So I'm working on a map, it's very piecemeal right now but I think I finally know where it's going (yes I know it's bad form to make a map without actually planning it first but bleh).

The center area of the map is an airstrip. What I'm planning is hopefully to have a short bunker system running under the runway to get to the other side and blocking actual access to the runway itself.

If I did this, is it possible to build a 3d skybox that has a strip across the middle which would have the runway on it?

i.e. If you imagine the skybox as a '0' shape, where it 'surrounds' the map, make it an '8' shape instead.

Or am I better off taking the fps hit and just building visible bits of runway full scale?

Yes Im pretty sure this would be possible, but obviously the runway would not be accessible.

Its possible and if you don't intend for the runway to be accessible, it is likley the best way to go. Will save on your FPS quite a bit I would think. And shouldn't be too difficult to implement.

Excellent, that's what I wanted to hear.

Thanks guys!

sorry to p**s on your bomfire but it will create errors, on my Ardennes map the skybox used to be an L shape but,,, and this is hard to explain, world geometry behind the skybox geometry will be displayed infront of the skybox geometry.
I will try to find an early pic and post it with the areas highlighted but you will see what I mean,,

The only way I can see round it would be to use Fog and have the middle bit long enough to block the far end geometry.

One word: Doh!

Oh well - was worth asking.

Before you write it off, you should try to build a quick test map, with skybox in the 8 configuration and some props and brushes on either side to see if it gives the desired effect.

Always test this sort of thing, don't always rely on other people. You'll always find something new. A few maps have skybox items within the map, but I can't think of any that have visible world geometry behind them..

Originally posted by [oap]Agent_S
sorry to p**s on your bomfire but it will create errors, on my Ardennes map the skybox used to be an L shape but,,, and this is hard to explain, world geometry behind the skybox geometry will be displayed infront of the skybox geometry.
I will try to find an early pic and post it with the areas highlighted but you will see what I mean,,


Did you try a nodraw?

What happens is you'll get superimposed imaging and it'll look like crap. You can place skybox objects off to the side or over the top but you should not place them at eye level IN the map...try it and see what happens.

you can as long as the part behind is not rendered at all by that I mean you have to use visblocking techniques to be sure both playable areas are seled by portals and hints.

3dskybox geometry is always rendered behind world geometry,even if theyre physically in front.