L4D2 Custom Particle Effects Tutorial

Since the March 11, 2011 update, Left 4 Dead 2 fully supports custom particle effects. This tutorial covers workflow on particle effect authoring that is unique to Left 4 Dead 2 (and possibly similar to future Valve games). Information on the actual creation of particle effects can be found at the Particle System category. If new to the particle editor or troubleshooting a work setup, it is recommended to follow the steps on creating a known working custom particle to limit additional problems that may crop up. Overall, the steps required to create a smooth workflow are easy. Authors are not limited to what is mentioned in this tutorial and are encouraged to create their own workflow suitable to their unique needs.

Todo: pictures, cleaning up, complete info, testing

Overview

Particle systems are stored in PCF files, where one PCF file typically contains a library of particle systems that relate to each other (for example, blood_fx.pcf). All PCF files must be registered in a manifest file in order to work in-game. In L4D2, authors of custom particles can choose between two types of manifests:

• particles\particles_manifest.txt or
• maps\<map name>_manifest.txt (per-map)

particles_manifest.txt must be introduced into the game as a simple add-on while the per-map manifest can be introduced externally.

Note:It appears that in both cases the custom entries introduced are incorporated with the official list of particle system files without any worry of overriding the official one.

Todo: There is a need for testing other situations, such as the introduction of particles_manifest.txt from two independent add-ons.

Setup

The goal is to create a simple custom particle effect that will appear in-game and while in Tools Mode (located in the Left 4 Dead 2 Authoring Tools menu). Central to the entire process is the Particle Editor. The Particle Editor is an interface found in Tools Mode that acts as a unified work space for particle effect authoring.

Note:Hammer and vpk.exe are also needed. It is assumed that there is prior experience on how to use these.

Prepare existing particles

Please see Particle Browser for details on how to extract existing particle files. Particle files can only be read/shown by tools such as the Hammer Particle Browser and the Particle Editor provided that they are extracted from the VPK and placed in the particles directory externally. For particles that appear in-game, there is no distinction between PCF files stored externally or in a VPK as long as the PCF file is registered in a manifest.

Create a simple particle

The previous step eases access to existing particles and the official particle_manifest.txt, both as examples to learn from and for modification in the Particle Editor.

Create the manifest

Either create particles

Add the particle in-game

There is more than one way to test the newly created particle in-game.

Todo: setup of workflow, such as: particle browser talk, add-on creation, pcf creation, introduction of particle in a map in hammer, and, yes, pictures

Troubleshooting

• Trying to get rid of that Map Unplayable! error while in tools mode.

Todo: There is a console command that can disable that error completely, if I can recall correctly. I am having difficulty finding it.

• Particle effect fails to update in the map.

If a particle effect fails to update in-game despite there being a change in one of the components or properties, a series of console commands can reset the info_particle_system entities that exist in the world: ent_fire info_particle_system stop;wait 120;ent_fire info_particle_system start

Todo: include other issues encountered

See also

• Category:Particle System
• Animated Particles
• info_particle_system
• Left 4 Dead 2 Level Creation
• List of L4D2 Particles
• Particle
• Particle Editor
• particles_manifest.txt
• SpriteCard

External links

• Particle Effects Editor Basics (Interlopers.net)
• Particle Editor Tutorial #1 (TF2maps.net)
• Particle Editor Tutorial #2 (TF2maps.net)