgroup you're overlooking?
[EDIT: Ninja'd]

The map is in the center of the "world" and nothing of it is near the edges.

There are no complex objects in the map that are anywhere near the plane this is affecting.

I don't have any visgroups defined.

What are you compilation settings?

The compilation settings are default for ZHLT with Hammer. I can't use Batch Compiler on this system, as my copy of XP doesn't pass WGA, so I can't get the .NET framework.

As well, it's worth mentioning that I tried moving the entire map when this issue occurred, so see if it wasn't actually part of the map. When I moved the map, the glitch followed. It is evidently being generated by some part of the visible map, which I can select.

Make sure you haven't just been using the Hide Selected tool.
Or is that the same thing?

EDIT: Wait, it'd still show up ingame, wouldn't it? Nevermind.

I used "Show hidden objects," to which I received a response that there were no hidden objects.

It's evident that some object is projecting this barrier, possibly due to a missing face. When I use "filled polys" instead of textured ones, there is absolutely nothing where the barrier appears.

Sounds like a clip node error, probably due to some crazy geometry, or just a brush gone rogue. Changing your clip type for the compile might fix it.
Try -cliptype precise and -cliptype simple
Also, can we see a screenshot of the offending area?

Edit: Players and gunfire? That's got to be a bad brush, and you're going to have to find it.

I'm getting a friend to download .NET for me, so I can bypass WGA, so I can install Batch Compiler. Setting up compiling in "Expert" mode in Hammer is really confusing, and is the only way in the editor to specify compile flags.

A screenshot would be pointless, as it's entirely invisible. It's just a vertical plane that extends the length of the map.

How would I go about finding a bad brush?

Well I was hoping a screenshot would maybe show some of the wacky brushes that might be causing this.

I supposed one way to isolate the brush is to find out what direction the invisible wall extends, and follow that general line (in Hammer) until it runs into visible brushes. Then start checking out those brushes.

I've checked the brushes to the smallest level of detail. The only plane that visibly correlates to the barrier is just a basic out_con wall with a nulled exterior.

What happens when you take that nulled brush and replace it with the bevel texture?

I replaced the entire wall with an out_con brush. Nothing changed.

I'm thinking it's a misplaced clip plane, but the fact that I've copied the entire map into a new file, replaced brushes and compiled with a few different cliptypes, leads me to believe it's something I'm not going to resolve without editing the actual map file with a text editor.

How about deleting that brush and compiling without it, and see if it has any effect?

Because that brush is an exterior wall, and deleting it would cause a leak.

Replacing the brush in question with a new one? I dunno.

Firstly, I have no idea which brush is actually causing the issue. I'm probably going to end up replacing every one that is on the same plane, but even that's not sure-fire.

I've already replaced a few brushes, to no avail.

Maybe recreate the entire section of the map? How far are you in that area?
If you're not too far because of this error, it won't be too much of a loss.

Try surrounding your map with a giant box and start deleting brushes. It should help you locate the problem brush.

Why does everyone always jump straight to "recreate the area!"? It's better to isolate the problem in case you run into it again.

What happens when you take that nulled brush and replace it with the bevel texture?

^Try what Atom suggested and get back to us with the results.

try r_drawclipbrushes 1 and see where the problem is originating, then try altering the geometry there.

Nevermind.

did you check for errors? Alt-P

How about you try to delete parts of the map, to try and locate where the problem brush is? Start with deleting large portions of your map, and then narrow it down.

Any errors/warnings in the compile log?

You guys aren't even reading the rest of the thread

Just send me your map and I'll see if I can find out what's happening for you.