Setting up Hammer: Difference between revisions

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(Hosting these files on the wiki directly, since they'll get deleted when we remove the original message)
(Rewrite page, the vrad_tf2c executable was probably just a placebo and didn't have visibly different results)
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This page will walk you through setting up Hammer for TF2Classic map development.
This page will walk you through setting up Hammer++ with Slammin' tools for TF2Classic map development.
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== Basic setup ==
== Setting up Hammer ==
First, locate your Source SDK Base 2013 Multiplayer folder. Search for it in your Steam library, right-click on it, click "Properties", click "Local files" in the window that appears, then click "Browse". This should open the game's folder, inside of which you should open the "bin" folder. Within this folder is the version of Hammer that we use to create maps for TF2Classic.
Go to the [https://ficool2.github.io/HammerPlusPlus-Website/download.html download page for Hammer++], scroll down until you find the "Source SDK 2013 Multiplayer" option and click it. This will download a ZIP file.


Open up Hammer by double-clicking "hammer.exe". From the toolbar at the top, click "Tools" > "Options..."
If you open the ZIP file, you'll find a ''hammerplusplus_2013mpbuildXXXX'' folder, which itself contains a ''bin'' folder. You should merge the ''bin'' folder inside of the ZIP with the ''bin'' folder in your ''Source SDK Base 2013 Multiplayer'' directory that contains hammer.exe. After that's finished, hammerplusplus.exe and hammer.exe should be in the same folder.


In the "Game Configurations" panel, under the "Configuration" section, press ''Edit''. In the window that pops up, press ''Add'', and type in "TF2C".
Open up Hammer++ by double-clicking "hammerplusplus.exe". After it's started, in the main interface, go to '''Tools''' -> '''Options''' -> '''"Game Configurations" tab''' -> Click "Edit" next to the "Configurations" drop-down. Add a new one, titled however you like.  


Select "TF2C" in the Configuration dropdown. You can now set up the options within both the Game Configurations and Build Prorams tabs.
Edit this new configuration to point to the TF2C gamedata (the FGD files in the ''tf2classic'' folder), the game executable directory (your Source SDK Base 2013 Multiplayer folder), and the game directory (your ''tf2classic'' folder, containing GameInfo.txt)


[[File:Hammer configuration.png|frame|center|Example image showcasing what your configuration should look like]]
[[File:Hammer configuration.png|frame|center|Example image showcasing what your configuration should look like]]


== Hammer++ ==
== Setting up your compilation tools ==
Instead of using Valve's Hammer, it's possible to use a community fork that adds new features and bugfixes, and this is often especially preferable for novice creators.
A set of default compilation tools (vbsp, vvis, and vrad) will come with Source SDK Base 2013 Multiplayer, however these are ancient and unmaintained. They have a limited featureset, old defaults, bugs that can cause strange lighting bugs or performance issues, and much slower compiles. Every mapper is recommended to use the Slammin' Source Mapping Tools, which introduce modern features and fixes.
 
Go to the [https://ficool2.github.io/HammerPlusPlus-Website/download.html download page for Hammer++], scroll down until you find the "Source SDK 2013 Multiplayer" option and click it. This will download a ZIP file.
 
If you open the ZIP file, you'll find a ''hammerplusplus_2013mpbuildXXXX'' folder, which itself contains a ''bin'' folder. You should merge the ''bin'' folder inside of the ZIP with the ''bin'' folder in your ''Source SDK Base 2013 Multiplayer'' directory that contains hammer.exe. After that's finished, hammerplusplus.exe and hammer.exe should be in the same folder.
 
Open up Hammer++ by double-clicking "hammerplusplus.exe". After it's started, you should close it again and port your Hammer configuration over. To do this, copy the "GameConfig.txt" file in ''bin'', then enter the newly-created ''hammerplusplus'' folder and paste it. Delete the existing "hammerplusplus_gameconfig.txt" file, then rename GameConfig.txt to replace it. At this point, you can launch Hammer++ again, choose the TF2C configuration preset, and use it as normal.
 
== Slammin' Source Map Tools ==
A set of default compilation tools (vbsp, vvis, and vrad) will come with Source SDK Base 2013 Multiplayer, however you can find better performance and prettier lighting by using the "Slammin" Source Map Tools instead.


At time of writing, you can find the latest version of these tools for TF2C at: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1gqmMkHTadUmWBMOqSPSlKRLL1zYvoRsS/view?usp=sharing
At time of writing, you can find the latest version of these tools for TF2C at: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1gqmMkHTadUmWBMOqSPSlKRLL1zYvoRsS/view?usp=sharing


Like with Hammer++, this is an archive you'll need to open and extract. The entire contents of the 7z file you download should be extracted into your bin folder. This will '''overwrite''' your existing set of compilation tools, including Valve's Hammer (Hammer++ will be fine).
Like with Hammer++, this is an archive you'll need to open and extract. The entire contents of the 7z file you download should be extracted into your bin folder. This will '''overwrite''' your existing set of compilation tools, including Valve's Hammer (Hammer++ will be untouched).
 
After extraction, these tools should be used by Hammer/Hammer++ without further configuration. Refer to the thread for more information on which options you can use with these tools: https://knockout.chat/thread/992
 
== TF2C VRAD ==
A custom version of VRAD is available for TF2C, designed to give a more "old-school" look to the lighting on maps you compile. This version of VRAD is more similar to the one used in TF2 2007, generally being brighter without as dark of shadows. This is mutually exclusive to Slammin's VRAD, you must use one or the other.
 
To use this, download these two files:
 
[https://wiki.tf2classic.com/misc/vrad_tf2c.exe vrad_tf2c.exe]


[https://wiki.tf2classic.com/misc/vrad_tf2c_dll.dll vrad_tf2c_dll.dll]
After extraction, these tools should be used by Hammer++ without further configuration. Refer to the thread for more information on which options you can use with these tools: https://knockout.chat/thread/992


Move them to your "bin" folder, open your Hammer configuration, select TF2C in the dropdown, and in your Build Configurations, set the "RAD executable" to the vrad_tf2c.exe file you extracted. It should then be used on future compiles.
=== VRAD options ===
This is a recommended set of flags for VRAD which will compile LDR and HDR, and enable all optional graphical features. This is also horribly slow, and you shouldn't use this except for your ''final'' map compile, when you're ready to distribute it to others:
-final -both -ambientocclusion -LargeDispSampleRadius -softencosine -worldtextureshadows -translucentshadows


[[Category:Guides]]
[[Category:Guides]]

Revision as of 00:37, 6 December 2022

This page will walk you through setting up Hammer++ with Slammin' tools for TF2Classic map development.

Setting up Hammer

Go to the download page for Hammer++, scroll down until you find the "Source SDK 2013 Multiplayer" option and click it. This will download a ZIP file.

If you open the ZIP file, you'll find a hammerplusplus_2013mpbuildXXXX folder, which itself contains a bin folder. You should merge the bin folder inside of the ZIP with the bin folder in your Source SDK Base 2013 Multiplayer directory that contains hammer.exe. After that's finished, hammerplusplus.exe and hammer.exe should be in the same folder.

Open up Hammer++ by double-clicking "hammerplusplus.exe". After it's started, in the main interface, go to Tools -> Options -> "Game Configurations" tab -> Click "Edit" next to the "Configurations" drop-down. Add a new one, titled however you like.

Edit this new configuration to point to the TF2C gamedata (the FGD files in the tf2classic folder), the game executable directory (your Source SDK Base 2013 Multiplayer folder), and the game directory (your tf2classic folder, containing GameInfo.txt)

Example image showcasing what your configuration should look like

Setting up your compilation tools

A set of default compilation tools (vbsp, vvis, and vrad) will come with Source SDK Base 2013 Multiplayer, however these are ancient and unmaintained. They have a limited featureset, old defaults, bugs that can cause strange lighting bugs or performance issues, and much slower compiles. Every mapper is recommended to use the Slammin' Source Mapping Tools, which introduce modern features and fixes.

At time of writing, you can find the latest version of these tools for TF2C at: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1gqmMkHTadUmWBMOqSPSlKRLL1zYvoRsS/view?usp=sharing

Like with Hammer++, this is an archive you'll need to open and extract. The entire contents of the 7z file you download should be extracted into your bin folder. This will overwrite your existing set of compilation tools, including Valve's Hammer (Hammer++ will be untouched).

After extraction, these tools should be used by Hammer++ without further configuration. Refer to the thread for more information on which options you can use with these tools: https://knockout.chat/thread/992

VRAD options

This is a recommended set of flags for VRAD which will compile LDR and HDR, and enable all optional graphical features. This is also horribly slow, and you shouldn't use this except for your final map compile, when you're ready to distribute it to others: 

-final -both -ambientocclusion -LargeDispSampleRadius -softencosine -worldtextureshadows -translucentshadows
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