Creating a rotating portalgun

Introduction

In this tutorial we will be creating a rotating stand with a mounted portalgun that automatically shoots portals.

An example map is available for download here.

Prepare models

You will need two prop_dynamic entities, one for each of the following world models:

• models/props/pedestal_base_reference.mdl. Name it stand_bottom_model and set its "disableshadows" keyvalue to 1.
• models/props/pedestal_center_reference.mdl. Name it stand_top_model.

Prepare brushes

Create two brushes with the following dimensions:

• 32 x 32, height 4, using the tools/nodraw texture.
• 4 x 32, height 55, also using the tools/nodraw texture.

Moving

Brush and model placement.

Move stand_bottom_model where you want to have the stand. The small doors on the bottom of the model need to be just underground. Now move stand_top_model above stand_bottom_model as shown in the picture on the right.

Center the first brush (the one that measured 32x32) with stand_top_model. Set its Z axis (height) to about half of stand_top_model. Now move the second brush to the side of the stand, as it is shown in the picture on the right.

Brush Entities

Select the 32x32 brush and tie it to a func_rotating entity with the following properties:

Property Name	Value
Name	stand_func_rotating
Max Rotation Speed	30

Under the Flags tab, uncheck Start ON.

Tie the second brush to a func_door set to these properties:

Property Name	Value
Name	stand_func_door
Speed	25
Move direction:	90 0 0

PortalGun

Create a new entity, a weapon_portalgun and name it weapon_portalgun. Move it exactly on top of stand_top_model. The portalgun should face left when you’re looking at stand_top_model in the direction of the blue display, like the one shown in the first picture on the top of this page.

Defining entity outputs

Make a logic_timer entity named timer_stand and set its refire interval to 5 sec. Make sure that it starts enabled. Now go to its outputs tab and write:

	My Output	Target Entity	Target Input	Parameter	Delay	Only Once
	OnTimer	stand_func_rotating	Start	<none>	0.00	No
	OnTimer	stand_func_rotating	Stop	<none>	3.00	No
	OnTimer	weapon_portalgun	FirePortal1	<none>	3.00	No

Create a new output:

	My Output	Target Entity	Target Input	Parameter	Delay	Only Once
	OnFullyOpen	stand_bottom_model	SetAnimation	close	0.00	No

Now, we will make outputs of stand_bottom_model:

	My Output	Target Entity	Target Input	Parameter	Delay	Only Once
	OnAnimationDone	stand_bottom_model	SetAnimation	inactive	0.00	No

And few outputs for weapon_portalgun:

	My Output	Target Entity	Target Input	Parameter	Delay	Only Once
	OnPlayerPickup	timer_stand	Kill		0.00	No
	OnPlayerPickup	stand_top_model	SetParent	stand_func_door	0.00	No
	OnPlayerPickup	stand_func_door	Open		0.80	No

Parents and the hole

All done. Notice the hole created on the floor.

Now, just set the parent of weapon_portalgun and stand_top_model to stand_func_rotating. When you're done, make a cylindrical hole on the floor beneath stand_bottom_model, like the one shown in the image to the right.

End

Additionally, you may want to create a portal frame on each wall the portals are going to be fired at.

To do this, create a prop_static entity with the model models/props/autoportal_frame/autoportal_frame.mdl, move it to the wall you wish to place it at, and rotate it until it is parallel to the wall.