npc_antlion_template_maker

 npc_antlion_template_maker is a point entity available in the Half-Life 2 series.

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 <integer>

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

Frequency <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 <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.

Targetname:

Name (targetname) <string>

The targetname that other entities refer to this entity by.

Entity Scripts (vscripts) <scriptlist> (in all games since )

Space delimited list of VScript files (without file extension) that are executed after all entities have spawned. The scripts are all executed in the same script scope, later ones overwriting any identical variables and functions.

Script think function (thinkfunction) <string> (in all games since )

Name of a function in this entity's script which will be called automatically every 100 milliseconds (ten times a second) for the duration of the script. It can be used to create timers or to simulate autonomous behavior. The return value (if present) will set the time until the next call.

 Note: Try to avoid expensive operations in this function, as it may cause performance problems.

Angles:

Pitch Yaw Roll (Y Z X) (angles) <angle>

This entity's orientation in the world. Pitch is rotation around the Y axis, yaw is the rotation around the Z axis, roll is the rotation around the X axis.

EnableDisable:

Start Disabled (StartDisabled) <boolean>

Stay dormant until activated (probably with the Enable input).

Template Name <targetname>

Name of template NPC.

Spawn on Hint Group <string>

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

Spawn Radius <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 <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 <targetname>

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

Follow Target <targetname>

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

Vehicle Spawn Distance <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 <boolean>

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

Pool Start <integer>

Number of antlions in the pool at map start.

Pool max <integer>

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

Pool Regen amount <integer>

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

Pool Regen time <float>

Time interval between pool regeneration ticks.

Create spores <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.

Targetname:

Kill

Removes this entity from the world.

KillHierarchy

Removes this entity and its children from the world.

 Note: Entities already remove orphaned children upon being removed, but this input removes all children on the same frame, being marginally faster than Kill.

AddOutput <string>

Adds a keyvalue/output to this entity. It can be potentially very dangerous, use with care.
KV Format: <key> <value>
I/O Format: <output name> <targetname>:<inputname>:<parameter>:<delay>:<max times to fire, -1 means infinite>

FireUser1 to FireUser4

Fire the OnUser outputs; see User Inputs and Outputs.

Use  !FGD

Same as a player invoking +use; may not do anything depending on the entity. Can also be invoked by firing an output that does not specify an input.

RunScriptFile <script> (in all games since )

Execute a VScript file from disk, without file extension. The script contents are merged with the script scope of the receiving entity.

RunScriptCode <string> (in all games since )

Execute a string of VScript source code in the scope of the entity receiving the input. String quotation may be needed when fired via console.

 Bug: In , the code is executed in the script scope of the entity that fires the output, not the one receiving the input.

 Warning: Never try to pass string parameters to a script function with this input. It will corrupt the VMF structure because of the nested quotation marks, which then must be removed manually with a text editor.

CallScriptFunction <string> (in all games since ) !FGD

Execute a VScript function in the scope of the receiving entity.

SetLocalOrigin <coordinates> (in all games since ) !FGD

Send this entity to a spot in the map. If the entity is parented to something, it will be offset from the parent by this amount.

SetLocalAngles <angles> (in all games since ) !FGD

Set this entity's angles.

EnableDisable:

Enable

Disable

Enable/disable this entity from performing its task. It might also disappear from view.

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).

Targetname:

OnUser1 to OnUser4

These outputs each fire in response to the firing of the like-numbered FireUser1 to FireUser4 Input; see User Inputs and Outputs.

OnKilled  (only in )

This output fires when the entity is killed and removed from the game.

OnAllBlocked

Fires when all the hint nodes are blocked.