Portal 2 Puzzle Maker: Tractor Beam

This article contains content specific to the Portal 2 Puzzle Maker. For the Authoring Tools equivalent, see prop_tractor_beam.

A tractor beam in Portal 2.

Tractor beams (also known as excursion funnels) are a testing element in Portal puzzles. They convey anything placed in them in a straight line, removing other influences such as momentum or gravity. They are blue when in the forward state, and will push items away from their base. They are orange when in the reverse state, and will pull items toward their base. Tractor Beams can be sent through portals.

Item Properties

Entity Cost: 8

• Start Enabled
  • If checked, the Tractor Beam will be enabled when the level begins. This means the tractor beam will be blue and will push objects away from the emitter.
• Start Reversed
  • If checked, the Tractor Beam will be reversed when the level begins. This means the tractor beam will be orange and will pull objects towards the emitter.

Connections

Tractor Beams have two connection types

• Change Active State
  • If "Start Enabled" is checked, an active connection will disable the beam
  • If "Start Enabled" is not checked, an active connection will enable the beam
• Change Polarity
  • If "Start Reversed" is checked, an active connection will turn the beam to forward state (blue)
  • If "Start Reversed" is not checked, an active connection will turn the beam to reverse state (orange)

• Tractor Beams have two connection types, but both cannot be activated by the same object.