Ladders Are FRUSTRATING!!!!!!!!

[MadDog31]

Hey all,

I'm beginning to learn mapping, and I'm getting a decent idea on props, etc just fine. HOWEVER, I've created a platform to try to climb up on via a ladder and it just doesn't work.

I've tried the tutorial at http://www.interlopers.net/content.php?article.66 and that can pretty much be deemed obsolete because it doesn't go into the new mapping process.

I've gone to the SDK documentation to read up on the way w/ the boxes and paths, ladderdismount, etc...and it just won't work. Does someone have an absolute step-by-step way of doing this, preferably with some screenshots? It seems like I'm doing everything correctly (naming the path, tying the ladderdismount entities to the path, etc) but it still won't work!

If I can get by this, I'd like to move onto some other stuff, but ladders are such an integral part of the game, I don't want to pass this by until I can get it to work.

Thanks to anyone and everyone in advance for your assistance!
Ian

 

[chriscanadian]

They arnt that hard, make sure the ladder isnt touching ANY and i mean ANY solids.

This is a good tutorial -- http://www.valve-erc.com/srcsdk/Levels/ladders.html

Edit: LOL the tutorial you where doing is the worst tutorial I've ever seen! No wonder you couldnt understand it.

 

[MadDog31]

I forgot to mention, I checked out the sample map that was included w/ the SDK and I noticed that by each ladder, they have a "player clip" box going all the way up any ladder that's in the level? Could this have something to do with getting it to work?

I also noticed the ladder is a prop_static, when I try to create one, for some reason it gives me this round radius circle included when I use a ladder texture or anything on it. Argh...I'll just wait for a response now.

Ian

 

[MadDog31]

Hmmm...I tried going off that page you just gave but it didn't seem to be too clear on a couple of points. The prop_static ladder can't touch anything and/or the boxes on the path can't? I swear I've done it so they both don't but I can look again.

 

[The Dark Elf]

Hmmm...I tried going off that page you just gave but it didn't seem to be too clear on a couple of points. The prop_static ladder can't touch anything and/or the boxes on the path can't? I swear I've done it so they both don't but I can look again.

stop and start again and follow it through bit by bit, you'll get it in the end.

 

[MadDog31]

I hope so. Are you referring to going off of the SDK documentation page bit-by-bit? I'll have to read it more in-depth later.

Side Note: I'm surprised nobody's done a tutorial on the new way? I am a bit surprised that one site went via the obsolete way.

 

[The Dark Elf]

I hope so. Are you referring to going off of the SDK documentation page bit-by-bit? I'll have to read it more in-depth later.

Side Note: I'm surprised nobody's done a tutorial on the new way? I am a bit surprised that one site went via the obsolete way.

Apart from the VERC pages nobody seemed to realise there was a new improved way. It'll take a while but soon everyone will be doing it and wondering how they coped with it originally.

 

[MadDog31]

Good point. Well, outside of that, I'll just have to figure out a way why the hell my prop_static ladder is giving me a globe in the middle of it. I'll give it a rest for now though and maybe a fresh mind will help me figure it out later.

Ian

 

[The Dark Elf]

Good point. Well, outside of that, I'll just have to figure out a way why the hell my prop_static ladder is giving me a globe in the middle of it. I'll give it a rest for now though and maybe a fresh mind will help me figure it out later.

Ian

bluish purple blob? thats the origin/axis point in them.

 

[MadDog31]

Nah, it is a globe that can extend out in a large radius, much similar to the way they are there when you assign a sound to a certain region in a map. I'd have to do a screenshot later.

Ian

 

[The Dark Elf]

Nah, it is a globe that can extend out in a large radius, much similar to the way they are there when you assign a sound to a certain region in a map. I'd have to do a screenshot later.

Ian

ohh those.. yeah those are used to tell you at what distance the object begins to fade away and the other globe tells it at what distance its faded completely.. so you can fine tune the dissolve with distance, good for keeping framerates high without displaying things you'd not want to show at greater distances.

 

[MadDog31]

Fixed it...read on...

Alright all, I FINALLY got it figured out. I tied the dismount to the ladder path, NOT the actual static prop ladder. Also made sure the ladder path wasn't sticking through the ladder or the wall. I'll post an image of my screenshot if anyone is interested.

Starting from scratch certainly was key, and after stepping away from it for a short time too. Thanks to everyone in this thread for your QUICK assistance! I love these forums!

Ian

PS...the only other odd thing to report is my screen shakes a little when I'm on the ladder...I've seen a few others have that issue, any idea what the hell makes it do that?