Prop sphere

prop_sphere is an unlisted entity not referenced in any of Valve's stock FGDs, even though it is available to all of them.

It is essentially a prop_physics with a perfectly spherical VPhysics collision model. If you want to create an spherical entity, it is far more efficient to use prop_sphere than try to create a spherical collision mesh!

Tip:The only spherical model in Half-Life 2 is models\combine_helicopter\helicopter_bomb01.mdl. Unfortunately it is made of wood!

Stock FGD

If you don't intend to make any changes to the entity's C++ code, use this:

@PointClass base(BasePropPhysics, RenderFields) studioprop() = prop_sphere : "Creates a perfect sphere."
[
]

Extending prop_sphere

The following simple addition to CPhysSphere:

• Allows level designers to configure the collision model's radius
• Fully applies the prop_data and $surfaceprop of the chosen model.

C++

Open \server\props.cpp and replace the existing CPhysSphere with this:

class CPhysSphere : public CPhysicsProp
{
	DECLARE_CLASS( CPhysSphere, CPhysicsProp );
	DECLARE_DATADESC();
public:

	float m_fRadius;

	bool CreateVPhysics()
	{
		SetSolid( SOLID_BBOX );
		SetCollisionBounds( -Vector(m_fRadius), Vector(m_fRadius) );
		objectparams_t params = g_PhysDefaultObjectParams;
		params.pGameData = static_cast<void *>(this);
		IPhysicsObject *pPhysicsObject = physenv->CreateSphereObject( m_fRadius, GetModelPtr()->GetRenderHdr()->textureindex, GetAbsOrigin(), GetAbsAngles(), &params, false );

		if ( pPhysicsObject )
		{
			VPhysicsSetObject( pPhysicsObject );
			SetMoveType( MOVETYPE_VPHYSICS );
			pPhysicsObject->Wake();
		}
	
		return true;
	}
};

LINK_ENTITY_TO_CLASS( prop_sphere, CPhysSphere );

BEGIN_DATADESC( CPhysSphere )
	DEFINE_KEYFIELD( m_fRadius, FIELD_FLOAT, "radius"),
END_DATADESC()

Extended FGD

@PointClass base(BasePropPhysics, RenderFields) studioprop() sphere(radius) = prop_sphere : "Creates a perfect sphere."
[
	radius(float) : "Radius" : 12 : ""
]

Stock Keyvalues

• Note:Page left for viewable history, content moved to prop_physics
• RenderFields:

Render Mode (rendermode) <byte choices>

Set a non-standard rendering mode on this entity.

Render Modes

0: Normal 1: Color 2: Texture 3: Glow 4: Solid/Alphatest 5: Additive 6: Removed, does nothing 7: Additive Fractional Frame 8: Alpha Add 9: World Space Glow 10: Don't Render

Render FX (renderfx) <byte choices>

Various somewhat legacy alpha effects. See render effects.

Render Amount / Transparency (renderamt) <byte>

Transparency amount, requires a Render Mode other than Normal. 0 is invisible, 255 is fully visible.

Render Color (R G B) (rendercolor) <color255>

Color tint.

Stock Flags

• Note:Page left for viewable history, content moved to prop_physics

Stock Inputs

• Note:Page left for viewable history, content moved to prop_physics
• RenderFields:

Alpha <integer 0–255>

Sets the entity's transparency to a number from 0 (invisible) to 255 (fully visible). Requires the entity to have its rendermode set to a number other than 0.

Color <color255RedirectInput/color32>

Sets an RGB color for the entity.

Stock Outputs

• Note:Page left for viewable history, content moved to prop_physics