grenade_bolt

This entity is not in the FGD by default.
It should not be put directly in a map because it can only be configured through code.

grenade_bolt is a point entity available in Black Mesa. This is crossbow bolt that appears when fired from the crossbow in multiplayer. Used by mod version of the game (with no explosion abilities) for singleplayer campaign. Current Steam versions use the tracerbullet entity, you still can use the old version of the bolts with sk_crossbow_tracer_enabled 0, bolts will not differ from the mod version. In singleplayer, bolts behave similarly to Half-Life 2 in that they can bounce, create sparks when hitting surfaces, and can kill most enemies in one hit, it is affected by gravity (which requires shooting with lead), and lacks the ability to chain the body to a wall (used for tracerbullet). In multiplayer, they use dynamite stick in their composition, which is why they explode instantly upon impact with a surface. Most inputs and outputs are same as CBaseAnimating.

Represented by class CGrenade_Bolt.

Bug:The model doesn't displays on dynamic objects (brushes and models) in Steam versions. Also doesn't create decals on such objects. (not in )

Bug:Creates a bullet impact decal when exploding, instead of an explosion decal.

Bug:Doesn't use proper skin in multiplayer, even though it is provided and used for other entities that use bolts for model.

Example.

Default skin. The skin that supposed to be used in multiplayer.

Workaround:You can use trigger_weaponfire to set proper skin (will not affect bolts from secondary attack).

Bug:This grenade entity can stuck at dynamic (not physics) objects, such as prop_dynamic. In such situation, bolt will will not move until it explodes. Usually happens with objects that have a dynamic collision, or objects that are in motion.

Tip:If you need to fix this issue, use trigger_weaponfire that will kill stucked bolts, this trigger should be toggled by logic_timer every 0.5-1.0 seconds.

Example.

Example with this metal door. The door is prop_dynamic with dynamic collision (required for animations).

(not in )

Note:Models of this entity are different in mod and Steam versions.

Example.

Model in Steam versions of the game. Model in the mod version.

Note:Only in the mod version you can see white beam created by this entity.

Note:Cannot go through fence, unlike tracerbullet.

Inputs

SetToExplode <void> (only in )

This input forces bolt to explode upon impact with a surface. Used in multiplayer.

Tip:You can use this input for singleplayer map. Use trigger_weaponfire that will fire this input for every grenade_bolt entity (make sure that sk_crossbow_tracer_enabled is disabled).

SetTimer <float> (only in )

Sets amount of time before detonate. Doesn't do anything for this entity.

Detonate <void> (only in )

Doesn't do anything for this entity.

SetThrower <void> (only in )

Fired by this entity when appeared. Doesn't do anything.

Outputs

OnDetonate <void> (only in )

Fired by this entity when detonated. This entity cannot detonate, so this output never works.

Dedicated ConVars

Black Mesa: Definitive Edition

Cvar/Command	Parameters or default value	Descriptor	Effect
sk_crossbow_tracer_enabled	1	Bool	Enable tracer crossbow bolts if 1. With 0, crossbow will use grenade_bolt. Does not affect multiplayer mode.
sk_detenator_bolt_airspeed	5000	Float	Bolt air speed.
sk_detenator_bolt_client_lifetime	30	Float	Amount of time before bolt disappear after it lands.
sk_detenator_bolt_dot_bounce	-0.5	Float	Affects the number of bounces the bolt can make. Should be used a negative value (otherwise the bolt will remain in one point).
sk_detenator_bolt_gravity	40	Float	Gravity scale, or how much gravity will affect the bolt.
sk_detenator_bolt_plr_dmg	115	Float	Amount of damage from bolt.
sk_weapon_crossbow_bolt_advance_speed	2	Float	Acceleration during flight.
sk_detenator_bolt_plr_xplode_direct_hit_dmg	75	Float	Amount of damage from direct hit for explondable bolt.
sk_detenator_bolt_plr_xplode_dmg	50	Float	Amount of damage from indirect hit for explondable bolt (the damage from explosion).
sk_detenator_bolt_plr_xplode_radius	128	Float	Explosion radius for explondable bolt.

Black Mesa (the mod version)

Cvar/Command	Parameters or default value	Descriptor	Effect
sk_plr_dmg_bolt	75	Float	Amount of damage from player's bolt.
sk_plr_dmg_bolt_sniper	0	Float	Amount of damage from player's bolt for sniper. Doesn't work.
sk_npc_dmg_bolt	0	Float	Amount of damage from NPC's bolt. Doesn't work, none of the available NPCs can use crossbow. Probably should have been used for female assassins (in the original Half-Life there was an idea to use crossbow for this NPC class), you can find mention of separate crossbow's sounds for NPCs (in scripts/weapon_crossbow.txt).

See Also

• weapon_crossbow - the weapon crossbow entity
• item_weapon_crossbow - the pickup crossbow entity
• item_ammo_crossbow - the ammo entity for weapon crossbow
• tracerbullet - the tracer version of bolts
• blackmesa_crossbow_tracer - the crossbow tracer entity