Lists of Special Effects in level design

From Valve Developer Community

Articles

• Dust, Fog, & Smoke
• Explosions

Entities

These are effects that can be added to maps without messing with code or configuration files.

• env_beam — laser or column of light; see also env_laser
• env_blood — spatters blood
• env_bubbles — creates bubbles inside a volume
• env_citadel_energy_core
• env_effectscript (advanced)
• env_embers — creates embers inside a volume
• env_entity_igniter — lights things on fire
• env_fade — camera fade, eg fade to black or fade from black
• env_fire — fire or plasma
• env_firesource — causes nearby combustible items to burn
• env_flare — red flare (like a road flare)
• env_fog_controller — adds fog to level; see also Dust, Fog, & Smoke
• env_funnel — teleporter funnel effect from HL1
• env_gunfire — shoots tracers
• env_laser — laser; see also env_beam
• env_lightglow — puts a glowing halo around a light source
• env_muzzleflash
• env_particlescript (advanced)
• env_rotorshooter — shoots out gibs when near a helicopter
• env_rotorwash — causes small objects to blow around when near a helicopter
• env_screenoverlay — superimposes an image over the player's view; see also script_intro
• env_shake — vibrations, tremors, and earthquakes
• env_shooter — shoots entities, models, or sprites
• env_spark — creates sparks
• env_splash — creates a splash in water
• env_sprite
• env_starfield — a moving starfield, as seen in the end of HL1
• env_steam — a jet of steam
• env_sun — creates a glare in the sky; used to make the sun look more realistic
• env_terrainmorph
• env_texturetoggle (may require custom materials)
• env_tonemap_controller — adjusts the light sensitivity of the player's virtual eyes
• env_wind — controls wind inside a volume
• env_zoom — controls the player's FOV
• func_illusionary — non-solid wall/floor/whatever
• func_precipitation — rain,snow,or ash
• infodecal — decals; can be used for many purposes, including stains, marks, crumbling plaster, and blood
• light_dynamic — moving lights, possibly colored
• point_tesla — lightning and electricity effects
• shadow_control — colored shadows
• trigger_physics_trap — dissolves NPCs
• trigger_wind — Causes the player to be pushed like strong wind

Camera

• Custom camera effects