Your First Left 4 Dead Map

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

• 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

Building the navigation mesh

Basic

This should only be used for testing. A nav mesh should be thoroughly examined and edited.

nav_edit 1

nav_generate

nav_analyze

nav_edit 0

Advanced

This tutorial does not cover advanced mesh creation. Please refer to Navigation Meshes

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

Finale

Work in progress

Notes

Doors

Type: prop_door_rotating

Frame Dimensions: width: 56, height: 104

World Model: models/props_doors/doormainmetal01.mdl

FAQ

Common issues

• 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

• NAV ERRORS - Map is unplayable!
  • Missing nav file.
  • The nav file was built for an older compile.

• Missing Battlefield check found N areas
• WARN: CL4DBasePanel::UpdateProgressBar called outside of level loading, discarded!
• 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.

See also

• Left 4 Dead Level Creation
• Navigation Meshes