npc_antlion_template_maker

npc_antlion_template_maker is a point entity available in Half-Life 2, Half-Life 2: Episode One, Half-Life 2: Episode Two, and Half-Life 2: Deathmatch.

Entity description

Seeing as antlions were frequently used as cannon fodder in Half-Life 2, especially within Nova Prospekt, this entity is used to efficiently monitor and respawn antlions on a continuous basis. It has similar functionality to a npc_maker.

Keyvalues

BaseNPCMaker:

Num. of NPCs (MaxNPCCount) <integer>

Number of NPCs that will spawn before this spawner is exhausted.

Frequency (SpawnFrequency) <string>

How often (in seconds) a new NPC will be spawned. If set to -1, a new NPC will be made when the last NPC dies.

Max Live NPCs (MaxLiveChildren) <integer>

Maximum number of live children allowed at any one time (new ones will not be made until one dies). If set to -1, no limit is applied.

Template Name ([todo internal name (i)]) <targetname>

Name of template NPC.

Spawn on Hint Group ([todo internal name (i)]) <string>

If specified, children will spawn on a hint node from this group, nearest the target.

Spawn Radius ([todo internal name (i)]) <float>

Target must be within this distance of any node in the hint group specified above. If the target is outside the radius, no NPC will spawn.

Spawn Target ([todo internal name (i)]) <targetname>

Targetname of the entity to try and spawn near.

Note:This field is only used if "Spawn close to target" spawnflag is set.

Fight Target ([todo internal name (i)]) <targetname>

Targetname of an entity used as a goal for the children to fight to.

Follow Target ([todo internal name (i)]) <targetname>

Targetname of an entity used as a goal for the children to follow.

Vehicle Spawn Distance ([todo internal name (i)]) <float>

This is a modifier of the current spawn distance. Spawn distance on a vehicle is based on speed, so this is just a modifier for it.

Ignore Bugbait ([todo internal name (i)]) <boolean>

Ignore squeezed bugbait. Doesn't seem to affect thrown bugbait.

Pool Start ([todo internal name (i)]) <integer>

Number of antlions in the pool at map start.

Pool max ([todo internal name (i)]) <integer>

Maximum number of antlions allowed in the pool. If 0, pool behavior is turned off.

Pool Regen amount ([todo internal name (i)]) <integer>

This is the number of antlions added to the pool every time it regenerates.

Pool Regen time ([todo internal name (i)]) <float>

Time interval between pool regeneration ticks.

Create spores ([todo internal name (i)]) <boolean>

Create Spore effect.

Flags

BaseNPCMaker:

• 16 : Fade Corpse
• 32 : Infinite Children
• 64 : Do Not Drop
• 128 : Don't Spawn While Visible
• 1024: Don't use dynamic difficulty (only in )

• 1024 : Random spawn node
• 2048 : Try to spawn close to the current target
• 4096 : Pick a random fight target
• 8192 : Try to play blocked effects near the player

Inputs

BaseNPCMaker:

Spawn

Spawns an NPC.

Toggle

Toggles the spawner enabled/disabled state.

Enable

Enables the spawner.

Disable

Disables the spawner.

AddMaxChildren <integer>

Adds to the number of NPCs that can spawn before the spawner is exhausted. If an exhausted spawner is given some children to spawn, it still wont begin spawning until it is re-enabled with the Enable input.

SetMaxChildren <integer>

Sets the number of NPCs that can spawn before the spawner is exhausted. If an exhausted spawner is given some children to spawn, it still won't begin spawning until it is re-enabled with the Enable input.

SetMaxLiveChildren <integer>

Sets the maximum number of NPCs that can be alive at any one time from this spawner.

SetSpawnFrequency <float>

Sets how often (in seconds) a new NPC will be spawned.

SetFightTarget <targetname>

Sets the target entity for children to fight to.

ClearFightTarget

Clears the fight target goal for this spawner.

SetFollowTarget <targetname>

Sets the target entity for children to follow.

ClearFollowTarget

Clears the follow target goal for this spawner.

SetSpawnRadius <float>

AddToPool <integer>

Add the number of antlions specified in the parameter to the pool.

SetMaxPool <integer>

Set the maximum number of antlions allowed in the pool at any time. Setting it to 0 turns off the pool behavior.

SetPoolRegenAmount <integer>

Set the number of antlions added to the pool every time it regenerates.

SetPoolRegenTime <float>

Set the time interval between pool regeneration ticks.

ChangeDestinationGroup <string>

Change the spawn group for this spawner.

Outputs

BaseNPCMaker:

OnSpawnNPC <string>

Fired when an NPC is spawned. The activator is the NPC, and the string is the name of the NPC.

OnAllSpawned

Fired when the spawned is exhausted (all children have been spawned).

OnAllSpawnedDead

Fired when the spawner is exhausted (all children have been spawned) and all spawned children have died.

OnAllLiveChildrenDead

Fired when all spawned children have died. This does not mean the spawned is exhausted, so a new child may be spawned any time after this (unless the maker is disabled).

OnAllBlocked

Fires when all the hint nodes are blocked.