Left 4 Dead Infected Populations

Infected populations control which kinds of common infected can be spawned in the different sections of your map.

For example, infected populations can cause:

• patients, nurses, and surgeons to spawn in a hospital
• military personnel to spawn in a military base
• rural citizens to spawn on a farm
• police officers to spawn on a street filled with police cars

The basics

Each defined population has a name and a list of model names with associated percentages. The percentages within each population add up to 100% and define how frequently each type of infected should be spawned within the area.

For example, the "hospital" population is defined as:

hospital
	{
		common_male01		15
		common_patient_male01 	40
		common_worker_male01	15
		common_female_nurse01	15
		common_surgeon_male01	10
	}

This means that any areas with the name "hospital" would spawn approximately:

• 15% common_male01
• 40% common_patient_male01
• 15% common_worker_male01
• 15% common_female_nurse01
• 10% common_surgeon_male01

Additionally, the populations may also allow certain special infected to spawn. This is typically used in conjunction with Info_zombie_spawn. Currently only hunters, boomers, and smokers can be spawned through infected populations.

To specify a default population for the whole map, set "z_population" to the name of the desired population entry.

To specify populations within your map, your nav mesh areas must be given place names corresponding to those defined in population.txt, located within the "scripts" directory of your Left 4 Dead installation.

How To Use Them In a Map

1. Load your map in Left 4 Dead.
2. Enable cheats by typing "sv_cheats 1" into the console.
3. Type "nav_edit 1" in the console to see the nav mesh.
4. Type "nav_toggle_place_mode" into the console and hit enter (or use "nav_set_place_mode"). You should hear a beep signaling it was turned on. There is a different sound when you disable this.
5. Type "nav_use_place <place name>" in the console. This is like picking the color of a paintbrush in an image editing program. It decides what place name will be used for all of the place commands. This place name will be referred to as your chosen place name.
6. Paint your nav areas.
   1. Type "nav_place_floodfill" in the console to flood fill, using the chosen place name, all areas that can be reached from the nav area at which your cursor is pointed (as well as the area at which your cursor is pointed). You should use this first to set your map's default spawn type. For instance, if you're making a Hospital map but want to fine-tune a few areas, you want to set the entire map to use "hospital" so that there are no remaining nav areas using "default".
   2. You can paint areas individually using "nav_place_set".
   3. You can also turn on a special painting mode with "nav_toggle_place_painting". This command will paint every nav area you look at with the chosen place name.
   4. You can use "nav_place_pick" as a sort of eyedropper for your chosen place name. It will pick the place name from the area you are looking at at and use it as your new chosen place name.
7. Type "nav_toggle_place_mode" into the console and hit enter (or use "nav_set_place_mode") to turn place mode off. You'll hear a different sound signifying that it has been turned off.
8. Save the navigation mesh by typing "nav_save" into the console.
9. Use "nav_edit 0" to turn off the nav grid display.

List of Useful Commands

z_population

Sets the default population for all nav areas that do not specify a place name.

nav_set_place_mode <0/1>

Sets the editor into or out of place mode. Place mode allows labeling of area with place names.

nav_toggle_place_mode

Toggle the editor into and out of place mode. Place mode allows labeling of area with place names.

nav_toggle_place_painting

Toggles place painting mode. When place painting, pointing at an area will 'paint' it with the chosen place name.

nav_place_list

Lists all place names used in the map.

nav_mark_unnamed

Marks all areas with no place name. Useful for finding stray areas missed while place painting.

nav_use_place <optional: place name>

If used without arguments, all available place names will be listed. If a place name argument is given, it becomes the chosen place name.

nav_place_floodfill

Sets the place name of the area at which your cursor is pointed to the chosen place name, and 'flood-fills' the chosen place name to all areas that can be reached from the area at which your cursor is pointed.

nav_place_pick

Changes the chosen place name to the place of the area under the cursor.

nav_place_replace

Replaces all instances of the first place name with the second place name.

nav_place_set

Sets the place name of all selected areas to the chosen place name.

List of Left 4 Dead Population Names

Urban

defaulturban

• 30% common_male01
• 25% common_female01
• 15% common_male_suit
• 10% common_police_male01
• 10% common_military_male01
• 10% common_worker_male01

police

• 50% common_police_male01
• 20% common_male01
• 20% common_female01
• 10% common_military_male01

maintenance

• 35% common_worker_male01
• 25% common_male01
• 20% common_female01
• 20% common_military_male01

hospitalgrounds

• 20% common_male01
• 20% common_female01
• 15% common_police_male01
• 15% common_military_male01
• 15% common_worker_male01
• 15% common_male_suit

hospital

• 40% common_patient_male01
• 15% common_male01
• 15% common_worker_male01
• 15% common_female_nurse01
• 10% common_surgeon_male01

hospitalconstruction

• 30% common_worker_male01
• 20% common_patient_male01
• 20% common_female_nurse01
• 20% common_male01
• 10% common_surgeon_male01

airport

• 20% common_female01
• 20% common_male_suit
• 15% common_worker_male01
• 15% common_male_baggagehandler_01
• 15% common_tsaagent_male01
• 15% common_male_pilot

airportfinale

• 30% common_male_baggagehandler_01
• 20% common_tsaagent_male01
• 20% common_male_pilot
• 10% common_female01
• 10% common_male_suit
• 10% common_worker_male01

Rural

defaultrural

• 50% common_male_rural01
• 20% common_female_rural01
• 10% common_police_male01
• 10% common_military_male01
• 10% common_worker_male01

Special

church

Note:This is used with the Info_zombie_spawn located inside of the safe room in the church of Death Toll 3 to spawn a random special infected once the crescendo event is finished.

• 50% boomer
• 25% hunter
• 25% smoker

Default and Others

default

• 30% common_male01
• 25% common_female01
• 15% common_police_male01
• 10% common_military_male01
• 10% common_worker_male01
• 10% common_male_suit

test_common_male_suit

• 100% common_male_suit

zoo

• 20% common_male01
• 10% common_female01
• 10% common_male_rural01
• 10% common_male_suit
• 5% common_female_rural01
• 5% common_female_nurse01
• 5% common_male_baggagehandler_01
• 5% common_male_pilot
• 5% common_military_male01
• 5% common_patient_male01
• 5% common_police_male01
• 5% common_surgeon_male01
• 5% common_TSAAgent_male01
• 5% common_worker_male01

List of Left 4 Dead 2 Population Names

Defaults

default

• 30% common_male_tshirt_cargos
• 20% common_male_tankTop_jeans
• 15% common_male_dressShirt_jeans
• 15% common_female_tankTop_jeans
• 20% common_female_tshirt_skirt

defaultcemetery

• 55% common_male_tankTop_jeans
• 45% common_female_tankTop_jeans

Dead Center

c1streets

• 20% common_male_tshirt_cargos
• 25% common_male_tankTop_jeans
• 10% common_male_dressShirt_jeans
• 20% common_female_tankTop_jeans
• 20% common_female_tshirt_skirt
• 5% common_male_ceda

The Passing

riverbank

• 35% common_male_tshirt_cargos
• 45% common_male_tankTop_jeans
• 20% common_male_fallen_survivor (1 at a time max, this makes it more likely to happen quick)

riverbank_police

• 5% common_male_riot
• 40% common_female_tshirt_skirt
• 55% common_male_tankTop_jeans

riverbank_wedding

• 40% common_male_formal
• 50% common_female_formal
• 10% common_male_dressShirt_jeans

redlight

• 32% common_female_tankTop_jeans
• 24% common_male_tankTop_jeans
• 24% common_male_biker
• 20% common_male_fallen_survivor (1 at a time max, to make it more likely to happen quick)

redlight_bikers

• 100% common_male_biker

port

• 45% common_female_tshirt_skirt
• 45% common_male_tankTop_jeans
• 10% common_male_dressShirt_jeans

Dark Carnival

whisperingoaks

• 20% common_male_tshirt_cargos
• 45% common_female_tankTop_jeans
• 8% common_male_polo_jeans
• 25% common_male_tanktop_jeans
• 2% common_male_clown

Swamp Fever

defaultswamp

• 30% common_male_tshirt_cargos
• 30% common_male_tankTop_overalls
• 30% common_female_tankTop_jeans
• 10% common_female_tshirt_skirt

deepswamp

• 25% common_male_tshirt_cargos_swamp
• 40% common_male_tankTop_overalls_swamp
• 25% common_female_tshirt_skirt_swamp
• 10% common_male_mud

gatorpark

• 30% common_male_tshirt_cargos
• 30% common_male_tankTop_jeans
• 40% common_female_tshirt_skirt

Hard Rain

defaultmilltown

• 69% common_male_tankTop_jeans
• 30% common_female_tankTop_jeans
• 1% common_male_roadcrew

defaultmilltown_mob

• 70% common_male_tankTop_jeans
• 20% common_female_tankTop_jeans
• 10% common_male_roadcrew

defaultsugarmill

• 89% common_male_tankTop_overalls
• 8% common_female_tankTop_jeans
• 3% common_male_roadcrew

defaultsugarmill_mob

• 80% common_male_tankTop_overalls
• 20% common_male_roadcrew

defaultmilltown_rain

• 69% common_male_tankTop_jeans_rain
• 30% common_female_tankTop_jeans_rain
• 1% common_male_roadcrew_rain

defaultmilltown_rain_mob

• 70% common_male_tankTop_jeans
• 20% common_female_tankTop_jeans
• 7% common_male_roadcrew
• 3% common_male_mud

defaultsugarmill_rain

• 89% common_male_tankTop_overalls_rain
• 8% common_female_tankTop_jeans_rain
• 3% common_male_roadcrew_rain

defaultsugarmill_rain_mob

• 80% common_male_tankTop_overalls_rain
• 15% common_male_roadcrew_rain
• 5% common_male_mud

The Parish

crescentcity

• 30% common_male_tshirt_cargos
• 20% common_male_tankTop_jeans
• 13% common_male_dressShirt_jeans
• 15% common_female_tankTop_jeans
• 20% common_female_tshirt_skirt
• 2% common_male_riot

busstation

• 30% common_male_tshirt_cargos
• 20% common_male_tankTop_jeans
• 10% common_male_dressShirt_jeans
• 15% common_female_tankTop_jeans
• 20% common_female_tshirt_skirt
• 5% common_male_riot

frenchquarter

• 58% common_male_tankTop_jeans
• 40% common_female_tshirt_skirt
• 2% common_male_riot

ceda

• 55% common_male_tankTop_jeans
• 40% common_female_tshirt_skirt
• 5% common_male_riot

The Sacrifice

river

• 35% common_male_tshirt_cargos
• 35% common_male_tankTop_jeans
• 30% common_female_tankTop_jeans

river_docks_trap

• 100% tank

riverintro

• 15% common_male_tankTop_jeans
• 10% common_female_tankTop_jeans
• 75% common_male_ceda

riverarena

• 20% common_male_tshirt_cargos
• 20% common_male_tankTop_jeans
• 10% common_female_tankTop_jeans
• 50% common_male_ceda

riveratrium

• 30% common_male_dressShirt_jeans
• 20% common_male_tshirt_cargos
• 15% common_male_tankTop_jeans
• 20% common_female_tankTop_jeans
• 15% common_male_ceda

riverfreighter

• 30% common_male_tshirt_cargos
• 30% common_male_tankTop_jeans
• 20% common_female_tankTop_jeans
• 20% common_male_roadcrew

riverport

• 20% common_female_tshirt_skirt
• 20% common_female_tankTop_jeans
• 10% common_male_dressShirt_jeans
• 20% common_male_tanktop_jeans
• 20% common_male_tshirt_cargos
• 10% common_male_ceda

No Mercy (L4D2 Version)

hospital

• 30% common_male_tshirt_cargos
• 20% common_male_tankTop_jeans
• 15% common_male_dressShirt_jeans
• 10% common_female_tankTop_jeans
• 15% common_female_tshirt_skirt
• 35% common_patient_male01_l4d2

hospital_test

• 100% common_patient_male01_l4d2

Dead Air (L4D2 Version)

airport

• 30% common_male_tshirt_cargos
• 20% common_male_tankTop_jeans
• 20% common_male_dressShirt_jeans
• 10% common_female_tankTop_jeans
• 15% common_female_tshirt_skirt
• 10% common_male_roadcrew

airportfinale

SAME AS AIRPORT

List of Population-Supported Infected Types

Common Infected

Here are all names you could use in a population without encountering unwanted bugs. More models exist, but those are unfinished or just buggy.

Left 4 Dead

Female

• common_female01
• common_female_nurse01
• common_female_rual01

Male

• common_male01
• common_male_baggagehandler_01
• common_male_pilot
• common_male_rual01
• common_male_suit
• common_military_male01
• common_patient_male01_l4d2
• common_police_male01
• common_tsaagent_male01
• common_worker_male01

Left 4 Dead 2

Female

• common_female_formal
• common_female_tanktop_jeans
• common_female_tanktop_jeans_rain
• common_female_tshirt_skirt
• common_female_tshirt_skirt_swamp

Male

• common_male_biker
• common_male_dressshirt_jeans
• common_male_formal
• common_male_polo_jeans
• common_male_tanktop_jeans
• common_male_tanktop_jeans_rain
• common_male_tanktop_jeans_swamp
• common_male_tanktop_overalls
• common_male_tanktop_overalls_rain
• common_male_tanktop_overalls_swamp
• common_male_tshirt_cargos
• common_male_tshirt_cargos_swamp

Uncommon Infected

• common_male_ceda (hazmat suit)
• common_male_clown (clown)
• common_male_fallen_survivor (infected Survivor)
• common_male_jimmy (Jimmy Gibbs, Jr.)
• common_male_mud (mudman)
• common_male_riot (police with riot gear and armor)
• common_male_roadcrew (worker with helmet)
• common_male_roadcrew_rain (worker with helmet, wet)

To do: Add small pictures for each of the common infected types for a quick reference.

Special Infected

• boomer
• hunter
• smoker
• jockey (Left 4 Dead 2 only)
• charger (Left 4 Dead 2 only)
• spitter (Left 4 Dead 2 only)
• witch_bride (Left 4 Dead 2 only)

Warning: Attempting to use "witch" or "tank" in a population will result in a common infected with the witch or tank model and animations unless it is used in Left 4 Dead 2. Warning: Use "witch_bride" in a population will result in game crash due to no precached bride witch model. To avoid it you either need to spawn one bride witch model using prop_dynamic entity at some unreachable part of the map plus giving the entity a name, seconds later have the bride witch spawned using info_zombie_spawn entity with witch_bride population and make the logic_auto remove the entity. Another way is to add

"left4dead2_dlc1\models\infected\witch_bride.ani"

"left4dead2_dlc1\models\infected\witch_bride.dx90.vtx"

"left4dead2_dlc1\models\infected\witch_bride.mdl"

"left4dead2_dlc1\models\infected\witch_bride.phy"

"left4dead2_dlc1\models\infected\witch_bride.vvd"

"left4dead2_dlc1\materials\models\infected\witch\witch_bride_dress.vmt"

"left4dead2_dlc1\materials\models\infected\witch\witch_bride_dress.vtf"

"left4dead2_dlc1\materials\models\infected\witch\witch_bride_veil.vmt"

"left4dead2_dlc1\materials\models\infected\witch\witch_bride_veil.vtf"

to your "reslists\mapname.lst if you think about using Content Streaming, only works for official games. Also removing the need of placing a prop_dynamic entity with the Witch Bride model. 

Creating a User-Defined Population

If you want your own population specific for your campaign, then you will need to edit existing populations listed in the population file because the game will not accept any custom added populations. Simply modify a population group that you will not use and assign the modified population to the navigational mesh in the game. The game will accept your custom population once it is packed in a vpk file.

Note:For L4D2, modify the population.txt found in "Steam\SteamApps\common\left 4 dead 2\update/Pack01_dir.vpk. Not using that population file may cause to mess up populations for L4D1 campaigns.

See also

• Navigation Meshes
• Navigation Mesh Commands