Proper compile settings

← Black Mesa Level Creation

This guide will teach you about the proper final compile settings to use

Warning:These settings are NOT recommended for quick testing / gameplay testing, for that use the normal compile window!

Skill Level This tutorial expects you to have this amount of knowledge within the topic to follow along smoothly.
Novice	Familiar	Competent	Proficient	Expert

Note:Lighting parameters have been sourced from the official mapsrc.

Opening the expert compile window

Run a map by pressing F9 and then you will see a dialog box, simply press on the Expert button.

Press the Expert button

Creating a new configuration

Now it's time to actually implement the compile parameters, press the edit button and create a new configuration by pressing new, call it expert compile then press OK

Steps to create a new configuration

Setting up the configuration

Head back to the main expert compile window, this time press the new button under edit button, this should now generate an empty box: Paste in these arguments:

First Box: (bsp)

Command:	Parameters:
$bsp_exe	-game $gamedir $path\$file

Second Box: (vis)

press the new button and paste in these arguments:

Command:	Parameters:
$vis_exe	-game $gamedir $path\$file

Third Box : (vrad)

Now this is the tricky part, the parameters depend on multiple factors but the command stays the same:

Command:
$light_exe

Interior earthbound maps

-staticproppolys -textureshadows -staticproplighting3 -extrasky 32 -smooth 35 -ambientocclusion -choptexlights

Exterior earthbound maps (IF ANY SKY IS VISIBLE)

-staticproppolys -textureshadows -staticproplighting3 -extrasky 32 -smooth 35 -ambientocclusion -choptexlights -cascadeshadows

Interior Xen maps

-staticproppolys -textureshadows -staticproplighting3 -extrasky 32 -smooth 35 -ambientocclusion -choptexlights

Xen Maps with no real sky

-staticproppolys -textureshadows -staticproplighting3 -extrasky 32 -smooth 35 -ambientocclusion -choptexlights -cascadeshadows

Xen maps with real sky

-staticproppolys -textureshadows -staticproplighting3 -extrasky 32 -smooth 35 -ambientocclusion -choptexlights -cascadeshadows -realskylight

Note:It is recommended to have different configurations for each of these, see below picture:

Fourth Box: (Copy FIle)

Repeat the same process as box 1 and 2, press the new button and paste in these arguments:

Command:	Parameters:
Copy File	$path\$file.bsp $bspdir\$file.bsp

Fifth Box: (Game)

press the new button and paste in these arguments:

Command:	Parameters:
$game_exe	-dev -console -allowdebug -game $gamedir +map $file

Copying and editing configurations

Because Black Mesa uses different VRAD settings for different types of maps, it is recommended to create new configurations for each one of these, simply copy paste the configuration that you created and rename it, then edit the VRAD Parameters accordingly, see pictures for explanation:

Copying process

Your configurations should look like this, each having their logically according VRAD parameter:

Copying process

You have now completed the very tedious task of setting up Expert Compilers for Black Mesa, good job!