Your First Left 4 Dead Map

This article is currently a work in progress

This tutorial will cover the basics of Left 4 Dead map creation. It will explain the required entities, such as the director, weapons, and spawns. It will also answer some of the questions that Left 4 Dead mappers will have. This tutorial is not intended for new mappers: Basic level construction is already covered in other topics.

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Introduction sequences

• logic_choreographed_scene
• point_viewcontrol_survivor
• point_viewcontrol_multiplayer
• env_fade

Spawn area

• info_survivor_position
• weapon_first_aid_kit_spawn
• weapon_ammo_spawn
• weapon_smg_spawn
• weapon_pumpshotgun_spawn

The Director

Creating areas for the infected to spawn.

• info_director

Console commands

director_stop

director_start

The director will spawn zombies that are out of the line of sight. Sometimes this is outside the normal player boundary. To let the zombies into the playable area, there must be a func_simpleladder (with team set to 2) on the back side of the barrier, for them to climb over.

Item and weapon caches

Set spawn flags to randomize

• weapon_molotov_spawn
• weapon_pipe_bomb_spawn
• weapon_pistol_spawn
• weapon_pain_pills_spawn
• weapon_ammo_spawn
• weapon_smg_spawn
• weapon_first_aid_kit_spawn
• weapon_hunting_rifle_spawn
• weapon_rifle_spawn
• weapon_autoshotgun_spawn
• weapon_pumpshotgun_spawn

Rescue closets

Bringing dead players back into the game.

• info_survivor_rescue
  • rescueEyePos

Panic events

Triggering the info_director and summoning the horde.

• info_game_event_proxy
• ambient_generic
• logic_timer

• Examples
  • Car alarms
  • Metal detectors

Crescendo events

Intermediate objectives

• func_button
• filter_activator_team
• info_game_event_proxy

Safe houses

• prop_door_rotating_checkpoint

Changing levels

• info_landmark
• info_changelevel

Building the navigation mesh

Save building the navigation mesh until after the map's layout is complete. The build sequence below should only be used for testing. A nav mesh should be thoroughly examined and edited before releasing a map.

sv_cheats 1

nav_edit 1

nav_mark_walkable

nav_generate

nav_analyze

nav_edit 0

sv_cheats 0

For more advanced mesh creation and editing, please refer to Navigation Meshes.

Finale

Ending the campaign.

Notes

Doors

Type: prop_door_rotating

Frame Dimensions: width: 56, height: 104

World Model: models/props_doors/doormainmetal01.mdl

FAQ

• How do I make the infected spawn?
  • Your map must have a info_director that is enabled.

• Why won't the survivor bots move?
  • The most likely cause is a faulty or missing .nav file. See Navigation Meshes

• Why is the molotov fire / Smoker's smoke not visible in-game?
  • (not answered)

• Why won't my rescue closets work?
  • (not answered)

Error messages and what they mean

Navigation mesh related errors

These usually result with a message of "NAV ERRORS - Map is unplayable!" displayed in game when the map is loaded.

• Missing nav file.
• The nav file was built for an older compile.
• Missing Battlefield check found N areas
• GetGoalArea: Cannot find SPAWN_RESCUE_CLOSET area in FINALE, thus cannot guarantee reachability of goal area.
• GetGoalArea: Cannot find end area - no checkpoint or finale located.
• ComputeFlowDistances: ERROR - Cannot compute flow.

Others

• WARN: CL4DBasePanel::UpdateProgressBar called outside of level loading, discarded!
• Error: Find model Null name

See also

• Left 4 Dead Level Creation
• Navigation Meshes