I'm getting a much better understanding of Hammer, working hands on and all, but I'm having a hard time working out certain things (this is for 1.3 by the way, not Source). I deleted my other topic becuase I have a few more questions this time around! (and the last one didn't get any responses so it's no loss.) My biggest questions at the moment are:

Skyboxes. As far as I can tell, a skybox is just a box that goes around your entire map... and looks like a sky when you play the game. Only mine doesn't... and I don't know how to designate it as a 'skybox'. I read a FAQ on how to CHANGE the sky image in your skybox but of all places I've looked I haven't seen how to make one.

Models. I have all the model files but I have no idea how to get the program to communicate with the files and incorporate them into my map. I don't know if this has anything to do with entities or not, but as of right now I see no sign of DoD type stuff that I'd want to use.

All in all I really want to map but I've been having a hell of a time finding comprehensive information. I found a FAQ that got me on my feet and wanting more, but it seems like everywhere I go it's one dissapointing dead link after another, so my last option is to turn to you all.

Originally posted by ok comp
I'm getting a much better understanding of Hammer, working hands on and all, but I'm having a hard time working out certain things (this is for 1.3 by the way, not Source). I deleted my other topic becuase I have a few more questions this time around! (and the last one didn't get any responses so it's no loss.) My biggest questions at the moment are:

Skyboxes. As far as I can tell, a skybox is just a box that goes around your entire map... and looks like a sky when you play the game. Only mine doesn't... and I don't know how to designate it as a 'skybox'. I read a FAQ on how to CHANGE the sky image in your skybox but of all places I've looked I haven't seen how to make one.

Models. I have all the model files but I have no idea how to get the program to communicate with the files and incorporate them into my map. I don't know if this has anything to do with entities or not, but as of right now I see no sign of DoD type stuff that I'd want to use.

All in all I really want to map but I've been having a hell of a time finding comprehensive information. I found a FAQ that got me on my feet and wanting more, but it seems like everywhere I go it's one dissapointing dead link after another, so my last option is to turn to you all.


Skyboxes - you have to find the Skybox texture.
Careful how you do your skyboxes though - making them unnecessarily big really impacts on performance (so I've read). Read the articles about optimisation posted in this forum for examples on how to do it properly.

Models - create an entity and then change it's world model property... you'll see the model browser is opened. There are plenty of DOD specific models scattered through various directories.

There are plenty of tutorials, but as I said in Waldo's thread they don't really hang together as I'd personally like: I need a tutorial on building something complete and useful - a house with an interior for instance.

I read a FAQ on how to CHANGE the sky image in your skybox but of all places I've looked I haven't seen how to make one.

I'm still fuzzy on the details myself, but check out these two links:

Zombie's Optimizing Page (http://www.student.kun.nl/rvanhoorn/Optimization.htm#chapter1) - scroll down to where he talks about skyboxes. Ok, this isn't a step-by-step how-to, but it let's you know what not to do.

And I've found
Appalachian Killing Grounds - HL2 Source mapping (http://www.akilling.org/akg/default.asp?akg=tutall) to be more helpful and truly noobie friendly than a lot of 'em I've seen.

i think you'll find a lot of dead links to dod 1.3 mapping links as everyone's now mapping in source, maybe you should do the same ;)

in a dod 1.3 map
for your skybox tex goto:

map/map properties/environment map (Sky name)

and insert one of these:

ava
dashnight
dmcw
killertomato
jagd
kraftstoff
morningdew
grnplsnt
rubble
sildom2
snowcliff
st

i think that's all the stock skies for dod 1.3

i used to point my hammer at a stand alone dod server, it has all the stock stuff you'll need to map for dod 1.3
you can use the steam "UpdateTool" to install a stand alone dod 1.3 server including the old dod fgd, models and wad files.
good luck :)

Oh geez. Leave it to my noobship to advise a fellow noob. I thought he meant Source. Need to lay off that Submit Reply button! *sorry* :(

Hey, no sweat, those links were actually really cool as it is, and in some respect are still helpful in terms of ideas.

I will probably map for source at some point since I've heard hammer works pretty much the same in both cases. Though I can't get hammer for source because I don't own HL2, and I don't believe it comes with just DoD:S. I still play 1.3 rather frequently so it all works out.

Anyway, my problem with the skybox was that I didn't know that you had to set the texture SKY to certain brushes. Such a simple thing but no tutorial I read acknowledged this at all... I already knew about switching the skybox image though, which was useless to me until I finally figured it all out.

I stumbled across a place called SnarkPit, and they have a pretty nice set of tutorials, especially a few great ones for newb mappers such as myself... so far I've just been experimenting but I'm itching to get to work on some real maps I have in mind.

Anyway, my problem with the skybox was that I didn't know that you had to set the texture SKY to certain brushes. Such a simple thing but no tutorial I read acknowledged this at all...

I'm still looking for a tutorial on making an optimized skybox...I just waited 14 hours to see my compile was stalled (ya think? :p ), so now I begin anew...

Originally posted by ok comp
Hey, no sweat, those links were actually really cool as it is, and in some respect are still helpful in terms of ideas.

I will probably map for source at some point since I've heard hammer works pretty much the same in both cases. Though I can't get hammer for source because I don't own HL2, and I don't believe it comes with just DoD:S. I still play 1.3 rather frequently so it all works out.

Anyway, my problem with the skybox was that I didn't know that you had to set the texture SKY to certain brushes. Such a simple thing but no tutorial I read acknowledged this at all... I already knew about switching the skybox image though, which was useless to me until I finally figured it all out.

I stumbled across a place called SnarkPit, and they have a pretty nice set of tutorials, especially a few great ones for newb mappers such as myself... so far I've just been experimenting but I'm itching to get to work on some real maps I have in mind.
Hammer does come with just DoD:S now. I dont own HL2I own CS:S and DoD:S seperatly, and the source SDK shows up. It didnt used to, but it does now.

Hey... I've got it now too... wow.