View source for User:Gherghetta/Creating an energy ball launcher and catcher

== Introduction ==
The purpose of this tutorial is to show how to create an energy ball launcher and an energy ball catcher, and if wanted making a particular ball work for at particular catcher. Both the laucher and the catcher instrucions will detail how the basic animations as well as the visual and sound effects work.

== The Aperture Science High Energy Pellet Launcher ==
[[Image:launcher-catcher01.jpg|right|thumb|Launcher assembly]]

The launcher is comprised of three entities: 
* [[func_brush]]
* [[point_energy_ball_launcher]]
* [[prop_dynamic]]
* [[light]]

The model used is:
* <code>models/props/combine_ball_launcher.mdl</code>

To create the launcher:
:1. Create a <code>prop_dynamic</code> entity (<code>Shift+E</code>) with a World Model set to "<code>models/props/combine_ball_launcher.mdl</code>" and the Name key of "ball_launcher".
:2. Place the new entity where you want it in your map.
:3. Create a <code>point_energy_ball_launcher</code> entity and set its name to "ball".
:4. Place the new entity inside the dome of the "ball_launcher" model.
:5. Create a new brush 20 units or so square and 1 unit thick with the [[Tool textures|nodraw texture]].
:6. Turn this brush into a <code>func_brush</code> entity (<code>Ctrl+T</code>) and name it "ball_launcher_shield".
:7. Place the "ball_launcher_shield" so that it is touching the black circular shield of the "ball_launcher model".
:8. Open up the <code>point_energy_ball_launcher</code> properties and set these outputs:
::{|
!   || My Output || Target Entity || Target Input || Parameter || Delay || Only Once
|-
| [[Image:Io11.png]] || OnPostSpawnBall || ball_launcher || SetAnimation || close || 0.00 || No
|-
| [[Image:Io11.png]] || OnPostSpawnBall || ball_launcher_shield || Disable || <none> || 0.00 || No
|-
| [[Image:Io11.png]] || OnPostSpawnBall || ball_launcher_shield || Enable || <none> || 2.00 || No
|}
:9. Adjust the [[Keyvalue|keyvalues]] of <code>point_energy_ball_launcher</code> to set the desired direction, speed, type, and life of the ball.
The Aperture Science High Energy Pellet Launcher is now complete.

{{note| If necessary, you can also place the <code>point_energy_ball_launcher</code> outside of the "<code>ball_launcher</code>" model and remove the "<code>ball_launcher_shield</code>" outputs.}}

== The Aperture Science High Energy Pellet Target ==
[[Image:launcher-catcher02.JPG|right|thumb|Target assembly]]

The target is comprised of eleven entities:
* [[ambient_generic]]
* [[env_sprite]]
* [[filter_combineball_type]]
* [[func_tracktrain]]
* [[logic_relay]]
* [[path_track]] (2)
* [[point_spotlight]]
* [[prop_dynamic]] (2)
* [[trigger_multiple]]

The models used are:
* <code>/models/props/combine_ball_catcher.mdl</code>
* <code>/models/Effects/combineball.mdl</code>

To create the catcher:
:1. Create a <code>prop_dynamic</code> entity with a World Model key pointing to "<code>models/props/combine_ball_catcher.mdl</code>" and the Name set to "ball_trap".
:2. Place the entity where you want it in your map.
{{note|The model requires a hole of at least 32 units square and 8 units deep. Otherwise, when the model animates to its closed state, part of the model will be hidden in a wall.}}
:3. Create a <code>filter_combineball_type</code> entity and name it filter_ball.
:4. Set the ball type for "filter_ball" to "Launched by <code>point_combine_ball_launcher</code>".
:5. Create a brush with the trigger texture to cover the opening of the "ball_trap" model.
:6. Turn this brush into a <code>trigger_multiple</code> entity and name it "trigger_ball_trap", also set the filter_name to "filter_ball".
:7. Create a <code>prop_dynamic</code> entity with a World Model of "<code>models/Effects/combineball.mdl</code>", set its parent to "ball_trap" and name it "ball_trap_ball".
:8. Create a <code>env_sprite</code> entity, set its Sprite Name to "<code>sprites/physring1.vmt</code>", set its parent to "ball_trap" and name it "ball_trap_sprite".
:9. Place both "ball_trap_ball" and "ball_trap_sprite" somewhere near the front of the "ball_trap" model.
:10. Create a <code>logic_relay</code> entity and name it "relay_ball_trap_spawn".
:11. Open up the <code>logic_relay</code> properties and set these outputs:
::{|
!   || My Output || Target Entity || Target Input || Parameter || Delay || Only Once
|-
| [[Image:Io11.png]] || OnSpawn || ball_trap_ball || SetParentAttachment || ball_attachment || 0.00 || No
|-
| [[Image:Io11.png]] || OnSpawn || ball_trap_sprite || SetParentAttachment || ball_attachment || 0.00 || No
|}
:12. Create a <code>path_track</code> entity and name it "path_ball_trap_01", set Next Stop Target to "path_ball_trap_02".
:13. Place "path_ball_trap_01"  in front of and slightly above the "ball_trap" model.
:14. Create a <code>path_track</code> entity and name it "path_ball_trap_02, set Next Stop Target to "path_ball_trap_01".
:15. Place "path_ball_trap_02"  behind and slightly above the "ball_trap" model.
:16. Create a brush with the nodraw texture.
:17. Turn this brush into a <code>func_tracktrain</code> entity and name it "ball_trap_door".
:18. Place brush slightly above the two <code>path_track</code> entities and behind the "path_ball_trap_01".
:19. Open up the property window for "ball_trap_door" and set these keyvalues:
::{|
!  Property Name || Value
|-
| First Stop Target || path_ball_trap_01
|-
| Move Sound || d3_citadel.podarm_move
|-
| Start Sound || d3_citadel.podarm_move_start
|-
| Stop Sound || d3_citadel.podarm_move_stop
|}
:20. Open up the property window for "path_ball_trap_02" and set this output:
::{|
!   || My Output || Target Entity || Target Input || Parameter || Delay || Only Once
|-
| [[Image:Io11.png]] || OnPass || ball_trap_door || SetSpeed || 0 || 0.00 || No
|}
:21. Create a <code>point_spotlight</code> entity (Shift + E) and name it "ball_trap_spotlight" You may also want to disable the dynamic light flag.
:22. Set the color for "ball_trap_spotlight" to "255 0 0", the beam length is normally the length of the room, and the width somewhere between 20 and 40.
:23. Create an <code>ambient_generic</code> entity and name it "ball_trap_sound"
:24. Set the Sound Name key for "ball_trap_sound" to "AlyxEMP.Charge"
:25. Open the property window for "trigger_ball_trap" and set these outputs:
::{|
!   || My Output || Target Entity || Target Input || Parameter || Delay || Only Once
|-
| [[Image:Io11.png]] || OnStartTouch || trigger_ball_trap || Disable || <none> || 0.00 || No
|-
| [[Image:Io11.png]] || OnStartTouch || ball || Disable || <none> || 0.00 || No
|-
| [[Image:Io11.png]] || OnStartTouch || !activator || Kill || <none> || 0.00 || No
|-
| [[Image:Io11.png]] || OnStartTouch || ball_trap_ball || Enable || <none> || 0.00 || No
|-
| [[Image:Io11.png]] || OnStartTouch || ball_trap_sprite || Enable || <none> || 0.00 || No
|-
| [[Image:Io11.png]] || OnStartTouch || ball_trap || SetAnimation|| close || 0.00 || No
|-
| [[Image:Io11.png]] || OnStartTouch || ball_trap_spotlight || LightOff || <none> || 0.00 || No
|-
| [[Image:Io11.png]] || OnStartTouch || ball_trap_door || SetSpeed || .5 || 0.00 || No
|-
| [[Image:Io11.png]] || OnStartTouch || ball_trap_sound || PlaySound || <none> || 0.00 || No
|}
::Then under the Flags tab un-check "clients" and check everything else.

The Aperture Science High Energy Pellet Target is now complete.

{{note|The "ball_trap_door" sounds are drowned out by the "ball_trap_sound", you may want to adjust the delay for the <code>PlaySound</code>}}

== The theory ==
[[Image:launcher-catcher03.jpg|right|thumb|Energy Pellet Launcher and Target at work]]

These instructions illustrate the most basic use of the launcher and catchers. Theoretically you should be able to have one launcher and multiple catchers, or even catchers that reset themselves.{{clr}}

== See also ==
* [[Portal Level Creation]]