npc_helicopter

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

Entity description

A Combine helicopter, (also called a "Hunter-Chopper") armed with a machine gun and capable of dropping mines. The mines are buoyant, and their timer only activates when they collide with the environment. Upon touching an NPC they detonate instantly. They can be dropped one at a time, or when triggered the helicopter can rush a target dropping a massive amount of mines.

This NPC only uses path_track for navigation: When the helicopter finds an enemy, it moves along a chain of path_tracks to the closest one to its target.

Related Entities:

npc_heli_avoidbox Is a brush entity that the helicopter will avoid.
npc_heli_avoidsphere Is an entity that keeps helicopters out of a spherical area.
npc_heli_nobomb This entity suppresses helicopter bombing
helicopter_bomb This entity is a bomb that the helicopter can drop

Tip:Use info_target_helicopter_crash entities to suggest spectacular crashing points for defeated helicopters.

Placement Tip:Hunter-Choppers are used mainly in the Half-Life 2 series as chase vehicles, hence the name.

Placement Tip:Helicopter battles require the player to be very mobile, and have some cover available to them. Just one can present a great challenge, so like striders use them sparingly.

Note:Some keyvalues, flags, inputs, or outputs might not affect an NPC, based on the functionality and coding of the NPC.

Dedicated Console Variables

Dedicated Console Variables:

sk_helicopter_health <int>: Helicopter Spawn Health (Default: 5600).

sk_helicopter_firingcone <float>: The angle in degrees of the cone in which the shots will be fired.

sk_helicopter_burstcount <int>: How many shot bursts to fire after charging up. Bigger number = longer firing.

sk_helicopter_roundsperburst <int>: How many shots to fire in a single burst.

sk_helicopter_grenadedamage <float>: The amount of damage the helicopter grenade deals.

sk_helicopter_grenaderadius <float>: The damage radius of the helicopter grenade.

sk_helicopter_grenadeforce <float>: The physics force that the helicopter grenade exerts.

sk_npc_dmg_helicopter_to_plr <float>: Damage helicopter shots deal to the player.; Used in ammotype "HelicopterGun".

sk_npc_dmg_helicopter <float>: Damage helicopter shots deal to everything but the player.; Used in ammotype "HelicopterGun".

sk_helicopter_drone_speed <float>: How fast does the zapper drone move?

g_helicopter_chargetime <float>: How much time we have to wait (on average) between the time we start hearing the charging sound + the chopper fires.

g_helicopter_bullrush_distance <float>: Todo: Add a description for this variable.

g_helicopter_bullrush_bomb_enemy_distance <float>: Todo: Add a description for this variable.

g_helicopter_bullrush_bomb_time <float>: Todo: Add a description for this variable.

g_helicopter_idletime <float>: Todo: Add a description for this variable.

g_helicopter_maxfiringdist <float>: Todo: Add a description for this variable.

g_helicopter_bullrush_bomb_speed <float>: Todo: Add a description for this variable.

g_helicopter_bullrush_shoot_height <float>: Todo: Add a description for this variable.

g_helicopter_bullrush_mega_bomb_health <float>: Todo: Add a description for this variable.

Keyvalues

BaseHelicopter:

Initial Speed <string>: The speed that the entity should try to reach as soon as it spawns.
Target path_track <targetname>: The name of a path_track that this NPC will fly to after spawning.

BaseNPC:

Relationship <string> !FGD

Changes whether this NPC likes or dislikes certain others. Used like the ai_relationship entity, with this NPC as the subject. Format: <string|targetname or classname> <string|disposition> <int|rank>.

Values for disposition are:

D_HT: Hate
D_FR: Fear
D_LI: Like
D_NU: Neutral

Target Path Corner (target) <targetname>: The path_corner that this NPC will move to after spawning.

Squad Name (squadname) <string>: NPCs that are in the same squad (i.e., have matching squad names) will share information about enemies and will take turns attacking and covering each other.

Hint Group (hintgroup) <string>: Hint groups are used by NPCs to restrict their hint-node searching to a subset of the map's hint nodes. Only hint nodes with matching hint group names will be considered by this NPC.

Hint Limit Nav (hintlimiting) <boolean>: Limits NPC to using specified hint group for navigation requests. Does not limit local navigation.

Sleep State (sleepstate) <choices>

Holds the NPC in stasis until specified condition. See also Wake Radius and Wake Squad.

0: None
1: Waiting for threat
2: Waiting for PVS
3: Waiting for input, ignore PVS
4: Auto PVS
5: Auto PVS after PVS

Wake Radius (wakeradius) <float>: Auto-wake if player comes within this distance.

Wake Squad (wakesquad) <boolean>: Wake all of the NPCs squadmates if the NPC is woken.

Enemy Filter (enemyfilter) <targetname>: Filter entity to test targets against.

Ignore unseen enemies (ignoreunseenenemies) <boolean>: Prefers visible enemies, regardless of distance or relationship priority.

Physics Impact Damage Scale (physdamagescale) <float>: Scales damage energy when this character is hit by a physics object. With a value of 0 the NPC will take no damage from physics.

Base:

Name (targetname) <string>: The name that other entities use to refer to this entity.

Parent (parentname) <targetname>: Maintain the same initial offset to this entity. An attachment point can also be used if separated by a comma at the end. (parentname [targetname],[attachment])
Tip:Entities transition to the next map with their parents
Tip:phys_constraint can be used as a workaround if parenting fails.

Origin (X Y Z) (origin) <coordinates>: The position of this entity's center in the world. Rotating entities typically rotate around their origin.
Note:Hammer does not move the entities accordingly only in the editor.

Pitch Yaw Roll (X Y Z) (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.
Note:This works on brush entities, although Hammer doesn't show the new angles.

Classname (classname) <string> !FGD: Determines the characteristics of the entity before it spawns.
Note:Changing this on runtime still has use, like making matching an entry in S_PreserveEnts will persist the entity on new rounds!

Flags (spawnflags) <integer> !FGD: Toggles exclusive features of an entity, its specific number is determined by the combination of flags added.

Effects (effects) <integer> !FGD: Combination of effect flags to use.
Entity Scripts (vscripts) <scriptlist> (in all games since ) (also in ): 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. Scripts executed on the worldspawn entity will be placed in root scope.

Think function (thinkfunction) <string> (in all games since ) (also in ): Name of the function within this entity's script that'll be called automatically every 100 milliseconds, or a user-defined interval if the function returns a number. Avoid expensive operations in this function, as it may cause performance problems.

Lag Compensation (LagCompensate) <boolean> (in all games since ) !FGD: Set to Yes to lag compensate this entity. Should be used very sparingly!
Is Automatic-Aim Target (is_autoaim_target) <boolean> (in all games since ) !FGD: If set to 1, this entity will slow down aiming movement for consoles and joystick controllers when the entity is under the crosshairs.

BaseAnimating:

World Model (model) <string>: The model this entity should appear as. 128-character limit.

Skin (skin or ModelSkin ) <integer>: Some models have multiple skins. This value selects from the index, starting with 0.

Collisions (solid) <choices>: Method of collision for this entity.

0: None
1: BSP (QPhysics) !FGD
Bug:In Portal 2, if an entity using QPhysics collisions is hit by Gel, the game will crash!
2: Bounding Box
3: Oriented Bounding Box (Use for runtime spawned rotated brush entities) !FGD
4: Oriented Bounding Box, constrained to Yaw only !FGD
5: Custom/Test (Usually no collision with anything) !FGD
6: VPhysics

Hitbox Set (hitboxset) <string> !FGD: Sets the $hboxset to use.

Body Group (body or SetBodyGroup) <integer> !FGD: Sets the the active $bodygroup.

Model Index (modelindex) <short> !FGD: Given the number index from dumping the cl_precacheinfo modelprecache table, sets entity model to the index.
Warning:If an entity has animations that will be played, then the set model also must have its own sequences, else the game crashes.
Model Scale (modelscale) <float> (in all games since ): A multiplier for the size of the model. Negative values are accepted. Does not alter the physics collisions in most cases, however.
Warning:Negative or extremely high values can cause crashes!
Note:Scale may not appear in Hammer 4.x, but will appear in-game (tested in ). This is fixed in Hammer++.

Animating

Sequence (sequence) <integer> !FGD: Default animation sequence for the model to be playing after spawning.

Playback Rate (playbackrate) <float> !FGD: A multiplier of the framerate at which animations are played, negative values are accepted. Default is 1.0.

Cycle (cycle) <float> !FGD: The current frame of the current animation, on a range from 0-1.

Texture Frame (texframeindex) <integer> !FGD: The initial frame number for all animated textures on this entity.

Effects - Render

Start Fade Distance (fademindist) <float>: Distance at which the entity starts fading. If 0 or less, the entity will disappear instantly when end fade is hit. The value will scale appropriately if the entity is in a 3D Skybox.

End Fade Distance (fademaxdist) <float>: Distance at which the entity ends fading. If 0 or less, the entity won't disappear at all. The value will scale appropriately if the entity is in a 3D Skybox.

Fade Scale (fadescale) <float>: If specified in the worldspawn, or if the engine is running below DirectX 8, entities will fade out even if the fade distances above aren't specified. This value gives more control over when this happens: numbers smaller than 1 cause the entity to fade out at further distances, and greater than 1 cause it to fade out at closer distances. Using 0 turns off the forced fade altogether. See also $noforcedfade.

FX Amount/Transparency (0–255) (renderamt) <integer>: Transparency amount, requires a Render Mode other than Normal. 0 is invisible, 255 is fully visible.

Render Color (R G B) (rendercolor) <color255>: Color tint.
Render FX (renderfx) <choices>: Various somewhat legacy alpha effects.

Bug:Alpha effects from 0 to 10 are unavailable due to the bug in code in

Counter-Strike: Global Offensive

0: None
1: Slow Pulse (varies alpha by ±16 over a period of 1.5 s)
2: Fast Pulse (varies alpha by ±16 over a period of 0.4 s)
3: Slow Wide Pulse (varies alpha by ±64 over a period of 1.5 s)
4: Fast Wide Pulse (varies alpha by ±64 over a period of 0.4 s)
5: Slow Fade Away (decreases alpha by -1 per frame/(in all games since ) Fades out over 4 s)
6: Fast Fade Away (decreases alpha by -4 per frame/(in all games since ) Fades out over 1 s)
7: Slow Become Solid (increases alpha by +1 per frame/(in all games since ) Fades in over 4 s)
8: Fast Become Solid (increases alpha by +4 per frame/(in all games since ) Fades in over 1 s)
9: Slow Strobe (transparent 0.8 s, visible 0.8 s, repeat)
10: Fast Strobe (transparent 0.2 s, visible 0.2 s, repeat)
11: Faster Strobe (transparent 0.09 s, visible 0.09 s, repeat)
12: Slow Flicker (transparent 0.18 s, visible 1.5 s, repeat)
13: Fast Flicker (transparent 0.14 s, visible 0.2 s, repeat)
14: Constant Glow ("NoDissipation;" purpose uncertain—for sprites?) (not in )
15: Distort (causes unnatural flickering and position shifting)/(in all games since ) Fade Out (instant; not very useful outside of code)
16: Hologram (Distort + "distance fade")/(in all games since ) Fade In (instant; not very useful outside of code)
17: Scale Up ("Explode"/"scale up really big!" causes wild stretching of model parts) (in )/Fade Wider Pulse (varies alpha by ±255 over a period over a period of 0.26 s) (in all games since )
Confirm:which branches/games is it available in, and where does it do what?
18: Glow Shell (purpose unclear) (in all games since ) (not in )
Confirm:what does this do? and which games is it in?
19: Clamp Minimum Scale ("keep this sprite from getting very small (SPRITES only!)") (not in )
20: Environmental Rain ("for environmental rendermode, make rain") (in ) (not in )
Confirm:which games? may be nonfunctional.
21: Environmental Snow ("for environmental rendermode, make snow") (in ) (not in )
Confirm:which games? may be nonfunctional.
22: Spotlight FX ("TEST CODE for experimental spotlight") (in ) (not in )
23: Ragdoll ("HACKHACK: TEST CODE for signalling death of a ragdoll character;" ragdolls an entity but doesn't kill it) (in ) (not in )
Confirm:which games? may be nonfunctional?
24: Fade Wider Pulse (varies alpha by ±255 over a period over a period of 0.26 s) (in ) (not in )
25: kRenderFXMax/Fade Near (removed since ) (not in )

Todo: what does this do? may be nonfunctional

Render Mode (rendermode) <choices>: Set a non-standard rendering mode on this entity.

0: Normal
1: Color
2: Texture
3: Glow
4: Solid/Alphatest
5: Additive
6: "Environmental" (removed, does nothing) !FGD
7: Additive Fractional Frame
8: Alpha Add !FGD
9: World Space Glow
10: Don't Render

Effects - Environment

Disable Shadows (disableshadows) <boolean>: Prevent the entity from creating cheap render-to-texture shadows. Does not affect shadow mapping.

Disable Receiving Shadows (disablereceiveshadows) <boolean>: Prevent the entity from receiving shadows on itself.

Shadow Cast Distance (shadowcastdist) <integer>: Sets how far the entity casts dynamic shadows. 0 means default distance from the shadow_control entity.

Lighting Origin (LightingOrigin) <targetname>: Select an entity (not info_lighting!) from which to sample lighting instead of the entity's origin.
~~Lighting Origin Offset (LightingOriginHack) <targetname>~~ (not in ) !FGD: Deprecated. The info_lighting_relative from which to sample lighting instead of the entity's origin. Use Lighting Origin instead.
Disable Flashlight (disableflashlight) <boolean> (in all games since ): Used to disable projected texture lighting and shadows on this entity. Identical to EF_NOFLASHLIGHT.

Disable ShadowDepth (disableshadowdepth) <boolean> (in all games since ): Makes this entity not cast a shadow from env_projectedtexture entities. Identical to EF_NOSHADOWDEPTH.

Projected Texture Cache (shadowdepthnocache) <choices> (in all games since )

Used to hint projected texture system whether it is sufficient to cache shadow volume of this entity or to force render it every frame instead. Identical toEF_SHADOWDEPTH_NOCACHE.

0: Default
1: No cache—render every frame
2: Cache it—render only once

Miscellaneous

Glow Backface Multiple (glowbackfacemult) <float> (only in ) !FGD: If this object has a glow effect, multiply the effect by this much on the sides of the object that are facing away from the viewer.
Move Type (MoveType) <choices> (in all games since ) !FGD: Sets a movetype for this entity, which changes its movement behavior.

0: None, don't move
1: Isometric
2: Walk, player only, moving on ground
3: NPC, movement
4: Fly, no gravity
5: Fly, with gravity
6: Physics
7: Push
8: Noclip
9: Ladder, for players on ladders
10: Spectator
11: Custom

Collision Group (CollisionGroup) <choices> (in all games since ) !FGD: Sets a collision group for this entity, which changes its collision behavior.

0: None
1: Debris, collides only with the world and static props
2: Debris, with trigger interaction
3: Interactive Debris, doesn't collide with other debris
4: Interactive, collides with everything except debris
5: Player
6: Breakable Glass
7: Vehicle
8: Player Movement
9: In-Vehicle
10: Weapon
11: Vehicle Clip
12: Projectile
13: Door blocker, not permitted to go near doors
14: Passable Door
15: Dissolving
16: Pushaway
17: NPC Actor, NPCs ignore the player
18: NPC Scripted, NPCs do not collide with each other

No Animation Sounds (SuppressAnimSounds) <boolean> (in all games since ) !FGD: Silences sounds linked to animations.DXLevelChoice:

Minimum DX Level (mindxlevel) <choices> (removed since ): The entity will not exist if the engine is running outside the given range of DirectX Versions.; Warning:If these are used, the object may break when the user switches their DirectX settings.

Maximum DX Level (maxdxlevel) <choices> (removed since )

Default (no bounding)
DX7
DX8
DX8.1
DX9 SM2
DX9 SM3SystemLevelChoice:

Minimum Effect Details Level (mincpulevel) <choices> (in all games since )

Maximum Effect Details Level (maxcpulevel) <choices> (in all games since ): Don't render for players with Effect Details levels that exceed the minimum or maximum.

0: Default ("Low" formincpulevel, "High" formaxcpulevel)
1: Low
2: Medium
3: High

Note:The keys' names are because of the cpu_level command, the command Effect Details uses.

Minimum Shader Details Level (mingpulevel) <choices> (in all games since )

Maximum Shader Details Level (maxgpulevel) <choices> (in all games since ): Don't render for players with Shader Details levels that exceed the minimum or maximum.

0: Default ("Low" formingpulevel, "Very High" formaxgpulevel)
1: Low
2: Medium
3: High
4: Very High

Note:The keys' names are because of the gpu_level command, the command Shader Details uses.

DamageFilter:

Damage Filter (damagefilter) <targetname>: Name of the filter_damage_type entity that controls which entities can damage us.

InitialSpeed <float>

GracePeriod <float>: Time in seconds the helicopter has to see the player before he starts shooting.

PatrolSpeed <float>: Speed at which the helicopter moves if he has no enemy.

Flags

1 : Wait Till Seen

2 : Gag (No IDLE sounds until angry)

4 : Fall to ground (unchecked means *teleport* to ground)

8 : Drop Healthkit

16 : Efficient - Don't acquire enemies or avoid obstacles

32 : No Rotorwash

64 : Await Input

128 : Wait For Script

256 : Long Visibility/Shoot

512 : Fade Corpse

1024 : Think outside PVS

2048 : Template NPC (used by npc_maker, will not spawn)

4096 : Do Alternate collision for this NPC (player avoidance)

8192 : Don't drop weapons
65536 : Loud rotor wash sound
131072 : Electrical drone
262144 : Helicopter lights
524288 : Ignore avoid spheres+boxes
1048576 : More aggressive attacks

Inputs

BaseHelicopter:

MoveTopSpeed: The helicopter will immediately move at top speed toward its current goal, or in its current orientation if it's on top of its goal.

ChangePathCorner <targetname>: Tell the helicopter to move to a path corner on a new path.

SelfDestruct: Self Destruct.

Activate: Activate. Use to wake up a helicopter that spawned with the 'Await Input' spawnflag on.

SetTrack <targetname>: Set a track for the helicopter to adhere to. The helicopter will do nothing if it's on the same path, and will move to the closest point on the specified track if it's on a different path.

FlyToSpecificTrackViaPath <targetname>: The helicopter will first fly to the closest point on the path if it's on a different path. Then it'll fly along the path to the specified track point.

FlyToPathTrack <targetname>: The helicopter will fly to the given path_track.

StartPatrol: Start patrolling back and forth along the current track.

StopPatrol: Stop patrolling back and forth along the track. This will cause the helicopter to come to rest at the track which he's currently flying toward.

ChooseFarthestPathPoint: When tracking an enemy, choose the point on the path furthest from the enemy, but still in firing range.

ChooseNearestPathPoint: When tracking an enemy, choose the point on the path nearest from the enemy.

StartBreakableMovement: The helicopter is now allowed to disobey direct commands to go to particular points if it senses an enemy. It will move to the closest point (or farthest point, if ChooseFarthestPathPoint is used), on the path if it senses an enemy.

StopBreakableMovement: The helicopter can no longer disobey direct commands. It will continue to fly along it's patrol path or to it's specified target even if it senses an enemy.

BaseNPC:

AddHealth <integer> (in all games since )

RemoveHealth <integer> (in all games since ): Add to or remove from the NPC's health.

SetHealth <integer>: Set the NPC's health.

Break: Smash into pieces. If this is not possible, disappear.

BecomeRagdoll (in all games since ): Remove itself and instantly become a ragdoll with zero force (just go limp). OnDeath, etc. outputs will NOT be fired.

ForceInteractionWithNPC <string> <string> (in all games since ): Force the NPC to use a dynamic interaction with another NPC. Syntax is <targetname> <dynamic interaction>.

ForgetEntity <targetname>: Clears out the NPC's knowledge of a named entity.

UpdateEnemyMemory (in all games since ): Update (or create) this NPC's memory of of the given entity.

GagEnable

GagDisable: Gagged NPCs won't speak (or moan, caw, etc.) unless made to be a choreographed scene.

HolsterWeapon (in all games since )

UnholsterWeapon (in all games since ): Force the NPC to holster or unholster their weapon. Ignored if the NPC is scripting or if the NPC doesn't use weapons.

HolsterAndDestroyWeapon (in all games since ): Same as HolsterWeapon, except the weapon is destroyed once it has been concealed.

IgnoreDangerSounds <float>: Ignore danger sounds for the specified number of seconds.

physdamagescale <float>: Scales the damage taken when this character is hit by a physics object. 0 means this feature is disabled for backwards compatibility.

SetBodyGroup <integer>: HACK: Sets this NPC's body group (from 0–n).
SetMaxLookDistance <float> (only in ): Sets the maximum look distance for the NPC. Defaults are 2048 and 6000 for long range NPCs.

SetRelationship <string|targetname or classname> <string|disposition> <int|rank>

Changes whether this NPC likes or dislikes certain others. Used like the ai_relationship entity, with this NPC as the subject.

Values for disposition are:

D_HT: Hate
D_FR: Fear
D_LI: Like
D_NU: Neutral

SetSquad <string>: Change the name of this NPC's squad. Leaving the parameter blank will remove the NPC from any existing squad.

StartScripting

StopScripting: Enter/exit scripting state, where NPCs ignore a variety of stimulus that would make them break out of their scripts. They ignore danger sounds, ignore +Use, don't idle speak or respond to other NPCs' idle speech, and so on.

Wake: Wakes up the NPC if it is sleeping.

Base:

AddContext <string>: Adds to the entity's list of response contexts. See Context.

AddOutput <string>: Assigns a new keyvalue/output on this entity. For keyvalues, some rely on extra necessary code to be ran and won't work if its simply just changed through this input. There is a strict format that must be followed:

// Format of changing KeyValues: "AddOutput [key] [value]"
//// Raw text:
"OnUser1" "!self,AddOutput,targetname new_name"

// Format of adding an Output: "AddOutput {targetname}:{inputname}:{parameter}:{delay}:{max times to fire, -1 means infinite}"
//// Raw text:
"OnUser1" "!self,AddOutput,OnUser1:SetParent:!activator:0.0:-1"
// Arguments can be left blank, but the empty blank should still be contained.
//// Raw text:
"OnUser1" "!self,AddOutput,OnUser1:ClearParent::0.0:-1"

ClearContext: Removes all contexts from this entity's list.

ClearParent: Removes this entity from the the movement hierarchy, leaving it free to move independently.

FireUser1 to FireUser4: Fires the respectiveOnUseroutputs; see User Inputs and Outputs.

Kill: Removes this entity and any entities parented to it from the world.

KillHierarchy: Functions the same as Kill, although this entity and any entities parented to it are killed on the same frame, being marginally faster thanKillinput.

RemoveContext <string>: Remove a context from this entity's list. The name should match the key of an existing context.

SetParent <string>: Move with this entity. See Entity Hierarchy (parenting).

SetParentAttachment <string>: Change this entity to attach to a specific attachment point on its parent. The entity will teleport so that the position of its root bone matches that of the attachment. Entities must be parented before being sent this input.

SetParentAttachmentMaintainOffset <string>: As above, but without teleporting. The entity retains its position relative to the attachment at the time of the input being received.

Use !FGD: Same as a player invoking +use; no effect in most cases.

DispatchResponse <string> !FGD: Dispatches a response to the entity. See Response and Concept.
DispatchEffect <string> (removed since ) !FGD: Dispatches a special effect from the entity's origin; see also List of Client Effects. Replaced by the particle system since .

RunScriptFile <script> (in all games since ) (also in ): 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 ) (also in ): 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 Hammer, using string arguments will corrupt the VMF file's structure, making the file unviewable for the next Hammer session.
Fix:Remove the string argument manually with a text editor.
Note: Backtick characters ` are replaced with quotation marks at runtime, allowing quotation marks to be used when normally not possible.

CallScriptFunction <string> (in all games since ) (also in ) !FGD: Calls a VScript function defined in the scope of the receiving entity.

TerminateScriptScope (only in ) !FGD: Destroys the script scope of the receving 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.

Model:

skin <integer>: Selects a skin from the model's index, starting with 0.

SetBodyGroup <integer>: Sets the the active $bodygroup.

Ignite: Makes the entity catch on fire indefinitely.

IgniteLifetime <float>: Makes the entity catch on fire for a given amount of time.
IgniteNumHitboxFires <integer> (removed since ): Makes the entity catch on fire with a given number of hitbox fire particles. Does not function correctly in onward.

IgniteHitboxFireScale <float> (removed since ): Makes the entity catch on fire with a given scale for hitbox fire particles. Does not function correctly in onward.

BecomeRagdoll: Kills the entity and creates a client-side ragdoll from the model. Input is only passed if the model contains $collisionjoints. For other models, phys_convert can be used instead.

SetLightingOrigin <targetname>: Sets the entity's lighting origin to use this entity's position.
~~SetLightingOriginHack <targetname>~~ (removed since ): Deprecated. Offsets the entity's lighting origin by their distance from an info_lighting_relative. Use SetLightingOrigin instead.

fademindist <float>: Sets distance at which the entity starts fading. If <0, the entity will disappear instantly when end fade is hit. The value will scale appropriately if the entity is in a 3D Skybox.

fademaxdist <float>: Sets distance at which the entity ends fading. If <0, the entity won't disappear at all. The value will scale appropriately if the entity is in a 3D Skybox.
SetModelScale <vector> (only in ): Multiplies the size of the model. Does not alter the physics collisions in most cases. Can take two values separated by a space, in which case the first value would be the target model scale and the second value would be the number of seconds the change in scale will be spread over. If there is no second value, the model will scale instantly.
Tip:The modelscale keyvalue can be AddOutputed as a workaround for other games with this input missing.

Warning:Negative or extremely high values can cause crashes!

SetCycle <float> (only in ): Skip to a specific point in the current animation.

SetModel <string> (only in ): Changes the model to the specified path. Form of models/ammo/ammo_us.mdl.

Important:Absolutely NO quotes! Make sure you use the forward slash '/'. Merasmus says to heed this advice, else thou shalt corrupt the VMF.

SetPlayBackRate <float> (only in ): Change the animation speed multiplier.

Alpha <integer>: Sets the entity's transparency to a number from 0 (invisible) to 255 (fully visible). Requires the entity to have its Render Mode (rendermode) set to a number other than 0.

AlternativeSorting <boolean>: Swaps the rendering order of the entity. Used to attempt to fix sorting problems when rendering, for example an object rendering in front of translucent materials.

Color <color255>: Sets an RGB color for the entity.

SetDamageFilter <targetname>: Sets a filter for this entity for when it receives damage.

EnableDamageForces: Allows the entity to be pushed by damage done to it (usually force amount correlates with the damage done).

DisableDamageForces: Prevents the entity from being pushed by damage done to it.

Reflection:

DisableDrawInFastReflection (in all games since ): Turns off rendering of this entity in reflections when using $reflectonlymarkedentities in water material.

EnableDrawInFastReflection (in all games since ): Turn on rendering of this entity in reflections when using $reflectonlymarkedentities in water material.

Shadow:

DisableShadow: Turn dynamic shadows off for this entity. Identical to applying EF_NOSHADOW.

EnableShadow: Turn dynamic shadows on for this entity.
DisableReceivingFlashlight (in all games since ): This object will not receive light or shadows from projected textures.

EnableReceivingFlashlight (in all games since ): This object may receive light or shadows from projected textures.

DamageFilter:

SetDamageFilter <string>: Sets the entity to use as damage filter. Pass in an empty string (no parameter) to clear the damage filter.

GunOn: Allows the chopper to use its gun (normal behaviour)

GunOff: Prevents the chopper from using its gun

MissileOn: Starts the chopper firing rockets
Bug:Non-functional.

MissileOff: Stops the chopper firing rockets
Bug:Non-functional.

EnableRotorWash: Makes the chopper exert a force on physics objects underneath its rotor, and produce a wind pattern on any water (normal behaviour)

DisableRotorWash: Turns off the forces and wind pattern

EnableRotorSound: Starts the chopper's rotors making noise (normal behaviour)

DisableRotorSound: Stops the noise made by the rotors

StartBombingVehicle: Starts the chopper leading enemy vehicles and dropping bombs on them.

StartTrailingVehicle: Starts the chopper trailing enemy vehicles and shooting at them.

StartDefaultBehavior: Starts the chopper in the mode where he always stops at nav points instead of stopping anywhere in between nav points.

StartAlwaysLeadingVehicle: Starts the chopper *always* leading enemy vehicles (regardless of how they are moving w/respect to the path) and dropping bombs on them. This mode is different from StartBombingVehicle in that it never uses the machine gun.

StartSprinkleBehavior: Starts the chopper dropping bombs randomly + shooting at the player.

StartBullrushBehavior: Starts the chopper bullrushing the player.

SetHealthFraction <float>: Sets the chopper health as a percentage of max health.

EnableDeadlyShooting: Starts the chopper being deadly to on-foot players.

DisableDeadlyShooting: Stops the chopper being deadly to on-foot players.

StartNormalShooting: The chopper will fire in short bursts. Good for on-foot experiences.

StartLongCycleShooting: The chopper fires in long bursts.

StartContinuousShooting: The chopper fires continuously.

ResetIdleTime: Allows the helicopter to fire immediately if he's not in the middle of charging or firing.

SetAngles <angles>: Instantly snaps the orientation of the helicopter.

DropBomb: Immediately drops a bomb based on normal bomb dropping rules.

DropBombStraightDown: Immediately drops a bomb directly downwards.

DropBombAtTarget <targetname>: Immediately drops a bomb directly at the target destination, but only if the player isn't right there.

DropBombAtTargetAlways <targetname>: Immediately drops a bomb directly at the target destination, no matter whether it's fair or not.

DropBombDelay <float>: Add a delay before the next bomb is dropped.

BecomeIndestructible: Makes the helicopter take no more damage.

DisablePathVisibilityTests: When the helicopter moves, he will not check for visibility from the path_track to the enemy to cull out path_tracks.

EnablePathVisibilityTests: When the helicopter moves, he will only move to path_tracks that have line-of-sight to the enemy.

Outputs

BaseNPC:

OnDamaged: Fired when this NPC takes damage (!activator is the damage inflictor).

OnDamagedByPlayer: Fired when this NPC is hurt by a player (!activator is the attacker or vehicle driver [if friendly fire]).

OnDamagedByPlayerSquad: Fired when this NPC is hurt by a player OR by one of the player's squadmates (!activator is the attacker or vehicle driver [if friendly fire]).

OnDeath: Fired when this NPC is killed (!activator is the killer).

OnDenyCommanderUse: Fired when this NPC has refused to join the player's squad.

OnForcedInteractionAborted: Fired when the NPC aborts a forced interaction for some reason (target NPC died, couldn't be pathed to, etc.).

OnForcedInteractionStarted: Fired when the NPC starts a forced interaction.

OnForcedInteractionFinished: "NPCs in actbusies can no longer perform dynamic interactions."
Todo: What does this mean?

OnHalfHealth: Fired when this NPC reaches half of its maximum health.

OnHearCombat: Fired when this NPC hears combat sounds.

OnHearPlayer: Fired when this NPC hears the player.

OnHearWorld: Fired when this NPC hears a sound (other than combat or the player).

OnFoundEnemy <targetname>: Fired when this NPC establishes line of sight to its enemy.

OnLostEnemy: Fired when this NPC loses its enemy. Usually due to the enemy being killed/removed, or because this NPC has selected a newer, more dangerous enemy.

OnLostEnemyLOS: Fired when this NPC loses line of sight to its enemy.

OnFoundPlayer <targetname>: Fired when this NPC establishes line of sight to its enemy, and that enemy is a player.

OnLostPlayer: Fired when this NPC loses its enemy, and that enemy was a player. Usually due to the enemy being killed/removed, or because this NPC has selected a newer, more dangerous enemy.

OnLostPlayerLOS: Fired when this NPC loses line of sight to its enemy, and that enemy is a player.

OnSleep: Fired when this NPC enters a sleep state.

OnWake: Fired when this NPC comes out of a sleep state.

Base:

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.

Model:

OnIgnite !FGD: Fired when the entity catches fire, such as from an env_entity_igniter or the Ignite inputs.
OnFizzled (only in ): Fired when this entity is fizzled by a trigger_portal_cleanser or, for prop_weighted_cube, the Dissolve or SilentDissolve inputs.
Bug:It does not fire when the object is fizzled by other means such as env_entity_dissolver.

OnHealthChanged <integer>: Fires when the helicopter health changes. The integer is the percentage of health the chopper has from 0-100.

OnShotDown: Fires when the helicopter is killed. When an info_target_helicopter_crash entity is present, this output should be used instead of OnDeath.

npc_helicopter

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Entity description

Dedicated Console Variables

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