Category:GoldSrc Level Design

Getting Started

You may either use Valve's official SDK:

• Install Half-Life SDK from Steam (the link opens Steam; must own a first-party GoldSrc game to download) or download Hammer 3.4 separately from Gamebanana mirror;
• (Recommended) Alternatively, download updated Hammer 3.5 from TWHL or ModDB (there is also Hammer 3.5.3 on Moddb, with various extra fixes); you should also use VHLT compilers while you're at it.
• See Configuring Hammer for Half-Life.

Or choose one of the following third party options:

Important:This is likely what you want. These modern editors allow for a better workflow and still receive updates, while Valve Hammer Editor does not.

• J.A.C.K. - Modern map editor which aims to replace Hammer 3.5. Most mappers use it.
• TrenchBroom - Modern map editor for Quake-derived games, with decent GoldSrc support.
• NetRadiant-Custom - Another editor for Quake games, with full support of GoldSrc.
• VHLT compilers, again, should be used.

General

• Dimensions
• Optimization
• The Face Edit Tool
• Skyboxes
• Grouping and VisGrouping

Basic Elements

• Point-Based Entities
• Brush-Based Entities

Detailing

• Glass and windows

Other Engines

Source Level Creation

Source 2 Level Creation

For specific games

• Counter-Strike level design (including Condition Zero)
  • Counter-Strike: Condition Zero - Deleted Scenes level design
• Day of Defeat level design
• Deathmatch Classic level design
• Gunman Chronicles
• Half-Life level design (also applies to Opposing Force and Blue Shift)
  • Sven Co-op level design
• Ricochet level design
• Team Fortress Classic level design
• Cry of Fear level design
• Paranoia 2: Savior level design
• Level design for other GoldSrc Mods

Design Theory

• Decompiling Maps

External Resources

• The Whole Half-Life (TWHL) wiki and vault
• The303's GoldSrc tutorials and resources
• Tommy of Escondido's Mapping help