light aura cool effect? Created 19 years ago2005-02-05 00:45:43 UTC by Reigy Squirrel

you know the level in half-life2, in the first level, you come in this huge room and see three of your NPCs getting food from some mechanism..

if you still dont know, remember the room where the combine purposly hits the can and asks you to "PICK UP THE CAN" and you have to throw it.

the next room is huge and when you look up, you can see the light going through the huge windows and makes a light aura cool effect.

----------------roof----------------------;
window}/ ;
-----}///////////////// ;
-----}/////////////light aura effect////////;
window}/ ;
-----}///////////////// ;
-----}/////////////light aura effect////////;
window}/ ;
-----}///////////////// ;
-----}/////////////light aura effect////////;
-------/ ;
-------/ ;
-------/ ;
-------/ ;
-------/----------------------------------;
-------/ ;
-------/ npc getting food>;
-------/ ;
-----------Gordon looking up------------

so how do you make that effect?

a beam entity. If i recal, its a env_beam or light beam or something. Its all self explanitory after that. you just have to angle it properly.

but thats a pretty big beam

well, it gets the job done. Try it and see what it looks like.

I thought it's point_lightspot, but I could be wrong.

im not sure anymore. And SDK tools takes to long to open.

Its one of those.

nah, just create a short cut from the sdk folder itselft. now you just click on the hammer icon and there!

so can someone tell me how to do the aura?

There's actually a model you can use, which looks superb. I used it here.

The dust particles move too, which looks elite. The model is in the effects folder. Can't remember what it's called, but it has a distinct name.

vol_light.mdl

Toss it on a no-collision prop_static and enjoy.

There is one downfall to it - The length can't be changed. Thus, with a bit of experimentation and looking at that dm_depot map for hours, I've devised a way to create old, HL-ly volumetric light which doesn't use a model and is thus customizable.

It involves creating a thin, one or two unit brush and making it cover where you want the light, to be viewed from the side (not a big 'volume' like teh HL light was, and clipping may be necessary) then applying a sprite texture, stretching it so it looks like a beam, and tying to func_illusionary.

Oh, and just for teh reference -

point_lightspot (should be point_spotlight?) is for creating the little sprites beneath spotlights. They used this in a lot of the Ravenholm sections.

yah, its always a nice effect. I should acctually post my example map.

Theres examples of:
-suns
-cranes
-ropes and wires
-ladders
-model use for like chainlink fences
-prop_physics
-spotlights along with their models

its good for any nubie that needs help.

wow thanks for all the help guys, especially rabid