Dropper (Portal 2)

A dropper is a puzzle element in Portal 2. Objects like gel and cubes fall out of it. It can be hooked up to a button, among other possible input devices.

Creating Droppers

1. Create a func_instance entity with the following properties:

Property Name	Value
Fix up Name	box_dropper
VMF Filename	instances/gameplay/cube_dropper_multiple_normal.vmf

If the cube dropper doesn't show up then save and reload so you can position it properly.

2. Align the bottom of the upper, rectangular section of the dropper (just above the cylindrical part) with the ceiling of your map.

The square may flash due to z-order issues with the ceiling. Then use the Clipping tool to cut a square out of your ceiling where the flashing square is. This will allow the cube to fall through. Once you've isolated the square piece of texture in your ceiling, go ahead and delete it. Be sure not to make the hole too big, or you'll have leaks.

3. Create the entity you want to activate the cube dropper (i.e. a trigger_once at the entrance to the room) and give it the following outputs:

	My Output	Target Entity	Target Input	Parameter	Delay	Only Once
	OnTrigger	box_dropper	instance:cube_dropper;Trigger		0.00	No
	OnTrigger	box_dropper	instance:cube_dropper_autorespawn;Enable		0.00	No

Note:Hammer may indicate that these are invalid. Don't worry about it.

List Of Instances

There are different instances for each kind of dropper, and several different designs. Just substitute the kind you need for the VMF Filename parameter above. Be aware, however, that some of these instances were made for special, one-time, in-game scenes or were leftovers from the development stages, and may be buggy. All files are under instances\gameplay\.

Item, parameters	Dropper style	VMF Filename
prop_weighted_cube, Standard	Small, modern	cube_dropper_dropontrigger_normal.vmf
prop_weighted_cube, Standard	Small, modern	cube_dropper_multiple_normal.vmf
prop_weighted_cube, standard	Small, modern	cube_dropper_normal.vmf
prop_weighted_cube, Standard	Long, exposed tube	cube_dropper_large.vmf
prop_weighted_cube, Standard	Long exposed tube, dirty	cube_dropper_large_dirty.vmf
prop_weighted_cube, Reflector	Small, modern	reflectocube_dropper_dropontrigger_normal.vmf
prop_weighted_cube, Reflector	Small, modern	reflectocube_dropper_multiple_normal.vmf
prop_weighted_cube, Reflector	Long, exposed tube	reflectocube_dropper_large.vmf
prop_weighted_cube, Reflector	Long exposed tube, dirty	reflectocube_dropper_large_dirty.vmf
prop_weighted_cube, Sphere	Small, modern	sphere_dropper_dropontrigger_normal.vmf
prop_weighted_cube, Sphere	Small, modern	sphere_dropper_multiple_normal.vmf
prop_weighted_cube, Sphere	Long, exposed tube	sphere_dropper_large.vmf
prop_weighted_cube, Sphere	Long exposed tube, dirty	sphere_dropper_large_dirty.vmf
prop_weighted_cube, Sphere	Small, modern	item_dropper.vmf
Gel, Water	Small, modern	paint_dropper_erase.vmf
Gel, Bounce	Small, modern	paint_dropper_bounce.vmf
Gel, Speed	Small, modern	paint_dropper_speed.vmf
Gel, Stick (Reflection Gel)	Small, open tube	paint_dropper_stick.vmf
Gel, $paint_type	Small, modern	paint_dropper.vmf
prop_monster_box, walking	Normal with music	cube_dropper_a4.vmf
prop_monster_box, hiding	Normal with music	cube_dropper_a4_box.vmf
prop_monster_box, walking	Normal with no tube	cube_dropper_monster.vmf
prop_monster_box, hiding	Normal with no tube	cube_dropper_monster_box.vmf
Generic, whatever is placed in it	Big box with opening	cube_dropper_pendleton.vmf
prop_weighted_cube, $paint_type, Wet	Small, modern	paint_bomb_dropper_modern.vmf
prop_weighted_cube, Bounce, Dry	Small, bare tube	paint_bomb_dropper_bounce.vmf
prop_weighted_cube, Speed, Dry	Small, bare tube	paint_bomb_dropper_speed.vmf
prop_paint_bomb, $paint_type, $bomb_type	Portal 1 Style	paint_bomb_dropper.vmf
prop_paint_bomb, $paint_type, $bomb_type	Dirty	paint_bomb_dropper_auto.vmf
People, used in co-op maps	Big box with opening	cube_dropper_player.vmf

Manual Creation of Cube Droppers

Creating your own cube droppers is actually easier than you might think it to be. In fact, compared to the standard and PTI instances, this method of making cube droppers uses far fewer entities in general. You'll need:

• An env_entity_maker to continually spawn cubes for each time one gets lost
• A filter_activator_class
• A func_brush to cover just the opening of the dropper (use the tools/toolsinvisible texture for this brush entity)
• A logic_auto
• A point_template
• A prop_dynamic, which will be the dropper model
• A prop_weighted_cube or prop_monster_box
• A trigger_multiple, positioned inside of the dropper model and extending slightly beyond the dropper opening

To get an idea for precise placement of everything, check out the VMF instance instances/gameplay/cube_dropper_shared.vmf.

For the env_entity_maker, set these keyvalues:

Property Name	Value
Name	cube_dropper_spawner
Point_template To Spawn	cube_dropper_template

For the filter_activator_class, set these keyvalues:

Property Name	Value
Name	filter_weighted_cube
Filter Classname	prop_weighted_cube or prop_monster_box

For the func_brush, set these keyvalues:

Property Name	Value
Name	cube_dropper_clip
Disable shadows	Yes

For the logic_auto, set these outputs:

	My Output	Target Entity	Target Input	Parameter	Delay	Only Once
	OnMapSpawn	cube_dropper_spawner	ForceSpawn		1.00	No

For the point_template, set these keyvalues:

Property Name	Value
Name	cube_dropper_template
Template 1	cube_dropper_box

For the prop_dynamic, set these keyvalues:

Property Name	Value
Name	cube_dropper_prop
World Model	models/props_backstage/item_dropper.mdl

If using a prop_monster_box, set these keyvalues:

Property Name	Value
Name	cube_dropper_box
Start as Box	Yes

Otherwise, if using a prop_weighted_cube just set the name.

If you want your dropper to auto-respawn, also add this output to the cube:

	My Output	Target Entity	Target Input	Parameter	Delay	Only Once
	OnFizzled	cube_dropper_trigger	Enable		0.00	No

And finally, for the trigger_multiple, set these keyvalues, flags, and outputs:

Property Name	Value
Name	cube_dropper_trigger
Filter Name	filter_weighted_cube

Flag	Enabled?
Clients	No
Physics Objects	Yes

	My Output	Target Entity	Target Input	Parameter	Delay	Only Once
	OnStartTouch	cube_dropper_prop	Skin	1	0.00	No
	OnStartTouch	cube_dropper_prop	SetAnimation	item_dropper_open	0.00	No
	OnStartTouch	cube_dropper_prop	SetDefaultAnimation	item_dropper_idle	0.10	No
	OnStartTouch	cube_dropper_clip	Disable		0.30	No
	OnEndTouchAll	cube_dropper_prop	Skin	0	1.30	No
	OnEndTouchAll	cube_dropper_prop	SetAnimation	item_dropper_close	0.00	No
	OnEndTouchAll	cube_dropper_prop	SetDefaultAnimation	item_dropper_idle_closed	0.10	No
	OnEndTouchAll	cube_dropper_clip	Enable		0.00	No
	OnEndTouchAll	!activator	AddOutput	OnUser1 !self:Dissolve:0:0:1	0.00	No
	OnEndTouchAll	!self	Disable		0.00	No
	OnEndTouchAll	cube_dropper_spawner	ForceSpawn		1.50	No

Tip:Outputs for other aesthetic details, such as lighting, may be added here.

If using a prop_monster_box, you'll also need to add one more output:

	My Output	Target Entity	Target Input	Parameter	Delay	Only Once
	OnEndTouchAll	cube_dropper_box	BecomeMonster		0.00	No

Finally, on an input device such as a prop_button, add these outputs:

	My Output	Target Entity	Target Input	Parameter	Delay	Only Once
	OnPressed	cube_dropper_box	FireUser1		0.00	No
	OnPressed	cube_dropper_trigger	Enable		0.00	Yes

Note:If you want to disable auto-respawn, set the second output to fire infinitely (i.e. "Only Once" is "No" instead of "Yes").

If you want to auto-drop the first cube, relocate the second output to a trigger_once instead.

Droppers with a pre-placed cube

For this, you'll need a cube and a cube dropper of the same type.

If you don't have auto-respawn on and have a button for the dropper:

1. Create your cube and give it a name.
2. Create your button and set it to drop a cube when pressed.
3. Set up an additional output for the button: to fizzle (dissolve) your pre-placed cube when pressed.

If you have auto-respawn on and no button for the dropper:

1. Create your cube and set it to drop a cube when fizzled.
2. That's it!

The advantage that this has is that now you can (for example) place a cube up high on a ledge but have the dropper in the middle of the room so that the player doesn't have to go through the tedium of retrieving the cube again. You might also use it to bring the cube a bit closer to the players when they enter an area while leaving the dropper a bit further away.

Manual Creation of Gel Droppers

Interestingly, all gel isn't always dispensed in the same way at Aperture. Sometimes it's a flow, and other times it's a great, big ball of gel. The former can easily be accomplished by using the info_paint_sprayer entity, but the latter requires the use of the prop_paint_bomb entity and some additional stuff. In either case, you can set the type of gel you want to use.

To make your own gel dropper using a prop_paint_bomb, you'll need:

• An env_entity_maker
• Two logic_relays
• A point_template
• A prop_paint_bomb
• Some prop_statics for the pipe(s) used to deliver the gel (look in models/props_underground in the Model Browser to find the relevant models)

For the env_entity_maker, set these keyvalues and outputs:

Property Name	Value
Name	gel_dropper_spawner
Point_template To Spawn	gel_dropper_template

	My Output	Target Entity	Target Input	Parameter	Delay	Only Once
	OnEntitySpawned	gel_dropper_control_rl	Disable		0.00	No
	OnEntitySpawned	gel_dropper_control_rl	CancelPending		0.00	No

For the first logic_relay, set these keyvalues and outputs:

Property Name	Value
Name	gel_dropper_spawner_rl

	My Output	Target Entity	Target Input	Parameter	Delay	Only Once
	OnTrigger	gel_dropper_spawner	ForceSpawn		0.50	No

For the second logic_relay, set these keyvalues and outputs:

Property Name	Value
Name	gel_dropper_control_rl

	My Output	Target Entity	Target Input	Parameter	Delay	Only Once
	OnTrigger	gel_dropper_spawner_rl	Trigger		0.00	No

For the point_template, set these keyvalues:

Property Name	Value
Name	gel_dropper_template
Template 1	gel_dropper_bomb

For the prop_paint_bomb, set these keyvalues and outputs:

Property Name	Value
Name	gel_dropper_bomb
Paint Type	<Select accordingly for your puzzle>

	My Output	Target Entity	Target Input	Parameter	Delay	Only Once
	OnExploded	gel_dropper_spawner_rl	Trigger		0.10	No
	OnExploded	gel_dropper_control_rl	Enable		0.10	No

Finally, on an input device such as a floor button, set these outputs:

	My Output	Target Entity	Target Input	Parameter	Delay	Only Once
	OnPressed	gel_dropper_spawner_rl	Enable		0.10	No
	OnPressed	gel_dropper_control_rl	Trigger		0.20	No
	OnUnPressed	gel_dropper_spawner_rl	Disable		0.00	No
	OnUnPressed	gel_dropper_spawner_rl	CancelPending		0.00	No

This design allows for any input device to control the gel dropper while at the same time being virtually unbreakable by spamming input.