Npc maker
... 
This is a point entity available in all 
Source games.
Entity Description
Spawns a class of NPC at its position when told to. Typically used to provide a continuous wave of attackers during an ambush, or to replace killed enemies in a standoff-type situation.
For more control over the properties of the spawned NPCs, see the npc_template_maker point entity, which uses 'template' NPCs as a base, or the point_template entity, which is more suited for spawning an entire squad into the appropriate positions.
Note:Some keyvalues, flags, inputs, or outputs might not affect an NPC, based on the functionality and coding of the NPC.Keyvalues
- Class name of spawned NPC
(NPCType)<npcclass> - Class of all NPCs spawned by this entity.
- Childrens' Name
(NPCTargetname)<string> - Targetname of all NPCs spawned by this entity.
- Childrens' Squad Name
(NPCSquadname)<string> - Squad name of all NPCs spawned by this entity.
Changes whether spawned NPCs like or dislike certain others. Used like the ai_relationship entity, with all spawned NPCs as the subjects. This keyvalue is not included in Valve's FGDs.
- Values for
dispositionare:D_HT: HateD_FR: FearD_LI: LikeD_NU: Neutral
- Weapons
(additionalequipment)<choices> - What weapon each NPC should spawn with. Choices are:
- Pistol
- AR2
- Shotgun
- SMG1
- Stun Stick
- Grigori's Shotgun
- Nothing
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.
Targetname:
- Name
(targetname)<string> - The targetname that other entities refer to this entity by.
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 (with the
Enableinput).
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
)
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
Enableinput.
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
Enableinput.
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.
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"
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ClearContext- Removes all contexts from this entity's list.
ClearParent- Removes this entity from the the movement hierarchy, leaving it free to move independently.
FireUser1toFireUser4- Fires the respective
OnUseroutputs; 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.
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.
EnableDisable:
Enable
Disable- Enable/disable this entity from performing its task. It might also disappear from view.
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:
OnUser1toOnUser4- These outputs each fire in response to the firing of the like-numbered
FireUser1toFireUser4Input; see User Inputs and Outputs.
OnKilled(only in)- This output fires when the entity is killed and removed from the game.
See Also
npc_template_maker- Uses template NPC entities for more control over spawned NPCs.point_template- Spawns NPCs (or other entities) in-place; can deal with up to sixteen different targetnames simultaneously, and multiple entities per targetname.
