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==Brushes: the Foundation of 3D Level Design== Blocks. Wedges. Cylinders. Spikes. They may not sound like much, but these are the basic building blocks of all architecture created in [[Hammer]]. You can carve 'em, clip 'em, and manipulate 'em. You can combine these "[[brush]]es" to make any shape possible, real or imagined. This is known as constructive solid geometry (CSG) and this is the editing style Hammer uses. Creating brush solids is described in the section [[Brush Creation]]. Once you create a brush, you'll want to [[Applying Materials|assign a material to it]]. ==Entities and Entity Types== You say you want more in your game world than inanimate solids? Well then, what you want are [[entity|entities]]. While brushes are "[[world]] objects" used to form the backbone of your level, entities are the objects that move, make sounds, and/or be interacted with. An entity is anything that performs some type of operation or task within your level. There are two main types of entities: [[Point entity|point]] and [[Brush entity|brush]]. '''Point entities''' exist at an exact point in the world. Examples include lights, monsters and players. (Monsters and players '''do''' have an area, but this is defined by the game code and is not modifiable from within the map.) Some point entities are just that: points. For example, the [[env_beam]] entity, which controls beam effects, uses two point entities as targets; you place the two points and the beam of light runs between them. '''Brush entities''' depend on a brush created in Hammer for their physical presence. They are less common but can include doors, platforms, and other large, moving objects. Some are "[[trigger_multiple|triggers]]", which are invisible and untouchable but fire events when certain conditions are met (e.g. the player walking inside one). The creation of both point and solid-based entities is described in [[Entity Creation]]. ==Putting it All Together== Using these simple components you can create a virtually limitless variety of levels. Whether a barren room or a vast, complex world, you'll do it by using solids and textures to create your architecture, then adding models, lights, monsters, buttons, moving platforms and a host of other entities to bring your creation to life. Once everything is in place, you will need to compile your level by choosing [[Hammer_Run_Map_Normal|Run Map]] from the '''File Menu''' (shortcut: {{key|F9}}). This is the process that turns your collection of solids and entities into a playable level that you can run in the Source Engine. Although the compiling process happens when you think you've finished your level, knowing something about this process ahead of time can save you many headaches. {{otherlang:en}} {{otherlang:en:jp|Introduction to Editing:jp}}, {{otherlang:en:de|Introduction to Editing:de}}, {{otherlang:en:hu|Introduction to Editing:hu}}, {{otherlang:en:es|Introduction to Editing:es}}, {{otherlang:en:pl|Introduction to Editing:pl}}, {{otherlang:en:ru|Introduction to Editing:ru}} [[Category:Level Design]][[Category:Hammer]]

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